To meet the rising demand for sports, stadiums around the country were restored and extended. However, baseball was not the only sport that demanded larger stadiums. In reality, the most large and famous stadiums in the United States were erected for college football in the 1920s.
It is no surprise then, that many of these colleges are now ranked among the best teams in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) competition. They include: Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Pennsylvania, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Yale. The largest stadium in this group is Ohio State's Ohio Stadium. It can hold 104,491 people and it is located on campus in Columbus, OH. The smallest stadium is called Mackey-Terry Field at YSU in Youngstown, OH. It can only hold 6,000 people and it is used by both YSU and its cross-town rival, Youngstown State University.
Other notable stadiums built in the 1920s include Bryant Stadium at the University of Southern California, Davis Stadium at the University of California, Davis, Dickey Stadium at Northwestern University, Exposition Park at the University of Chicago, Fenway Park at Boston College, Forbes Field at the Pittsburgh Pirates, Grosvenor Stadium at London University, Griffith Stadium at UC Los Angeles, Huntington Park Stadium at Long Island University, Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University, Lakefront Arena at UIC Chicago, Lambert-St.
Stadiums are vast theaters of entertainment, celebration, and emotion, as well as architectural wonders. Half of the world's fifty largest stadiums are in the United States, around a quarter in Europe, and the remaining quarter is spread across Asia, Africa, South America, and Australia.
Municipalities, on the other hand, may fund local sports without betraying their constituents. There are actual public advantages to hosting a professional sports team. Strangers in a bar may grieve over a defeat, and a championship run can unite a community.
Baseball stadiums were generally composed of wood in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century; seating were set on various levels, and outfield walls displayed commercial ads. Wooden stadiums, on the other hand, were not long-term structures; they deteriorated quickly and may catch fire. The great Boston Marathon Fire of 1897 destroyed most of what was then the only wooden stadium in Major League Baseball (MLB). The cause of the fire is disputed, but it is believed that a faulty electrical wire may have been to blame.
The new Chicago White Stockings played their first game at West Side Park on April 15, 1871. The ballpark was built by John McClue, who also constructed Louisville Slugger. The White Stockings lost their first game 1-0 to the Cincinnati Red Stockings. In its first decade, baseball had no uniformity regarding rules or equipment; there were eight different leagues in which to play. Teams would play in those leagues for several years before there was any consistency about how games were played. For example, in 1870, John McGraw's New York Giants played in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, but they moved to New York City after one season and joined the American Association in 1871. In any case, West Side Park had a dirt floor until a grass field was cut for use during the next season's games.
Stadiums are built for field sports like baseball and a number of football codes and/or athletics (track and field). Only domed and retractable roof stadiums, i.e. stadiums that cover both spectators and the playing field, are included. This category excludes soccer stadiums and other types of venues.
The requirements for a stadium vary depending on the type of sport that will be played in it. Baseball requires a large field that is free from obstacles such as trees or buildings. It also needs a clear view of the sky to allow for sunshine and rain to properly water the field. Football requires a larger area than baseball because there's more space between players and the sidelines. The venue should have enough seats so that fans can watch the game without having to stand all day, but it shouldn't be so big that it becomes difficult to maneuver the ball.
Stadia are used for many different events beyond just sports. Music concerts, auto races, and even political rallies are held in stadia. The size of the venue depends on how many people want to attend the event.
There are three main types of stadia: outdoor, indoor, and modular.
Outdoor stadiums are constructed with wood, steel, and concrete and are used for sports that require little interaction with other players (such as tennis). They are open to the elements including wind, rain, and heat index.
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