Imagine a wave of heat rolling over you. It is a typical Phoenix summer day and you’re approaching Chase Field. This retractable-roof stadium offers a cool escape from the Arizona heat.
Chase Field has a history as rich as the desert soil surrounding Phoenix. This is not just a ballpark. It’s a symbol of a city’s ambition.
Originally named Bank One Ballpark it opened in 1998. The Arizona Diamondbacks debuted the same year. The stadium was the first in the U.S. with a retractable roof over a natural grass field. In 2019, they switched to artificial turf.
Back in the early 90s, building a domed stadium was essential. Phoenix is scorching hot. Average high temperatures during baseball season are around 99°F. Game-time temperatures often exceed 100°F.
Financing Chase Field wasn’t easy. A sales tax increase caused huge controversy. Public subsidies for stadium projects were unpopular. One supervisor, Mary Rose Wilcox, was even shot and injured because of her support for the tax.
Construction began in 1996 and finished in time for the 1998 season. Chase Field was only the third MLB stadium with a retractable roof. Toronto’s SkyDome and Montreal’s Olympic Stadium came before.
Think back to 2001. Chase Field hosted Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the World Series. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees. They won their first title at home.
But there is more than just baseball here. Chase Field hosted first-round games of the World Baseball Classic in 2006. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held here in 2011.
Did you know Chase Field has a swimming pool in right-center field? For $3,500 in 2011, you could rent a suite for 35 guests. Mark Grace was the first to hit a home run into the pool.
Until 2019, a dirt strip ran between home plate and the pitcher’s mound. This “keyhole” was a feature of old-time ballparks.
In 2005, Bank One merged with JPMorgan Chase. The stadium was then renamed Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals played the longest game in Chase Field history in 2019. It lasted six hours and 53 minutes with 19 innings.
Chase Field isn’t just for baseball. Concerts and soccer games are also held here. For these events, the field is reconfigured.
The stadium’s roof opens and closes depending on the temperature. It takes about 4.5 minutes and costs only a few dollars each time.
Even with the roof closed, windows let in sunlight. When the ballpark had a grass surface, the roof stayed open to give sunlight to the turf. A huge HVAC system keeps the park cool. It can cool 2,500 homes.
Now, as you stand before Chase Field, consider its dual nature. It is a modern marvel. It is a historic landmark. It is a place where baseball dreams come alive.