Silverdome Stadium Re-Design Leaked Photos

Discussion in 'Detroit' started by bradd, Oct 7, 2011.

  1. bradd

    bradd Member

    Jun 11, 2008
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  2. RedRover

    RedRover BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 15, 2007
    Nice. Good luck to them in pulling it off.
     
  3. footygal

    footygal Member

    Jul 27, 2010
    Detroit
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    You don't sound convinced ?
     
  4. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Notice the big DFC in the stands. Could this be the name the want to go with?
     
  5. fifty7

    fifty7 Member

    Oct 27, 2010
    Long Island
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was always partial to Motor City FC myself. I assume they're just putting that as a generic placeholder, it's far too early to be thinking about branding. From a guy waiting for progress in the Cosmos bid, hope for you guys that they get this done!
     
  6. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think my only concern with this is the sight lines. From that rendering, it seems like the lower levels will have some serious issues of being able to see anything if you have anyone standing in front of you. Not to mention that the top levels at the ends look like they're going to be a LONG way from the field. Maybe it's all just a perspective thing.

    I'm also intrigued by the design/engineering on this. How are they going to support that much weight without putting support columns (and, as a result, obstructed seating) underneath it?
     
  7. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am interested about this too. I thought they would use the wall in the center to help support the upper level. Looking at this rendering it looks like the center wall doesn't support the second level at all.
     
  8. footygal

    footygal Member

    Jul 27, 2010
    Detroit
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    How did you get the renderings?
     
  9. antnee7898

    antnee7898 Member

    Oct 19, 2007
    South Houston, TX
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Might be something about the drawing, im sure the wall supports the top level, also it would keep sound in the smaller bottom portion being closed off you would think. That sight line does look pretty horizontal.
     
  10. bradd

    bradd Member

    Jun 11, 2008
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Motor City Supporters leadership are 'in the know' with certain things. We are the driving force that is showing both MLS and the ownership group that we have the numbers and passion to make a franchise in Detroit successful.

    I would say this is a placeholder. Name, colors, etc will not be decided until the ownership group solidifies their bid with MLS.


    I would not say this is the final design either. These are the preliminary renderings showing that it is possible to convert the Silverdome in to a state of the art facility that includes a soccer specific stadium. I wouldn't get in to major discussions over what is and is not architecturally feasible here. My gut tells me that it is more of a proof of concept thing.
     
  11. bradd

    bradd Member

    Jun 11, 2008
    Detroit, MI
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Posted earlier to our facebook:

    We need everyone's help please encourage all the soccer fans you know to sign up for the Motor City Supporters mailing list. Links are on our website. Our movement is growing and we are being heard! We need everyone's help though if we want to succeed!

    --
    Bottom line is if you are anywhere in Michigan than please sign up for the MCS mailing list. It's through that group that MLS will see that Michigan has the numbers to support a franchise. Imagine the away trip bus rides from Detroit to Chicago/Columbus/Toronto and beyond. Of any team in MLS we will have the largest opportunity for traveling fans. It's going to be a blast having the rivalries we would have!
     
  12. VioletCrown

    VioletCrown Member+

    FC Dallas
    United States
    Aug 30, 2000
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Austin Aztex
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If this is a proof of concept thing, it seems to me there's enough information from that drawing (or, at least, the one that this is a smaller version of) to answer what the slope of that bottom section is. And, therefore, answer the question about quality of viewing experience. Heck, someone without the actual drawing and a little architectural experience could probably do a little math and figure out what the slope on those sections would be.

    That actually seems pretty relevant to me as a proof of concept. Unfortunately, I don't have that experience.

    And, well, how exactly that much weight is going to be supported seems pretty relevant to proof of concept.

    Not that I'm really complaining or anything. I'm intrigued. I just feel like this pretty picture raises more questions than it answers. All it does is give a prettier face to the descriptions that Apostolopoulos gave not long after he bought the building.
     
  13. Footsatt

    Footsatt Member+

    Apr 8, 2008
    Michigan
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  14. footygal

    footygal Member

    Jul 27, 2010
    Detroit
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Why do people bash others who are trying something good for a change? I mean Mr. Apostolopoulos could have torn down the building or sold it but it looks like he is committed. I am all for that :)
     
  15. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    well the upper deck at the silverdome is pretty damn steep (or it seemed that way going to Lions games as a kid). I would assume that row one of the upper deck wouldn't be row one of the upper deck of the renovated place.
     
  16. sportie1

    sportie1 Member

    Sep 4, 2008
    the owner of the silverdome- he's canadian, greek heritage and loves soccer-- he makes his $$$$$$ from renovating old, run-down properties and selling them or keeping them for new activities

    http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_32/b4190064446709.htm

    the article makes for an interesting read-- the question is-- how serious is he about renovating the silverdome to accommodate a 30 000 seat SSS and getting an MLS franchise? - apparently he has worth close to $1 billion
     
  17. bobcat84

    bobcat84 Member

    Aug 17, 2011
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It looks like it would be an awesome facility when it will be finished. I live a half hour from pontiac and would definately go to games if we get an expansion team. I really hope it happens and maybe with this stadium we can get more USMNT games up in detroit area.
     
  18. RedRover

    RedRover BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 15, 2007
    I would LOVE to be proven wrong in this instance. I just wonder if it would be far less cheaper for him to just tear down the Silverdome, sell the parts for scrap, then build a new soccer specific stadium in its spot. The whole plan looks expensively ambitious.
     
  19. Tigereye

    Tigereye Member+

    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Aug 19, 2005
    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    A. Based on these concept drawings, the upper deck of the original Silverdome will be the only thing that remains. The rest of the building looks to be gutted out and replaced. The distance from Row 1 to the field in the original Silverdome configuration is obviously a far ways off. In this concept, the building is now converted into upper & lower halves. For the upper deck, risers are added to help reach the field but obviously with very little slope. And at the end lines, it appears their will be a gap from Row 1 to the end line. Problem here is the new lower bowl of the soccer half of the facility will likely produce very poor sightlines with that flat of a slope.

    B. In the lower half of the building, a 20,000 seat Hockey Arena clearly appears rendered. And given the state of the Joe, I'm surprised no one here has yet to make the connection to the Red Wings. And if that is indeed the case, it could be a sign that Apostolopoulos may need financial assistance to pull off this ambitious project. Cause I'd estimate such a project could cost $500 million dollars or more. If MLS is the only tenant, this project may not be economically feasible.

    C. The Silverdome itself doesn't have to be renovated to host soccer matches. Apostolopoulos bought the property, which includes the massive parking lot. What would make more economical sense here is that he build a new SSS somewhere in the parking lot (could be constructed for as cheap as $40-60 million - See San Jose) and gut out the Dome, to be replaced with convention space, shops, restaurants, maybe a hotel or casino. Make the Dome a year round, multi-use attraction for the area, something that Apostolopoulos could stand to profit off of. Think Patroit Place next to Gillette Stadium. Down here in Houston, we did the same. Instead of renovating the Astrodome for football, Reliant Stadium was built next door cause it was ultimately the cheaper & route to go. And the Astrodome will eventually be gutted out for more convention space and possibly a hotel. I think this is the route Apostolopoulos eventually goes in the end.
     
  20. The 92nd Fish

    The 92nd Fish Member

    Jan 16, 2007
    London, England
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Having a team name not including the city or state name is generally not a good marketing decision. It's not going to happen in a million years.
     
  21. footygal

    footygal Member

    Jul 27, 2010
    Detroit
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    I think I see the play now the illitches and the Apostolopoulos's are teaming up to host the redwings at the newly renovated stadium. The other side will host trade shows and conventions .. The illitches would presumably run there facility hockey side and the Apostolopoulos's would Handel the soccer stadium. Very similar to a condo unit just lot bigger.

    Don't forget my soccer hunks look at Vancouver's renovation looks exactly like the silverdome did. I think the before and afters are here http://www.bcplacestadium.com/index.php/interior-upgrades.html
     
  22. Tigereye

    Tigereye Member+

    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Aug 19, 2005
    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I'm not saying Illitch & Apostolopoulos are teaming up. This is more a plan by Apostolopoulos to recruit the Red Wings involvement in this, which may be necessary for this to work out financially. Either Apostolopoulos could have the Wings pay for half of the stadium's overall design & construction costs (like the Giants did with the Jets at MetLiife once the Jets Westside Manhattan Stadium plan collapsed) or he could charge the Wings an insane amount on rent. I think that's Apostolopoulos plan here ....but like I stated earlier, I DON'T think its gonna work. In fact, I think it much more likely the Wings (and maybe Pistons) end up at a new arena on the Joe Louis or Cobo site before any of them end up here at the Silverdome. And that's why I believe this is the WRONG idea. I think my "Plan C" in my earlier post is the best way to go for Apostolopoulos (from a financial standpoint) and soccer fans in Detroit. (from a design standpoint)

    As for BC Place - great renovation but it is NOTHING like what's being proposed at the Silverdome.
     
  23. Stan Collins

    Stan Collins Member+

    Feb 26, 1999
    Silver Spring, MD
  24. Tigereye

    Tigereye Member+

    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Aug 19, 2005
    (ಠ_ಠ)┌∩┐
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    I agree. I wouldn't count on the Wings either. But when you see a 20,000 seat arena with dasher boards in HIS rendering, it's clear Apostolopoulos is targeting that for the Wings, or at least he hopes. And for this kind of expensive investment, he'll need more than just an MLS tenant to make the numbers work. And I don't see a minor league hockey team helping in that equation.

    But again ...he doesn't have to renovate and reuse the dome this way. There are far simpler, less expensive, and possible more profitable plans out there that would include MLS in Detroit. It will be interesting to see how all this pans out in the end.
     

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