Turner Field

 ( Defunct Major League Baseball Venues ) 

After negotiations broke down, the team began planning a new stadium, SunTrust Park. The stadium would be built in southern Cobb County, with an Atlanta address, located "near the geographic center of the Braves' fan base." The new stadium was constructed in a public/private partnership. The projected cost was $672 million. It occupies of a lot, with the remainder of the space devoted to parking, green space, and mixed-use development. The new stadium is part of a 60-acre development called The Battery Atlanta. Although Cobb County is not presently served by MARTA, the Braves use a "circulator" bus system to shuttle fans to and from the stadium. Construction on SunTrust Park broke ground on September 16, 2014. Had SunTrust Park been behind schedule, the Braves had the option (but ultimately declined) to extend their lease at Turner Field up to 5 years. Braves executive vice president Mike Plant has stated that capital maintenance would be much less at SunTrust Park. While Turner Field was designed from the ground up with the Braves in mind, Plant said that it required higher capital maintenance costs in the long run because it was value engineered for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Plant estimates that capital maintenance costs at SunTrust Park will be no more than $80 million after 30 years – less than half of the $150 million in capital maintenance needed for Turner Field after 17 years.

Prior to the game, the Braves unveiled their All-Turner Field Team, as chosen on the team's website by fans: catcher Javy López, first baseman Freddie Freeman, second baseman Marcus Giles, shortstop Rafael Furcal, third baseman Chipper Jones, left fielder Ryan Klesko, center fielder Andruw Jones, right fielder Brian Jordan, utility player Martin Prado, pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, and Julio Teheran, and relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel.

In a post-game ceremony, home plate was removed and delivered to SunTrust Park by Hank Aaron and Braves chairman Terry McGuirk, as those remaining at Turner Field watched its progress on the video board. While home plate was being driven up Interstate 75, the ceremony included a parade of fans representing each state in the Braves' television footprint and speeches from Braves dignitaries, followed by a simultaneous performance of the Braves' signature "Tomahawk Chop" rally cry by the crowd still at Turner Field and the small gathering of team executives and Little Leaguers at SunTrust Park.

The first postseason game played at Turner Field was also during the 1997 season between the Braves and the Houston Astros in the NLDS. Starting pitcher Greg Maddux pitched a complete game, giving up only one run and leading the Braves to a 2–1 victory. Following a sweep of the Astros, the Braves went on to the NLCS, where Tom Glavine picked up the first NLCS win at Turner Field; however, the Braves lost to the eventual-World Series-champion Florida Marlins.

The first World Series game ever played at Turner Field was Game 1 of the 1999 World Series, where the starting pitcher Maddux and the Braves were defeated 4–1 by the New York Yankees' Orlando Hernández and series MVP Mariano Rivera; the Braves went on to lose the series by a four-game sweep. The only Major League Baseball All-Star Game ever to be played at Turner Field was in 2000. Atlanta's Chipper Jones hit the lone home run in the game, and Braves outfielder Andruw Jones drove in a run as the National League was defeated 6–3.

Turner Field was also home to the first NL Wild Card Game in 2012 between the Braves and St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves were behind 6–3 in the bottom of the 8th inning when Andrelton Simmons hit a fly ball to shallow left field that dropped in between Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma and left fielder Matt Holliday. Umpire Sam Holbrook called Simmons out, citing the infield fly rule. Had an infield fly not been called, Simmons would have been credited with a single and Atlanta would have had the bases loaded with one out. Fans at Turner Field began to litter the field with debris, prompting the game to be delayed for 19 minutes. The Braves lost the game 6–3, ending their season.

Other renovations in that year included the addition of a long LED display to the stadium's upper deck, primarily for advertising purposes.

Turner Field's left field vista was dominated by advertising fixtures from two iconic Atlanta corporations. In 2009, a new large Coca-Cola bottle was installed behind left field. Replacing an earlier version made of various pieces of baseball equipment, the new bottle featured a HD display around the label, as well as LED lighting. Next to this second iteration of Turner Field's Coca-Cola bottle was a Chick-fil-A cow, added in 2008. Wearing a Braves hat, the cow did the Tomahawk Chop along with fans while holding a sign with rotating slogans which tie in to the fast-food chain's successful "Eat Mor Chikin" advertising campaign. The cow was removed from Turner Field following the 2015 season for refurbishment before being installed at Truist Park.

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. The Braves' previous longest game by time was 6:10 against the Mets on July 4, 1985, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium.

The most runs scored by either team in a single inning was 10, set on October 5, 2001, between the Braves and the Florida Marlins. The record was set in the 1st inning of the game. The Braves won the game 20–3.

The 755 Club (named in honor of Hank Aaron's home run record) was the stadium's predominant suite location. The club was a area of space rented for special events and parties; individual suites were rented for individual games or for the entire season. 755 Club @ Turner Field. Retrieved June 6, 2012. The Delta Sky 360 Lounge was added in 2010 and was located behind the 755 Club suites on the second level of the ballpark. The lounge could only be accessed by members of the 755 Club. The lounge consisted of multiple premium eateries not found in the rest of the ballpark. Other Delta Sky 360 Lounges could be found at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, and one was included in the construction of SunTrust Park. Delta Sky 360 Lounge at Yankee Stadium. Retrieved June 6, 2012. Citi Field Clubs. Retrieved June 6, 2012. The 755 Club became the University Club as part of the Georgia State football stadium.

Turner Field also featured the Georgia's Own Credit Union Club and Superior Plumbing Club, consisting of 152 collective premium seats located directly adjacent to each side of the press box. The original club, sponsored by Georgia's Own Credit Union and featuring 80 seats, was added to the ballpark for the 2012 season and also contained multiple upscale dining options and in-seat food and beverage services. Instead of stadium seats, patrons faced the field in chairs around semicircular tables. A slightly smaller second section, sponsored by Superior Plumbing and featuring 72 seats, was added for the 2013 season on the opposite side of the press area. The Club Level was another indoor premium concourse level located on the second deck of the ballpark. This level featured multiple VIP suites that could be purchased for individual games and used for party-style affairs, among other events. Turner Field: Golden Moon & Casino Level. Retrieved June 6, 2012. For Turner Field's final few seasons, the Club Level had no title sponsor; in previous years, it was known as the Lexus Level and Golden Moon Casino Level.

• Coca-Cola Sky Field: Along the Left Field Corner of the Upper Level and sponsored by Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, Sky Field was a large standing room area from which fans could view the game. The area contained a base path which kids can run during the games, as well as an unobstructed view of the downtown Atlanta skyline and the former Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium site. Rising above Sky Field was a giant Coca-Cola Bottle. The original bottle was designed and outfitted with baseball equipment; however, a newer "glass" bottle featuring a video screen serving as the bottle's label replaced the original during the 2009 season. Many of the pieces of the original bottle would later go on display at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.
• Scouts Alley: Along the field level under the left field seating area, Scout's Alley was an area featuring interactive baseball-themed games targeted at younger fans. Games included pitching cages and batting cages. Balloon and face-painting artists were also located along Scout's Alley. Most attractions required additional payment by tokens, which were purchased at kiosks within Scouts Alley.
• Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame: Located along the northwest side at Aisle 134 and served as the franchise's main museum. Admission to the museum and hall of fame could be purchased at the Braves ticket window. It was open year-round, and served as the starting and ending point for stadium tours, which were offered to the public on dates when the stadium was dormant and on mornings preceding night games. While the stadium was in use, the museum was featured as a Scout's Alley attraction, and was open to game ticket holders for an additional fee (paid in Scouts Alley tokens).
• Fan Plaza: Fan Plaza (sometimes called Grand Entry Plaza) served as the primary entrance and exit to the park, and was the hub of pregame and postgame activity at Turner Field. The Plaza was located directly behind centerfield and the jumbotron. The area featured the Majestic Clubhouse Store, as well as multiple dining options and drink stands, and the Family Zone (a children's interactive area, which replaced Cartoon Network's "Tooner Field" in 2012). The radio pre-game and post-game show broadcast location was also located on the Plaza. Prior to select home games, live music was performed in this area.
• Monument Grove: Located outside the gates of the ballpark, but inside the gated perimeter, near the ticket windows, was Monument Grove. Monument Grove featured statues of Braves legends Hank Aaron and Phil Niekro (as well as Georgia native Ty Cobb), the "Full Count" sculpture, a bust of Aaron, as well as the high team baseballs originally used to celebrate the 2000 All Star Game. Every Braves player with a retired number (plus Jackie Robinson) was honored with a large sculpture of the number fashioned after the font used during that player's era. The Braves Walk Of Fame was also housed here, as was the exterior entrance to the Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame.
• Braves Chop House: The Braves Chop House was a casual dining restaurant located behind the right-center field seats. Each table in the restaurant is placed to provide a view of the field. On the roof of the Braves Chop House was the Budweiser Pavilion party deck. The Chop House, now sponsored by Coors Light, is an integral part of the SunTrust Park design. The Turner Field Chop House became the State House Grill as part of the Georgia State re-use of the stadium.
• Skyline Tickets: Located on each end of the upper level (along the third base line in section 422L, and above right field in section 437R), the Skyline seats were available for purchase for $1 each, and went on sale at the Turner Field ticket windows 2½ hours before gametime. There was a strict policy of one ticket per person, and entry to the stadium was required immediately after purchase, in an effort to prevent ticket scalping.

Of the 10 Braves whose numbers were retired prior to Turner Field's closure, nine (Spahn, Mathews, Aaron, Niekro, Cox, Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Jones) were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while Murphy's eligibility expired without election. Only Glavine, Jones, Maddux, and Smoltz appeared in games at Turner Field. Cox managed the team for 25 seasons in all, including its first 14 seasons in Turner Field.

• Interactive diagram at Clem's Baseball site showing both Olympic and Braves configurations
• 3D model plug-in for Google Earth
• Turner Field Photos