How Sports Arenas Should Be Like And Your "Spectator Experience" Too!

By Iman El-Ashry - Iwan Design House

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While watching the Africa Cup of Nations; we examined the spectator experience; how it is, what it should be like and how the optimum can be achieved in the design and development phases from an architect’s point of view. If you’re about to work on a sports space project; or if you even just want to know how the whole thing is planned; read on!

There are many aspects to consider in a stadium project; financing, legal considerations, scheduling, infrastructure & site status, layout and zoning, architectural design, the structural system and construction process, the different types of circulation, project management and operation, considering sustainability with respect to the massive project size; and the spectator experience based on…

Market Research:

So, that’s where you start! Hold surveys to know what the fans expect to find while they’re at the match [we expect you to tell us here too to help all sports space designers]. While you do your best to plan things; there are still risks like the uncertainty of the local team’s success [we can relate here] or the violent fan behavior & possible security conflicts; of course. In all cases, set a schedule while considering event deadline, then move on to...

The Feasibility Study:

Know that while much is invested in such a huge project; it really pays back and this is how:

Money Out: Design / Project Management / Construction / Materials/ Operation / Maintenance [Cleaning / Repair] / Marketing / Staff 

Money In: Tickets / TV broadcast / Shirt Sponsorship / Catering / Public Authorities Support / Adjacent commercial services [consider this while selecting the site, ok?]

The Development Process: [It is a huge kind of project]

Architects deliver Design Drawings → Authorities grant the Permit

Architects spend nights on Working Drawings → Other Engineers take over for MEP Drawings

Architects + Structural Engineers work hand in hand for the evolution of the 3D Drawings

The team gathers on putting Specs, preparing Tender Documents & Construction as well as Workshop Drawings to deliver to…. → The Contractor [Aaaand The Construction Begins!]

Site Selection:

If it’s up to you to pick the site; consider land size, land cost, site regulations, site construction safety, project visibility, proximity to public transportation, vehicular accessibility, surrounding community facilities, and public safety of the location.

Design Concept:

Create a stadium identity that represents the local culture or sports team; a landmark that’s easily recognized on TV! Every stadium is mainly like a shell composed of a seamless facade & roof forming the visual that’s seen from a distance; visualize it, sketch it & get feedback!

Area & Layout:

A squared layout will make people happy for being so close; but those in corner seats will hate you for their bad views, an oval layout, on the other hand, enables a wider range of sports beyond soccer and a three-radii layout enables good distance to the pitch and better corner views! Area-wise; generally speaking... 

60 - 80,000 seats need 49 - 54,000 sqm

40 - 60,000 seats need 40 - 45,000 sqm

20 - 40,000 seats need 31 - 36,000 sqm

Consider the budget here too; the bigger the stadium, the more construction/operation cost and not necessarily the bigger revenue. If it’s already known there’ll be empty seats, no one would buy tickets early on, and broadcast fees would be low because empty arenas aren’t catchy. Plan for the average season; not the peak and enable expansions if possible.

Zoning:

• Set-up VIP Lounges with buffets and separate entrances / parking
• Fit in administrative offices with access to natural daylight
• Put MEP/storage below stands with access for large vehicles
• Set up media working rooms, special tier seating, TV studios & open spaces for interviews [separate this area from Players & VIP]
• Include F & B staff rooms with belongings safety
• Put Restrooms & food kiosks along main corridors
• Note that a stadium design has almost equal elements on both sides; so you should design half of the stadium then mirror and edit!

Circulation [s]:

Yes, because they’re many: Separate Each of These [to avoid much trouble]:

Coaches & Players - Media - Spectators - VIP - Staff + MEP + Storage 

The Structure:

The structure of a stadium is most commonly based on a tubular compression ring or a suspended arch system; with the use of trusses or cables and a translucent membrane to allow natural daylight. Most commonly, stadiums are based on three tiers while considering the C Value [distance a spectator can see over the head of the one below]. Note that the higher the C value, the better the view for the lower tiers but a vertigo dizziness effect could occur for upper ones. In case of a retractable roof; the structure is necessarily composed of twin sections with a gap of air circulation that wouldn’t let rain in. And speaking of which...

Should it be Retractable, or not? 

A retractable roof is mainly needed for multi-purpose arenas; these could be very helpful when it’s not a soccer season; serving for concerts, corporate events; or other sports matches. However, the cost of constructing and maintaining a retractable roof must be considered in the feasibility study with respect to expected revenues. Other measures you’ll need to consider in case of a multi-purpose arena; would be integrating temporary seating and enabling pitch expansion where the lower tier can go underneath the one above.

Sustainable Measures

If you’re building such a big project; consider saving rainwater to use as flush; natural daylight integrated with solar panels as a source of renewable energy for the massive heating, cooling and lighting systems; use a consistent set of local or recycled materials, involve a recycling-based waste management system, and plant a lot of trees around to avoid the heat island effect!

The Spectator Experience:

The spectator simply wants to watch the match live while feeling at home; eating popcorn in the living room that’s adjusted with a home theater mood! A spectator needs to see and hear well; have enough video boxes displaying what he couldn’t grasp; perhaps a mobile app can even replay what he just missed while enabling online food ordering. Speaking of food; show chefs cooking, food on display and enable enough space to breathe while creating an overall spirit of fun!

So, what about you? How was your spectator experience; or how would you like it to be? Let us know in the comments!

Main Reference: KPMG Sports Advisory - gmp [Von Gerkan, Marg & Partners Architects] - A Blueprint for Successful Stadium Development  

Tags: Sports Space, Stadium, Architectural Design, Stadium Plan, Stadium Development