Stadium Lament

It's hard to make any salient points in 300 words or less regarding stadium design (lord knows we've tried and occasionally crashed miserably). Mark Lamster takes the new NYC stadiums to task, among others, in the latest issue of I.D. Magazine. His point well-meaning and in an ideal world (hell, even in a reasonable one) his points about inspiring stadiums that actually function as great public spaces would be applauded and put into action.

Sadly, I don't agree that stadiums serve the role they once did. The grand palaces and functional mudholes that served both as 'escape vehicles' from blue collar life and as a nexus of social activity have now moved in a different direction. They are all about "experience", and often that experience involves isolating one from their fellow fans. This occurs primarily through the use of skyboxes that destroy seating bowls, but also involve everything from the distracting (Jumbotrons full of data) to the inane (Bank One Ballpark's swimming pool in the outfield). The 'stadiums mimic society' argument isn't a new one and I'm not going to fly that proverbial flag in depth here, but there is some truth in it.

Lamster loses me again with the line "baseball fans don’t really care much about design or styling, retro or otherwise. They demand only one thing—a good ballgame" is disproved about two blocks from my house every day, where thousands of Bleacher-goers stream through the outfield at Wrigley field and really don't give a damn what the outcome of the game is, so long as there is some sunshine and beer, and the seeminly requisite three hours of post-game drinking in the streets of Wrigleyville.

I'm of the opinion that the larger struggle stadium designers face is to strike a balance between the demands for wider seats, aisles and concourses dotted with shopping and 'info-tainment' experiences, while still somehow keeping the fans close to the field of play, rather than stashing them behind glass boxes or putting them in a third deck that requires oxygen to reach. The days of going to the ballpark "just to watch the game" are dwindling fast.

HOK Sport becomes Populous

Populous, the 'break-away' nucleus of people formerly known as HOK Sport, have officially rebranded and launched. My initial reaction is that this is a great thing-- sometimes ventures become so successful and popular that they interfere with the mission of the parent company (not sure thats the right word to use, but so be it). Basically, there comes a time when the kids have to leave the house and go it alone, so good luck to them. We'll be watching.

Miami Marine Stadium

I get wrapped up in the 'new' and the 'future', but it's always good to stop and remember what came before. Flipping through Dwell magazine I came across a stunning little bit of design still standing, at least for now: Commodore Munroe Stadium in Miami, more commonly known as Miami Marine Stadium. Used primarily for boat races and the like, it eventually felt the punch of Hurricane Andrew.

The Friends of MMS can use your help, so I encourage you to take a few minutes on their site.

MLS pushes forward

18 teams. That's how many MLS franchises will be in place by 2011. Be careful guys, the air is thin up there and we wish you well.

Portland was awarded the last 'available' franchise this week, and work will begin on renovating PGE Park, presumably sooner than later. They will have their work cut out for them, as PGE currently doesn't have much expansion room and it seems inconceivable that the facility would continue to house both a soccer team and a baseball team. Add the inevitable drama that surrounds a stadium involving public financing and its going to be a tight timeline for them. (See the March 1st post for more of that).

The coming decade: Design meets economic reality

The last 20 years in the U.S. have been some of the most prolific in terms of innovation and build-out in stadium design. Those days are gone for now. But what happens to those projects that are underway, when the budget money has been spent, the public is over-taxed and frustrated...and community icons are still at risk of fleeing? Ask Minnesota. The citizens of greater Minneapolis have no less than three facilities underway or or in discussion* and the state flagship Vikings will probably have to rent from the local University while permanent digs get hammered out under the Metrodome Next initiative.

*Target Ballpark
*TCF Bank Stadium
*Minnesota Vikings Stadium, TBD.

Public stadium financing is a nasty issue, with valid and invalid points on all sides, and not the point of this blog per se. (See other resourceful blogs and books for that.) But we're wondering aloud this morning whether a prolonged economic downturn might see the return of the days of the dreaded "multi-use facility" or just the end of new facility construction period. The latter portends bad things, and when the order of the day is to spend our way out of this mess with public works it becomes a high-stakes gamble. The former produced some of the most hideous and controversial stadium design in our lifetimes. (Ex: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, below). Sidenote- love the good people of Cincinnati, and I know you have fond memories of Riverfront, but...eeek.








Perhaps, in this age of streaming, updates, and video on demand, we'll find that smaller, more fiscally responsible settings will be the order of the day. More people will follow their teams from a venue other than the old ballpark, especially if the corporate sugar-daddies aren't there to foot the bill. I'll be sure to think about it when I'm eating my $10 hot dog at the New Yankee Stadium later this year.

Photo credits:
HHH Metrodome by Tim Wilson
Riverfront Stadium by Brent

Spring Training 2

Down the road a piece from the Indians new facility lies Camelback Ranch, the new home of the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. Facility sharing is nothing new and occasionally makes for strange bedfellows-- the Indians will welcome their intra-state rivals from Cincinnati as facility partners in Goodyear soon.

While the desert browns and assimilation into nature are both on display in Camelback and Goodyear, Camelback is taking aim straight at the holiday crowd with lakes, walking paths and more. Even the CR website says its "a campus rather than a complex...a park rather than a facility." When you've got 140 acres and budget that isn't endless, the choice becomes clear: develop the property or develop the stadium. And while the main stadium does not appear to be lacking, it's clearly only part of the experience promised by the CR proprietors. How else to explain the music bandstand and the orange grove? (Nice tip of the cap to the original Dodgertown in Vero Beach). 'The Ranch' will also host concerts and corporate outings when baseball is not in session.

If you plan on going, the Chicago Tribune has some helpful hints and potential warnings.

Spring Training 1

With Spring Training upon us, I thought I'd take some time over the next few weeks to look at the new facilities and assorted gadgetry that will make its debut across the ballparks and 'mallparks' of Arizona and Florida. The Cleveland Indians are up first; their fantastic new facility in Goodyear Arizona has all the makings of a blueprint for other MLB clubs to follow: real practice and workout facilities for personnel, easy access to high-end urban shopping and restaurants, expansion options, a design compatible with its surroundings, and lest we forget... Club Suites! For only $75 million, this too, can be yours.

Goodyear AZ is in fact named after that bastion of Ohio manufacturing, the Goodyear tire company in Akron, so its fitting that the Indians ended up here. And with apologies to the good people of Winter Haven, it's a clean break from the baggage that weighed them down at that facility. The current US economy will prevent some of the more elaborate entertainment and business options at the complex (does anything get built without conference centers and an on-site hotel anymore?) but as you can see from the photos there is ample room for growth, and the complex is a straight-shot of 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix on I-10. Companies and sponsors wanting to create an "Indians getaway" for staff or friends won't be short on options.

ed: Remember when Spring Training used to be about baseball? And it was cheap? No more. Spring Training is an event, and events demand financial commitment. Especially from you, dear consumer.

It should come as no surprise that HOK, the 800 lb. gorilla of world stadium design, are behind the beautiful design. We're loathe to call it "post-modern" but modern and classy it is, as if Bloomingdale's Home Outlet decided to pitch in on the project. When the grand entrance is fleshed out with plant life/grass/walkways it should make for a striking entrance. The gradual slope of the seating bowl and the wide concourse give the stadium a European feel (ex: review some of the Portuguese stadiums used for Euro 2004) and are a subtle nod to the flat landscape it faces on the outskirts of the hardscrabble desert. A tip of the proverbial ballcap to the Indians, HOK, RTKL and the municipality of Goodyear for pulling this off.

Texas sized swagger

It took me awhile to find a webcam for the new Cowboys facility. I kind of thought maybe they just couldn't find a land-based camera to get it all in one frame. You think I'm joking? This view is from one of the short sides. The largest domed project in the world. I wondered if the down economy and the troubled bond-market might impact some of the more exorbitant stadium details as opening day draws near, but that appears not to be the case. The Cowboys and City of Arlington got the bond debt re-financed in December (no small feat in this economy) and it's full steam ahead.

The City of Arlington site has quarterly 'scoreboard' reports with pictures of the stadium progress and other information, if you're so inclined. Work continues on the massive videoboard, and seats continue to be installed.

Slightly off-topic: I was unaware that the Cowboys and the New York Yankees got together to create a new concession, catering and merchandising firm last Fall. They borrowed (!) $100 million USD to create Legends Hospitality Management. LHM will provide its services to the teams' new stadiums next year. Interesting to see these two sports powerhouses collaborate.