I coaxed my parents into taking us to a Mariners game on a family vacation in 1998, which happened to be the inaugural Turn Ahead the Clock night (it went leaguewide the next year). The uniforms and scoreboard alterations as well as the weirdness of being in a dome made me think that aliens had visited Earth, watched a baseball game, and tried to recreate the experience on their home planet. The Kingdome was a dump though, I remember awful food, dark dirty concourses, bleacher seating in the upper deck (my sister went up to the top and said there was trash everywhere where no one was sitting, so it probably was left over from Opening Day or some other big crowd), and walking inside felt like walking into a prison.
I went to the Metrodome as well for football once. It served that sport well but I could see how it would not be ideal for baseball. I disagree with you on the need for a retractable roof in KC, as to me, the ones I have been in (Milwaukee, Houston, Arizona, and Seattle) still feel like domes even when open.
Darryl Turd will live on in infamy! That was, and is, one of my favorite sports memories from childhood, and I wasn't even watching or playing any sports! And from that day on, Daryl Turner/Turd was engrained in our hearts & minds forever!
Great stuff, didn't know that about the scoreboard at Astrodome. I learned recently that the 1986 NLCS, which was supposed to be home field advantage for the Mets (it alternated east/west in those years), was moved to accommodate an Oilers game. Agree about the Oilers uniforms too, the Titans wore them this year as a throwback.
I've been to two domes, Metrodome and Olympic Stadium, and they were both dumps. Have you ever heard of the allegations that the Twins cheated in those days by manipulating the fans when they were batting? '87 Twins had a horrific record away from the dome.
My only visit to the Astrodome was in 1991 or so. I'd been to a couple of stadiums besides Royals Stadium, but I remember thinking how weird it was to be at an indoor game. But it was August in Houston, so I was definitely grateful to be in the AC.
Got to games at both the Astrodome & Kingdome, but not the Metrodome. Don't think I missed much there though. I can see where a domed stadium would be handy for early & late season games at Target Field though. Great article as usual!!! Agree with you on the stadium they will build in KC, they should put in a retractable roof for inclement weather. They originally planned on a roof to slide back and forth over Arrowhead & Kaufman stadiums. Always thought that would have been very cool. Royals seem to be making some progress with the hot stove trading this winter, at least with their bullpen. Braves need a dependable starter and they will be ready for Spring Training and then the season. Keep swinging for the fences.
I coaxed my parents into taking us to a Mariners game on a family vacation in 1998, which happened to be the inaugural Turn Ahead the Clock night (it went leaguewide the next year). The uniforms and scoreboard alterations as well as the weirdness of being in a dome made me think that aliens had visited Earth, watched a baseball game, and tried to recreate the experience on their home planet. The Kingdome was a dump though, I remember awful food, dark dirty concourses, bleacher seating in the upper deck (my sister went up to the top and said there was trash everywhere where no one was sitting, so it probably was left over from Opening Day or some other big crowd), and walking inside felt like walking into a prison.
I went to the Metrodome as well for football once. It served that sport well but I could see how it would not be ideal for baseball. I disagree with you on the need for a retractable roof in KC, as to me, the ones I have been in (Milwaukee, Houston, Arizona, and Seattle) still feel like domes even when open.
Thanks for the cool read!
Darryl Turd will live on in infamy! That was, and is, one of my favorite sports memories from childhood, and I wasn't even watching or playing any sports! And from that day on, Daryl Turner/Turd was engrained in our hearts & minds forever!
Great stuff, didn't know that about the scoreboard at Astrodome. I learned recently that the 1986 NLCS, which was supposed to be home field advantage for the Mets (it alternated east/west in those years), was moved to accommodate an Oilers game. Agree about the Oilers uniforms too, the Titans wore them this year as a throwback.
I've been to two domes, Metrodome and Olympic Stadium, and they were both dumps. Have you ever heard of the allegations that the Twins cheated in those days by manipulating the fans when they were batting? '87 Twins had a horrific record away from the dome.
My only visit to the Astrodome was in 1991 or so. I'd been to a couple of stadiums besides Royals Stadium, but I remember thinking how weird it was to be at an indoor game. But it was August in Houston, so I was definitely grateful to be in the AC.
Biggest problem with Astrodome was fans were too far away from the field. Plus so much room in foul territory.
Hey Patrick,
Got to games at both the Astrodome & Kingdome, but not the Metrodome. Don't think I missed much there though. I can see where a domed stadium would be handy for early & late season games at Target Field though. Great article as usual!!! Agree with you on the stadium they will build in KC, they should put in a retractable roof for inclement weather. They originally planned on a roof to slide back and forth over Arrowhead & Kaufman stadiums. Always thought that would have been very cool. Royals seem to be making some progress with the hot stove trading this winter, at least with their bullpen. Braves need a dependable starter and they will be ready for Spring Training and then the season. Keep swinging for the fences.