Guaranteed Rate Field facts for kids
|
Sox Park
The Cell The Rate New Comiskey |
|
 |
|
.jpg)
Guaranteed Rate Field in 2016
|
|
 Guaranteed Rate Field
Location in Chicago
Guaranteed Rate Field
Location in Illinois
Guaranteed Rate Field
Location in the United States
|
|
| Former names | Comiskey Park (II) (1991–2003) U.S. Cellular Field (2003–2016) |
|---|---|
| Address | 333 West 35th Street |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°49′48″N 87°38′2″W / 41.83000°N 87.63389°W |
| Public transit | Red at Sox-35th Green at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT RI at 35th Street-Lou Jones |
| Parking | 8 main parking lots |
| Owner | Illinois Sports Facilities Authority |
| Operator | Illinois Sports Facilities Authority |
| Capacity | 40,615 (2004–present) 47,098 (2002–2003) 47,522 (2001) 44,321 (1991–2000) |
| Record attendance | 47,754 (September 24, 2016; Chance the Rapper concert) White Sox game: 46,246 (October 5, 1993; ALCS Game 1) Post-renovations: 41,432 (October 23, 2005; World Series Game 2) |
| Field size | (2001–present) Left field – 330 ft (100 m) Left-center – 375 ft (114 m) (not posted) Center field – 400 ft (120 m) Right-center – 375 ft (114 m) (not posted) Right field – 335 ft (102 m) Backstop – 60 ft (18 m) Outfield wall height – 8 ft (2.4 m)  |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Scoreboard | 8,000 square foot Center field HD video board 60 feet (18 m) × 134 feet (41 m) (2016–present) 2,500 square foot auxiliary video boards in Right & Left Field (2016–present) LED Ribbon Board, facade of the 500 level (2018–present) Fan Deck Ribbon Board (2003–present) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 7, 1989 |
| Built | 1989–1990 |
| Opened | April 18, 1991 |
| Renovated | 2001–2012, 2015–2019 |
| Construction cost | US$137 million ($294 million in 2022 dollars ) $118 million (2001–2007 renovations) ($167 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HOK Sport (now Populous) HKS, Inc. (2001–2007 renovations) |
| Project manager | International Facilities Group, LLC |
| Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti |
| Services engineer | Flack + Kurtz |
| General contractor | Gust K. Newberg Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Chicago White Sox (MLB) (1991–present) | |
Guaranteed Rate Field is a big stadium in Chicago, Illinois. It's where the Chicago White Sox baseball team plays. The stadium is owned by the state of Illinois.
It opened in 1991 and cost about $137 million to build. At first, it was called Comiskey Park. Later, in 2003, it was renamed U.S. Cellular Field when U.S. Cellular bought the rights to the name. In 2016, it got its current name, Guaranteed Rate Field, after another company bought the naming rights.
The stadium is located on the South Side of Chicago. It's right across the street from where the old Comiskey Park used to be. That old stadium was torn down to make a parking lot for the new one. You can even find a special marble plaque on the sidewalk that shows where the old home plate was!
The person who announces things over the loudspeaker at the stadium is Gene Honda. He also does announcements for other sports teams in Chicago.
Contents
History of the Ballpark
Guaranteed Rate Field was the first major sports building made in Chicago since 1929. It was also one of the last stadiums built before a new style of "retro-classic" ballparks became popular.
Some parts of the old Comiskey Park were kept in the new design. For example, the front of the stadium has cool arched windows. Also, the "exploding scoreboard" is a tribute to the one installed in the old park in 1960.
When the stadium first opened, some fans didn't like how high the upper deck seats were. The designers wanted to make sure every seat had a clear view of the field. But this made the upper deck very tall. The first row of seats in the new stadium's upper deck was as far away as the highest seats in the old stadium.
Because of these complaints, the stadium has been updated many times since 2001. They added new areas in center field and changed the outfield fences. The biggest change was removing 6,600 seats from the very top of the upper deck.
The top part of the stadium now has a white and black screen. The original blue seats were changed to forest green. These new colors and features make the stadium look more like classic baseball parks. The White Sox also added murals inside the stadium, just like the old one had.
The stadium has 103 special luxury suites and 1,822 "club seats." These club seats offer special services like food brought right to you. The stadium also has many accessible seats, restrooms, escalators, and elevators.
Cool Features and Attractions
Guaranteed Rate Field has many fun things for fans to enjoy:
- Flickering LED Lights: These lights flicker when the White Sox hit a home run or win a game. They also light up when the team takes the field.
- Fan Deck: This area offers a great view of the field. It has two levels and includes food and drinks like hot dogs, popcorn, and soda. About 150 people can fit here.
- The Goose Island: This section has 326 seats in right field. It has cool water features and comfy seats with charging ports for your devices.
- Craft Kave: An outdoor area in right field with food and drinks.
- Rain Rooms: Places where fans can cool off on hot days. You can find them near sections 107 and 537.
- Kids Zone: A large area in left field for young White Sox fans. Kids can learn baseball basics here. It has a mini whiffle ball diamond, batting cages, and areas for running bases.
- Speed Pitch Machines: Test how fast you can throw a baseball! Find them near sections 155 and 522.
- Shower: Another spot to cool off on hot game days, near Section 160.
- Scout Seats: These are 314 comfy leather seats right behind home plate.
- The Patio: An area behind the right-center field fence, perfect for group events.
- Home Plate Club: A fancy club behind home plate. It has a restaurant, open bar, and padded seats. You can even enter early to watch batting practice!
- #SoxSocial Tap Room: A bar open to all fans with a game ticket.
- Pizza Pub: Enjoy fresh pizza and drinks near Section 163.
- Xfinity Zone: Order food and drinks and watch sports on a big screen near Section 109.
- 47 Shop: Buy souvenirs, hats, and clothes from White Sox history. Near Section 101.
- Home Plate Shop: A store with White Sox merchandise, open on game days. It's behind home plate on the 100 Level.
- New Era Cap Corner: Find all kinds of baseball caps here. Near Section 157.
Statues and Special Spots
The stadium also honors famous White Sox players with statues and special markers:
- Minnie Miñoso Sculpture: Behind Section 164.
- Carlton Fisk Sculpture: Behind Section 164.
- Charles Comiskey Sculpture: Behind Section 100.
- Luis Aparicio Sculpture: Behind Section 100.
- Nellie Fox Sculpture: Behind Section 100.
- Billy Pierce Sculpture: Behind Section 164.
- Harold Baines Sculpture: Behind Section 105.
- Frank Thomas Sculpture: Behind Section 160.
- Paul Konerko Sculpture: Behind Section 160.
- Jim Thome Plaque: On the center field fan deck. It marks where Jim Thome hit two very long home runs onto the deck.
- The Two Blue Seats: These are special blue seats in the stands. One marks where Paul Konerko hit a grand slam in the 2005 World Series. The other marks where Scott Podsednik hit a game-winning home run in the same series.
- White Sox Champions Brick Plaza: At the main entrance (Gate 4). This plaza celebrates the White Sox winning the 2005 World Series. It has a large statue and bricks with messages from fans.
- Old Comiskey Park's home plate: You can find the exact spot of the old home plate just north of the park by Gate 5.
- "ChiSox Bar and Grill": A restaurant and bar inside Gate 5 with indoor and outdoor seating.
- Chicago Sports Depot: A store next to the ChiSox Bar and Grill. It sells merchandise for the White Sox and other Chicago sports teams.
Getting to the Stadium
It's easy to get to Guaranteed Rate Field using public transportation:
- You can take the CTA's "L" train. The Red Line stops at Sox–35th. The Green Line stops at 35-Bronzeville-IIT.
- There's also a Metra train station nearby, the 35th Street stop, which opened in 2011.
- You can also use CTA bus route #35 or special shuttle services.
- The stadium is located just west of the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Expressway.
- The park has seven main entrances, called gates, all around the stadium.
- There are 8 main parking lots for fans who drive to the game.
See also
In Spanish: Guaranteed Rate Field para niños
- Gene Honda – The public address announcer for the White Sox.
- Roger Bossard – The head groundskeeper for the White Sox since 1983.
- Nancy Faust – The stadium organist for the White Sox for many years (1970–2010).
- Southpaw – The official mascot of the Chicago White Sox.
- Camelback Ranch – The spring training home for the White Sox in Arizona.
Images for kids
-
Comiskey Park in 2002 with the new batter's eye
-
U.S. Cellular Field in 2004 with the new roof and lighting
-
The translucent wall in the upper deck was added in 2004 to block the elements.
-
U.S. Cellular Field in 2005, with the new Fundamentals Deck in left field
-
U.S. Cellular Field in 2007
-
Champions Plaza
-
Out-of-town video board (2009-2015)
-
Gate 5 entrance, restaurant & bar
-
2016 renovations with new HD scoreboards
-
The White Sox taking on the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day 2014
-
The Chicago skyline overlooking the upper deck behind third base at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 30, 2017 -
The view from the 500 level
-
The view from the White Sox radio booth
-
The gate 5 entrance in 2007 before renovations took place for the 2009 season
-
The National Anthem before Game 1 of the 2005 World Series
-
The 2008 AL Central tiebreaker game (better known as the "blackout game") as the Sox shutout the Twins 1–0
-
Teammates celebrate Buehrle's perfect game on July 23, 2009
-
Guaranteed Rate Field before a game
,_Chicago,_Illinois_(9179562727).jpg)
,_Chicago,_Illinois_(9179587177).jpg)
