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Aloha Stadium is just a stone's throw from Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. It is interesting that this unique "hybrid" stadium was built at about the same time that Mile High Stadium was expanded, as they both featured the innovative massive moving grandstands. Whereas the one in Denver used water, the stands at Aloha Stadium rest on air cushions. Since it is of major league size, one wonders whether Hawaiians seriously lobbied to have an an expansion franchise put in Honolulu. The travel requirements almost certainly make such a prospect highly impractical, but it is interesting to contemplate.
Structurally, Aloha Stadium (in its baseball configuration) bears a certain resemblance to the two "octorad" stadiums: Veterans Stadium and Jack Murphy Stadium. At first glance, the reconfiguration scheme is ingenious. For baseball purposes, however, Aloha Stadium has clear limitations. Most of the outfield seats are far removed from the playing field, making binoculars a necessity. Even the front-row seats near the bullpens are at least 60 feet from the foul line. From the players' perspective, the outfield is noted for short distances to the corners (about 320 feet), and a deep center field (about 422 feet). In that respect, it is like Minute Maid Park and several of the classic ballparks from the early 20th Century. The least desirable aspect of Aloha Stadium is the artificial turf, which in a green tropical paradise such as Hawaii is totally uncalled for. The scoreboard (not shown) is beneath the front edge of the upper deck in center field.
The Pacific Coast League Hawaii Islanders played in Aloha Stadium from 1975 until 1987, after which the franchise moved to Colorado Springs because of scant attendance. In April 1997, the promotion-minded San Diego Padres (which have a very small exclusive franchise territory) hosted the St. Louis Cardinals in a series at Aloha Stadium, where their star Tony Gwynn used to play for the Islanders. Baseball has not been played at Aloha Stadium in recent years, however, and the grandstand is no long movable.
Most Americans are familiar with Aloha Stadium as the site of the Pro Bowl, which has been played soon after the Super Bowl every year since 1980. It is one of the least consequential sporting events in this country, but at least the scenery is beautiful. In the football configuration, there are ramps connecting the upper and lower level concourses in the four wedge-shaped empty spaces. The front-row seats in the northern and southern corners of the grandstand (center field, and behind home plate, respectively) are 60 feet from the end zone, an unnecessarily large gap. The movable grandstand sections are quite snugly position along the side lines, however, making it an excellent football venue for most fans. This NFL tradition will come to an end in 2010, when the Pro Bowl will be held at the same venue as the Super Bowl: Dolphin Stadium. Presumably, the same thing will happen in 2011, when the Super Bowl is scheduled to be played at the new stadium of the Dallas Cowboys.
SOURCE: Lowry (2006); WEB LINKS: www.alohastadium.hawaii.gov, Google Earth, linkmeister.com
FAN TIP: Tom Haynes
