New York Mets Shea Stadium Ashtray on Antiques Roadshow

During a recent Antiques Roadshow episode, a bobble-head collector brought in some N.Y. Mets souvenirs to be appraised. Included with the bobbles was a metal ashtray replica of Shea Stadium from it's 1964 dedication on April 17, 1964. The detailed metal replica of Shea Stadium set atop a solid wooden base with an engraved plaque that is written, "1964 / Dedication Shea Stadium / Presented To / From The Mets." A sticker on the bottom of the base reads, "L.G. Balfour Company" along with the firm's logo. These were not sold in the gift shop, but a very limited number of these commemorative ashtrays were created for VIP's and dignitaries. Check out the other stadium replicas I've written about previously.

2012 London Olympics Architecture souvenirs

The Olympics have become not just the ultimate world-wide athletic competition, but also a showcase for the host city. Many innovative buildings and unusual architecture are constructed for Olympics venues. So far, I've only seen souvenir miniatures of the main Olympic stadium and they are made of resin. You can buy them here. I'm sure we're all hoping that other souvenir building replicas are produced and sold, but I have not seen any as yet. Have you? I've seen many olympic souvenirs being sold, but most few are of interest to building collectors. Great video from BBC gives a tour to some of the Olympic architecture.

R.I.P. Texas Stadium

Former home of the Dallas Cowboys Football Team, Texas Stadium, was imploded last weekend. The demolition was became an event complete with Fireworks. It's a bit odd that we celebrate with much fanfare the demolition of buildings these days. Out with the old to build something new with no sense of history. Texas Stadium was home of the Dallas Cowboys for 38 years. The sentiment of those who attended the distraction felt the old place was great in its day, but past its prime - especially since the Cowboys moved to the new $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in nearby Arlington after the 2008 season. The old stadium, built for $35 million in 1971, was quickly turned to ruins under a swirling cloud of dust after 55 detonating blasts. Texas Stadium is only one of many arenas to reach the end of a lifespan in recent years. Shea Stadium in Queens, N.Y., was home to the New York Mets baseball team for 44 years before it was demolished in 2008. At Capital Centre arena in Maryland near Washington, D.C., crowds of more than 18,000 watched hockey and basketball games and enjoyed performances by Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson over the years. Dynamite destroyed that arena in 2002. In February 2010, Giants Stadium in

East Rutherford, N.J., was demolished after 34 years of service. Treasure seekers hoping to cash in on those nostalgic for the Texas Stadium tried to auction rubble from the explosion on eBay. However, it seems some of the debris was posted for sale even before the stadium was distorted. I don't know if a metal souvenir replica of the Texas Stadium was ever produced. There are a number of versions of resin replicas available online.

Stadium Souvenir Buildings: Part Three

Here is the last set of stadium souvenir building photos and information. I'm very sure there are even more not included in these three posts. If you have any stadium replicas not shown, send me a photo and some information about them and I can add to this post.
University of Illinois Memorial Stadium, Carbondale, 1930’s
Cast bronze ashtray
8” x 6.25” x 1.5” tall
no makers mark
Harvard University Stadium, 1930’s
Solid cast aluminum
5.25” x 3.5” x 1.25”
No mark, looks like a student project, poor casting

Ohio State University – 3 versions of the same stadium
All look like the same mold was used and are 4” x 3” x 1” tall
1930’s cast iron, painted red OSU in raised letters on the infield, no mark
1950’s cast aluminum, Ohio State in raised letters on the infield, bottom is inscribed R. C, Schneider Co, 184 long Ave, Columbus Ohio
1960’s ceramic, painted gray, Ohio State in raised letters on the infield, no mark
Ohio Stadium, home of Ohio State Buckeyes
Solid cast bronze
8" x 6" x 2" tall & weighs 7 pounds 10 ounces.
Made as a bookend perhaps for VIP's at the opening of the stadium
Very rare

One end (not the set) sold recently on eBay for $482.00

University of Minnesota Stadium, 1927
Aluminum casting
4” x 3.75” x 1” tall
Bottom is inscribed “Engineers Day 1927”
No makers mark

University of Texas Stadium
Cast Aluminum
4.25” x 4” x 1.5” tall
Texas in raised letters on the infield
“Mechanical Engineering Laboratories” in raised letters on the bottomSundevil Stadium, AZ, 1995
Resign I think, Commemorative from Super Bowl XXX
4.5” x 3” x 1.75” tall
Sports Collectors Guild Limited AdditionUniversity of Pennsylvania, 1930’s
Painted cast iron
4.75” x 3.5” x 1” tall
No makers markUniversity of Nebraska Stadium, 2001
Pewter on a green plastic base.
4.5” x 4” x 1” tall
Add piece for woods brothers realty
Made by Awards Unlimited
Montréal Olympic Stadium (Parc Olymique), 1976
Plastic Model in white or gold
7.5” x 4” x 2.5” tall
Marked made in Quebec, Souvenir POP Ent

Bush Stadium, St Louis, 1970’s
Ceramic ashtray
8” in diameter x 2” tall

Yale Bowl, University Stadium, 1990’s
Lennox China numbered as Limited Edition
7” x 5.5” x 1” tall
Commemorates the “Yale Committee of Twenty-One” who built the stadium in 1914
Dodgers Stadium, 1960’s
Ceramic ashtray
8” x 7” x 1”tall
Franciscan pottery

Soldiers Field Chicago, 1970’s
14” x 8” x 4” tall
Ceramic replica with working lights
Made by City Sights, I believe it was commissioned by Marshal Fields StoreThe Ryan Center - The University of Rhode Island
Made of solid pewter
Printed on the base are: "Ryan Center" and "Gilbane" (the construction company)
1.5 inchs tall and 4.75 inches square base
Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas
Modeled after the ancient Colosseum in Rome
Versions include ahard solid plastic replica and plastic coin bank The Colosseum in Rome
Various sizes and materials

Stadium Souvenir Replicas: Part Two

More Souvenir replicas of stadiums include those from professional teams, college campuses and Olympics too.
The Rose bowl, Pasadena CA, 1950’s
Made of lead
6.5” x 5.5” x 1.25”
Made by Dodge
LA Coliseum, Olympic Stadium, 1932
Lead ashtray
6.25” x 4.25” x .75” tall
Made in Japan
Bottom inscribed “A token of Appreciation and Happy Driving SP Close, LAPD, 2214 Parnell Ave., August 1937, LA”
Seoul Olympic Main Stadium, aka Chamsil Stadium 1988
Olympic commemoratives with Velvet presentation boxes
Made of plated spelter in various colors.
Made in multiple sizes and configurations. I have a 4” in diameter, a 6” in diameter, an 7 “ an 8”. On some the logo is horizontal across the field, on others it is vertical.
The large 8” was made from brass or plated steel, has no logo, and is engraved on the bottom indicating it was a convention commemorative. It has a wooden stand it sits on and came in a velvet covered presentation box.

Das Reichssportfeld (the Sporting Grounds) Olympic Complex, Berlin, 1936
This is an aerial view of the entire site including the stadium, and more than 16 facilities plus parking lots, theaters, rail stations and topographical terrain.
Constructed of black Bakelite in the original box
11.5” x 8” x 1” tall
Made bySiemens-Schuckertwerk, designed by Oskar Reich
More info here about this old replica.
Les Arenes, Nimes, France, 1930’s?
This is an ash tray replica of the roman coliseum style arena in Nimes
It appears to be constructed out of lead by its weight
5” x 4.75” x 1.25” Tall
No makers Mark
Verona Coliseum, 1970’s?
Roman Ruin
Appears to by gypsum Painted to look like Bronze
3.5” x 2.75” x 1” tall
Bottom is inscribed E. R, K, and X-65
Plaza del Toros, Bull Fighting Ring, Madrid 1960’s
Ashtray made of stamped and painted tin on a Bakelite base
6.25” in diameter x 2” tall
No makers mark
Emirates Stadium, Dubai, 2009
Sterling silver
1.75” x 1.5” x .5” tall
Arsenal Logo on the bottom (the soccer team)
No makers mark
University of Notre Dame Stadium, 1930’s
6.5” x 4.5” x 4.5” tall (to the top of Knute Rockne’s head)
Knute's famous quote printed on the front
No makers mark

Souvenir Stadium Buildings: Part One

Most people go to a stadium to support a team, see a concert or attend an event. We can cheer for the players, do the wave and feel part of the action. As building collectors, we want to also own a piece of the action. Recently, you even had a chance to own a full-sized stadium. The hard-hit city of Pontiac, Michigan is auctioned off the Silverdome, a stadium of more than 80,000 seats that once played host to Super Bowl XVI in 1982 and the former home of the National Football League's Detroit Lions, went on the auction block. A Canadian real estate company won with a bid of $583,000. Sitting on 127 acres, the Silverdome was the biggest stadium in the NFL when it was built for $55.7 million in 1975. Building Collector reader Howie send me a link to some additional stadiums which have fallen on hard times. A souvenir pewter replica of the Pontiac Silverdome was created in a limited edition of 1000. Miniature stadium replicas are popular and come in a wide variety of ages and styles. Bob E., who has a subset of stadiums within his building collection, sent me stats and details of many more stadium replicas. There are so many miniature stadium replicas, however, I’m breaking this up into a few posts, the first of which is below. Enjoy.Chinese National Stadium, (also known as the “Birds Nest”) Large version from 2008
Scale 1:2500
16.5” x 9.5” x 3” tall
Made of a Zinc Alloy, name plate made of steel left over from the construction
Black lacquered wooden base
Stadium dome lifts off to show interior Chinese National Stadium, (Birds Nest) Small version made 2008
Scale 1:36
8" x 2.75" x 1.5" tall
Gold Plated
Black lacquered wooden base
Stadium dome lifts off to show interior
Also, check out this Birds Nest Replicas Video which includes lots of souvenirs and a teapot replica, puzzle, clocks, lighters, plastic & metal replicas, art, stamps, key chains and more. Chinese National Aquatics Center, (better know as the “Water Cube”) Small version made 2008
Scale 1:2185
5.75” square by 1.5” tall
Pewter or Steel with a bright sliver finish
Metallic silver painted wood base
Arena skin lifts off to show pools inside
Made by Model CraftStaples Center, LA, 1999
4.5” in diameter (6” long with Press Center) 1.75” tall
Made by DRB Creations a commission from the Staples Corp. who rejected the order.
Solid pewter with gold plating, very heavy, cast in two pieces
Only twenty were produced Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 2001
Part of the series “Stadiums of the Super Bowl”
Super Bowl XXXV, limited to 311 castings
5.5” x 4.5” x 1” tall
Pewter with inset enameled logo’s on top and bottom
Maker mark: “RDZ"
Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami 1995
NFL presentation piece from Supper Bowl XXIX
Pewter with inset enameled logos top and bottom, Bottom engraved “In Appreciation”
5.5” x 4.75” x 1” tall
No makers mark Super Dome, New Orleans, 1997
NFL presentation piece from Supper Bowl XXIX
Pewter with inset logos on bottom, Bottom engraved “In Appreciation”
5.75” square x 2.75” tall
Dome is anodized gold
No makers mark

Wembley Stadium, London, 2007
Created for the opening of the new stadium
Stainless Steel with stain highlights
8.25” x 7.5” x 3.75” tall at the decorative arch
Made by First Team Sports LimitedSafeco Field, Seattle, 1999
Created for the opening of the new stadium
Pewter on a black enameled wood base
6” x 5” x 2.5” tall
No makers markHarris County Domed Stadium (Astrodome), 1960’s
A give away from the First State Bank of Bellaire
Pot metal
5” in diameter x 2” tall
coin bank made by Banthrico

Olympic Stadium in Berlin

Wow, check out this original 1936 Olympic stadium souvenir building replica. The dark, green bakelite model includes the Olympic Stadium and the surrounding complex. Architect Werner March designed the complex. This commemorative souvenir was recently auctioned on eBay from Belgium and sold for $676. It included the original cardboard box with hinged lid and clasp. Inside the lid, a diagram and map with information about the complex survived. The XI Olympiad Reichssportfeld souvenir measured 1 inch high and almost 12 inches wide. I wonder how many of these have survived. The real Reichssportfeld (sport field of the Reich) was built when the Nazis came to power in Germany (1933). They wanted to use the Olympic Games for propaganda purposes. Construction took place from 1934 to 1936 on the site of another stadium. When the Reichssportfeld was finished, it was 1.32 square kilometres (326 acres). It consisted of (east to west): the Olympiastadion, the Maifeld and the Waldbühne amphitheater in addition to various places, buildings and facilities for different sports in the northern section. One of the most memorable events of the 1936 Olympics was the performance of the African-American track and field athlete Jesse Owens, representing the United. Owens was awarded the gold medal in 4 categories. During World War II, the area suffered little damage.After the war, the United Kingdom military occupation used the northern part of the Reichssportfeld as its headquarters until 1994.The stadium was renovated in 2004 including the addition of a roof.

Football Stadium Cake Pan

Bake your own “house that Ruth built.” Fall and football season are here. I found these cake pans in the shape of a football stadium. A souvenir building collector simply MUST have a building cake for a football or Super Bowl party. The Nordic Ware Stadium Pancould also work for a soccer, basketball, or hockey team party. Homecoming, Monday Night Football, Little League, the World Series or other events could use a cake like this. Cool Castle Nordic Ware Castle Bundt Pan and Cathedral Nordic Ware 54037 Cathedral Bundt Pan are also available.