The north stands behind the goal. There are two sections of bleachers. The renderings and seat viewer show at least three. The strangest thing about a soccer venue in the US in 2018 being designed for bleachers was that they revisited the section during the design-build process and the decision was not a safer standing area or more accommodations for supporters or making an area that is more friendly for a variety of events... Another section was converted to regular seating as the supporter section was reduced again.
I see now. The red sections on the north side. The live web cam shows that it is going to be only 2 sections of bleachers. Interesting. I think it has been awhile since any MLS stadiums were built with bleachers. Especially this many. There may be a few that have a couple rows on the stage or something. I now a lot of people have complained about the size and cheapness of Audi Field. I think it looks very unique and like a cool place to watch a soccer game. I like having some of the stadiums that don't fit the cookie cutter feel. The one thing I do think is odd is how short the roof span is. I really don't understand the point of putting a roof up that is clearly not going to shield the fans from rain or sun.
The angle on the construction camera is a little tricky. All, but the first 2 rows are 90 degrees below a roof. It's actually pretty good considering how steep the stands are. You need to have some sunlight for the grass. Windy days are either your friend or your enemy. Get a better sense here --> http://audifield.io-media.com/web/index.html#
Based on what I am seeing it doesn't look like the portions I indicate below will have any sort of covering. If so maybe just more than half of the rows are 90 degrees below the covering.
The FO has said that will be some sort of clear glass/plastic to allow sun, but block rain. They are not yet installed so I understand your skepticism.
My understanding is San Jose said the same thing and to my knowledge they are still not covered with any material. Maybe someone from San Jose can let us know. I really for the life of me, cannot understand building a roof structure and leaving a 3rd of it open with no covering. If it is a cost thing, then why not just build the roof a 3rd smaller?
how would covering those sections with a clear material change the aesthetics? It would look exactly the same but actually serve a function too.
The aesthetics would remain unchanged. It would look exactly the same but cost more to include (and to maintain) the clear panels, so they were ultimately omitted. My guess is the stadium roof was designed a certain way, including with clear panels, and then cost-engineered to reduce the overall price tag. The panels are not the only missing element in the stadium design.
Haha. this brings us back to exactly my point. Thanks. So I'll state it again. Why spend the money to built the roof a 3rd bigger but not cover with a material? Why not just make the roof a 3rd smaller and save even more money?
Depends when they were omitted. If they were omitted after the design phase was completed and they were into the construction phase, than the cost to redesign a smaller roof may have cost more than it was worth.
I believe Chicago has nothing covering the end of the roof, I believe it would cost $250,000 to install and they haven't yet.
Yeah. That was the point. Chicago and San Jose were both designed to have material on the entire canopy. That was one of the first things cut. I have no idea if they're actually going to install it in DC as they have said they will. Does San Jose even have an exterior skin? I remember a year or so into the stadium being completed they even had a couple of samples up.
There remains no exterior covering on Avaya, to the chagrin of some fans. Doubtless that was another cost-cutting measure. Call me an apologist, but I prefer that the stadium remain without exterior cladding. The several million dollars saved could be invested elsewhere in the facility.
Also the lights are on the edge of the roof frame, so it would have required a redesign of not only the structure but also of the illumination system.
Don, can you post that picture of our training facility? We need to film one of those fancy video tours of it, like LAFC, Atlanta, TFC, NYC and Philly. Some bumping EDM, Tommy Thompson with a push mower, polishing the chain link fence and the little sign that says Quakes Training Facility. Tommy Thompson polishing the little Ace hardware lock on the fence, pausing to watch the Sounders bus roll in...