Dynamo Downtown Stadium Thread

It's worth noting, in addition to the original plans for the groundbreaking, there will be a Budweiser sponsored tent for 2011 season ticket holders that will have free catered food and free beer while supplies last. Thank you FO!

*received info from the latest email.

 

I'm no computer expert but this link to the webcam seems to be working:

http://dynamo2012.myipcamera.com/img/main.cgi?next_file=main.htm

The other links I've been using are not. Not sure why.

You can't tell in the dark but they put up plastic orange fencing around several, but not all, of the lots. We'll see if the streets get blocked before Saturday. The city has signs up saying that Capitol and Rusk will be closed starting Jan. 28 but that hasn't actually happened yet.

 

Congratulations Dynamo fans.

 

I really like this map. For one thing it clearly shows the blocks the stadium will take up, for another it puts it in clear context with Minute Maid, GRB and Discovery Green....

 

There's a larger version of that with Toyota included which is really cool.

I love that this deal is done. It's almost as much of a relief as confirmation of rumors that the team was moving here in the first place. But that was days versus months for this.

 

What time did it say they would be setting the engraved season ticket holder bricks that were promised after year one?

It's funny, the weather and blackouts dominated the news so much today that this thing slid completely under the radar for most.

Hopefully well see renderings and maybe a model that's a bit better than what folks have already pulled off the website.

 

Stadium specs

http://www.houstondynamo.com/stadium/information

 

Congratulations to all the Dynamo organization and the fans.

I look forward to seeing the progress thru the webcam.

It should also put Houston in a great position to host the MLS Cup.

 

I was sitting here looking at the picture of the stadium on this page http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/dynamo-get-green-light-build-stadium and I was wondering a couple of things...

The area below the scoreboard looks like it has no seats... also no fans there. Is that the stage area? Is it a standing room, supporters terrace type space? Did the artist just get lazy there?

Also if you notice, the touch line is a really long way from that area. Is that necessarily correct, or just an artist's free license?

In the far corner, there is a white area with no seats. I'm guessing that's a players' entrance and not, say, planting boxes for the palm trees.

I love it.

I'm sure by Saturday those and many other questions will be answered.

 

Thanks, but hopefully we will be in a great position to host the MLS Cup because the league will award the game to the team in the finals with the most points...

 

No, the stage area will be the far end. Hence the little roof overhang. Plus that's the side with offices and dressing rooms. The place in the corner you speak of will probably be used as the player entrance. It's actually kind of a road from grade to the field so that ambulances, equipment, and such can get down. As for the near touch line, I think the artist just wanted to show a full pitch.

 

One of the concerns many of us have had has been the size of the playing field:

- the information provided says "c 90,000 ft2"

- My spreedsheet, if not suffering from user error, says that could mean a field of 125x80 yards

- assuming 2.5 yards around the outside, then the playing field could be 120x75, which IIRC is the minimum for FIFA. It is also the same as the current spacious Home Depot Center

- HOWEVER, I understand the Dynamo have decided not to place the teams into the first few rows of the grandstand. That means they will need bench room on one side

- SO, we might be looking at something more like 115 x 70 which is the current size of Robertson stadium's pitch

If we wind up with 120 x 75 I'll be pretty damn excited; but

If we wind up with the same size pitch as at Robertson I will be pretty damn disappointed.

 

Concerning the bench, when I looked at the blueprints, there was a cutout in the center if the sideline seats. For an example, the center section would be 9 rows and the adjacent sections would be 11 rows with the first 2 incomplete. So if you can mentally picture, a 2 row inset.

 

According to the drawings the pitch is ~74x114. IIRC this is the FIFA recommended dimensions for international matches, and is also the same dimensions most of the big European clubs use.

 

Congratulations to the Dynamo fans on a great looking project, in a great location.

 

If the field gets bigger will Dom still be able to play his English League longball style game? It's more suited to a tight field like SJSU or UH than a bigger pitch, which would seem to reward a more continental, passing style.

I'd think a Dynamo team on a Galaxy-type pitch would be better off drafting mobile Sarkodies now. I say that in part because we've stockpiled a lot of target forwards who may be less useful when we move. Can you imagine what Landin would have been like on an even bigger field? We'd have been duty bound to petition for the repeal of the offsides rule or he'd never make it back.

Just a thought.....we should be pondering the personnel in light of our expected pitch size so that if we have scads of space our pickups are prepared to exploit it.

 

A. The stage is on the south side and will be covered with retractable seating during games. There is seating in all directions, it just looks that way due to the direction and depth perception of the rendering.



B. Per the the floorplan below, that is the players entrance tunnel.

 

Go to HoustonDynamo.com at 1 p.m. CT to see a press conference with Populous architect and new stadium renderings!

 

Is it live streaming or will it be posted, Minh? We are the one school in Texas not getting out early today....

 

Thanks for the heads up, burtha!

Real question here is ....will HD.com's stream ACTUALLY work this time or will it crap out like always?!?

 

Looks like Newtex adjusted his webcam, and I think I see orange construction 'fencing' up. And pretty sure I saw someone walking around the intersection a few minutes ago.

I'm really excited for you guys.

 

Yeah, I had to fix it and it wound up pointing in a slightly different direction but I couldn't tell in the dark last night. I'll have to re-aim it on Saturday to catch the groundbreaking. That's supposed to be a little south of where the camera is aimed at the moment.

 

Watching the press conference right now.

http://houtv.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=1992&id=11419

Now saying the suites are 11 rows off the field. Different number every time.

 

Updated renderings? I'd like to see the one of the view from inside up close. I was hoping for a full scale model, but I'm sure that will come eventually.

 

Wow what a boring and uneventful press conference. We could tell it had an international feel to it from the drawings. The architect said it had a European feel to it! Awesome!

Canetti said it was more like Red Bull Arena and not like othe MLS stadiums that weren't as good (only 3/4 enclosed).