Feb 18

Feb 18 The Most Expensive Major League Baseball Stadiums

Erich Heinlein

Stories

The 5 Most Expensive MLB Ballparks of All-Time

There is no doubt that Major League Baseball has unique stadiums and teams that are always looking to innovate when it comes to the fan experience.

Many organisations have found unique ways to invest plenty of money in their home stadium, and it makes a difference.

But which ballparks in the Major League’s cost the most to build?

Nationals Park, home to the legendary Washington Nationals

In this article, we’ll discuss the most expensive MLB stadiums of all time.

The two most expensive stadiums are in New York - the Mets and the Yankees.

This article will cover each stadium in turn, discussing home team, capacity and how much it actually cost to build the top most expensive MLB stadiums in North America.

Yankee Stadium: $1.5 Billon

Cost: $1.5 billion

Team: New York Yankees

Capacity: 50,287

Architect: Hok Sport

How was Yankee Stadium funded?

It is a combination of private and public financing.

$220 million from New York City for public parking, additional parking along the waterfront and other various stadium-related work.

An additional $1.1 billion comes from the Yankees.

About Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium replaced the field coined as “the field that Ruth built”.

This referred to Babe Ruth, due to his many performances with the Yankees in this ballpark.

The old Yankee Stadium has a tremendous amount of history, and the new Yankee Stadium commemorates this history.

In the new Yankee Stadium, there is a space in centerfield called Monument Park. This honours all the legends of the team.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, the new stadium hasn’t brought them as much luck as the old one.

They’ve only won one World Series in the new Yankee Stadium, in 2009 (when the new stadium first opened).

CITI Field: $900 Million

Cost: $900 million

Team: New York Mets

Capacity: 42,000

Architect: HOK Sport

How was CITI Field funded?

It is funded by a combination of public and private financing.

Public financing includes $89.7 million from the city, an additional $74.7 million from the state and the Mets also pay an additional $420 million.

About CITI Field

CITI Field comes from the same architecture company that helped to design Yankee Stadium. Some parts of the stadium are made from red brick and limestone.

If you attend a game at CITI Field, you do have a slightly better chance of getting a good seat as 42% of the seats come from the lower deck.

Nationals Park: $611 Million

Cost: $611 million

Team: Washington Nationals

Capacity: 41,313

Architect: HOK sport//Devrouax-Purnell Architects

How was Nationals Park funded?

100% general obligation bonds, which come from public general financing.

About Nationals Park

The Washington Nationals used to be the Montreal Expos until they came to Washington in 2008.

Nationals Park has a glass and steel facade.

It also has a bar which is dedicated to Washington’s negro league team, the Homestead Grays. This is Washington DC’s most successful team in history.

Rogers Centre: $500 Million

Cost: $500 million

Team: Toronto Blue Jays

Capacity: 49,286

Architect: R. Robbie & M. Allen

How was Rogers Centre funded?

A combination of public and private financing; $360 million from the government, $150 million from corporations, $60 million from luxury seat fees and then the Blue Jays pick up the remaining 37%.