Mallparks: Baseball Stadiums and the Culture of Consumption

Sports stadiums represent urban American consumption at the turn of the twenty-first century, according to Michael T. Friedman's book Mallparks. He discusses the history of stadium design, amenities, aesthetics, and intentions of architects, team officials, and civic leaders, using case studies of Oriole Park, Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, Nationals Park, Target Field, and Truist Park.

Format: Hardback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

In Mallparks, Michael T. Friedman delves into the fascinating relationship between urban American consumption and sports stadiums at the turn of the twenty-first century. Drawing upon the spatial theories of Henri Lefebvre and George Ritzer, Friedman examines how the designers of these generation of baseball stadiums employ the principles of theme park and shopping mall design to create highly effective and efficient consumption sites.

Friedman's exploration encompasses a wide range of topics, including the history of stadium design, the luxurious amenities and aesthetics of stadium spaces, and the intentions and conceptions of architects, team officials, and civic leaders. He provides insightful case studies of iconic stadiums such as Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Fenway Park in Boston, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Nationals Park in Washington, DC, Target Field in Minneapolis, and Truist Park in Atlanta. Through these detailed examinations, Friedman sheds light on the evolving landscape of sports stadiums and their significance in shaping urban American culture and society.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501769290