In Mallparks, Michael T. Friedman observes that as cathedrals represented power relations in medieval towns and skyscrapers epitomized those within industrial cities, sports stadiums exemplify urban American consumption at the turn of the twenty-first century. Grounded in Henri Lefebvre and George Ritzer's spatial theories in their analyses of consumption spaces, Mallparks examines how the designers of this generation of baseball stadiums follow the principles of theme park and shopping mall design to create highly effective and efficient consumption sites.

In his exploration of these contemporary cathedrals of sport and consumption, Friedman discusses the history of stadium design, the amenities and aesthetics of stadium spaces, and the intentions and conceptions of architects, team officials, and civic leaders. He grounds his analysis in case studies of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore; Fenway Park in Boston; Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles; Nationals Park in Washington, DC; Target Field in Minneapolis; and Truist Park in Atlanta.

Michael T. Friedman is a Lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, College Park. His work has been published in journals such as City, Culture, and Society; Sociology of Sport Journal; Journal of Urban Affairs; and Economic Development Quarterly.

Friedman (Univ. of Maryland, College Park) offers a valuable analysis of the relationship between major league baseball parks and spectators over the past 110 years, focusing on the "mallparks" that emerged in the late 20th century.

Natalie Koch, Syracuse University, author of The Geopolitics of Spectacle:

Mallparks is an engaging and insightful introduction to the design, spatiality, economics, and politics of US baseball stadiums as they have evolved over the past three decades.