Took a tour this morning. Doesn't look like there's a bad seat in the house. The turf engineer spent the last several years working in Denver at the old Mile High and Invesco Field, so she knows a few things about keeping grass in good shape. Section 8's going to have an effect on visiting goalkeepers like never before. You're so close behind them, you could almost put gel in Kevin Hartman's hair for him. Huge video boards that will hang down from the stage gridwork will be brought down onto the center of the field and face the East stands for World Cup viewing parties. Approximately 7,000 parking spaces will be on-site initially, and eventually once the whole North parking deal is done, it'll have space for 10,000 cars. Concourses are very wide. More handicapped seating than I've ever seen, anywhere. Four TV booths, four radio booths and a working press box that European journos probably won't laugh at. Suites to the left and right of the stage are available on a game-by-game basis and will be green rooms for concerts. The underground heating/cooling/aeration system is supposed to keep the grass from being damaged when it's covered for a concert, so they can have a concert one night and a game the next. Tips of the roof aren't covered because that money went into the field (which is very nice). Archway entrance will be for suite and club seat holders only, which is a bit of a downer. Practice field will be in a man-made valley in the northwest corner outside the stadium. You can see the Chicago skyline from the upper deck on the West side. Should be nice at night. All in all, terrific. You're going to love it. Pictures
Great pictures Kenn. I'm quite dissapointed about the Arch entrance thing. That seems stupid to me. But I'm too happy about the rest of it to complain right now.
Can anyone say "HDC replica"? What an amazing stadium that is going to be. I can't help but notice it looks exactly like the HDC. Except for the stage and the outer appearance. But inside is very similar. Next up is Culo-rado, then it's the NJ/NY/Harrison/Metro/Red Bulls(whatever they're called this month). Then hopefully DisCrap-United..... Can't wait till Sept.23rd..............................WE'RE GOING TO CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!
The first pic says "Opening day June 20"?? ?? Huh? There is the 6/11 game, the 6/24 concert, and the 6/24 "Grand Opening" but what is the 6/20 date? Anybody BTW Kenn - great pics, thanks!
Incredible....can't wait to visit one day. One comment, judging from the pictures it doesn't appear that the endline section is any closer to the keeper than we are in Pizza Hut Park. Yes, a bit lower, but not any significant distance closer. Beautiful place, though, it'll be a great place to watch a game.
Haha! "Except for the stage... and outer appearance..." and seat arrangement... and roof arrangement... and player tunnel at midline... and player boxes... and seats so close to the field... Shall I continue? Actually, Bridgeview looks nothing like HDC.
Under/In front of the entrance arch to the left and right. It's about 5 ft closer. The row is a few inches off field level and the concrete between field and stands is narrower. Maybe you didn't know, but I'm pretty sure it was always intended that way. There isn't really any way to get to most of the stadium via the arch entrance anyhow, and then only by elevator. On the other hand it will be the entrance to the Fire office and Stadium club on non-gamedays so people will get the chance to use it.
View from the first row in Section 8 (concrete at the bottom). You can see the holes where the goalposts are going to be sunk into the ground. It's close. Real close.
Basically, anyone with one of the 10-ft flags (they'll be concetrated in front anyhow most likely, for visual purposes) might be able to tap opposing keepers on the head.
the seats by the stage end look really out of place. Any stadium with so few seats on one side looks pretty ridiculous. Why have them there in the first place? If you ask me, I would have incorporated them into the three sides with seats.
"Looks nothing" is a bit strong. Let's just that there are strong family resemblences to both the HDC and PHP, even if there are some notable differences.
Looks like you could play a game there right now...of course accomidating the people wouldnt happen. What does it look like inside? 2.5 months till the opener is it going to be partially complete like PHP was?
