PLAYING FOR KEEPS: Examining Stadiums For a Healthy Future There is a Life Cycle to Stadiums, just as all things, but these facilities have larger effects than we may realize. Stadiums have the ability to bring life into areas but can also kill these places, if not created to have long-term success. The Olympic Swimming Tyler Kersh Venue in Rio, Brazil was totally abandoned only six months after ARCH 415 the completion of the 2016 Summer Olympics. These facilities have great hype and the expectation of bringing great revenue Louisiana Tech University to areas, but too many times, we see these facilities begin to rot School of Design and make us question if they were really worth it. A100 “Stadiums Have Lifespans of 32 Years” Former Stadiums in the United States Kingdome 59,166 Capactiy Pontiac Silverdome The Palace of Auburn Hills 80,311 Capacity Boston Garden 22,076 Capacity 14,890 Capacity Cleveland Stadium 74,438 Capacity Giants Stadium 79,469 Capacity Candlestick Park Shea Stadium 63,000 Capacity 57,333 Capacity Oracle Arena 19,596 Capacity The Forum 17,505 Capacity Omni Coliseum 16,378 Capacity Alamodome Tampa Stadium 20,557 Capacity 74,301 Capacity Texas Stadium Amway Arena 65,675 Capacity 17,283 Capacity 28 25 76 31 20 24 25 37 85 32 44 58 63 32 53 2 96 36 36 34 11 73 47 31 7 61 32 61 30 33 44 28 39 34 28 53 60 11 24 51 31 65 11 20 3 12 31 54 63 51 24 74 20 31 26 35 31 17 49 37 22 5 29 29 25 13 11 14 10 21 27 20 7 29 20 30 20 28 21 33 25 24 Data from Former Stadium Lifespans 32 12 48 24 28 show that the average stadium lifespan 1900 1930 1960 1990 2020 in 32 years. A large amount of stadium history comes from the Northeast Region of the United States due to the growth of America westward. Even in areas where professional sports have been played for over a century, there has been a need for new construction and development. A101 “Stadiums Are Staying On the Same Trend” Current Stadiums in the United States Safeco Field 47,715 Capacity uicken Loans Arena 20,562 Capacity United Center 20,917 Capacity Little Caesras Arena 20,491 Capacity MetLife Stadium 82,500 Capacity Wells Fargo Center 20,328 Capacity FedEx Field Oakland Coliseum 82,000 Capacity 55,945 Capacity Capital One Arena 20,356 Capacity TIAA Bank Field 76,867 Capacity Chase Field 48,686 Capacity Globe Life Park 48,114 Capacity AT&T Stadium 80,000 Capacity 54 14 22 16 11 58 25 20 108 17 1 47 29 8 20 19 12 54 28 20 31 16 30 21 10 106 11 48 24 11 47 19 18 23 19 18 23 18 33 18 63 19 17 6 22 12 21 10 3 22 20 96 22 14 1 25 4 21 19 10 21 18 23 8 2 18 16 2 4 3 52 25 26 21 21 28 21 30 25 17 29 26 24 Most professional stadiums, used today, 1900 1930 1960 1990 2020 have been built during or after 1990. This reinforces the data from previous stadiums that these structures are not being used more than 35 years. With the continued advancements in society, the question lingers just how long before we are having to replace all stadiums. A102 “Many Stadiums Won’t Be Around For Long” CenturyLink Field Future of Stadiums in the United States 68,740 Capacity Arrowhead Stadium 76,416 Capacity New Era Field 71,608 Capacity Ford Field 65,000 Capacity First Energy Stadium 67,895 Capacity Gillette Stadium 65,878 Capacity Oracle Park 41,265 Capacity FedEx Field 82,000 Capacity M&T Bank Stadium 71,008 Capacity Nissan Stadium 69,143 Capacity Empower Field at Mile High 76,125 Capacity Marlins Park Minute Maid Park 36,742 Capacity 41,168 Capacity 69 29 31 26 123 73 32 16 23 69 27 31 25 121 18 26 16 26 78 21 32 27 25 18 111 16 29 19 25 8 31 17 19 17 67 Using the average lifespan of 32 years, 32 the trend would predict that by 2035, over half of the stadiums, used today, 1900 1930 1960 1990 2020 will no longer be open. There will be no long-term benefit for more than 40 pieces of architecture built across the United States. There are economic and social issues with wasting the resources, time, and effort put into creating these “palaces of sport” for only 32 years of use. A103 “What Makes These Stadiums So Oldest Stadiums in the United States Sustainable?” Lambeau Field 81,441 Capacity Soldier Field 61,500 Capacity Wrigley Field 41,649 Capacity Fenway Park 37,400 Capacity Angel Stadium 45,517 Capacity Dodger Stadium 56,000 Capacity 54 Years Angels Stadium, Anaheim, California 108 Years Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts 58 Years Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California 106 Years Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois 63 Years Lambeau Field, Green Bay Wisconsin 96 Years Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois Even with so many facilities not lasting 35 years, there is a select few stadiums that have been able to last over double the typical lifespan of a stadium. These three active stadiums have all been used for 1900 1930 1960 1990 2020 almost a century, each. With two of these facilities being within the city of Chicago, there obviously is a question as to why there is an ability for stadiums to last within that area. Even with these facilities being in the minority, as far as age is concerned, these facilities have been able to survive and thrive into the 21st Century. B100 “A Long & Useful Life Is Being Rooted In the City” In Chicago, Wrigley Field has been a core piece for the locals since 1914. This Stadium has been in use for over a Hundred years and is one of the most iconic sports venues in the United States. The key to all the success is the ability for the stadium to have grown with the city. The city infrastructure and Neighborhoods are working in harmony with the stadium to create a strong and inviting atmosphere for spectators. You cannot talk about the city of Chicago without the idea of the “Friendly Confines” at Wrigley Field coming into your head. B101 “Stadiums That Intrude On Cities Are Uprooting Cultures” Within Chavez Ravine, there was a large community of Hispanic people that had grown on and developed the land. This area was home to culture, but their home was stripped away from them. The Brooklyn Dodgers took advantage of moving out west during the expansion of the United States. The team bought Chavez Ravine and forcibly removed the natives from their homes. These people were promised new, better housing to be built, but this promise was never fulfilled by the local government. Dodger Stadium would become an iconic venue for many, but to the Hispanic culture of Los Angeles, it was a burden and reminder of the pain their families had been through. This injustice led to conflict and the breaking between a stadium and its local community. B110 “The Difference in Chicago & Los Angeles “ Chicago Rooted-In 1850 1880 1910 1940 1970 2000 Uprooting Los Angeles Chicago and Lost Angeles have gone through major growth since 1850. In correlation to their stadiums, Wrigley Field has been around since the early 1910s and has been able to grow and adapt with the city. Meanwhile, Dodger Stadium was planted in a location of Los Angeles that had already been inhabited for over 60 years. Some stadiums have been apart of the growth of the city while others lack the connection. Wrigley Field has been able to last so long because it has achieved what no modern stadium can, which is to be rooted into the core of a mega city. B120 “Chicago Is Built Around Wrigley Field” ) % ( s it n U g in s u o H d e i p u c c O PON SERIAN PARK INNEA n Routes ENA PARK tatio por ns Tra y ar nois m Illi ri , P go f S ENS a o ic n h o I ti C s , e g ld n e o i C F c i y f f e a l r T I g i RIGLEYILLE r W 0.5 I OYSON ROSEO ILLAGE LAKE IE ) ile M re ua q S r e p le p o e P ( y t i Wrigley Field has been so influential s n e to Chicago that the neighborhood D n encompassing the field has been named o i RIGOO t a l ES EPAL NEIGORS Wrigleyville. Wrigley Field has established u p o PARK ES strong connections with the public P Transportations used in the city. This LAROP OES allows for more people to not need to drive to a game, but simply take a rail or bus to arrive. Local bars and restaurants surround the stadium, giving more Entertainment and financial opportunities to the city. Necessities such as housing, food,safety, and entertainment have all a place within the 2 mile radius of the ballpark. Wrigley Field is not necessarily just a venue to watch a baseball game, but it is a place to spend your time with family and friends, in a Stadium Hotels Hopitals Banks Grocery variety of ways. C100 “Age Doesn’t Matter Yearly Attendance in 21st Century To Stadium Value” 2001 2010 2019 2001 2010 2019 4 M 0.7 M Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California 58 Years Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California 54 Years Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin 63 Years Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois 106 Years 3 M 0.6 M Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts 108 Years Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois 96 Years 2 M 0.5 M 1 M 0.4 M 5 B When looking at attendance numbers from the 21st century, it may surprise some that the six oldest stadiums in the United States are actually in the top half of their respective leagues.