Mallparks: Baseball Stadiums and the Culture of Consumption

Michael T. Friedman

Published by Cornell University Press 2023

Mallparks

Baseball Stadiums and the Culture of Consumption

Michael T. Friedman

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501769306

Overview
Contents

About this book

In Mallparks, Michael Friedman observes that just as cathedrals represented power relations in medieval towns, and skyscrapers epitomized those within industrial cities, sports stadiums exemplify urban America at the turn of the twenty-first century. Grounded in the spatial theories of Henri Lefebvre and George Ritzer's analyses of consumption spaces, the book examines how the designers of this generation of baseball stadiums follow the principles of theme park and shopping mall design to create highly effective and efficient consumption sites.

In his exploration of these contemporary cathedrals of sport and consumption, Friedman traces the history of stadium design, discusses the amenities and aesthetics of stadium spaces, and outlines the intentions and conceptions of architects, team officials, and civic leaders. He grounds his analysis in case studies of Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Boston's Fenway Park, Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium, Nationals Park in Washington DC, Target Field in Minneapolis, and Atlanta's Truist Park.

Author / Editor information

Michael T. Friedman is a Lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, College Park. His work has been published in journals such as City, Culture, and Society; Sociology of Sport Journal; Journal of Urban Affairs; and Economic Development Quarterly.

Reviews

Natalie Koch, Syracuse University, author of The Geopolitics of Spectacle:

"Mallparks is an engaging and insightful introduction to the design, spatiality, economics, and politics of US baseball stadiums as they have evolved over the past three decades."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Part I CATHEDRALS OF CONSUMPTION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Part II THE SPATIAL PRACTICES OF BASEBALL STADIUMS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
Part III CONCEIVING MALLPARKS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	93
Part IV THE FUTURE OF BASEBALL STADIUM DESIGN Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	229
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	273
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	301

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 324
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 19
- Images: 19
- Other: 19 b&w halftones
Keywords: Baseball and urban development; stadium architecture; consumption landscapes and sport; production of sport spaces; history of baseball stadiums; sports and consumption; sports and architecture

eBook

Published: July 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781501769306