I have an idea on how convert a 75,000 seat football stadium into a 30,000 seat soccer stadium. Bear with me. It might be crazy enough to work. Maybe not. Picture a 3 level stadium. From the bottom of the second level extend out a tarp like roof, where the stadium and the temporary roof are connected by a hinge. At very tip of the tarp-roof is a cable. This cable, under high tension, is connected to the top of the third level. So the third level, in essence, keeps up the roof via the cable. Not only will this restrict the attendence to the bottom level but provide a sound reflective roof as well. It will probably take a fair amount of time to construct and tear down. I figure it would cost around 5 million to build. Here's a quicky image I put together using the Wizard's Arrowhead stadium. http://www.auction-picture.com/pic1/mitchness/arrowheadWithTarps.jpg
That's a great idea. That tarp system would definatly improve the look and atmosphere at the stadium. It could be a temporary solution for teams that are having trouble geting their own stadiums.
Good idea and it would work. But right now MLS does not have the money or power to do this. I think MLS could do this in the future with teams that are owned by NFL owners that own or have power over the stadium (KC & NE).
Interesting, but of very little value in all honesty. Why would a stadium owner do this? There's no need.
Don't really understand this. Cables are attached to... what parts of... what levels to... where??? Your picture is more confusing. It looks like you've tarped off the seats closest to the field. Are those black spoke lines part of the original picture or your additions? Maybe if you could mock-up a picture showing maybe ONE section of the stadium, we could tell how it works. Or maybe a cross-section view of the contraption. Anyway, would high winds rip those tarps from their cabling? (Just hope that noone complains that your picture shows the gridball lines on the field. At least the yard numbers are visible.)
How would it block off the seats closest to the field? It looks like it would just block off the upper level.
He's nuts. There.. feel better. Why close off part of the stadium? Just put some tarps down over the seats you don't want to sell. Any fabric absorbs sound and won't reflect it back. Sachin
Where is the press box and TV cameras in this picture, above the tarp? If so, would be difficult to televise games.
In an NFL stadium that has two or more decks, charge $5 for ALL upper deck seats. If a stadium has a design simular to the Rose Bowl or the Los Angeles Colesium, divide the stadium into thirds. As an example; the first thirty rows go for $20, the second thirty rows go for $10, the third and last thirty rows go for $5. 10,000 x $20= $200,000 10,000 x $10= $100,000 10,000 x $5 = $50,000 Total = $350,000 If the people that claim that they love "Soccer" will not pay $5 for a seat, then MLS cannot count on that type of "FAN" to support the league.
The same reason Mr. Garber wants all soccer stadiums in the 30,000 seat range, to provide a better atmosphere than the typical 3/4 empty football stadiums provide.
Don't really understand this. Cables are attached to... what parts of... what levels to... where??? Your picture is more confusing. It looks like you've tarped off the seats closest to the field. Are those black spoke lines part of the original picture or your additions? The black spokes are mine. They are attached to the upper most portion of the stadium. They are what's holding the roof up. If they were give way, the roof would swing down and hit people on the head. The roof isn't a tarp on the seats, rather, imagine it's 20 feet off the ground Maybe if you could mock-up a picture showing maybe ONE section of the stadium, we could tell how it works. Or maybe a cross-section view of the contraption. You've already seen my artistic skills. Anyway, would high winds rip those tarps from their cabling? I leave that to the mechanical engineers.
Because a tarped-up stadium looks sterile and depressing. Hopefully, the roof will block the upper levels from view. It all depends on the geometry. As far as the fabric, if the turf roof doesn't reflect the sound, use a different fabric. I leave that to the acoustic-materials engineers.
This should work whether the roof is above or below the press box/luxury suites. As long as the the third level holds up the roof via the cables. If its designed well enough you can have both levels (2 or 3) able to extend the roof so its adjustable. You could "open" more seats by moving the roof from level 2 to level 3 on one particular side. Or you could remove a side of the roof altogether. (WC Qualifier, All-Star Game)
I just thought of something. Would the tarps not block out some, if not all of the lights for night games? At the very least, it seems there would be some killer shadows on the field. At worst, it would be pitch black under the tarps, and the outlying areas of the field would be dark too.
Good point about the lights. This idea about the temporary tarp roof is interesting, but I am not sure how workable it is. The most ideal thing would be for this temporary roof to be built directly into the stadium structure and be retractable. Might we be able to see future stadiums with two retractable roofs, one for the overall stadium and another for a smaller segment inside? The roofs can also be designed to close partially, all the way, or remain fully open. - Paul
Regarding the lights, there might a couple of ways around this. First, if the roof is sloped low enough the lights might be able to make it. Second, if the roof is designed with some sort of levelor technology, the stadium can adjust the angle of the slats or pull them in altogether for those sections of the roof that are blocking the light. Third. The expensive version. Have a supplamental set of lights that are mounted along the edge of the roofs.
hmmmm... methinks there are better ways to spend $5 MIL... Advertising $$$... freebies for groups... promo $$$ for one of those July 4 extravaganzas... $$$ to lobby some unsuspecting suburb to build an SSS?... the $$$ that could actually be spent on a new stadium--although KC has signed a 25-year lease, so maybe this isn't so farfetched for the Wiz... but does Hunt really want to add $5 MIL in red ink to $500,000 per year losses?... Would $5 MIL spent on an elaborate roof really bring in $5 MIL worth of fan support? I don't think a putting a $5 MIL "band-aid" on any of the NFL stadia is going to solve anybody's problems-- short-term or long-term.
I think it's an interesting idea, but one MLS would probably never go for because of cost and the time it would take to install/take down the tarp system between MLS matches and other events (read NFL games).
At least two reasons why this isn't simply silly, but downright stupid. (1) Tarping off 60% of the seats does not get you a 60% break in rent. Stadium owner would just as soon book the Rolling Stones (of course, that's another issue- huge stadium concerts should be a thing of the past... PLEASE let them be a thing of the past). Point- stadium management can easily book something else. (2) The xfl (small case letters intended), night 1, Orlando, Florida. Walkups made crowd larger than amount of seats the team intended to open up, officials declared the stadium to be sold out, fans could see the empty seats, Orlando never drew that well again, league crashed and burned. Very bad pub. Profitability for the team derives a great deal from CONTROL of the stadium. More than any issue involving a stadium too large, this principle wins the day.
No it's not but the cost to do it safely and correctly and everything else would be a good chunk of what a stadium like they have in Columbus would cost anyway..