‘Moneyball’ is a movie based on the book by Michael Lewis. It tells the true story of the Oakland Athletics baseball team in the 2002 season and their general manager, Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt. The film shows how Beane and his assistant, Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill), use a unique method to build a competitive team with a small budget. Peter Brand, who is an economics graduate from Yale, suggests using sabermetrics to choose players. They face a lot of opposition but their method eventually proves successful and changes how baseball players are scouted. The movie was well-received and earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Brad Pitt.
Where was “Moneyball” Filmed?
The film was shot on a tight budget, with Brad Pitt agreeing to a pay cut. Some scenes were filmed at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California, and Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. Many scenes were also filmed in Oakland, California. Let’s look at the specific locations!
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts, for one day. However, the budget was not enough to film at other ballparks, so Dodger Stadium became very important for the movie. Some shots were also taken on Lansdowne Street, just outside Fenway Park.
California
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum: The Oakland Coliseum, located at 7000 Coliseum Way, is the home stadium of the Oakland A’s. It was used for some scenes in the movie. The film also shot outdoor scenes at Blair Field, Recreation Park – 4700 E. 10th Street, Long Beach, which stood in for the spring training facility for the Oakland A’s in Arizona. Some scenes of the coach’s office and locker room were also filmed at this stadium.
Dodger Stadium: Dodger Stadium, located in Elysian Park, was used to represent eight different stadiums in the movie. It was also used to recreate the 1984 game between the Dodgers and the Mets, when Beane played for the New York team. Dodger Stadium is a popular filming location due to its large parking lot and beautiful view of downtown Los Angeles. The stadium charges around $10,000 a day for parking and about $25,000 for the stadium itself.
Long Beach: In the film, when Beane goes to clear his head during a stressful time, the scenes were actually shot in Long Beach. These scenes show Beane driving through Oakland, but were filmed in Long Beach. Director Bennett Miller was very happy with how these scenes turned out, thanks to the cranes and ships at the Port of Long Beach.
Sony Pictures Studios: Some scenes were also filmed at Sony Pictures Studios, located at 10202 W. Washington Boulevard, Culver City.
To avoid paparazzi who were trying to photograph Brad Pitt, the filming team hired the adjoining Recreation Park to keep them away from the main filming site. About 700 extras were hired to act as spectators in the film. Scenes showing Beane clearing his head were actually filmed in Long Beach but were shown as Oakland in the movie. Director Bennett Miller was very pleased with how these shots turned out, with the cranes and ships at the Port of Long Beach looking great on screen. Studio scenes were filmed at Sony Pictures Studios, located at 10202 W. Washington Boulevard, Culver City.
Moneyball used a variety of locations to bring the story to life, including real baseball stadiums and other sites in California. The film’s use of these locations helped create a believable and engaging portrayal of Billy Beane’s innovative approach to building a competitive baseball team.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Moneyball
Q: Where was Moneyball filmed?
A: Moneyball was filmed in several locations across the United States. Key filming sites included Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, which stood in for various baseball stadiums. The film also used Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, and Blair Field, Recreation Park in Long Beach, California, for different scenes. Some studio scenes were filmed at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.
Q: When was Moneyball filmed?
A: The filming of Moneyball took place between June 2010 and January 2011. The production team worked through these months to capture all the necessary scenes for the film.
Q: When was Moneyball released?
A; Moneyball was released on September 23, 2011. It premiered in the United States and several other countries around this date.
Q: Was Moneyball filmed in any other locations besides California and Massachusetts?
A: Yes, besides California and Massachusetts, Moneyball filmed a few scenes in other locations. However, the primary filming locations were in California and Massachusetts, where most of the baseball-related scenes were captured.
Q: Did Moneyball use any real baseball stadiums for filming?
A: Yes, Moneyball used real baseball stadiums for filming. Fenway Park in Boston and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles were key locations. The film also featured the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the real home of the Oakland Athletics, to depict various baseball scenes.
