This collection of entries is from December 22, 2004.
I've got an early Christmas present! It's something I've wanted for years. I thought I would never get it, because it costs an awful lot of money and the person in charge doesn't like to spend the money.
I've always wanted a green Comiskey Park. Since it opened in 1991, I've HATED those damn blue seats. It's just another thing that made the place... uninviting for baseball. Now, slowly, over the past couple of years I've seen it - the slow change. When the scoreboard was rebuilt, the facing was changed from blue to green. Some signage around the park changed from blue to green. The padding on the walls around the field changed from blue to green.
And now, they've started replacing over 40,000 seats! YESSSS!!!!! No more swimming pool blue - we'll be sitting on forest green seats, like a real ball park of old.
Unfortunately, they're being phased-in, with the lower deck (where we sit) being last.
But at least it's being done!
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12/21/2004 12:41 PM ET
U.S. Cellular Field goes green
CHICAGO -- New green seats will be installed at U.S. Cellular Field over the next calendar year, changing the color of the 14-year-old ballpark's seating area from blue to forest green, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) and the Chicago White Sox jointly announced today.
The installation of new seats takes place in addition to Phase V renovations currently underway. Those changes include a multilevel interactive FUNdamentals skills deck in left field and a Scout Seating area located behind home plate.
"Opening Day 2005 marks the fifth year of ballpark renovations. Each year, our goal has been to make U.S. Cellular Field an even better place to watch White Sox baseball," said Terry Savarise, White Sox senior vice president of stadium operations. "All of our upgrades, from adding seating closer to the action to the re-design of the upper deck, have been in response to feedback from our fans, and each has improved the feeling of intimacy in the ballpark. Now, ISFA has been able to work with us to change the color of the ballpark's seats to forest green."
New green seats first will be installed in the Club Level, Scout Seats and bleachers before Opening Day 2005. The remaining seats, beginning with the upper deck, will be replaced as weather allows during the 2005 season and 2005-2006 offseason. Full installation is scheduled to be completed by Opening Day 2006. Aisle seats in each row will feature one of the club's historical logos.
"We think it will be a unique experience for fans to witness the transformation throughout the season," said Dan Polvere, director of development and facilities for ISFA. "The gradual replacement of the seats coincides with scheduled expansion joint maintenance for the ballpark. Since the upper deck was caulked last season, ISFA can replace those seats, section by section, during the season. The last phase will be to caulk and replace seating in the lower level as time and weather allow."
U.S. Cellular Field's current seats were installed when the ballpark opened in 1991. Exposure to Chicago's harsh weather contributed to the need for their replacement.
White Sox 2005 ticket packages now are available, including the 9-game Minnie Plan and the 13-game Ozzie Plan. Individual-game tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.
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