Ballpark Review: U.S. Cellular Field

U.S. Cellular Field generally gets a bum rap from people who visit the stadium, and I always believe that this isn't completely warranted. Part of this could be from those who immediately compare it to Chicago's other ballpark, the historic Wrigley Field. It could also be attributed to old memories of what "The Cell" was when it was first built in the early '90s. What some South Siders still refer to as Comiskey has come a long way from what it once was thanks primarily to the major renovations of the early 2000s.

Although if you knew some of the other plans that were on the table when the stadium was still in the design phases, it might leave you with a sour taste in your mouth.

Stadium Design: Overall flow of the stadium, architecture and unique parts of the stadium.

When one looks at U.S. Cellular Field, it is obvious the stadium is built to handle large crowds and to provide a general ease of maneuverability around the ballpark. To get to your seat, one has to go up a gigantic ramp until you reach your section. This system actually works quite well for both entry and exit of the stadium as the ramp is quite wide and the fact it's open air allows for a nice breeze.

One of the things I always forget about U.S. Cellular is its open air concourse. It's not rare to see this in most modern stadiums, but with the reputation that The Cell often receives, I tend to blot out this factoid. Overall the concourses are wide enough to accommodate capacity crowds and still allow for a generally quick rate of movement.

Overall the stadium is designed well to handle crowds, but contains little soul. Although statues in the center field concourse and banners showcasing the team's success have been added in recent years, it still does little to show the White Sox strong heritage.

The design is great for maneuverability/efficiency, but some obstructed view seats in the 500 level (upper deck) should just not exist, especially for a modern stadium like The Cell. U.S. Cellular's attempts to show off team history in and around the stadium do add to the stadium, though. For all of this I give U.S. Cellular 4 out of 5 Yeahhh Boyeeeees.

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