Episode
438: From Bleacher Seats to Luxury Suites - With Seth Tannenbaum
- Podcast
- Good Seats Still Available
- Published
- Mar 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4706
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://goodseatsstillavailable.libsyn.com/placeholder-374
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Summary
Manhattanville University sports studies professor Seth Tannenbaum joins the show to unpack the provocative ideas behind his new book, " Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark " — a sweeping reexamination of the American ballpark and the myth of baseball as a truly democratic space. Tannenbaum walks us through how stadiums have long been designed not just for watching games, but for organizing fans — by class, access, and experience. From the crowded urban intimacy of early 20th-century parks to the rise of suburban, car-centric stadiums and today's amenity-driven retro designs, he argues that ballparks have consistently reflected — and reinforced — who the game is really "for." But this isn't just history. Our conversation explores what these patterns mean for the future: as teams double down on premium seating, luxury suites, and real estate-driven developments, are modern stadiums becoming even more exclusive? And in an era of shifting media consumption and evolving fan expectations, what does "access" to the live sports experience really look like going forward? It's a sharp, revealing discussion about baseball, business, and the subtle architecture of inclusion — and exclusion. PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of " Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites " in this week's trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee : https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store : http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE BOOKS: " Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark " : https://amzn.to/4lHqYuG SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS ): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS ): https://www.5…