Major League Baseball stadiums date back to the late 19th century. Most have come and gone because of losing a team, old age, or reconstruction. A few old stadiums are still used, with many teams playing home games in modern facilities. Let’s take a look at the ten oldest MLB stadiums still being used to host games.
10 Oldest MLB Stadiums
What is the 10 oldest MLB stadiums? What is the second oldest baseball stadium? Read on as we list the oldest baseball stadiums by age.
10. Oriole Park at Camden Yards – 31 Years Old
Also known as “Camden Yards,” Oriole Park at Camden Yards is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the home of the Baltimore Orioles. It was considered the first of the “retro” MLB stadiums constructed from the 1990s to the early 2000s. The stadium replaced Memorial Stadium and opened in 1992.
The stadium is an open field design with grass turf. With a capacity of over 45,000, Camden Yards has one of the largest capacities in Major League Baseball. Not a symmetrical park, the longest dimension is 410 feet to left-center field, while the center field fence is 400 feet from home plate. Oriole Park at Camden yards has a great combination of old-school looks while having the luxury of new school amenities throughout the stadium.
9. Guaranteed Rate Field – 32 Years Old
Guaranteed Rate field is located on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and is the home of the Chicago White Sox. Formerly Comiskey Park and US Cellular Field, the stadium opened in 1991 and is owned by the state of Illinois through the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.
The stadium was built across 35th Street from Original Comiskey park, which opened in 1910. The spectator ramp across 35th Street is designed partly curvedly to echo the contour of the old grandstand along first base.
The stadium is not protected from the elements and features a natural grass field that extends 400 feet to center field from home plate. Guaranteed Rate Field is the last of the modern-era stadiums built.
8. Tropicana Field – 30 Years Old
Tropicana Field is a domed, multi-purpose stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, home to the Tampa Bay Rays. The stadium opened in 1990 as the Florida Suncoast Dome, and the name changed to Thunderdome when the Tampa Bay Lightning began playing there in 1993. The Rays began playing there in their inaugural season in 1998.
The venue is also used for college football and hosted the St. Petersburg Bowl from 2008 through 2017. It is currently the only non-retractable domed stadium in Major League Baseball. The seating capacity is among the smallest in MLB due to tarps covering obstructed-view rows in the upper sections of the stadium. Tropicana Field is an artificial turf field with center field 404 feet from home plate.
7. Rogers Centre – 34 Years Old
Originally the SkyDome, Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The stadium opened in 1989 and is the home of the Toronto Blue Jays, who play in the American League Eastern division. The stadium was also home to the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. In addition, the Buffalo Bills of the NFL played a game annually in the stadium from 2008 through 2013.
The stadium was renamed Rogers Centre in 2005 and is the first to feature a fully retractable motorized roof. In addition, there is a 348-room hotel attached to it with over 70 rooms with a clear view of the action on the field.
Rogers Centre is the last stadium in North America to host football and baseball games. This stadium holds 41,500 fans with a center field fence 400 feet away from home plate.
6. Kauffman Stadium – 50 Years Old
Kauffman Stadium, often known as “The K,” is the home of the Kansas City Royals. The stadium is part of the Truman Sports Complex and Arrowhead Stadium, home to the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Kauffman Stadium opened in 1973 and, after its latest renovation 14 years ago, has a seating capacity of nearly 38,000.
During an era when “cookie-cutter” stadiums were built, Kauffman stadium was built specifically to host baseball games on a natural grass field. It is the only stadium in the American League names after a person and has hosted the 1973 and 2012 MLB All-Star Games. In addition, it hosted home games in the 1980, 1985, 2014, and 2015 World Series when the Royals represented the American League.
The $250 million renovation between 2007 and 2009 added fan amenities and a new Royals Hall of Fame area. In 2022, the Royals announced a new stadium would be built before the team’s lease with Jackson County terminates in 2030.
5. RingCentral Stadium – 57 Years Old
Formerly known as Oakland Coliseum, RingCentral Stadium is the home of the Oakland Athletics. This multi-purpose stadium was also home to the Oakland Raiders of the NFL from 1966 until 1981 and 1995 to 2009. It was the last remaining stadium in the US to host professional baseball and football games. The stadium has also been used for soccer, serving as the host stadium for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2008 and 2009.
The stadium can hold up to 63,132 people, depending on the configuration. However, it seats only 34,077 for MLB games, the smallest in the league. The idea behind the reduction in seating for baseball occurred in 2006 when the Athletics blocked off the entire third deck for its games.
In 2017, some of the third deck’s sections were opened. The playing surface was dedicated as Rickey Henderson Field in honor of the Hall of Fame induction for long-time Athletics outfielder Rickey Henderson.
4. Angel Stadium – 57 Years Old
Located in Anaheim, California, Angel Stadium has been the home ballpark of the Los Angeles Angels since 1966. It was also the home stadium for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL from 1980 to 1994. Also known as “The Big A,” Angel Stadium hosted the MLB All-Star Game in 1967, 1989, and 2010.
The stadium, located near the Honda Center and Disneyland, has also hosted high school and college football games, the World Football League, concerts, AMA Supercross Championship Races, and Evangelical events.
Angel stadium features an all-grass field, has a capacity of 45,517 for baseball, and measures nearly 350 feet down each foul line and 396 feet to straightaway center field.
3. Dodger Stadium – 61 Years Old
Dodger Stadium is located in Los Angeles, California, and has been the home stadium of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1962. It is the oldest ballpark in MLB west of the Mississippi River and is the largest baseball stadium in the world in terms of seating capacity at 56,000. Known as a pitcher’s ballpark, there have been two perfect games, and 13 no-hitters pitched at Dodger Stadium.
The stadium has hosted 10 World Series (1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1988, 2017, and 2018), as well as the 2009 and 2017 World Baseball Classics, two All-Star Games (1980 and 2022), and exhibition baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Dodger Stadium has also been called “Blue Heaven on Earth,” nicknamed by Dodgers’ legendary manager Tommy Lasorda. Dodger Stadium is 330 feet down each foul line and 400 feet to straightaway center field.
2. Wrigley Field – 109 Years Old
Located along the Northside of Chicago, Illinois, Wrigley Field was built in 1914 for the Chicago Whales of the Federal League. It became the home stadium of the Chicago Cubs in 1916. Originally known as Cubs Park, the name changed to Wrigley Field in 1927 after William Wrigley Jr.
The stadium is open with a grass field. Although it seats 41,649 fans, the stadium is not large, with a tiny foul territory, so the fans are always close to the action. A distinguishing feature of the stadium is the ivy on the outfield wall. In addition, there is a hand-turned scoreboard.
Wrigley Field was the last stadium to go without lights. They were not installed until 1988. The centerfield wall is 400 feet from home plate at Wrigley Field, which became a historical landmark in 2020.
1. Fenway Park – Oldest MLB Stadium – 111 Years Old
The oldest baseball stadium in America still in use is Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park was constructed in 1912 with a Jewel Box Design. Although it has seen several renovations over the years, the unique features of the stadium remain.
Pesky’s Pole, the Green Monster, and the Triangle are among the features. In addition, the scoreboard is still changed by hand. The stadium’s dimensions are unique, running just 302 feet down the right-field line. The left field porch is short, but it takes a pole to get over the 37-foot-high green monster wall. The furthest point is 420 feet from home plate to the triangle in right-center, while center field measures 389 feet from home plate. The capacity is a cozy 37755.
Fenway Park has hosted the World Series 11 times and has also hosted professional football games, soccer matches, and cultural events over the years.
