Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadium

Discussion in 'Detroit' started by olujosh, Aug 5, 2010.

  1. olujosh

    olujosh Member

    Aug 23, 1999
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  2. lfcli30

    lfcli30 Member

    Jun 21, 2005
    New York
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    I was literally just about to post this, I read it on M-Live today.

    I really like this idea. The Silverdome is a privately owned stadium which will require no public wrangling to get renovations approved. If this family is serious about their proposal (and it seems they are), Detroit could very well be team #20.

    Let's run down the checklist:
    -Billionare Owners
    -Soccer Specific Stadium (with full control of concessions and parking)
    -Large Media Market

    Visionary stuff coming from that group, all done at their own expense. I hope to see Detroit in the league for the 2013 season.
     
  3. bradd

    bradd Member

    Jun 11, 2008
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Considering they only bought the thing for 500k you could easily drop 30 million on it and still be completely under cost what it would take to get a new stadium.

    For all those guys speculating in the other thread - this plan is legit and would make for one hell of a match day experience.
     
  4. olujosh

    olujosh Member

    Aug 23, 1999
    Ann Arbor, MI
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    By comparison ... Red Bull Arena cost about $200M to build.

    I turned on 97.1 The Ticket and they're talking about it :)
     
  5. k3sparks

    k3sparks New Member

    Aug 17, 2008
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    I know that most of us have wanted a team for some time and for it all to come together, rather quickly, is awesome. The two or three articles that have been written in the last couple of days talking about serious proposals to bring a team here articulate how committed this group of owners is. You know with their money they would want a few big name DP's too. This is no longer a mere pipe dreams, amazing.
     
  6. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi


    You forgot one on the checklist - A Strong Soccer Base (Special thanks to MCS)
     
  7. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    And here I've been wondering where a 20th team could come from. It felt like there was no-one around.

    Then, like Checketts, out of nowhere, BAM!

    I am looking forward to seeing how this goes. In so many of the other teams, there was plenty to be skeptical about. But I'm finding it hard to be skeptical of this.

    However, I will be, just out of habit, until MLS says yes and/or construction starts.

    Fingers crossed for y'all.
     
  8. KazooWilly

    KazooWilly Member

    Jul 28, 2010
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    This is the second time this plan has been mentioned. If he can pull it off, great! But I do have questions:

    • The front row seat in the new “upper” stadium (old upper deck) would be an unrealistic distance from the field, as to border on obscene. This could “easily” be rectified by putting the new “floor” at the bottom of the press box level, then extending the old upper bowl down. Con: You completely lose the press box level.
    • I had questions about the stability of the new, upper floor, when this plan was first mentioned. That is a large area to cover, and there would be inherit flex in the flooring...especially when the soccer portion of the stadium is filled with excited fans. But, the new aspect of the plan that suggests splitting the new lower portion of the stadium into two units might solve this to a large degree - assuming you are splitting it length-wise - as there would be a large support wall in the center, supporting the new, upper floor, thereby reducing (to what degree?) the potential of the floor flexing.
    • Also, there would arise a new drainage issue. With the roof off, the new floor (the field for the soccer part) would have to act as the roof for the lower arena sections. Can they build such an internal structure that would allow for the control of the elements?
    I'm sure they are looking into all those issues (or at least, I hope they are...and not just floating out pipe dreams).

    Not sure what the cost would be for those type of renovations. But, while it certainly sounds expensive, it doesn't sound as expensive as building from the ground up. Anyone know an engineer?
     
  9. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    The only negative that I see is that it doesn't meet the new, desired bullet-point: downtown. I have no idea how much, if any, that would matter, if you have the other four. Clearly not having the soccer-specific stadium didn't hold back Seattle. Not being downtown, if the rest of the bid is strong, shouldn't hold back Detroit.
     
  10. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    OK. For what it's worth, Mr. Warmth has popped up over on the MLS N&A thread and said that even $200 million is low.

    Not that Mr. Warmth has been the glow of happiness in a number of stadium threads. But now I have something to hang my skepticism on.;)
     
  11. Ian Curtis

    Ian Curtis New Member

    Jun 23, 2010
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Just heard about this on 97.1. Gotta say I agree with their assessment. Awfully ambitious, awfully expensive, amazingly awesome if they can pull it off.

    I mean, with the way they're describing the end product, I'd pay to go to a cat show or bridal expo there, just to see the place.
     
  12. Hushx

    Hushx Member

    Aug 20, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Lol, looks like you may finally have a true team you can support and call your own Ian.

    I would like these sort of plucky owners in the league - to get maximal use out of an already existing property makes sound business sense if you can figure out all the issues that may come up during the conversion process.

    This "reuse" concept is transforming different neighborhoods of my hometown LA, where former industrial buildings are becoming trendy new lofts and the area quickly gentrifies with an influx of new money into the neighborhoods. Hopefully a new MLS team in Detroit will have the same benefits :D.

    I think this might be of interest to you:

    http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/green-rooftop.htm

    The article here is talking about green gardens planted on top of urban rooftops, about how one of their big benefits is the building's reduced energy costs due to the natural insulation provided by the vegetation. If you remove the roof from the Silverdome, any sun light on game days would, under the new stadium renovations, be shining directly on what is essentially the roof of the first floor.

    With a grass pitch installed on the upper floor, I don't see why the same basic principle behind green roofs could not function for the Silverdome; actually, I would think it should provide excellent insulation considering how big a soccer pitch would be.
     
  13. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Just curious if anyone has seen the actual plans... are there any 3d renderings/links?
     
  14. BringSoccerToIndy

    May 24, 2008
    1001 West New York Street, Indianapolis, IN
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    I'd love to see how they would be able to make the upper deck stadium part close enough to the field to make it a good experience for spectators. I guess they could use the middle press box/suite section, but that would be kind of awkward I think.
     
  15. bradd

    bradd Member

    Jun 11, 2008
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    There are renderings but they are not available to the public.
     
  16. SYoshonis

    SYoshonis Member+

    Jun 8, 2000
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    Club:
    Michigan Bucks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Well, the field at what's now field level is very narrow. By my reckoning on Friday night, it was 66 yards wide, and that's assuming that they didn't shave the width of the penalty area in order to get the hash marks from the corners just outside of it. Another five yards on either side would make it 76 and bring it quite a bit closer to the front row of the upper deck.
     
  17. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. Firespotr

    Firespotr New Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    N. Aurora
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Here's a nice link for a lot of facility info: (good picture too)
    http://football.ballparks.com/NFL/DetroitLions/index.htm

    For the seating discussions:
    Lower Level: 42,082 and Bench Seats-(3,634)
    Club Level-7,342
    Upper Level-29,399
    Private Suites-1,246
    Wheelchair-256

    132 total acres:
    100 acres - Parking Lot, 20 acres - Silverdome
     
  19. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    To build an SSS, it's gotta be more expensive to do this split thing.

    But, maybe it's worth the extra money to the Greek because he can also make money off of events in the lower section.

    I have family from Detroit. I'll tell you, if this thing gets built, I'm gonna take my dad up there just to see it. To me, if they pull it off, it'll be an architectural wonder.
     
  20. BringSoccerToIndy

    May 24, 2008
    1001 West New York Street, Indianapolis, IN
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Definitely. This would be insanely cool.
     
  21. DoctorK

    DoctorK New Member

    Jan 8, 2002
    NorthBank, Riverbend
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Exciting redesign scheme! I would love to see the twentieth (and final!) MLS team playing in the Motor City, especially with such a redesigned Silverdome.
     
  22. Ian Curtis

    Ian Curtis New Member

    Jun 23, 2010
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    Plus if it does happen, it should all be ready to go just about the same time I'm moving out of Michigan! Everybody wins!
     
  23. footygal

    footygal Member

    Jul 27, 2010
    Detroit
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    It maybe more expensive but you will have 3 state of the art stadiums specific to all three things like arena, concert hall, soccer field. but they will make money with all of them
     
  24. faine01

    faine01 Member

    Jul 21, 2010
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    does anyone know how for real this guy is about the "bringing an MLS team to Detroit" part? I'd love to know if he has the money to just be the owner group, or does he need others to get onboard.
     
  25. SYoshonis

    SYoshonis Member+

    Jun 8, 2000
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    Club:
    Michigan Bucks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Re: Tear the roof off: Silverdome to be split into concert hall, indoor arena, soccer-specific stadi

    The answer to the first part of your question is, he's serious enough to have had several meetings with MLS brass. The second part is anybody's guess, and is the single most important question in all of this.
     

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