Rate Field has been the home of the Chicago White Sox since the spring of 1991, making it one of the older active ballparks in Major League Baseball even though most fans still know it by a more recent corporate name.
Because the stadium has been renamed four times, its opening date is one of the most common things fans search for. Here’s the exact date it opened, why the name keeps changing, and how the ballpark has evolved since its first pitch.
Quick Answer
Rate Field opened on April 18, 1991, when it debuted as Comiskey Park II across 35th Street from the original 1910 Comiskey Park. The White Sox lost their inaugural game there 16-0 to the Detroit Tigers.
The ballpark has kept the same 1991 opening date through every rename that followed: it became U.S. Cellular Field in 2003, Guaranteed Rate Field in 2016, and simply Rate Field starting with the 2025 season.
Stats at a Glance
Team(s): Chicago White Sox (MLB). Location: 333 W. 35th St., Chicago, Illinois. Opened: April 18, 1991. Capacity: about 40,615 today, down from an original 44,321 at the 1991 opening (it briefly peaked near 47,000 in the early 2000s before renovations reduced it). Architect: HOK Sport, now known as Populous. Construction cost: about $137 million. Notable fact: hosted the White Sox’s 2005 World Series championship, their first title since 1917.
Opening Day and the Name-Change Timeline
The ballpark opened on April 18, 1991, built directly across 35th Street from the original Comiskey Park, which had hosted the White Sox since 1910. It was actually the first baseball-only park built since Kansas City’s Royals Stadium in 1973, breaking from the multipurpose “cookie-cutter” concrete stadiums of the prior two decades, though it was soon overshadowed by the retro-style, baseball-only parks like Camden Yards that followed starting in 1992.
The venue opened simply as Comiskey Park, carrying forward the name of the ballpark it replaced. That changed in 2003, when the White Sox sold naming rights and it became U.S. Cellular Field for 13 seasons. In 2016, Guaranteed Rate bought the naming rights and the park became Guaranteed Rate Field. In December 2024, the sponsor shortened its own corporate branding, and the ballpark was renamed Rate Field starting with the 2025 season. Through all four names, the opening date has never changed: April 18, 1991.
The Fan Experience
A major 2001-2007 renovation removed the steep upper deck’s top eight rows and added a canopy roof, dramatically improving sightlines and comfort compared to the ballpark’s original 1991 layout, when capacity briefly climbed from 44,321 to about 47,000 before those seats were cut.
Fans can also find nine bronze statues honoring White Sox legends around the outfield concourse, plus a video board and “exploding” scoreboard that pays homage to Bill Veeck’s famous original at old Comiskey Park. The park’s amenities include 103 luxury suites, club seating on the 300-level, and family-friendly areas like the Kids Zone, making it a fixture of the South Side game-day experience.
History and Championships
The ballpark’s signature moment came in October 2005, when the White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series, ending an 88-year championship drought that had persisted since 1917. It also hosted a piece of pitching history in July 2009, when Mark Buehrle threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Built directly across the street from the original 1910 Comiskey Park, the stadium was designed to honor that ballpark’s name and legacy before later corporate sponsorships changed its identity multiple times. By 2026, the park has been the White Sox’s home for 35 seasons, second on the franchise’s all-time list only to the original Comiskey Park’s 80-year run.
Planning Your Visit
Tickets are sold through the team’s official channels and major resale marketplaces, with pricing tiers that vary by opponent, day of week, and seat location; premium weekend and rivalry games run well above weekday prices against non-contenders. Gates typically open a set number of hours before first pitch, with earlier entry offered on promotional days, so check the current schedule before you go.
For up-to-date gate times, ticket prices, parking options, and stadium policies, the White Sox maintain the official Rate Field ballpark page as the most current source.
Rate Field opening date and history FAQs
When did Rate Field open?
Rate Field opened on April 18, 1991, when it debuted as Comiskey Park. The White Sox have played there continuously ever since, through three later renamings.
Is Guaranteed Rate Field still called that?
No. The ballpark was renamed Rate Field starting with the 2025 season after sponsor Guaranteed Rate simplified its corporate branding, though many fans and media still refer to it by its longer former name.
What was Rate Field called before Guaranteed Rate Field?
It opened in 1991 as Comiskey Park, became U.S. Cellular Field in 2003, then Guaranteed Rate Field in 2016, and finally Rate Field in 2025.
What team plays at Rate Field?
The stadium is the home ballpark of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball, who have played there since it opened in 1991.
How many people can Rate Field hold?
The stadium’s current capacity is about 40,615. It opened in 1991 with 44,321 seats, briefly grew to roughly 47,000 in 2001-2003, then was reduced through renovations that removed upper-deck rows.
How old is Rate Field?
As of the 2026 season, the ballpark is 35 years old, having opened on April 18, 1991.
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