Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on Radio 105.7 - Turner Field and Technology

Turner Field will close as we know it this weekend. But is will live on through repurposing with Georgia State taking over.

When the ballpark lights are shut off for good on the night of Oct. 2, the team will leave behind not only a stadium filled with memories of National League championships, but also a 50-year legacy that started just across the street from Turner Field. After all, Mechanicsville has been — for better or worse — the home to the Braves since their relocation from Milwaukee.

The team now moves to Cobb County.

Rick and Sully look at some tech advances and features of Turner Field

1.    The Olympic Legacy

Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics, the stadium was converted into a baseball park to serve as the new home of the team. The Braves moved less than one block from Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, which served as their home ballpark from 1966 to 1996 (30 years). The stadium was a bit ahead of its time in that it was converted to a ballpark from the Olympic Stadium. Immediately after the 1996 Summer Paralympics, which followed the Olympics, much of the north end of the stadium was removed in order to convert it to its permanent use as a 49,000-seat baseball park.
 

2.  Public Transportation and Access

MARTA access (well, plus shuttle) to the games and the ability to bring in food from home — or Publix, because nothing says baseball like a sub from Publix or KFC.

3. Wi-Fi Pioneers

Thanks to AT&T, Turner Field was one of the first stadiums in any sport to offer free Wi-Fi to fans throughout the stadium. There was also an early Turner Field app that helped fans navigate the stadium.

4.  One of the first "Fan Plazas"

Fan Plaza: Fan Plaza (sometimes called Grand Entry Plaza) serves as the primary entrance and exit to the park, and is the hub of pregame and postgame activity at Turner Field. The Plaza is located directly behind centerfield and the jumbotron. The area features the Majestic Clubhouse Store, as well as multiple dining options and drink stands, and the Taco Mac Family Zone (a children's interactive area, which replaced Cartoon Network's "Tooner Field" in 2012). The radio pregame and postgame show broadcast location is also located on the Plaza. Prior to select home games, live music is performed in this area.

5. Turner Field has been the filming locations for movies:

"Flight"
"The Change Up"
"Trouble With the Curve"
 

Turner Field Facts:
-Seating capacity
    85,000 (1996 Olympics)
    50,528 (1997)
    49,714 (1998–2000)
    50,096 (2001–2007)
    49,743 (2008–2010)
    49,586 (2011–present)
-400 Feet to straight-away centerfield

- The first regular season game played at Turner Field was on April 4, 1997 against the Chicago Cubs. The Braves were losing 4–3 in the eighth inning when Chipper Jones drove in the tying run. A Michael Tucker single gave the Braves the lead as they won their first regular season game at Turner Field 5–4.

First Hit: Chipper Jones
First Home Run - Michael Tucker

- The longest game by time, and in Braves history, was played on July 26–27, 2011 between the Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game lasted 6 hours and 39 minutes with the Braves winning controversially 4–3 in 19 innings.