Guaranteed Rate Field Renovations
Ballpark Renovation Timeline
1996
1996
- Bullpen bar added into right field.
1996
1998
1998
- The Batter’s eye painted from blue to black.
1998
1999
1999
- Bill Veeck-esque showerhead added to left field and a “Rain Room” added in right field for fans to cool off in the hot summertime.
1999
2001
2001
- Bullpens relocated to allow fans to watch pitchers warming up & old bullpens filled with seats.
- 2000 seats added between dugouts and foul poles.
- Two-tiered terrace added outside Bullpen Bar.
- Stadium Club introduced.
- Capacity increased from 44, 321 to 45, 936.
2001
2002
2002
- Multi-tiered Batter’s eye built in center field.
- Main concourse given brick façade with stainless steel counter tops.
- Club level concourse enclosed with heat/air conditioning.
- Party deck added to center field above Batter’s eye.
- “Roofless” backstop replaced the old backstop to allow foul balls to be able to be caught by those behind home plate.
2002
2003
2003
- Scoreboard and video boards upgraded.
- 300 foot long, 5 foot high LED “ribbon” board added along the façade of each upper deck.
- Fan Deck built in center field concourse featuring food and beverage service.
- Outfield steel framework, seating area concrete, and underside of canopy roof painted and stained grey.
- Bronze statue of Charles Comiskey added to center field concourse.
- Capacity increases from 45,936 to 47,098.
2003
2004
2004
- 8 rows (6600 seats) removed from the top of the upper deck.
- Flat roof replaces the old sloped canopy-type roof.
- Upper Deck Concourse partially enclosed by translucent wall for weather.
- Fan Deck upgraded with tiered seating and standing room.
- Lower Terrace balcony added for additional party area and outdoor seating.
- Outfield wall redone with photos of White Sox players with retired numbers.
- Bronze statue of Minnie Minoso placed in center field concourse.
- Capacity decreases from 47,098 to 40,615.
2004
2005
2005
- 314-seat Scout seating area added behind home plate.
- FUNdamentals Deck added above left field concourse.
- Green seats replace the old blue seats on the Club level and some scattered around home plate in order to model those from the original Comiskey Park.
- Bleachers in left-center field painted green.
- Bronze statue of Carlton Fisk placed in center field concourse.
2005
2006
2006
- Green seats replace blue seats in the entire upper deck and lower deck between the dugouts to model those after the original Comiskey Park.
- Enclosed, ground level restaurant completed for lounge and dining area for Scout Seats.
- New banners hung on the outfield lights: 2005 World Series, 1906 & 1917 World Series, all White Sox AL pennants and one for all division championships.
- Flags that were once titles replaced with flags of all the White Sox logos in club history.
- Bronze statues of Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio placed on center field concourse.
2006
2007
2007
- Green seats replace the remaining old blue seats.
- Two seats left the original blue from the 2005 World Series: where Paul Konerko’s Grand Slam and Scott Podsednik’s walk off home run landed.
- Scoreboard is painted green.
- Jim Bean Club (renamed Home Plate Club in 2014) added in former press box behind home plate which is home to premium seating/restaurant.
- New press box on first base on Diamond Suites 400 level.
- New custom t-shirt shop added.
- Bronze Statue of Billy Pierce placed in center field concourse.
- Thome Ticker counting down to Jim Thome’s Career Home Run in right field on the right advertising board (taken down after 2007 season).
- White Sox Champions brick plaza begins in front of stadium at Gate 4.
2007
2008
2008
- ISFA unveiled the first environmentally friendly permeable paving parking lot used by a MLB sports facility. This lot saves taxpayer money by reducing the amount of water entering Chicago’s storm water system.
- Legacy Brick Program unveiled: each brick is inscribed with a message that is placed outside the main entrance.
- Life sized bronze statue weighing over 25 tons celebrates 2005 White Sox World Series. Includes Paul Konerko, Joe Crede, Orlando Hernandez, Geoff Blum and Juan Uribe.
- Flat screen TV sets added throughout outfield concourse and above beer concession stands throughout ballpark.
- Bronze status of Harold Baines placed in right field concourse.
2008
2009
2009
- Renovations to Gate 5:
- Removal of top two levels and reducing it to one level with access to the park on the main concourse level;
- Second foot bridge offers access to park on three levels;
- Installation of new, weather protected enclosure of escalators and addition of elevators.
- New scoreboard (23 x 68 ft) added in right field to display both lineups and serves as an “around the league” scoreboard.
- Plaque honoring Jim Thome installed on center field deck for his 464-foot home run.
- “The Catch” written on left-center field wall where DeWayne Wise made the catch in the 9th inning to preserve Mark Buehrle’s perfect game on July 23,2009.
2009
2010
2010
- Outdoor beer garden named “TBD’s” installed at Gate 5.
- Frank Thomas’ number and photo added to outfield wall when his number was retired.
2010
2011
2011
- “ChiSox Bar and Grill” replaces TBD’s as a multi-level bar and restaurant.
- Bronze Statue of Frank Thomas added to outfield concourse.
2011
2012
2012
- Chicago Sports Depot added to Gate 5 next to ChiSox Bar and Grill that features White Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, and other Chicago area sports merchandise.
2012
2014
2014
- Statue of Paul Konerko added to left field concourse, his number would be retired in 2015.
2014
2016
2016
- Three new HD video boards installed; Auxiliary boards in left and right field and the main center video board.
2016