One of my favorite stadiums I've ever been to: Viborg FF (Denmark) Seats 8,000. Around the perimeter of the actual stadium are shops that are open on non-game days/times. Team offices are also in the stadium. On the near end, they have apartments/dorms that overlook the pitch. I think it was a 5 story building.
Totally agree on San Antonio. Best stadium in the league by far. No question Frisch can build something like that.
I'm in awe at how nice San Antonio's new stadium is. Would be very exciting if Jax's new club could get something like that on the southbank of the river. It wouldn't even need to fit 8k, we could probably do fine with a 6k max with room for expansion.
The Charleston Battery have a nice,compact stadium as well. It seats,5,100 fans. I have seen several games there. It's located on Daniel Island in a great nieghborhood. The stadium has the incredible,Three Lions Pub. The pub is like a soccer museum. Every wall is covered with jerseys,scarves,flags etc.. It also has solar panels located on the property. Blackbaud Stadium would be a nice one to emulate. http://charlestonbattery.com/stadium/ http://www.buyhomesincharleston.com/img/Recreation/charleston battery.jpg
Blackbaud is nice, I really would love to see something with a roof. Otherwise, it may be confused for a high school stadium.
Pretty hard to mistake anything for a high school stadium with seat backs. Which would be pretty much a necessity for any section that's not the supporters section.
Two stands with no roof is high school football-esq. I'm not greedy though, if that's what they build (Blackbaud II) I'd be ecstatic.
I don't think you invest the money in an NASL club without intent to build a nicer stadium than Blackbaud. San Antonio should be the minimal target, if possible - better.
Blackbaud is sweet. Don't sell it short. Also, it's nicer than anything Edmonton is likely to have any time soon. The pub alone is the single greatest thing in lower-division soccer in this country.
haha! That pub is a massive winner, and every soccer stadium should have a pub. That should be a USSF LAW!
Some great pictures from yesterday's celebration/Gold Cup Final watch party at EverBank Field https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.184246431749409.1073741830.177489325758453&type=1
Right towards the end of this interview, Mark Frisch says they have narrowed down the venue for 2015 to EverBank Field and UNF's Hodges Stadium. He also mentions a goal of 2017 for a SSS. http://colepepper.com/2013/07/podcast-cole-interviews-mark-frisch/
Agreed. A crowd of 7,500 in Hodges will look good. In Everbank it will appear disastrous. Perception of success/drawing crowds is important.
Not for nothing but Orlando does play at the Citrus Bowl and gets lots of rave reviews for their crowd size. I think most understand what an actual good crowd for a soccer game is. Hodges has their problems too with only one (albeit one very large) stand. And there will be perception the league is second class playing at Hodges. So it goes both ways. I'm fine with either though. Both have their pros and cons.
IMO, I'd rather have the smaller venue. The stands look full, the energy of the crowd is much more present. Even though 5, 6, or 7K people is a good crowd. It'll look and feel small in a larger venue. I just think you'd rather have a difficult ticket, then come in and sit where you want basically. It makes the business side of things better. With the whole supply and demand thingy.
Maybe something could be worked out where the home opener is at Everbank (hopefully along with 15-20k fans) and then they settle into Hodges, which has a 9400k capacity. As the city becomes soccer aware then Everbank could be used for special games (like say, the Cosmos, or friendly's against International teams, maybe Fulham included in that group). The turnout for season 1 can give the owners an idea of what capacity the SSS should be in '17.
As long as their is a real stadium plan in place, it doesn't matter where you play the first two years. If the new stadium is just BS than it becomes more critical.
The 2 time Rugby League Champion Jacksonville Axemen have used Hodges Stadium at UNF for several years now. Average attendance has been 1500-2000 range. It works very well and is a nice facility. I think that Sunshine Soccer Group can learn a great deal from them in regarding how to make things work. They have kept ticket prices low (just went up to 8.00 this season), and $2.00 beer (went up from $1 last year) They also do a lot to involve their supporters in activities outside of match day even during the off season. I know that cost for NASL will be much higher but it is a good model to look at. www.jaxaxe.com