Why can't MLS build these type of stadiums? Is it more expensive to hire a contractor here than it is over seas? Why can't we just hire the guy that built the FC Groningen stadium? Atlanta would benefit greatly from having this type of stadium.
What do you guys think of this stadium in Klagenfurt, Austria? Seats about 30,000 in this configuration, but I'm sure it could be scaled down to about 25,000...
I like many of the Norweigian parks, but this one looks to be more fitting for an MLS team. Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim. http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/norway/trondheim_lerkendal.shtml I also like thie one in Darlington http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/england/north_east/darlington_williamson.shtml
They could, and with the "third" generation of MLS stadiums (RBNY, Philadelphia and St. Louis), I think you will see more enclosure (roofs) and removal of the stage "open ends".
the reason we havent is because we simply dont, or didnt have the money or potential to make money. weve a wave of beautiful stadiums coming though, sandy is amazing looking, stl proposal looks great, red bull if it ever gets built, and philly all are going to be great. remember weve still a few to come that could be stunning... i havent seen the san jose proposal, but houstons the one im looking forward to, they want theirs downtown. chivas will also want its own digs soon enough.
Was looking at some stadiums. I think all of the stadiums are in the 16,000 to the 35,000 ranges. Some might say that 35,000 is a little big, but in ten-fifteen years, that might be the perfect size. I tried to go with the theme, so most of these are stadiums with roofs covering the seats and are close to the action. After looking at a lot of stadiums, I was surprised by how ugly many are. Also many still have tracks on them. These stadiums are from England, Austria, France, Germany, Norway, Greece, and Holland. Didn’t look at Spain, and Italy’s stadiums, are either too big or downright ugly. These were some of my favs. Anyways, enjoy
Leicester City 32,500 Beira-Mar 30,498 West Bromwich Albion 28,003 MK DONS 22,000 Coventry City FC 32,000 Red Bull Salzburg 31,100 Brøndby IF 29,000 RC Strasbourg 29,930 FC Sochaux 20,005 Hansa Rostock 30,000 MSV Duisburg 31,500 1. FC Magdeburg 27,250 Olympiakos Piraeus 33,334 Vitesse 26,000 AZ Alkmaar 16,000 Sorry dont know how to put in pictures yet and too tired to figure out. But I found all of the pictures for these at www.worldstadiums.com. Overall, the Dutch league has the most good MLS type stadiums in my humble opinion.
Word is that Lew Wolff saw some stadiums in Europe and wants to bring that style to his San Jose stadium. Lets hope it happens.
One of my personal favorites at this scale: Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow Seats 30,000 and change and is a fair blend of traditional 4-sided stadia and modern bowls, with the steep vertical seating discussed earlier. Plays very well on TV
Volkswagon Arena for Wolfsburg. Another 30k venture that is done nicely. I know these two are 5-10k more than we're thinking for the US, but the form's are nice.
Be sure to put things into proper context. Most clubs needing facilities at this scale are likely not rich enough to add the architectural detailing and panache to create genuine character. Volkswagon Arena is hardly dynamic or bold, and I don't like the roof-line from the exterior, but the arena itself is quite nice and the building more than adequately performs for it's primary function: Create atmosphere for the match inside. Also, I'm guessing most of the stadiums we see with tracks are municipal stadiums that come from an age before intimacy and roofing were the norm. Again, if the clubs had the finances to build their own homes we'd see more structures akin to what we're pushing for here in the US. This is one of the benefits I hope MLS will realize within a generation, that our facilities will all be modern, with full amenities and architecturally appealing. They've already come a long way from Crew Stadium, imagine how life will be when we can look back and wonder how the league ever got by with digs like the Cotton Bowl and RFK as the norm!
I second both Lokomotiv Stadion and Volkswagen Arena -- I almost put Lokomotiv Stadion in the original list: More photos: http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/RUS/Lokomotiv_Moskva.html
Reebok Stadium - Bolton, England - 28k another picture http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Reebok_Stadium.jpg/750px-Reebok_Stadium.jpg New Deepdale - Preston, England - (around 24k, has been build one stand at a time, final stand is currently under construction) another picture http://static.flickr.com/27/96758666_44e71ef39e_o.jpg
i think thatd look good for houston, but this is the US so you could expect some luxury boxes on the top.
Some very nice stadiums indeed, but some are probably a bit large. I forgot in the initial post to note Garber's comments on stadium size: "Ideally, we want 18,000 to 27,000-seat stadiums in MLS," said Garber. "That's the appropriate size. But we'd rather be closer to 18,000 because of the intimacy those stadiums have." Link: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=4db679a1-f503-4b12-95ec-6b7605145e46
Yep they are the faces of some of the Preston legends Tom Finney , Bill Shankly and Alan Kelly here's another good picture from the air, this showing it with one stand to be built (this is now under construction) http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/preston/m8157.htm
In my hometown in sweden malmo they are building a new stadium for 25k it would fit MLS capacity. http://sydsvenskan.se/sport/article216595.ece http://www.mff.se/swedbankstadion/Bilder.asp I hope that all new stadiums that are built have resturants and so on that familys can go and eat a dinner before a game and shop inside the stadium like the allianz arena in bayern.
Brondby IF from Denmark have a nice 26k stadium (29k for domestic matches where they can use standing room). and check out there supporters section (sorry don't know how to input youtube videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5wZUS3F-wY