The Ballpark's Taking Shape

Andrei and I spent some time out at the construction site last week (special thanks to Tomara and Corky over at Devcon for giving us the grand tour.) 

As you may know, the early stages of the ballpark's construction is actually a massive dig.  When you walk through the gates next year, you'll be at the top of the concourse, and you'll walk down to your seats, not up.  That is, picture the Oakland Coliseum's lower deck, where the main walkway is at street level;  rather than, say, Mackay Stadium, where you enter the stands at field level and walk up. 

Much of the dirt from the excavation will be taken off-site, but some of it will be used to build up the hill in right field for lawn seating.  In the photo below, facing northwest, you can see the beginnings of the hill.  It's hidden on the other side of the dirt, but that's the Truckee right beyond the hill.

Here's a better look at the excavation process.  This is a view looking west, from about where the right center field fence will be.  The drop from street level to field level will be roughly 14 feet... so at the point when this picture was taken, they're just about down to field level already.  Since the point when this photo was taken, the excavation has now reached right field and the infield.

Of course, it's not all dirt and pebbles underground on the site.  Below, you'll see some of the large river boulders discovered during the dig, along with some ancient pipes from long-lost buildings which once occupied the block. 

At the northwest corner of the site stands the historic Freight House (built 1931).  The structure will be a signature location within the ballpark complex.

Finally, a view from home plate, looking northeast.   

Obviously, there's still quite a bit of work to do, but things are taking shape...

-Brett