The MLS Stadium Thread

University of Phoenix Stadium does have a retractable roof.

 

Oops

 

I see I hit post on accident.. but anyways... the bigger European clubs have grow lights on wheels and dual purpose stadium lights that also act like grow lights. This allows them to have the mostly enclosed stadiums thay they have and still keep a grass field. I would think it could be used on an indoor stadium as well.. but.. of course.. cost

 

There is an MLS stadium that uses grow lights. I think it is red bull arena.

 

Toronto has them.

 

this post interested me...and not trying to be confrontational...but where in Europe have they done it successfully?

Ajax Arena has a roof and grass.....and the only complaint that stadium has had since inception has been the quality of its grass pitch which has had to be replaced on more than one ocassion.

GelreDome in Arnhem has a retractable roof and I don't think they have had quite the problems they have in Amsterdam but that is because they went with the much more expensive solution of also having the retractable/sliding pitch.....not feasible (i think) in Atlanta.

Cardiff's Millenium stadium closes and had a horrible time with pitch conditions for its first 15 or so years (they opted not to have a sliding pitch but went the pallet route) and they converted to Desso a few years ago....not sure if that is working out (Wembley has had issues with Desso but their roof does not close so may not be comparable).

You are right...all the solutions are expensive but of these 3 (the only ones i know anything about) only the very most expensive one has produced satisfactory results.....and that one does not seem feasible in Atlanta at all.

 

Several hours later I finished the train of thought.

 

Yeah....I don't think grow lights in a fully enclosed stadium do the job...they are used extensively in a partially closed environment (where there is natural light but it is impaired/impeded by seating cover) to augment the natural light and (here in Toronto) early in the season when we may not be the sunniest warmest place) but where there is a full roof I just don't think it is enough to do the job.....are there places (again honest question) that have gone the full roof and grass way?

 

Atlanta won't be fully enclosed. Part of the roof is retractable.

 

Ajax stadium turf looks like crap when your there. Season ticket holder next to me said they constantly replace the grass field.

 

As are Amsterdam and Cardiff....both have had historical turf problems.

One of the problems with retractable roof stadiums is that when they are not in use which, lets face it, for all stadiums is the majority of the hours in a day...the roof is closed....so unlike open air stadiums, when the grass is in recovery mode (in between events) it is not getting natural light.

 

Sure I get but also the atlanta roof is mostly translucent. But your point still stands.

 

What's the current status of Minnesota's stadium? I haven't heard much lately.

 

Apparently they are still waiting for the ground to thaw.

 

The Toronto Blue Jays have talked about adding grass to SkyDome in the next few years, but I am very skeptical. With their weather, a field surface that lacks any drainage, and a thick concrete roof that, when fully retracted, still throws shade on part of the outfield, I don't see how it will happen.

 

they have pretty much given up on the idea already.

 

Gross why would anybody want to live in a place like that.

 

I drive by the stadium site fairly often. The utility company has done some prep work and this week the stadium builder put up the construction barricades. MNUFC is hoping to start the real work in June. The team doesnt need the tax breaks to start construction but it is a slight gamble to start without it signed into law. Right now the (D) Governor and (R) House & Senate are arguing over the state budget bill which the tax breaks are a minuscule part of. They have till May 22 to agree. If they dont I think the MN legislature can go into overtime till July 1 if not, government shut down for the state of MN.

 

There is some parcel swapping going on that has complicated the transaction, but we should be getting close to the time when more of the site clearing work should begin.

Here's a brief overview of where I understand we are:

As has been widely reported, the stadium is to be built on a parcel in St. Paul on what was once the old "bus barn." That's been locked up for some time now as it was owned by the Met Council -- meaning it was public land. If the stadium just occupied this parcel, they would be good to go, but the final (or rather, the "real") plan shifts the stadium to a north/south orientation. To do that, they need a couple of acres currently occupied by a Rainbow Foods grocery store. As part of the planned redevelopment surrounding the site, that store is to be demolished for the stadium. Not only is the store currently owned by someone else, SuperValu, which operates Rainbow Foods and leases the building, wasn't anxious to give up the grocery store location either. The St. Paul Port Authority has now stepped in and is basically controlling the redevelopment now, so they should get it sorted pretty quickly. (The Port Authority is the major municipal redevelopment arm of St. Paul.) The original hope was to demolish the grocery store tomorrow, which seems unlikely but I haven't been by the site for awhile.

Here's a good story that shows the new site plan:

http://fiftyfive.one/2017/02/minnesota-united-soccer-stadium-meeting-reveals-signs-progress/

I think if push came to shove, the stadium would fit on the bus barn site alone, but this is a better plan IMO. Prior to the Port Authority's involvement, last December McGuire noted they could do it either way though:

"McGuire opened the door to a possible east-west configuration in the event that he can’t strike a deal with RD Management. That would allow him to avoid negotiations with the real estate firm and just build on a bus barn site owned by Metro Transit.

“We have looked at a number of options and that’s certainly a possibility,” McGuire said. “That’s not preferred. Obviously, this is not just about the stadium, this is about advancing an entire community in terms of a lot of redevelopment and additions, and it works best when it’s north-south.”"

http://www.bizjournals.com/twinciti...a-united-breaks-ground-on-soccer-stadium.html

Hopefully they will get it moving soon.

 

Yeah, Flash is verboten in my technical whereabouts. Would anyone be willing to post some freeze frames?