Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, Olympic Stadium and its adjacent 552-foot observation tower form baseball's largest, most architecturally ambitious, and most visually distinctive complex. The stadium itself is a squat, oval disc supported by 38 reinforced concrete ribs, while the futuristic tower is the world's tallest inclined structure.

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Resembling no other structure in the sport, the "Big O" was designed by a French architect and cost as much as $850 million (Canadian), a staggering sum at the time and still a record for a ballpark. The resultant public debt inspired an ironic nickname, "The Big Owe."

Originally, the astronomical cost and construction delays caused Olympic Stadium to open in an unfinished state. The field, working spaces, and spectator areas were complete, but the tower was only about a quarter of its planned height. Also, the retractable fabric roof, which was to be suspended from the tower by cables, was not in place. The permanent concrete roof extended beyond the seating areas, leaving an opening smaller than the playing field.

Baseball's first retractable roof was added for 1988, theoretically allowing the Expos to play either outside or indoors, depending on the weather. It was orange inside, gray outside, and took 45 minutes to open or close. In practice, however, opening and closing the roof proved difficult, and more than once the 65-ton Kevlar synthetic fabric was torn by the wind. Although it seemed the roof was permanently closed for baseball, it was removed in April 1998 by the local stadium authority, meaning that the few fans who came to Expos games could enjoy fresh air and endure rainouts for the first time in a decade.

Olympic Stadium has artificial turf and symmetrical fences (325-375-404-375-325). It is neutral with respect to overall scoring, but is a difficult park for home runs. Before the roof was installed, it was more of a pitcher's park due to the city's prevailing cold climate.

Le Stade Olympique opened with 58,500 seats on seven levels, but a 1991 remodeling, intended to create a more intimate baseball atmosphere, reduced that figure to 46,500. On April 4, 1988, in the first game played under the fabric roof, Darryl Strawberry hit the rim of the concrete roof for what is thought to be the longest home run ever hit at the Big O. In September 8, 1991, a non-structural piece of exterior concrete fell from the roof edge, causing the Expos, in an abundance of caution, to play their final 28 home games on the road.

Beyond the Gallic verve of its design, Le Stade Olympique reflects its city in several other ways. Fans can enter the stadium from the subway without venturing outdoors. The food is among the best in the majors, and the P.A. announcements and the scoreboards are appropriately bilingual. (SCL/JP)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 15, 1977: The Expos play their first game in Montreal's Olympic Stadium before a crowd of 57,592. The Phillies win 7–2. » August 5, 1980: Expos manager Dick Williams wins his 1,000th career game 11–5 over the Mets, at Olympic Stadium. He is 3rd in wins among active managers behind Gene Mauch and Earl Weaver. The Expos overcome the offense of Doug Flynn, who ties the modern major-league record with three triples. It was last done in the National League by Ernie Banks, in 1966. » September 10, 1980: Expos 21-year-old P Bill Gullickson strikes out 18 Cubs in a 4–2 win at Olympic Stadium, setting a major-league record for rookies and falling one short of the all-time record for strikeouts in a 9-inning game. The win keeps Montreal one-half game ahead of Philadelphia in the National League East. » May 10, 1981: Montreal's Charlie Lea, a native of France, no-hits the Giants 4–0, walking four and striking out eight in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. It is the first no-hitter at Olympic Stadium, which opened for baseball in 1977. » April 4, 1988: The Mets set an Opening Day record with six home runs in a 10–6 win over the Expos. Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds each connect twice for New York, with Strawberry's 2nd blast believed to be the longest ever hit at Olympic Stadium (estimated at 525 feet). » September 13, 1991: A 55-ton concrete beam crashes onto an empty public walkway at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The Expos will reschedule, playing their final 13 home games on the road while the stadium is repaired and growing cracks in concrete ribs supporting the stadium are checked out. » May 5, 1992: Expos OF Larry Walker hits a home run off a speaker hanging from the roof of Olympic Stadium in Montreal's 5–2 victory over San Diego. » June 15, 1997: The host Expos drum the Tigers 10–2 as Henry Rodriguez drills a homer off the rim of Olympic Stadium, only the second player to do so. The Expos sweep three to extend their winning streak to nine. With the score tied at one apiece Rodriguez homers off Brian Moehler (4-6) leading off the fourth. The ball rebounds off the 160-foot-high rim and lands on the field. » May 19, 1998: The Montreal Expos defeat the Houston Astros, 4–2, in the first outdoor game played in Montreal's Olympic Stadium since 1991. The retractable roof, which has been prone to tearing in high winds, was removed on May 10. A new permanent roof will be installed after the season. » January 18, 1999: A fiberglass panel falls from the roof of Olympic Stadium in Montreal, home of the Expos, during the setup for an auto show. Five people are injured. » September 4, 2001: The first-place Braves draw just 3,613 fans in Montreal as they beat the Expos, 3–2. Andruw Jones hits a leadoff homer in the 9th for the difference. The crowd is the smallest at Olympic Stadium in 17 years.