For 40 seasons the stadium served as home to the St. Louis Cardinals MLB franchise, welcoming generations of Cardinals legends from Bob Gibson and Lou Brock to Ozzie Smith, Mark McGwire, and Albert Pujols. The venue also hosted the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals from 1966 to 1987 and briefly welcomed the St. Louis Rams in 1995, cementing its reputation as the city’s premier sports and entertainment landmark before its demolition in late 2005.

Stats at a Glance

• Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (MLB, 1966–2005); St. Louis Cardinals (NFL, 1966–1987)
• Location: 250 Stadium Plaza, St. Louis, Missouri
• Opened: May 12, 1966
• Closed: October 19, 2005
• Demolished: November 7 – December 8, 2005
• Baseball Capacity: 49,275 (1966 opening); 57,673 (1996 peak); 49,676 (1997–2000); 50,345 (2004–2005)
• Football Capacity: 60,000
• World Series Championships: 1967, 1982

Design and Architecture

Designed by Sverdrup & Parcel with roof details by architect Edward Durell Stone, Busch Memorial Stadium cost approximately $24 million to construct in 1966 dollars. Its circular ‘cookie-cutter’ footprint was typical of the era’s multi-purpose stadium boom, yet the 96 open concrete arches ringing the upper deck gave it a silhouette unlike any other ballpark of its time.

The playing surface shifted over the decades — natural grass gave way to AstroTurf in 1970, then grass was restored in 1996. Baseball capacity grew steadily from 49,275 at opening to a peak of 57,673 by 1996, then fell to around 49,676–50,345 after the upper-deck outfield section was closed ahead of the 1997 season to improve sightlines in the stadium’s final years.

Memorable Moments

Busch Memorial Stadium hosted six Cardinals World Series appearances, with championships claimed in 1967 and 1982. It was the backdrop for one of baseball’s most celebrated milestones when Mark McGwire hit his record-breaking 62nd home run there on September 8, 1998, surpassing Roger Maris’s single-season record before a roaring home crowd.

The stadium’s cultural footprint extended well beyond sports: The Beatles performed there on August 21, 1966, and the venue hosted the 1966 MLB All-Star Game just weeks after opening. Following the Cardinals’ deep 2005 NLCS run, demolition crews dismantled the structure through November and December to clear the site for the new, baseball-only Busch Stadium, which opened in April 2006.

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Busch Memorial Stadium FAQs

When did Busch Memorial Stadium open and close?

Busch Memorial Stadium opened on May 12, 1966, and hosted its final game on October 19, 2005, during the National League Championship Series. Demolition ran from November 7 through December 8, 2005.

Why was Busch Memorial Stadium demolished?

The stadium was replaced by a new, baseball-only Busch Stadium that opened in April 2006. The modern facility offered improved sightlines and amenities tailored exclusively to baseball, something the aging multi-purpose venue could not provide.

What was the seating capacity of Busch Memorial Stadium?

For baseball, the stadium opened with 49,275 seats in 1966 and grew to a peak of 57,673 by 1996. After the upper-deck outfield section was closed, capacity fell to 49,676 for 1997–2000, then settled at 50,345 for the final two seasons in 2004–2005. Its football configuration accommodated up to 60,000 spectators.

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The stadium earned the colorful nickname ‘The Launching Pad’ thanks to its elevation of roughly 1,050 feet above sea level, which made the thin air particularly favorable to home run hitters. That reputation reached its peak on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron stepped to the plate and launched his 715th career home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing, surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing all-time record in front of a packed home crowd. The stadium later hosted the 1991 and 1992 World Series and the baseball competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics before closing its doors for good on October 24, 1996.

Stats at a Glance

• Teams: Atlanta Braves (MLB) 1966–1996; Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 1966–1991
• Location: 521 Capitol Avenue SE, Atlanta, Georgia
• Opened: 1965
• Closed: October 24, 1996
• Demolished: August 2, 1997
• Capacity (Baseball): 52,007
• Capacity (Football): 60,606
• Construction Cost: $18 million (1965)
• Notable Fact: Site of Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run (April 8, 1974)

The Launching Pad Legacy

Few nicknames in baseball history were as well-earned as ‘The Launching Pad.’ Sitting at an elevation of about 1,050 feet above sea level — unusually high for a major league ballpark — Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium produced a noticeably thinner atmosphere that allowed batted balls to travel farther than at sea-level parks. Home run totals at the venue consistently ranked among the highest in the National League, drawing sluggers and frustrating pitchers throughout its three-decade run.

The stadium’s most transcendent moment came on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record with his 715th career blast. The swing took place before a national television audience and remains one of the most celebrated instants in American sports history. Beyond that milestone, the park hosted the 1972 MLB All-Star Game, two consecutive World Series (1991 and 1992), and an early Beatles concert on August 18, 1965, underscoring its versatility as an entertainment venue.

Final Years and Demolition

The stadium’s fate was sealed when Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Summer Olympics. A new facility — Centennial Olympic Stadium — was constructed adjacent to the old ballpark to host the Games’ track and field events, while Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium handled the Olympic baseball competition. After the Braves played their final game there on October 24, 1996, the club relocated to Centennial Olympic Stadium, which was converted into Turner Field.

With the Braves gone, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium sat empty. On August 2, 1997, the 32-year-old structure was demolished by controlled implosion, taking less than a minute to fall. The site was later converted into a parking lot for Turner Field. Today, a home plate marker and a silhouette of the stadium’s outline are embedded in the parking surface, preserving the memory of the spot where one of baseball’s greatest records was broken.

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Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium FAQs

Why was Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium called ‘The Launching Pad’?

The nickname referred to the stadium’s elevation of roughly 1,050 feet above sea level in Atlanta. At that altitude, the thinner air reduced drag on batted balls, helping them carry farther and leading to consistently high home run totals compared with most other National League parks.

When was Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium demolished?

The stadium was demolished by controlled implosion on August 2, 1997, approximately ten months after the Atlanta Braves played their final game there on October 24, 1996. The site was subsequently converted into a parking lot for the adjacent Turner Field.

Did Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium host the 1996 Olympics?

Yes. While the newly constructed Centennial Olympic Stadium (later Turner Field) hosted track and field events for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium served as the venue for the Olympic baseball competition that same summer before the Braves vacated it at the end of the 1996 season.

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Despite its utilitarian design, Foxboro Stadium punched well above its weight as a major-event host. The stadium welcomed six FIFA World Cup matches in 1994 and five FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in 1999, while also serving as the founding home of MLS side the New England Revolution from 1996 through 2001. Its final game — the January 19, 2002, AFC Divisional playoff against the Oakland Raiders, forever known as the ‘Tuck Rule Game’ — became one of the most controversial and celebrated moments in NFL history before demolition crews arrived weeks later.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts
• Teams: New England Patriots (NFL), New England Revolution (MLS), New England Tea Men (NASL)
• Opened: August 15, 1971
• Closed: January 19, 2002
• Demolished: 2002
• Final Capacity: 60,292
• Construction Cost: $7.1 million
• Notable Events: 1994 FIFA World Cup (6 matches), 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup (5 matches)

A Stadium of Many Names

The stadium’s three name changes mirrored the shifting fortunes of the Patriots franchise. It opened as Schaefer Stadium, named for the Schaefer Brewing Company’s sponsorship deal, giving the venue a blue-collar identity that matched its exposed-concrete construction. In 1983 it became Sullivan Stadium, honoring the Sullivan family who then owned the team, before the final rebrand to Foxboro Stadium in 1989 tied it more closely to its host town.

Throughout these changes the physical structure remained largely the same — an unenclosed bowl that offered little protection from New England winters. Critics frequently cited its spartan amenities, but generations of Patriots fans embraced the rawness of the environment, and the frigid late-season atmosphere gave the home team a genuine competitive edge on cold January playoff nights.

World Stage and Final Chapter

Foxboro Stadium’s hosting of the 1994 FIFA World Cup elevated its international profile, welcoming matches that drew crowds from around the globe to a venue better known for cold-weather football. Five years later it reprised that role for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, cementing its legacy as more than a single-sport facility despite its relatively small footprint by late-1990s NFL standards.

The stadium’s final moments proved unforgettable. On a snow-covered field on January 19, 2002, referee Walt Coleman’s controversial reversal of a Tom Brady fumble ruling — upheld under the NFL’s tuck rule — sent the Patriots past the Oakland Raiders 16–13 in overtime in the AFC Divisional playoff. The win launched New England’s dynasty era. Demolition of Foxboro Stadium began within days, and Gillette Stadium opened on the same site in 2002.

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Foxboro Stadium FAQs

When was Foxboro Stadium demolished?

Demolition began in late January 2002, shortly after the ‘Tuck Rule Game’ on January 19, 2002, and was completed by mid-2002. Gillette Stadium was built on the same site and opened in September 2002.

What was the last game played at Foxboro Stadium?

The last game was the AFC Divisional playoff on January 19, 2002, between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. The Patriots won 16–13 in overtime in what became known as the ‘Tuck Rule Game,’ one of the most debated officiating decisions in NFL history.

How many people did Foxboro Stadium hold?

At its final configuration, Foxboro Stadium had a listed capacity of 60,292, making it one of the smaller venues in the NFL during its final years of operation.

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During the Cowboys’ tenure at Texas Stadium, the franchise won five Super Bowls and eight NFC championships, cementing the team’s reputation as ‘America’s Team.’ The stadium hosted legendary players including Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith, and its blue seats witnessed some of the most memorable moments in NFL history. After 37 seasons, the Cowboys left for the new AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the 2009 season, and Texas Stadium was demolished by controlled implosion on April 11, 2010.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
• Location: Irving, Texas
• Opened: October 24, 1971
• Closed: December 20, 2008
• Demolished: April 11, 2010
• Capacity: 65,675
• Construction Cost: $35 million (1971)
• Luxury Suites: 381

The Hole in the Roof

Texas Stadium’s most famous feature was its partial roof—a design born of compromise. Plans for the NFL’s first fully retractable roof were abandoned when engineers determined the structure could not support the mechanism. The resulting canopy covered the seating areas but left a large oval opening above the field, exposing players to the Texas sky while keeping fans sheltered. This accident of architecture became the stadium’s defining characteristic, inspiring Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis’s often-quoted line: ‘Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch His favorite team play.’ When AT&T Stadium opened in 2009, designers paid tribute by incorporating a transparent roof panel above the field as a direct nod to the famous opening.

A Legacy Larger Than Football

Beyond Cowboys games, Texas Stadium hosted the 1973 Pro Bowl, numerous NFC Championship Games, high school football playoffs, major concerts, and religious gatherings over nearly four decades. Its 381 luxury suites were among the first in the NFL, pioneering a premium-seating business model that reshaped professional sports venues nationwide. The Cowboys won 213 of 313 games played there, and the stadium’s final contest on December 20, 2008, marked the end of an era. On April 11, 2010, a controlled implosion brought the structure down in roughly 25 seconds, drawing large crowds who gathered to watch Irving’s most iconic landmark disappear from the skyline.

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Texas Stadium FAQs

Why did Texas Stadium have a hole in its roof?

The partial roof resulted from abandoned plans to build the NFL’s first retractable roof. Engineers could not design a mechanism strong enough to retract the canopy, so the structure was left open above the playing field. The uncovered oval became the stadium’s signature feature and inspired the famous quip that God could watch His favorite team through the opening.

When was Texas Stadium demolished?

Texas Stadium was demolished on April 11, 2010, by a controlled implosion that brought the structure down in about 25 seconds. It had hosted its final Dallas Cowboys game on December 20, 2008, before the team relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the 2009 season.

How many Super Bowls did the Cowboys win while playing at Texas Stadium?

The Dallas Cowboys won five Super Bowls during their 37 seasons at Texas Stadium—Super Bowls VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX—along with eight NFC championship titles, making it one of the most trophy-laden home venues in NFL history.

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At its peak the Silverdome held 80,311 fans and ranked as the largest stadium in the NFL. Beyond professional football it was a versatile entertainment colossus: it hosted Super Bowl XVI, WrestleMania III, a Papal Mass drawing over 93,000 worshippers, and—most uniquely—four first-round matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, making it the first venue ever to stage top-flight international soccer indoors. After the Lions departed in 2002 the arena fell into disuse and was demolished between December 2017 and March 2018.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Pontiac, Michigan
• Opened: August 23, 1975
• Closed: January 2013 (roof failure)
• Demolished: December 2017 – March 2018
• Primary Tenants: Detroit Lions (NFL) 1975–2001; Detroit Pistons (NBA) 1978–1988
• Capacity: 80,311
• Construction Cost: $55.7 million
• Notable First: First major stadium with an air-supported fabric roof

A Stadium of Historic Firsts

The Silverdome set records almost from the moment it opened. Its air-inflated fiberglass roof introduced a construction technique that would influence domed venues for decades. On January 24, 1982, it became the first northern city to host a Super Bowl when Super Bowl XVI matched the San Francisco 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals. Five years later, on March 29, 1987, WrestleMania III drew a reported crowd of 93,173—a figure that has since been disputed, with retrospective analyses estimating actual attendance closer to 78,000—to watch Hulk Hogan face André the Giant in one of sports entertainment’s most celebrated bouts.

In 1994 the Silverdome made soccer history when the 1994 FIFA World Cup staged four first-round matches inside its walls, including USA versus Switzerland on June 18—the first World Cup game ever played indoors. Michigan State University grew natural grass off-site and transported it into the dome, though the absence of air conditioning created brutal heat and humidity for players and fans alike.

Decline, Demolition, and Redevelopment

Once the Detroit Lions moved to the newly built Ford Field in downtown Detroit in 2002, the Silverdome struggled to find a stable future. Sold at auction in 2009 for just $583,000—a fraction of its original construction cost—the stadium briefly attempted a comeback as an events venue before a severe winter storm in 2013 caused the air-supported roof to collapse under accumulated ice and snow, effectively ending any hope of revival.

Demolition began in December 2017, with the last standing walls coming down by March 2018. The 199-acre site was subsequently redeveloped, and Amazon opened a delivery and distribution center on the grounds. Where 80,000 fans once roared, packages are now sorted and shipped—a dramatic transformation that stands as one of the starkest examples of stadium obsolescence in American sports history.

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Pontiac Silverdome FAQs

When was the Pontiac Silverdome demolished?

Demolition of the Pontiac Silverdome began on December 4, 2017, and the last standing walls were brought down by March 2018. The site was later redeveloped as an Amazon distribution center.

What teams played at the Pontiac Silverdome?

The primary tenants were the Detroit Lions (NFL, 1975–2001) and the Detroit Pistons (NBA, 1978–1988). The Michigan Panthers (USFL) and Detroit Express (NASL) also played there in earlier years.

Did the Pontiac Silverdome really host the FIFA World Cup?

Yes. The Silverdome hosted four first-round matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, including USA vs. Switzerland on June 18, 1994—the first World Cup game ever played indoors. Natural grass was grown off-site by Michigan State University and installed inside the dome for the tournament.

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Beyond baseball, Shea Stadium became a cultural landmark. The New York Jets called it home from 1964 to 1983, and the New York Yankees temporarily played there in 1974–75 while Yankee Stadium was being renovated. Its greatest claim to pop-culture immortality came in August 1965, when The Beatles performed the first large-scale outdoor rock concert ever held in a stadium—a moment that redefined live music. The stadium was demolished between October 2008 and February 2009 to make way for additional parking for the adjacent Citi Field.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Flushing, Queens, New York City
• Opened: April 17, 1964
• Closed: September 28, 2008
• Demolished: October 14, 2008 – February 18, 2009
• Baseball Capacity: 57,333
• Football Capacity: 60,372
• Primary Tenant: New York Mets (MLB, 1964–2008)
• Construction Cost: $28.5 million

Championships and Legendary Moments

Shea Stadium served as the stage for some of baseball’s most dramatic moments. The Mets won the World Series in 1969—the miracle ‘Amazin’ Mets’—and again in 1986, both times clinching at Shea. The stadium also hosted the 1964 MLB All-Star Game and four World Series appearances in total (1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000). Off the diamond, it welcomed Pope John Paul II in October 1979 and a string of legendary concerts, culminating in Billy Joel’s emotional ‘Last Play at Shea’ farewell shows in July 2008.

The End of an Era

As the Mets’ new home, Citi Field, rose just beyond the outfield fence, Shea Stadium’s fate was sealed. The final regular-season game was played against the Florida Marlins on September 28, 2008, with former Mets players participating in a tearful post-game ceremony. Demolition began just two weeks later and was completed by February 2009. The site was converted into parking lots serving Citi Field, though a replica of the iconic ‘Home Run Apple’ was preserved and displayed outside the new ballpark as a tribute to Shea’s legacy.

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Shea Stadium FAQs

When did Shea Stadium open and close?

Shea Stadium opened on April 17, 1964, and hosted its final game on September 28, 2008. It was demolished between October 2008 and February 2009.

Which teams played at Shea Stadium?

The New York Mets (MLB) were the primary tenant from 1964 to 2008. The New York Jets (AFL/NFL) played there from 1964 to 1983, and the New York Yankees used it temporarily in 1974–75 during Yankee Stadium renovations.

Why are The Beatles associated with Shea Stadium?

On August 15, 1965, The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium before a crowd of about 55,600 fans—widely regarded as the first major outdoor stadium rock concert in history, a milestone that transformed live music forever.

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