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Stadiums: Behind The Scenes

The creation of certain stadiums can be said that follows suit based on the likes and preferences of the team owners, managers, and even the teams themselves to achieve that “home field advantage”. However, it is incredibly more nuanced than that. If one is to take a closer look into the notion and reasoning of why stadiums are designed the way that they are. One will notice the missing factor which is the audience's experience.

History of Stadiums - Layout & Innovations

By understanding why stadiums are designed in such a way, one must go to the beginning. Stadiums have been around for quite a significant time serving different purposes. Going back to the original stadiums often referred to as Classical stadiums, they were part of the Greek societal structure which was improved on by the Romans. Such events that were to take place included athletic games such as the Olympics and other exhibitions that allowed a large seating area for spectators. Apart from that, there are many examples that can be listed including, stadiums, coliseums, amphitheaters, all different names given to an enclosed or opened space area which spectators can experience the event in person.

Strides in Innovation:

The Modern stadium compared to the older designs, share some of the same principles, however, it builds upon it. One can see that the shapes of stadiums do vary according to the different uses for which the stadiums were built. These designs consisted of a rectangular form, a U-shaped form, and others. However, modern stadiums are often designed as astrodomes, which quickly revolutionized this idea of “enclosed and roofed stadiums”. Innovations such as this began in the 20th century because of the technological advancements that this era was witnessing. These advancements were facilitated by the materials that are now available, which has allowed for the construction of new designs that are now possible. These stadiums today allow audiences to have a better view of the event, feel more immersed, and even be exposed by the variety of brands and products all strategically placed.

The Audience Experience: Sports Fans

The entertainment and continuous enticement of fans is a crucial part of the live game experience. Furthermore, the design of sports arenas plays a huge role in entertaining and satisfying fans. Most sports centers professional or not will have bright, neon colors to capture fan's attention. They will focus primarily on the logo, as a way for fans to remember their team and want to buy and become a part of their product. All professional sport centers spend a multitude of money on resources to provide the best entertainment for their fans. “... significant resources are invested into stadium design, construction, and on-site entertainment technologies".

The ideal audience:

In today’s society, many sports arenas are fighting with at-home entertainment, such as TV's, sound systems, and the comfort of their own homes. To compete with this, many teams will hire CIOs and CMO’s to make the overall experience for fans better than the at-home experience. This includes a comfortable clean environment for fans, a more efficient transportation and parking system such as hiring bus companies to bring fans to and from the games, and constructing larger parking garages for fans. They consistently upgrade their lighting systems, sound systems, and Jumbotrons to keep fans engaged and fascinated by everything going on. Because of Covid-19, they've taken extra precautions to keep fans safe and still coming to live sporting events. Overall, fans play an essential role in sports and the design of a sports arena plays a vital role in the experience for the fans.

Dynamics: Teams & Athletes

Just like the entertainment aspect of a sports arena is very important, so is the safety of the playing field. The players must be supported as they fly in from across the map to play in arenas as many as 162 games in around 6 months. The fields, courts, rinks, etc. must be in pristine condition for the aesthetic sense but more importantly, the player’s safety. Most organizations like the NBA and NFL make associations keep the players safe while participating in said sport. For example, in 2016, the NFL and NFLPA(NFL Players Association) established the Field Surface Safety & Performance Committee to perform research and advice on injury prevention, improve testing methods and adopt tools and techniques to evaluate field surface performance and playability.

Accountability: Factors & Restrictions

Some professionals are in charge of these very crucial specifics. In basketball and the NBA, there is the American Society for Testing and Materials that sets guidelines for sports floor testing. In their words, “A quality surface won’t prevent athletes from ever getting hurt, but it can certainly reduce the likelihood of injury”. Aspects like shock absorption, vertical deformation, traction, and many others are key for the athlete’s safety. Adequate flooring on a court can preserve players' joints and reduce injury. Sports arenas are monitored very closely to preserve athlete's health and prevent injury.

Bibliography:

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CC0-Photographers. “Free Images : Roof, Asphalt, Walkway, Ancient, Baseball Field, Arena, Amphitheatre, Greece, Race Track, Athens, Sport Venue, Outdoor Structure, Pan Hellenic Stadium, Olmypic 5312X2988 - - 1053510 - Free Stock Photos.” PxHere, 8 Mar. 2017,https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1053510?utm_content=shareClip&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pxhere.
CC0-Photographers. “Free Images : Structure, Game, Audience, Arena, Team, Sports, Match, Tribune, Fans, Supporters, Basketball Player, Baseball Park, Sport Venue, Soccer Specific Stadium, Music Venue, Basketball Moves, Slam Dunk, Lakers 2272X1504 - - 1223638 - Free Stock Photos.” PxHere, 22 Mar. 2017, https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1223638?utm_content=shareClip&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pxhere.
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