# What major in-use sports stadium is in the worst neighborhood? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051 "2007-09-21T23:41:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/21 "2007-09-22T14:27:50Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Why’d this one take so long? The next one would be Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. [/QUOTE] Why Camden Yards? Sure, parts of Baltimore isn’t all that safe, but Camden Yards (along with M&T Stadium) is basically in the Inner Harbor. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/22 "2007-09-22T14:52:26Z")
When I was at Camden Yards a few years ago, I was shocked that such a beautiful, shiny new stadium was in such a nasty area. But maybe that’s just B’more? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/23 "2007-09-22T14:54:47Z")
And actually, I expected the neighborhood in Cincinnati around the Reds’ yard to be worse than it was. It really wasn’t bad at all. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/24 "2007-09-22T14:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=JXJohns] Old Tiger Stadium in Detroit was in one of the worst areas I had ever been in. [/QUOTE] Definately agree with this.First time I went there, some ol’ wino lady offered me some drugs.I was 5 or 6 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/25 "2007-09-22T17:01:43Z")
For what they’re worth, the “total crime risk” figures are from [http://homes.point2.com](http://homes.point2.com) ```auto STADIUM ZIP TOTAL CRIME RISK Yankees Stadium 10451 70 Oakland Coliseum 94621 229 Orange Bowl 33125 328 Dolphin/Pro Players 33056 154 Comiskey Park 60616 192 (old) Tiger Stadium 48216 333 Comercia Park 48201 392 Cotton Bowl 75210 326 Louisiana Superdome 70112 240 The Forum (L.A.) 90305 412 RFK Stadium 20003 247 Nationals Park (new) ? ? Monster/Candlestick 94124 ? Camden Yards 21201 229 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/26 "2007-09-22T17:24:36Z")
And the Forum takes it! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/27 "2007-09-22T17:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] And the Forum takes it! 🆒 [/QUOTE] I’m willing to guess that’s only because Nationals Park doesn’t have actual figures yet. I’ve SEEN that neighborhood… ---
**Author:** ![Jaochai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@Jaochai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaochai)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/28 "2007-09-22T17:40:33Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] How about the area surrounding the Louisiana Superdome? [/QUOTE] There’s a lot of crime around it, but that’s just part-and-parcel of being in New Orleans. It’s actually right on the border of the CBD. I don’t quite remember what’s directly next to it - I could drive over and check - but I think there’s a luxury hotel right next door? The New Orleans Area, which is this giant concert hall, is in fact right next door, and they share a parking lot. It’s really the nicest place inside the city. And I believe, at least, that it’s one of football’s better stadiums. Now if only we had a half-decent team to play in it . . . ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/29 "2007-09-22T18:01:17Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I’d like to hear more about international ones, actually. Are they in the same kinds of neighborhoods? [/QUOTE] The Bell Centre in Montreal probably takes the cake for weirdest contrast. The north side, which is built into a historic train station, faces a nice part of downtown where there are several four-star hotels and five-fork restaurants. The south side faces a run-down diner, massage parlor, and lots of empty-except-for-squatters office space. Last week, when walking home along the south side, my husband and I were accosted by the least sane mugger ever. He demanded my husband’s wallet while brandishing _two pointed fingers_. As you can imagine, we weren’t impressed. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/30 "2007-09-22T19:16:47Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] And the Forum takes it! 🆒 [/QUOTE] Curb your pride. The OP specifically asked for in-use sports stadiums. The Forum is now a mega-church. If the crime figures from [homes.point2.com](http://homes.point2.com) can be trusted, it looks like Comerica Park in Detroit is in the lead so far. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/31 "2007-09-22T19:23:41Z")
I got my purse snatched leaving the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in the early '80’s. Don’t know what the area is like since they tore it down and built Turner Field. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/32 "2007-09-22T19:32:49Z")
[QUOTE=Jaochai] There’s a lot of crime around it, but that’s just part-and-parcel of being in New Orleans. It’s actually right on the border of the CBD. I don’t quite remember what’s directly next to it - I could drive over and check - but I think there’s a luxury hotel right next door? The New Orleans Area, which is this giant concert hall, is in fact right next door, and they share a parking lot. It’s really the nicest place inside the city. And I believe, at least, that it’s one of football’s better stadiums. Now if only we had a half-decent team to play in it . . . [/QUOTE] I haven’t been there post-Katrina, but before that, I quite agree. I’ve had 2 consulting gigs right across the street from it, and IIRC, the Commander’s Palace is just a block or so away. I liked the area quite a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/33 "2007-09-22T19:49:07Z")
[QUOTE=bibliophage] The Forum is now a mega-church. [/QUOTE] Is _that_ what they did with it? Good God… 😉 I included it because I assumed it was still used for sporting events… obviously I don’t frequent the neighborhood (no sane person would). ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/34 "2007-09-22T20:04:33Z")
When I lived in Boston, I was warned to never, ever go to Fenway on my own. I can’t believe that all of the people who told me that were lying. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/35 "2007-09-22T20:05:38Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] When I lived in Boston, I was warned to never, ever go to Fenway on my own. I can’t believe that all of the people who told me that were lying. [/QUOTE] It’s not that any of the places other than those are GOOD. It’s just that places other than those aren’t THE WORST… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/36 "2007-09-22T21:42:08Z")
Many stadiums are in places where there is no neighborhood. The Shea stadium, Giants Staium for NYC. Nothing but Turnpike and watershed. Lincoln field, Wachovia Center, and Citizen’s Bank Park in Philly, you have to walk a couple of miles just to get to the edge of the industrial park (empty during most gametimes) or the South Philly neighborhood (YYMV). Other than that its surrounded by highways. Good for crime prevention to an extent, but means that there is no ‘there’ there. One reason that Veteran’s stadium was knocked down for the new stadiums was so they could fill it with bars & restaraunts for after the game. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/37 "2007-09-22T22:20:53Z")
[QUOTE=Kid\_A] I went to New York for the first time about a month ago and we took the subway up to Yankee Stadium. There wasn’t a game going on and there were just a bunch of tourists walking around. But to this baseball fan, who has always dreamed of seeing Yankee Stadium I was really surprised by the area around it. It wasn’t horrible, I mean it wasn’t downtown Detroit, but for this baseball Mecca I just expected more. Maybe it was just this one particular Saturday but we saw more police cars on the road than other cars. [/QUOTE] That may be because Yankee Stadium is in very close proximity to 3 court houses and a police station. Like across the street proximity. When I lived there in the mid seventies it was _terrible_. But that was then. It is a very nice residential nabe now. Working class Hispanics and blacks, restored Art Deco apartment buildings-- no private homes but that doesn’t make it a bad neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/38 "2007-09-22T22:22:00Z")
[QUOTE=Jeff Lichtman] Monster Park (formerly Candlestick Park) in San Francisco is close to the Hunter’s Point neighborhood. The area has a high murder rate due to gang wars. [/QUOTE] Yeah… I’m kind of amazed it took 18 posts to get mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/39 "2007-09-22T22:31:27Z")
[QUOTE=bibliophage] For what they’re worth, the “total crime risk” figures are from [http://homes.point2.com](http://homes.point2.com) . . . [/QUOTE] Thanks for providing some actual numbers. I found a site that gives comparative crime risks for all the known zip codes: [Relocation Essentials](http://www.relocationessentials.com/aff/www/tools/crime/crime.aspx) This site gives the results on a scale of one to ten, broken down by type of crime (rather than giving a single number relative to an average as [homes.point2.com](http://homes.point2.com) does). According to Relocation Essentials, to me the stadiums in the highest-crime neighborhoods look like: Candlestick/Monster Park Cotton Bowl Superdome The ones mentioned so far with the lowest crime rates according to Relocation Essentials appear to be: The Forum RFK Stadium (except for a high incidence of rape) This is just based on me eyeballing the bar graphs. I didn’t try to take a numerical average. I have no idea why the crime rate for The Forum is reported as so much higher on [homes.point2.com](http://homes.point2.com) than on Relocation Essentials. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051/40 "2007-09-22T23:40:17Z")
Camden Yards is fine. The neighborhoods that it’s nestled in aren’t _nice_ but they aren’t nasty either. Baltimore has whole blocks that are blasted-out wastelands where you don’t see a single car. Camden Yards sits in between Pigtown, Federal Hill, and the Inner Harbor; Pigtown is the worst of these and I park my car on the street there every night. The crime that you’re most risking near Camden Yards is probably having your car broken into and some random stuff stolen (and likely your valuables left behind) by a stupid/wasted junkie. There are other neighborhoods, less than a half mile further west or north, where I won’t park during the day. In those neighborhoods you’re more likely to be shot, stabbed, or stopped by the police and asked about your intentions to buy or sell drugs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-in-use-sports-stadium-is-in-the-worst-neighborhood/420051.md?page=3)