The Stadium. Frank Andre Guridy.

The Stadium.   An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play.   Frank Andre Guridy

Sports fans attend stadiums and arenas to watch a game or their favorite teams compete.    This is a hobby that has been experienced for more than a century in American Culture.   Most fans may not think about the connection of history and social interactions to these very edifices that populate many cities around the nation and even the globe.    Author Frank Andre Guridy explains just how important stadiums are in our culture and the impact they have on society and people from all walks of life in his latest book, The Stadium.   

Guridy, an author and professor at Columbia, explores and documents the rich history of the stadium including the likely origin in Manhattan.    The content is very organized, well researched and at times simply fascinating.    He gets the reader to not only go back in time and grasp the origin of many key arenas but also how it impacted the very people that would come to these structures to spectate and be entertained.    As time changes so do the values of societies impact on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and in more modern times the almighty dollar.   

Inside The Stadium, Guridy asserts that there is more to these erected figures than just hosting a sporting event or contest.  In fact, the author claims that the stadiums were built overtly or otherwise to cultivate and preserve the power and status of the white man.    The argument centers around how early stadiums kept blacks either out of the arena altogether or when upon admittance seated in separate and less prestigious viewing points.   Another part of the argument was revealed in how women trying to break into the sports media industry were initially locked out of the press box and especially the players locker room.   Another part of the book discusses how the LGBQT movement attempted to champion its cause by establishing the “gay games” in San Franciso in the early 1970’s.   Finally, as owners and operators figured out how to maximize their stadium profits, society endured more of a corporate takeover not only in rampant advertisement but also often squeezing the little guy out of either affording moderate tickets or from not being able to attend at all. 

As an author identifying as African American and Puerto-Rican, one might expect a hardline response to mostly white (and occasionally racist) myriad stadium and arena owners for asserting their dominance and leaving less opportunity for others in humanity.    While Guridy certainly called out racism, sexism, and other misogynist points of view over the course of time regarding stadium ethos and pathos, his main point seems to note that the layout of fans inside of these edifices often mirrored society in general.    The author also was equitable in pointing out how as barriers were broken, and civil rights were advanced, the makeup of the spectators often changed along with it. 

We are reminded in the book how stadiums are not built just for sporting events.    Indeed, Guridy also includes era-changing events such as musical concerts, political rallies and even, in the early days of crowd gathering, the circus.  Combine that with various landscapes included the wide-open culture in 19^th century New York City, the segregationist south in New Orleans, the growing pains of Los Angelos during the civil rights era or even the nation's capital with baseball and football franchise owners known for their racist views and attitudes, we have a book that packs quite a punch of history, politics in general, and race.  

The Stadium contains three hundred and ten pages.    It is well put together and researched.    The author’s writing prose is easy enough to navigate although it did feel at different times during the book that more than necessary details were included.    Clearly the author made it a point to address the inequities for which the stadiums around the nation and throughout history have served as a catalyst, intentionally or otherwise.       While the book is not necessarily an easy read, it is filled with intrigue for exactly as it is purported.    One does not need to be a stadium attendee or even an avid sports fan to grasp the finer points in this intriguing manuscript. 

 

·       You might like to read this book if you are a fan of American history.

·       You might like to read this book if you like to read stories about politics and sports.

·       You might like to read this book if you seek books about race, politics and sports.

·       You might like to read this book if you have ever visited or attended an event in an arena or stadium.   

 

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