BROOKLYN DODGERS PROPOSED DOMED STADIUM

The 'Brooklyn Dodgers proposed domed stadium' was to replace Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers to allow them to stay in New York City. ^[1] The Dodgers instead moved to Chavez Ravine in California. ^[2] The stadium would have sat 52,000 people. First announced in the early 1950's, it would have been the first domed stadium in the world beating the Reliant Astrodome by about 10 years. Walter O'Malley

Contents

Location

History

External links

References

Location

The stadium would have been located at the southeast corner of Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. It would have cost $6 million to build and been privately financed.

History

The Dodgers were playing at the 32,000 seat Ebbets Field. The Dodgers felt the stadium was too small for their needs and wanted to move to newer, more modern facility. Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted to exploit new revenue streams to capitalize on the rabid fans of the Dodgers. O'Malley commissioned Norman Bel Geddes about renovating Ebbetts Field and first proposed a dome. He also talked to Buckminster Fuller to design a domed stadium.
New York City Construction Coordinator Robert Moses wanted to utilize open space in Flushing Meadows, Queens and build a city owned stadium there for the Dodgers. This plot of land eventually became Shea Stadium, the home of the New York Mets. Moses also opposed the location of the domed stadium since it would have caused significant changes to the subway system.
The stadium is the source of debate today and was an important reason as to why the Dodgers left Brooklyn and settled in Los Angeles in 1958. Some think O'Malley purposely proposed a stadium that had little chance of being built and he privately negotiated with the city while publicly touting the merits of the domed stadium. Others point to Moses's uncompromising personality as to why the domed stadium proposal failed. ^[3]
Today, the land that could have housed the Dodgers is now being turned into the Atlantic Yards, which has a proposed new arena, the Barclays Center.

External links

★ Walter O'Malley's view of stadium

★ More information on stadium

References

1. City Officials to Help Dodgers Get New Stadium and Stay Here.
2. Baseball Club Holds Edge in Chavez Ravine Test.
3. Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush