Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
Get an inside look at Rickwood Field ahead of MLB game [PHOTOS]
Over the past six months, Rickwood Field has gone through a massive renovation to prepare for this week’s visit from Major League Baseball.
While the stadium has some noticeable differences, it’s clear there has been a focus on keeping much of the historic charm in the nation’s oldest active professional ballpark.
Keep reading to see more from inside Rickwood Field ahead of this week’s big games in Birmingham.
Safety upgrades
Rickwood Field had to make some changes to keep up with MLB safety standards.
For those who have attended games at Rickwood in the past, one of the first differences you may notice is the dugouts. They now include railings, padding and extra netting for players to sit behind.
Other safety updates include:
- Extended netting in foul territory
- Padded outfield walls
- Improved playing surface
The stadium also now includes American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility including updated ramps and seating.
Outfield wall
An iconic part of Rickwood Field has always been the outfield wall, littered with old advertisements and featuring a historic scoreboard.
While the scoreboard remains, the rest of the fence has some significant changes. The most noticeable: a new videoboard in right field.
The videoboard includes:
- Screen for live video + replay
- Batting lineup
- Scoreline
- Balls/Strikes/Outs count
The lower portion of the old scoreboard in left field will remain as is while the top part will keep score during the games manually with the old number boards.
Other features around Rickwood
For this week, there is a new setup outside of Rickwood Field as well including:
- Fan Fest area
- A tribute to the Negro Leagues
- New temporary clubhouses
- Updated locker rooms
- The Willie Mays Pavilion
Rickwood Field also got updates to its gift shop and museum just inside the front entrance of the stadium.
What do you think of the updates to Rickwood Field? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn!