Last updated on November 3rd, 2023 at 08:42 am
The temperature outside Phoenix reaches over 100 degrees during the summer, so a retractable roof was necessary from the start. Chase Field (originally Bank One Ballpark) was the first major sports venue to have a retractable roof over real grass, so the place was already breaking ground. To help kick-off a brand-new stadium with a new expansion team, the Diamondbacks built a swimming pool as another distinguishing feature to their venue.
Outside of supporting the fans, players also use the pool for a variety of reasons. Some players use it to cool down after a game, while others use it to celebrate big wins. Finally, some players even use the pool to celebrate a win, like the Diamondbacks did in 2023.
The Chase Field Pool and Corporate Sponsorships
The pool acts as a massive marketing opportunity for companies to utilize. Due to these high-demand seats, you will see plenty of corporate sponsorships in this area. The swimming pool is always on TV during baseball games showing the fans swimming, so it’s the perfect way to market a brand.
What Other MLB Field Has a Pool?
There is another MLB stadium that has a swimming pool at their venue out of Chase Field. LoanDepot Park, out in Miami, Florida, also has a pool out in the left field. The Marlins pool is The Clevelander, and it turns into a nightclub after games.
Who Hit the First Home Run into the Pool?
Mark Grace was the first baseball player to hit a home run into the pool in 1998. At that time, Mark Grace was playing for the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Chris Herrmann once hit a Diamondbacks home run into a pool of Philly fans who threw the ball back onto the field.
What is the Diamondbacks Pool Incident?
Everything in this post has been about fans, but what about baseball players? Back in 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks at Chase Field and won the National League West Title. The Diamondbacks lost a 9.5 game lead in the NL West to LA, so clinching the division in Arizona’s ballpark made it especially sweet. Once LA beat Arizona, they went over to the pool to celebrate.
During the celebration in the clubhouse and dugout, many Los Angeles Dodgers players ran back on the field to celebrate. As they were on the field, many ran to the right-centerfield wall to get into the outfield pool and hot tub. Players like Carl Crawford, Clayton Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez, and more were splashing and jumping in the pool as they were celebrating the win. Some of the Diamondbacks staff were not happy with the incident as they saw the celebration as disrespectful. Even players for Arizona and even senator John McCain took swipes at LA.
Greg Kristan, owner of The Stadium Reviews, LLC and TM Blast, LLC, brings his extensive experience visiting over half of the MLB ballparks, along with numerous MLS, NHL, NBA, and NFL venues, to provide in-depth coverage on the bag policy, food options, and parking. He has also been interviewed about his experiences on several sports podcasts.