Turner Field

This article is about the baseball stadium. For the United States Marine Corps airfield known by this name, see Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico.

Turner Field
The Ted
Turner Field
Former names	Centennial Olympic Stadium (1996)
Location	755 Hank Aaron Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30315
Coordinates	33°44′7″N 84°23′22″W
Broke ground	July 10, 1993 (for Centennial Olympic Stadium)
Opened	May 18, 1996 (1996 Olympics) March 30, 1997 (baseball)
Owner	Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority
Operator	Atlanta National League Baseball Club Inc.
Surface	GN-1 Bermuda Grass
Construction cost	$209 Million ($306 million in 2013 dollars)
Architect	Atlanta Stadium Design Team (a joint venture of Heery International, Inc., Rosser International, Inc., Williams-Russell and Johnson, Inc. and Ellerbe Becket, Inc.)
Project manager	Barton Malow
Structural engineer	Thornton Tomasetti
General contractor	Atlanta Stadium Constructors (a joint venture of Beers Construction Co., HJ Russell Construction Co. and CD Moody Construction Co.)
Capacity	1996 Summer Olympics: 85,000 Baseball: 49,586
Record attendance	54,357
Field dimensions	Left Field – 335 ft (102 m) Left-Center – 380 ft (116 m) Center Field – 401 ft (122 m) Right-Center – 390 ft (119 m) Right Field – 330 ft (100.5 m) Backstop – 43 ft (13 m)
Tenants
Atlanta Braves (MLB) (1997–present) 1996 Summer Olympics (opening and closing ceremonies, track and field venue) 1996 Summer Paralympics (opening and closing ceremonies, track and field venue)

Turner Field is a baseball park located in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1997, it has served as the home ballpark to the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics, the stadium was converted into a baseball park to serve as the new home of the franchise. The Braves moved less than one block from Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, their home ballpark from 1966-1996.

Opening during the Braves' "division dominance" years, Turner Field has hosted the National League Division Series a total of ten times (1997–2005, 2010); it has also hosed the National League Championship Series four times (1997–1999, 2001), as well as one World Series (1999), one NL Wild Card Game (2012), and the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

History

The ballpark was built across the street from the former home of the Braves, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, which was demolished in the summer of 1997 and replaced with a parking lot. The parking lot is painted with the field location and configuration of the old ballpark. The section of the outfield wall with the monument marking where Hank Aaron's 715th home run went over it was reinstalled in its original location, and still stands today. From 2002 to 2004, the failed Fanplex entertainment center was located adjacent to the stadium's parking lot. The stadium contains 5,372 club seats, 64 luxury suites, and three party suites.

The most popular name choice among Atlanta residents for the new stadium at the time of its construction (according to a poll in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) was Hank Aaron Stadium. After the ballpark was instead named after Ted Turner, the city of Atlanta renamed the section of Capitol Avenue on which the stadium sits Hank Aaron Drive, giving Turner Field the street number 755, after Aaron's home run total.

1996 Summer Olympics

Main article: Centennial Olympic Stadium

The stadium was originally constructed as the 85,000-seat Centennial Olympic Stadium and used for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Immediately after the 1996 Summer Paralympics, which followed the Olympics, much of the north end of the stadium was removed in order to convert it to its permanent use as a 49,000-seat baseball park. The stadium has hosted the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball since 1997, following a multimillion-dollar renovation to retrofit the stadium for baseball by removing the temporary stands that had made up nearly half the stadium and building the outfield stands and other attractions behind them. It was the site of the 2000 MLB All-Star Game.

After the 1996 Olympics were complete the stadium was leased by the Atlanta Braves. Private entities, including NBC and other Olympic sponsors, agreed to pay a large sum of the cost to build Centennial Olympic Stadium (approximately $170 million of the $209 million bill). The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) sought to build the stadium in a way that it could be converted to a new baseball stadium, and ACOG paid for the conversion. This was considered a good agreement for both the Olympic Committee and the Braves. The 71,228 seat Georgia Dome had been completed 4 years earlier by the state of Georgia, so there was no need for another large stadium in downtown Atlanta. Furthermore, the Braves had already been exploring opportunities for a new stadium. The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority owns Turner Field and leases it to the Braves, who operate the stadium. The current lease runs through 2016.

Because of the need to fit a track within the stadium in its earlier incarnation, the field of play, particularly foul territory, while not large by historical standards, is still larger than most new MLB stadiums. The fence line around the north main entrance, beyond right field, marks the original extent of Centennial Olympic Stadium.

Seating capacity

• 85,000 (1996 Olympics)
• 50,528 (1997)
• 49,714 (1998–2000)
• 50,096 (2001–2007)
• 49,743 (2008–2010)
• 49,586 (2011–present)

Comparison with Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium

Characteristic	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium	Turner Field
Opening Day	April 9, 1965	March 21, 1997
Capacity	52,769	49,586
Distance from Home Plate to:
Backstop	59 feet 9 inches (18 m)	43 feet 0 inches (13 m)
Left Field	330 feet 0 inches (100 m)	335 feet 0 inches (100 m)
Left Center	385 feet 0 inches (120 m)	380 feet 0 inches (120 m)
Center Field	402 feet 0 inches (120 m)	401 feet 0 inches (120 m)
Right Center	385 feet 0 inches (120 m)	390 feet 0 inches (120 m)
Right Field	330 feet 0 inches (100 m)	330 feet 0 inches (100 m)

Stadium firsts

The Braves began the 1997 season with a three-game road trip. They returned to Atlanta and played their first game at Turner Field on April 4, 1997. The Braves were losing 4–4 in the eighth inning when Chipper Jones drove in the tying run. A Michael Tucker single gave the Braves the lead as they won their first regular season game at Turner Field 5–4.

The first postseason game played at Turner Field was also during the 1997 season between the Braves and the Houston Astros in the National League Division Series. Starting pitcher Greg Maddux pitched a complete game, giving up only one run and leading the Braves to a 2–1 victory. Following a sweep of the Astors, the Braves went on to the National League Championship Series, where Tom Glavine picked up the first NLCS win at Turner Field; however, the Braves lost to the eventual-World Series-champion Florida Marlins.

The first World Series game ever played at Turner Field was Game 1 of the 1999 World Series, where the starting pitcher Maddux and the Braves were defeated 4–1 by the New York Yankees' Orlando Hernández and series MVP Mariano Rivera; the Braves went on to lose the series by a four-game sweep. The only Major League Baseball All-Star Game ever to be played at Turner Field was in 2000. Atlanta's Chipper Jones hit the lone home run in the game, and Braves outfielder Andruw Jones drove in a run as the National League was defeated 6–3.

Turner Field was also home to the first NL Wild Card Game in 2012 between the Braves and St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves were behind 6–3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Andrelton Simmons hit a fly ball to left field that dropped in between the Cardinals shortstop and left fielder. Umpire Sam Holbrook called Simmons out, citing the infield fly rule. Had an infield fly not been called, Simmons would have been credited with a single and Atlanta would have had the bases loaded with one out. Fans at Turner Field began to litter the field with debris, prompting the game to be delayed for 19 minutes. The Braves lost the game 6–3, ending their season.

Statistic	Regular season	Postseason
First game	April 4, 1997 Braves 5, Cubs 4	September 30, 1997 Braves 2, Astros 1
Ceremonial First Pitch	Ted Turner	Ernie Johnson, Jr.
First pitch	Denny Neagle	Greg Maddux
First batter	Brian McRae (Cubs)	Craig Biggio (Astros)
First hit	Chipper Jones	Kenny Lofton
First home run	Michael Tucker	Ryan Klesko
First win	Brad Clontz	Greg Maddux
First save	Mark Wohlers	Robb Nen (Marlins)

Renovations

Braves Home Attendance at Turner Field
Season	Attendance	Avg./Game	Rank
1997	3,464,488	42,771	2nd
1998	3,360,860	41,492	3rd
1999	3,284,897	40,554	2nd
2000	3,234,304	39,930	4th
2001	2,823,530	34,858	6th
2002	2,603,484	32,142	8th
2003	2,401,084	29,643	7th
2004	2,327,565	28,735	10th
2005	2,521,167	31,126	10th
2006	2,550,524	31,488	9th
2007	2,745,207	33,891	10th
2008	2,532,834	31,270	10th
2009	2,373,631	29,304	10th
2010	2,510,119	30,989	9th
2011	2,372,940	29,296	8th
2012	2,420,171	29,879	8th
Source:

Significant renovations to the stadium were put into place for the 2005 season. Among the improvements was installation of a $10 million video display, which was at the time listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest high definition video board. Since then, other stadiums including Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, the current Yankee Stadium in The Bronx and a horse track in Tokyo have installed larger boards. The current world record is the high-definition video board at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Other renovations in that year included the addition of a 1,080 foot (329 meter) long LED display to the stadium's upper deck, primarily for advertising purposes.

Turner Field's left field vista is dominated by advertising fixtures from two iconic Atlanta corporations. In 2009, a new large Coca-Cola bottle was installed behind left field. Replacing an earlier version made of various pieces of baseball equipment, the new bottle features a HD display around the label, as well as LED lighting. Next to this second iteration of Turner Field's Coca-Cola bottle is a 40-foot (12 m) Chick-fil-A cow, added in 2008. Wearing a Braves hat, the cow does the tomahawk chop along with fans while holding a sign with rotating slogans which tie in to the fast-food chain's successful "Eat Mor Chikin" advertising campaign.

Major League Baseball stadium records

The highest recorded attendance for a playoff game, and overall, is 54,357 and was set on October 5, 2003, against the Chicago Cubs. The number includes standing room tickets.

The longest game by time, and in Braves history, was played on July 26–27, 2011 between the Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game lasted 6 hours and 39 minutes with the Braves winning controversially 4–3 in 19 innings. The Braves' previous longest game by time was 6:10 against the Mets on July 4, 1985, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

The most runs scored by either team in a single inning is ten, set on October 5, 2001 between the Braves and the Florida Marlins. The record was set in the first inning of the game. The Braves won the game 20–3.

Features

Premium seating/suites

Inside the Braves dugout

Turner Field consists of multiple premium seating areas and suites. The SunTrust Club is named for the bank holding company headquartered in Atlanta and is reserved for official partners and luxury clients of the ballpark. This $6 million addition was completed in 2008 and its 143 premium seats are just 43 feet from home plate, closer than seats in any other MLB ballpark (and closer to home plate that the pitcher's mound). SunTrust Club members also have access to an exclusive club area located under the Hank Aaron Seats (Section 101) that consists of free food and drinks for club members. The club area features a waitstaff that caters to club members in their seats during the games. Members may choose to watch the games from their reserved seats, or they may watch from inside the club itself on high definition televisions.

The 755 Club (named in honor of Hank Aaron's home run record) is the stadium's predominant suite location. The club is a 24,000 square feet (2,200 m²) area of space rented for special events and parties; individual suites are rented for individual games or for the entire season. The Delta Sky 360 Lounge was added in 2010 and is located behind the 755 Club suites on the second level of the ballpark. The lounge may only be accessed by members of the 755 Club. The lounge consists of multiple premium eateries not found in the rest of the ballpark. Other Delta Sky 360 Lounges can be found at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

Turner Field also consists of Georgia's Own Credit Union Club and Superior Plumbing Club, consisting of 152 collective premium seats located directly adjacent to each side of the press box. The original club, sponsored by Georgia's Own Credit Union and featuring 80 seats, was added to the ballpark for the 2012 season and also contains multiple upscale dining options and in-seat food and beverage services. Instead of stadium seats, patrons face the field in chairs around semicircular tables. A slightly-smaller second section, sponsored by Superior Plumbing and featuring 72 seats, was added for the 2013 season on the opposite side of the press area. The Club Level is another indoor premium concourse level located on the second deck of the ballpark. This level features multiple VIP suites that may be purchased for individual games and used for party-style affairs, among other events. The Club Level currently has no title sponsor; in previous years, the Club Level has been known as the Lexus Level' and Golden Moon Casino Level.

View from the outfield.

Other areas and features

• Coca-Cola Sky Field: Along the Left Field Corner of the Upper Level and sponsored by Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, Sky Field is a large standing room area from which fans can view the game. The area contains a base path which kids can run during the games, as well as an unobstructed view of the downtown Atlanta skyline and the former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium site. Rising above Sky Field is a giant Coca-Cola Bottle. The original bottle was designed and outfitted with baseball equipment, however a new modern "glass" bottle featuring a video screen replaced the original during the 2009 season. Many of the pieces of the original bottle are now on display at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

• Scouts Alley: Along the field level under the left field seating area, Scout's Alley is an area featuring interactive baseball-themed games targeted at younger fans.Games include pitching cages and batting cages. Balloon and face-painting artists are also located along Scout's Alley. Most attractions require additional payment by tokens, which can be purchased at kiosks within Scouts Alley.
  

  

  Scouts Alley is located beneath the stadium's left field seating area.

• Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame: Located along the northwest side at Aisle 134 and serves as the franchise's main museum. Admission to the museum and hall of fame can be purchased at the Braves ticket window. It is open year-round, and serves as the starting and ending point for stadium tours, which are offered to the public on dates when the stadium is dormant and on mornings preceding night games. While the stadium is in use, the museum is featured as a Scout's Alley attraction, and is open to game ticket holders for an additional fee (paid in Scouts Alley tokens).

• Fan Plaza: Fan Plaza (sometimes called Grand Entry Plaza) serves as the primary entrance and exit to the park, and is the hub of pregame and postgame activity at Turner Field. The Plaza is located directly behind centerfield and the jumbotron. The area features the Majestic Clubhouse Store, as well as multiple dining options and drink stands, and the Taco Mac Family Zone (a children's interactive area). The radio pregame and postgame show broadcast location is also located on the Plaza. Prior to select home games, live music is performed in this area.

• Monument Grove: Located outside the gates of the ballpark, but inside the gated perimeter, near the ticket windows, is Monument Grove. Monument Grove features statues of Braves legends Hank Aaron and Phil Niekro (as well as Georgia native Ty Cobb), the "Full Count" sculpture, a bust of Aaron, as well as the six-foot high team baseballs originally used to celebrate the 2000 All Star Game. Every Braves player with a retired number (plus Jackie Robinson) is honored with a large sculpture of the number fashioned after the font used during that player's era. The Braves Walk Of Fame is also housed here, as is the exterior entrance to the Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame.

• Braves Chop House: The Braves Chop House is a casual dining restaurant located within Turner Field, directly above the Braves' bullpen. Each table in the restaurant is placed to provide a view of the field. On the roof of the Braves Chop House is the "Top of the Chop", a party deck that can be reserved for group outings during games.

• Skyline Tickets: Located on each end of the upper level (along the third base line in section 422L, and above right field in section 437R), the Skyline seats are available for purchase for $1 each, and go on sale at the Turner Field ticket windows two-and-a-half hours before gametime. There is a strict policy of one ticket per person, and entry to the stadium is required immediately after purchase, in an effort to prevent ticket scalping. The price of Skyline Tickets has remained $1 each since the stadium opened in 1997.

Access and transportation

The fence over which Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run still exists outside of a Turner Field parking lot.

Turner Field is located in the Southeastern Atlanta neighborhood of Summerhill. It is located on Hank Aaron Drive, which provides multiple parking areas including the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium site which was converted into a parking lot.

Turner Field is also accessible from multiple bus routes near the stadium courtesy of MARTA. MARTA does not offer a direct rail station at Turner Field, however it may be accessed from the Georgia State station on the Blue/Green Line. MARTA also offers a shuttle from Underground Atlanta to Turner Field.

Additional events

Since 1997, Turner Field has also been used as a concert venue, with capacity of up to 60,000. Among the performers who have performed at the stadium have included the Dave Matthews Band, Eminem, Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones.

Since 2003, the NCAA baseball teams of Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, which had previously played two games on each school's campus, replaced one of the home and home pairs in favor of a third game at Turner Field. This rivalry game at Turner Field is one of the most attended games in college baseball, with the 2004 game drawing 28,836—larger than that year's College World Series games. Proceeds from this annual match benefits Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Turner Field was also one of thirteen stadiums, and the only Major League Baseball ballpark, chosen to host the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament, which will be played in June 2013. The tournament will mark the ballpark's first soccer match, as Atlanta is currently the largest television market in the United States without a Major League Soccer franchise.

Panoramas

Retired numbers

Retired numbers (removed prior to the 2013 season and replaced with markers along the terraces)

There are ten retired numbers on display at Turner Field. The numbers are on display at the Monument Grove section of the ballpark, as well as on display inside the actual stadium. From the time of its opening in 1997 until the 2012 season, the retired numbers were commemorated by the number as pictured below hanging from the facade in left field. These were remove for the 2013 season and replaced with a modern representation of the player's first name followed by their number and last name (such as Dale 3 Murphy), which is located on the left and right sides of the terrace level.

Braves retired numbers
Number	Player	Position	Braves Years	Date Retired
3	Dale Murphy	OF	1976–1990	June 19, 1994
6	Bobby Cox	M	1978–1981, 1990–2010	August 12, 2011
21	Warren Spahn	P	1942, 1946–1964	December 11, 1965
29	John Smoltz	P	1988–1999, 2001–2008	June 8, 2012
31	Greg Maddux	P	1993–2003	July 17, 2009
35	Phil Niekro	P	1964–1983, 1987	August 6, 1984
41	Eddie Mathews	3B, M	1952–1966 (player); 1972–1974 (manager)	July 26, 1969
42	Jackie Robinson	Retired by Major League Baseball on April 15, 1997
44	Hank Aaron	OF	1954–1974	April 15, 1977
47	Tom Glavine	P	1987–2002, 2008	August 6, 2010

Six of the ten retired numbers at Turner Field (2013)

External links

• Stadium site on braves.com
• Interactive diagram at Clem's Baseball site showing both Olympic and Braves configurations
• 3D model plug-in for Google Earth
• Turner Field Photos

Events and tenants
Preceded by Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium	Home of the Atlanta Braves 1997 – present	Succeeded by Current
Preceded by Fenway Park	Host of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game 2000	Succeeded by Safeco Field
Preceded by Great American Ball Park	Host of the Civil Rights Game 2011–2012	Succeeded by U.S. Cellular Field