Guaranteed Rate Field Explained

Stadium Name:Guaranteed Rate Field
Nickname:Sox Park
New Comiskey
The Cell
Logo Image:Guaranteed_Rate_Field_logo.png
Former Names:Comiskey Park (II) (1991–2003)
U.S. Cellular Field (2003–2016)
Location:Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates:41.83°N -87.6339°W
Pushpin Map:United States Chicago#USA Illinois#USA
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Chicago##Location in Illinois##Location in the United States
Built:1989–1990
Renovated:2001–2012, 2015–2019
Owner:Illinois Sports Facilities Authority[1]
Operator:Illinois Sports Facilities Authority
Surface:Kentucky Bluegrass
Scoreboard:8,000 square foot Center field HD video board 60feet × 134feet (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)
Architect:HOK Sport
HKS, Inc. (2001–2007 renovations)
Project Manager:International Facilities Group, LLC[2]
Structural Engineer:Thornton Tomasetti
Services Engineer:Flack + Kurtz[3]
General Contractor:Gust K. Newberg Construction Company[4]
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)
Dimensions:(2001–present)
Left field – 330feet
Left-center – 375feet (not posted)
Center field – 400feet
Right-center – 375feet (not posted)
Right field – 335feet
Backstop – 60feet
Outfield wall height – 8feet
Tenants:Chicago White Sox (MLB) (1991–present)
Publictransit: at Sox-35th
at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT
at 35th Street-Lou Jones
Address:333 West 35th Street
Parking:8 main parking lots
Construction Cost:US$137 million[5]
($ in dollars)

US$118 million (2001–2007 renovations)
($ in dollars)
Seating Capacity:40,615 (2004–present)
47,098 (2002–2003)
47,522 (2001)
44,321 (1991–2000)[6]

Guaranteed Rate Field, formerly Comiskey Park and U.S. Cellular Field, is a baseball stadium located on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox, one of the city's two MLB teams, and is owned by the state of Illinois through the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Completed at a cost of US$137 million, the park opened as Comiskey Park on April 18, 1991, taking its name from the former ballpark at which the White Sox had played since 1910.

Guaranteed Rate Field is situated just to the west of the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago's Armour Square neighborhood, adjacent to the more famous neighborhood of Bridgeport. The stadium was built directly across 35th Street from the original Comiskey Park, which was demolished to make room for a parking lot for the new venue. The location of Old Comiskey's home plate is represented by a marble plaque on the sidewalk next to Guaranteed Rate Field, with the foul lines painted in the parking lot. The spectator ramp across 35th Street is designed in such a way (partly curved, partly straight but angling east-northeast) that it echoes the contour of the old first-base grandstand.

History

The stadium was the first new major sporting facility built in Chicago since Chicago Stadium in 1929. It was also the last one built before the wave of new "retro-classic" ballparks in the 1990s and 2000s.

A few design features from the old Comiskey Park were retained. The front facade of the park features arched windows. The "exploding scoreboard" pays homage to the original, installed by Bill Veeck at the old park in 1960. The original field dimensions and seating configuration were very similar to those of Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium) in Kansas City, which had been the last baseball-only park built in the majors, in 1973.

As originally built, the park was criticized by many fans because of the height of the upper deck. The original architect, HOK Sport (now Populous), wanted to eliminate the overhang problems present in many stadiums built since the 1970s. With this in mind, the upper deck was set back over the lower deck, and the stands rose fairly gradually. While it gave nearly every seat in the upper level an unobstructed view of the field, it also created one of the highest upper decks in baseball. The first row of seats in the upper deck of the new stadium is as far from the field as the highest row of seats in the upper deck at the old stadium. Due to the field being practically at street level, the original upper deck made the park look like a cookie-cutter stadium from the outside. Fans sitting in this area did not get much chance for relief, as it was one of the few parks in Major League Baseball that did not allow fans sitting in the upper deck to venture anywhere else in the park, such as the lower deck concourse.

In response to fan complaints, the stadium has undergone numerous renovations since the 2001 season in order to retrofit the facility to current architectural trends. These changes have included building a multi-tiered concourse beyond center field, adjusting the fences to make the outfield less symmetrical, and most significantly, the removal of 6,600 seats at the top of the upper deck.

The uppermost tier of the park now has a white and black screen behind the top row of seats, and is topped by a flat canopy roof supported by black steel truss supports that obstruct the view of a few seats. The original blue seats were also replaced by forest green seats. The new green and black color scheme, upper-level screen set back from the outer wall and canopy roof are reminiscent of the old Comiskey Park, as well as other classic baseball stadiums. Murals to the interior concourses were also added, a prominent feature of the old stadium.

The stadium houses 103 luxury suites located on two levels, as well as 1,822 "club seats" on 300-level mezzanine between the lower deck and upper deck. The club seats receive in-seat wait-staff, and benefit from an enclosed concourse with multiple television viewing areas and bar-style concessions. The stadium has 400 wheelchair-accessible seats, 38 public restrooms, 12 escalators, and 15 elevators. The new suites were one example of why the old Comiskey Park was demolished, as suites generate more revenue.

Naming rights

Originally called Comiskey Park, the stadium was renamed U.S. Cellular Field in 2003, after Chicago-based telecommunications company U.S. Cellular purchased the naming rights at US$68 million for 20 years.[7] U.S. Cellular would later pay $13 million to end the agreement seven years early, saving an estimated $10.8 million.[8] The stadium's current name was announced on October 31, 2016, after the Chicago-based private residential mortgage company Guaranteed Rate purchased the naming rights in a 13-year deal.[9] [10] It was later revealed that Guaranteed Rate would pay $20.4 million over ten years for the 13-year agreement. This translates to an average payment of $2.4 million, less than U.S. Cellular's yearly payment of $3.4 million as well as below the average MLB naming rights payment of $3.6 million at the time of the deal's signing.[11]

Attractions and features

  1. SoxSocial Tap Room: The Tap Room is open to all guests with a game ticket until the last out of each game. The Tap Room is accessible by the stairs located outside Section 157.

Renovations and additions

1996–1999

2001–2007

In 2001, extensive renovations were started by HKS Sports & Entertainment Group to make the park more fan-friendly:

Phase I (2001 season)

Phase II (2002 season)

Phase III (2003 season)

Phase IV (2004 season)

Phase V (2005 season)

Phase VI (2006 season)

Phase VII (2007 season)

Extensive renovations (2008–present)

Renovations were added that were not part of the original plan:

2008 season

2009 season

2010–present

2010 season

2011 season

2012 season

2014 season

2016 season

2018 season

2019 season

2021 season

2022 season

2023 season

Retired numbers

There are 12 retired numbers on the facade of the 1st and 3rd base sides of the 300 level.

White Sox retired numbers[30]
No.PlayerPositionWhite Sox yearsDate retiredNotes
2Nellie Fox2B1950–19631976Hall of Fame (1997)
3Harold BainesRF, DH
Coach
1980–1989, 1996–97, 2000–01
2004–2015
1989-08-20Baines' number was retired after he was traded to the Texas Rangers midway through 1989. The number was unretired for him in 1996 and 2000 when he returned as a player, and in 2004 as an assistant hitting coach.
Hall of Fame (2019)
4Luke ApplingSS1930–501975Hall of Fame (1964)
9Minnie MiñosoLF1951–57, 1960–61
1964, 1976, 1980
1983"Mr. White Sox"
Hall of Fame (2022)
11Luis AparicioSS1956–1962
1968–1970
1984-08-14Hall of Fame (1984)
14Paul Konerko1B1999–20142015-05-232005 World Series Champion and ALCS MVP
16Ted LyonsP
Manager
1923–1946
1946–1948
1987Hall of Fame (1955)
19Billy PierceP1949–611987
35Frank Thomas1B, DH1990–20052010-08-292005 World Series Champion
Hall of Fame (2014)
56Mark BuehrleP2000–20112017-06-242005 World Series Champion
Perfect game in 2009
72Carlton FiskC1981–19931997-09-14Hall of Fame (2000)
42Jackie Robinson2BBrooklyn Dodgers, 1947–1956, Retired by Major League Baseball1997-04-15Hall of Fame (1962)

Ballpark firsts

Opening Day (April 18, 1991)

StatisticDetails
ScoreDetroit Tigers 16, White Sox 0
UmpiresSteve Palermo
Mike Reilly
Larry Young
Rich Garcia
ManagersJeff Torborg, White Sox
Sparky Anderson, Tigers
Starting PitchersJack McDowell, White Sox
Frank Tanana, Tigers
Ceremonial PitchFormer Illinois Governor Jim Thompson
Attendance42,191

Batting

StatisticDetails
BatterTony Phillips (fly out)
White Sox BatterTim Raines
HitAlan Trammell (single)
RunTravis Fryman
White Sox RunRon Karkovice (April 20, 1991)
RBIAlan Trammell
White Sox RBIDan Pasqua (April 20, 1991)
SingleAlan Trammell
DoubleJohn Shelby
TripleTony Phillips
Home runCecil Fielder
White Sox Home runFrank Thomas (April 22, 1991)
Grand slamKevin Romine (Boston Red Sox) (May 5, 1991)
IPHRMarc Newfield (Seattle Mariners) (June 21, 1995)
Stolen baseLou Whitaker
White Sox Stolen baseTim Raines
Sacrifice hitJoey Cora (White Sox) (April 20, 1991)
Sacrifice flyMatt Merullo (White Sox) (April 27, 1991)
CycleMike Blowers (Oakland Athletics) (May 18, 1998)
White Sox CycleChris Singleton (July 6, 1999)

Pitching

StatisticDetails
WinFrank Tanana
White Sox winBrian Drahman (April 21, 1991)
LossJack McDowell
Visiting lossPaul Gibson (April 21, 1991)
shutoutFrank Tanana
White Sox ShutoutJack McDowell (June 25, 1991)
SaveJerry Don Gleaton (Detroit Tigers) (April 20, 1991)
White Sox saveBobby Thigpen (April 22, 1991)
Hit by pitchDave Johnson (Baltimore Orioles) hit Carlton Fisk (White Sox) (April 23, 1991)
Wild pitchMélido Pérez (White Sox) (April 21, 1991)
BalkBryan Harvey (California Angels) (May 28, 1991)
No-hitterMark Buehrle (White Sox) (April 18, 2007)
Visiting no-hitterFrancisco Liriano (Minnesota Twins) (May 3, 2011)
Perfect gameMark Buehrle (White Sox) (July 23, 2009)
Immaculate inningMichael Kopech (White Sox) (July 10, 2024)

Other firsts

StatisticDate/Details
DoubleheaderOctober 3, 1991 vs. Minnesota Twins
ErrorRobin Ventura
Use as a neutral siteSeptember 13–14, 2004 – Florida Marlins vs. Montreal Expos. Counted as home games for the Marlins, these games were moved to Chicago due to Hurricane Ivan in Florida. The Marlins were already in Chicago at the time, having just played a series with the Chicago Cubs.
First White Sox Foul Ball hitApril 18, 1991 by Sammy Sosa
First Postseason gameOctober 5, 1993 vs. Toronto Blue Jays. Blue Jays won 7–3.

Transportation and entry gates

Guaranteed Rate Field can be reached by using the CTA's "L" Rapid Transit system. The stadium's station stops are Sox–35th for the Red Line and 35-Bronzeville-IIT for the Green Line. The Red Line is also used by Cubs fans to reach Wrigley Field (Addison Station) on the North side of Chicago. (When the White Sox take on the Cubs every year, usually in June, many fans will use the Red-Line to get to the games. The series is dubbed the Cross-Town Classic or the Windy City Showdown.)

A new Metra station (35th Street), which helps fans with more accessibility, opened on the Rock Island line in 2011. It is also accessible by CTA bus route #35 (31st/35th Street) and the suburban Pace Guaranteed Rate Field Express shuttle service.

Guaranteed Rate is just west of the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Expressway. The "Dan Ryan" was under construction in 2006–2007 in hopes of relieving traffic congestion.

The ballpark has eight main parking lots.

The ballpark has seven main entrances:

The main level is accessible only to fans who have a ticket to a seat in the lower level.[31]

Notable games/events

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

White Sox record at home

Notes: 1994 season incomplete due to Players Strike. Only 113 games played.
Only 144 games played in 1995.
Only 161 games played in 1997, 1999 and 2019.
163 games played in 2008 due to AL Central division tie-breaker game.

Only 60 games played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

80 home games played at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2021 with 1 played at Field of Dreams.

Attendance

Home attendance at Guaranteed Rate Field[34]
Year Total attendance Games Game average Major League rank
19912,934,15481 36,2243rd
19922,681,1568232,6974th
19932,581,0918131,86511th
19941,697,3985332,02611th
19951,609,7737222,35817th
19961,676,4038120,69619th
19971,864,7828123,02216th
19981,391,1468116,96527th
19991,338,8518016,52928th
20001,947,7998124,04720th
20011,766,1728121,80526th
20021,676,9118120,70323rd
20031,939,5248123,94521st
20041,930,5378123,83421st
20052,342,8338128,92417th
20062,957,4148136,5119th
20072,684,3958133,14115th
20082,500,6488230,49616th
20092,284,1638128,20016th
20102,194,3788127,09117th
20112,001,1178124,70520th
20121,965,9558124,27124th
20131,768,4138121,83224th
20141,650,8218120,38128th
20151,755,8108121,67727th
20161,746,2938121,55926th
20171,629,4708120,11728th
20181,608,8178119,86225th
20191,649,7758020,62224th
20200300-
20211,596,3858019,70813th
20222,009,3598124,80719th
20231,669,6287820,61324th

Non-baseball events

Concerts

width=12% style="text-align:center;;"Datewidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Artistwidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Opening act(s)width=16% style="text-align:center;;"Tour / Concert namewidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Attendancewidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Revenue
September 13, 2002The Rolling StonesThe PretendersLicks Tour
August 13, 2003Bruce Springsteen and the E Street BandThe Rising Tour39,439$2,970,543
September 24, 2016Chance the RapperMagnificent Coloring Day Festival47,754
September 7, 2023RBDSoy Rebelde Tour63,763$13,177,722
September 8, 2023

Football

width=12% style="text-align:center;;"Datewidth=12% style="text-align:center;;"Event namewidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Home Teamwidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Visiting Teamwidth=16% style="text-align:center;;"Winning team/Scorewidth=10% style="text-align:center;;"Attendancewidth=20% style="text-align:center;;"Notes
November 9, 2016 Huskie Chi–Town Showdown Toledo, 31–24 10,180 First football game played at Guaranteed Rate Field

In film and other media

Guaranteed Rate Field has appeared in films such as Rookie of the Year (1993), Major League II (1994), Little Big League (1994), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and The Ladies Man (2000). In Rookie of the Year, the stadium played the role of Dodger Stadium, and in Little Big League, it played the role of all opposing ballparks except for Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park. Commercials for the PGA Tour, Nike, Reebok, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America have been filmed at the park.

See also

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Tax Dollars Still Paying off Renovations on White Sox Stadium. Jared S.. Hopkins. Chicago Tribune. May 22, 2016. May 25, 2016.
  2. Web site: IFG - US Cellular Field. www.ifgroup.cc. 10 December 2018. 11 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161011052640/http://www.ifgroup.cc/content/?section=506&section2=590&section3=550&page=550. dead.
  3. News: Opus North Promotes Jacobson. Chicago Tribune. September 24, 1989. April 21, 2012.
  4. Web site: U.S. Cellular Field. ballparks.com. 10 December 2018.
  5. Web site: Guaranteed Rate Field . Ballparksofbaseball.com . July 27, 2017.
  6. Web site: Attendance Records. Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P.. 2016 Chicago White Sox Media Guide. February 26, 2016. November 1, 2016. U.S. Cellular Field capacity was 44,321 from 1991-2000, 47,522 in 2001, 47,098 in 2002-03 and 40,615 since 2004..
  7. News: Padilla. Doug. The Cell not in line for name change. ESPN. April 26, 2013. August 25, 2016.
  8. News: Yerak. Becky. Deal to drop Sox Park naming rights early costs U.S. Cellular $13 million. Chicago Tribune. November 4, 2016.
  9. News: Merkin. Scott. U.S. Cellular to become Guaranteed Rate Field. Chicago White Sox. August 24, 2016. August 25, 2016. August 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828013014/http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/197437870/white-sox-ballpark-to-be-guaranteed-rate-field/. dead.
  10. News: Ecker. Danny. White Sox home gets a new name: Guaranteed Rate Field. Crain's Chicago Business. August 24, 2016. August 25, 2016.
  11. News: What Guaranteed Rate paid for the White Sox stadium naming rights. September 1, 2016. Ricci. Peter Thomas.
  12. Web site: 2015-03-02 . Minnie Minoso, baseball's first black Latino star, dies . 2023-10-06 . MPR News . en.
  13. Web site: 2016-08-24 . Photos: 30 years at Guaranteed Rate Field . 2023-10-06 . Chicago Tribune.
  14. Web site: 2023-04-08 . Duo Find Winning Combination Creating Statues of Sports Figures Classic Chicago Magazine . 2023-10-06 . classicchicagomagazine.com . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2013-01-23 . Is monumental honor headed A.J.'s way? . 2023-10-06 . ESPN.com . en.
  16. Web site: 2014-09-27 . White Sox unveil statue to honor Konerko . 2023-10-06 . Chicago Tribune.
  17. News: Chicago White Sox and Gold Coast Tickets Reach Multi-Year Sponsorship Agreement. Chicago White Sox. March 30, 2011.
  18. TBD's outdoor beer garden added to Gate 5 entrance. Major League Baseball. July 22, 2010.
  19. News: Having His No. 35 Retired Emotionally Drains Thomas. Chicago Tribune. Dave. Van Dyck. August 29, 2010.
  20. Bacardi At The Park added to Gate 5. Chicago White Sox. March 29, 2011.
  21. News: White Sox Open New Bar And Restaurant. CBS Chicago. March 29, 2011.
  22. News: Chicago Sports Depot. Chicago White Sox.
  23. News: White Sox to install 3 new video boards for 2016 season. Chicago Tribune. October 2, 2015.
  24. News: Thompson . Phil . What's new at Sox Park: Renovated clubhouse, more netting and the 'South Side Horseshoe' . . June 19, 2019 . March 27, 2018.
  25. News: Price . Satchel . White Sox to add 'The Goose Island' section to Guaranteed Rate Field bleachers . . June 19, 2019 . January 28, 2019.
  26. News: Spedden . Zach . Guaranteed Rate Field Netting Extending to Foul Poles . June 19, 2019 . Ballpark Digest . June 19, 2019.
  27. Web site: Guaranteed Rate Field debuts flickering stadium lights . April 12, 2021 . April 12, 2021.
  28. Web site: White Sox and Molson Coors unveil two new 500-level view bars . . January 11, 2023 . February 12, 2024.
  29. Web site: White Sox, Molson Coors unveil two new 500-level bars . January 11, 2023 . February 12, 2014.
  30. Web site: Retired Uniform Numbers in the American League . Baseball Almanac . 2008-09-26.
  31. Web site: Guaranteed Rate Field Ballpark Guide: Upper Concourse Policy.
  32. Web site: Shooting at White Sox game happened after woman hid gun in belly, per report . 2023-08-30 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  33. Web site: White Sox Shooting: Post-Game Concert Canceled Amid 'Technical Issues'. . 26 August 2023 . August 26, 2023.
  34. Web site: Chicago White Sox Attendance. baseball-reference.com. March 13, 2013.