Some Question Whether Park Is a Gem

Once upon a time, fans wore mitts at baseball games. As the Arizona Diamondbacks opened their new ballpark, some fans planned to wear swimsuits.

But the swimmers who planned to watch the game while cavorting in the pool, heated spa and swim-up bar beyond the right-center field fence were wise if they adhered to tradition by bringing along baseball gloves.

The pool is just 415 feet from home plate, making it a prime target for sluggers such as Arizona’s Matt Williams. Colorado’s Larry Walker hit a ball into the water during batting practice Monday, in preparation for Tuesday night’s opener against Arizona.

When any Diamondback hits a homer, water cannons alongside the pool will shoot a stream 35 feet into the air.

The aquatic playground, which holds 35 people and costs $4,000 per game to rent, is just one of many features at the $354 million Bank One Ballpark that may make traditionalists squirm.

Even though it’s the only domed stadium with natural grass--special shade-tolerant DeAnza zoysia sod grown in Palm Desert, Calif.--and there are 360 seats selling for $1 apiece on game days, the park looks more like an airport hangar than a traditional baseball stadium.

With the retractable roof open, it has the feel of a warehouse combined with a flea market. Billboards cover nearly every inch of the stadium, and there are two Miller Lite beer gardens and three McDonald’s restaurants.

Sponsors have even usurped some ballpark traditions. While fans elsewhere line up “K” signs as their pitchers record strikeouts, that will be shown on the “Circle K Strikeout Meter” sponsored by a local convenience store.

But the 48,500-seat park, known affectionately among Arizonans as BOB, also offers fan-friendly features such as a picnic area seating 600 people and a giant play area for children.

There are nearly a quarter-mile of concession stands, offering everything from $6 beers to fruit smoothies and specialty popcorn. And there are 340 restrooms for women, compared to only 276 for men.

The players won’t be too uncomfortable, either.

The Diamondbacks’ 20,000-square-foot locker room has 40 oak-paneled dressing cubicles, each with a built-in vanity mirror and combination safe. The catchers’ lockers are bigger, because of all their gear.

The Arizona players have a steam room, three Jacuzzis, a training pool and an exercise and weight room. An adjoining room holds two indoor batting cages.

One feature that traditionalists should love is a dirt path running between the mound and home plate, a throwback to pre-World War II stadiums.

And there’s a double warning track in the outfield, with a row of dirt and then more grass before the fences--a setup Diamondbacks officials say will help players better judge how close they are to the wall.

The roof is 196 feet above the playing field, and the hole is so big when it’s open that the entire America West Arena--the neighboring home of the Phoenix Suns--could fit through comfortably.

Though it was expected to be chilly for the opener against the Rockies, perhaps the main reason for the retractable roof--which includes 9 million pounds of steel--is the summer heat.

Temperatures regularly reach 110 degrees and sometimes higher.

The roof can close in about five minutes to keep out the midday sun, and 8,000 tons of air conditioning--enough for 700 houses--can cool BOB by 30 degrees in 3 1/2 hours.