Sports stadiums are getting bigger, better, and more advanced than ever. Gone are the days when people would crowd into a venue and huddle together without a seat to sit on or a roof to protect them from the elements. Today, fans not only have the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite athletes, but they can also enjoy all manner of added extras when they visit a modern stadium. To explain what we mean, here’s a rundown of the most high-tech stadia in the world, featuring cutting-edge elements such as state-of-the-art stadium sign graphics.
1. BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, Canada
Next-Level Roofing, High-Tech Lights, and the Reason for Soccer in Canada
BC Place is the only Canadian stadium to feature in FIFA’s series of video games. This highlights how soccer has gradually grown its presence in Canada over the last 30 years and the influence of the sport can be seen in various areas of the entertainment industry, although it still has a way to go. For example, Canadians can visit online casinos and play all manner of soccer-themed slots, including Football Champions Cup and Football Glory. The range of soccer-related entertainment is only likely to increase as the sport continues to infiltrate and expand in various platforms, including gaming and streaming.
That’s an impressive achievement. Having the status and influence to make a sport such as soccer popular in Canada is a testament to the quality of BC Place. The question, therefore, is how it developed this reputation? What’s made it such an iconic structure? Well, BC Place was opened in 1983. It cost CA$297 million to build and, for that price, it has a number of claims to fame. Firstly, it was designed to have an indoor structure with an air-supported roof. This inflated covering was the largest of its kind back in the 1980s and gave the stadium a unique, futuristic look.
The air-supported roof remained in place until 2010. Then, once the Winter Olympics had wrapped up, the stadium was closed and its bubble was removed. In its place, a cable-supported retractable roof was installed which, at the time, was the largest in the world. These innovations put BC Place on the map. Unsurprisingly, the stadium’s operator, PavCo, doesn’t want to let its influence wane.
Therefore, the changes made to the roof haven’t been the only upgrade in recent years. As well as widening the seats, the stadium is now equipped with an energy-efficient, state-of-the-art hot strip lighting system. The pitch is also made of Polytan LigaTurf RS+, which features a 32 mm shock pad underneath the turf and an eco-friendly BionPro infill.
2. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
Architectural Excellence, Retractable Features, and Bottom-Up Beer
This stadium might be the home of London football team Tottenham Hotspur, but its retractable pitch means it’s also used for NFL matches when teams fly over from the US. The pitch has two layers to it. The top layer can retract, revealing a surface beneath ready for NFL action. If that’s not enough, the pitch is maintained by an innovative lighting system that mimics sunlight and helps the grass to grow. The project was finally finished in 2019 at a cost of $1 billion. For that, Tottenham not only got a stadium capable of holding 62,303 fans but a complete entertainment venue.
Away from the pitch, the entire stadium is Wi-Fi-ready, which means fans can go online at all times. There are 1,000 square meters of TV screens within the stadium and the beer pumps fill glasses from the bottom up. Add to all of this the fact that it is a cashless and ticketless stadium, and there are few places that are more high-tech than this one. However, what’s most impressive is that these innovations haven’t come at the expense of beauty or architectural excellence. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was recognized at the 2021 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National Awards. This was the stadium’s 17th award and further confirmation that it’s among the best in the world.
3. Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Bright Lights, 5G and Virtual Reality
Otherwise known as Schlauchboot (German for inflatable boat), the Allianz Arena has the ability to change color based on the teams that play there. When FC Bayern Munich shared the stadium with TSV 1860 Munich, this was a particularly useful feature. However, it’s now a quirk that epitomizes the techie nature of this stadium. Indeed, since it opened in 2005, this $340 million venue has done much more than play host to 75,024 fans each time Munich play at home.
Firstly, it’s big. In fact, it’s so big that it has an entire museum dedicated to Bayern Munich inside it. In 2019, Allianz Arena went 5G. This means it now offers next-generation internet connectivity both for its own operations and for fans. A new video wall was installed in 2017, which meant the two old screens were replaced with 200 square meters of ultra-HD TVs. Visitors can also download the Allianz Arena app.
This app provides team news, stadium updates, and an interactive map. It can also be used for transactions inside the stadium. The other reason for integrating 5G into the stadium was to facilitate a range of virtual reality and augmented reality products. These will not only provide new interactive experiences for visitors but help to make Allianz Arena an attraction for everyone, including those who don’t like sports.
Modern Stadiums are More Than Sports Venues
Stadiums have always been places where people go to watch their teams compete, but they’re becoming much more than that. Through a combination of innovations and upgrades, modern venues are appealing to new audiences. BC Place has become such an iconic stadium that it’s helped sports such as soccer become part of Canadian culture. Tottenham’s stadium is so revolutionary that it’s won countless awards and become a tourist attraction in its own right. Then there’s the Allianz Stadium that’s on the cutting edge of virtual reality technology.
All of these things are a testament to the popularity of the sport and the money that flows through the industry. However, they’re also examples of how technology can broaden an industry’s appeal. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, there are reasons to visit a stadium like BC Place. That’s impressive and something the designers should be proud of.
