PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2019 FIELD LIGHTS UP

The soccer-specific Allianz Field stadium is the first Allianz project for North America. Feature writer, Steve Traiman, gets insight from ownership & architect.

Allianz Field night view with dramatic colored LED lighting All images courtesy of Minnesota United FC

hen Minnesota United Football leaders -- the first stadium in Minnesota Supporters Section, 25 suites, 38 WClub hosted the New York Football without a direct public subsidy. semi-private loge boxes, and four Club on April 13, a sellout crowd of In November 2015, Kansas City-based club rooms. 19,796 saw the home team play out an was hired to design the The stadium has a translucent PTFE exciting 3-3 draw in the opening game at stadium and in December, Mortensen laminate mesh skin and features LED Allianz Field. Construction came aboard as part of the lighting technology similar to Allianz Fans and teams had nothing but praise stadium construction team. Arena in Munich, which allows the for the new pitch and many amenities. Mortensen built U.S. Bank Stadium stadium to change colours in response It was the culmination of a four-year for the NFL (see to different events and activities. dream since October 2015, when team PS&AM, 2015 Q4 issue) and worked with The stadium will feature modern owners announced that the new stadium Populous on three other Twin Cities’ amenities and advanced technology, would be built on the former 34-acre sports facilities: , TCF Bank and is specifically designed to Saint Paul bus barn site. Stadium and . positively address sustainability while The stadium is designed to seat Other key project team partners include minimising environmental impact and approximately 19,400, expandable to structural engineer Walter P Moore and energy usage. over 24,000 in the future. It is privately MEP engineer ME Engineers. financed for about $250 million, paid According to Club CEO Chris Wright, Key partnerships for by a partnership composed of the 346,000 ft� facility features In July 2017, Insurance Minnesota-based families and business safe standing space in a dedicated Company of North America, a member

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VENUE IN FOCUS ALLIANZ FIELD

Opening day fans line up at Hungry Loon, typical concourse Opening day sellout of 19,796 saw dramatic 3-3 draw with concession stand. NYC FC.

of the Allianz Group, and Minnesota England; Sydney, Australia; Sao Paulo, host Group D of the 2019 Concacaf Gold United FC announced a multi-year Brazil; Nice, France; Turin, Italy; and Cup, including the U.S. Men’s National naming rights sponsorship agreement. Vienna, Austria. Team, on June 18, and the annual “We are very happy to welcome Allianz In another key partnership, the Club last Tommie-Johnnie Division III football Field to our global family of stadiums,” April announced a 10-year partnership game on October 19 – the first-ever said Jean-Marc Pailhol, Head of Group with Fargo, ND-based Bell Bank that American football game played at the Market Management and Distribution included naming Bell a gate sponsor in new stadium. at Allianz SE. “Allianz Life is the leading the southwest corner of Allianz Field. provider of retirement and protection Key stadium features In return, the bank will provide a $1,000 solutions in the U.S. and this stadium Eric Durkee, the Club’s Senior Director, check to a player each match of the partnership, our first in North America, Public Relations, highlighted some of the 2019 season to be donated to a charity provides us with a great opportunity key stadium features for PS&AM. to share our passion for soccer of the player’s choice. In announcing and reinforce our commitment to the partnership, Bell donated $10,000 For celebrations, pre-match, post- the community.” to goalkeeper Matt Lampson for his match and throughout the week, Allianz LampStrong Foundation charity, which Field will lend itself to soccer fans and Allianz Field joins seven other Allianz- supports cancer patients. all Minnesotans. sponsored football stadiums located in some of the most dynamic cities In addition to welcoming fans for 17 The stadium is designed to revitalise a around the world. Included are Minnesota United regular season home 34-acre site -- including a 1.5-acre green pitches in Munich, Germany; London, games in 2019, Allianz Field will also space to the north of the stadium -- to

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bring a touch of nature to the Midway Centrally located on a major light rail area. Allianz Field is designed to be and bus rapid transit lines as well as bird-safe, with energy efficient and highway access, fans can arrive from sustainable features. anywhere with ease. Fan sections will be covered by a Early in 2018, the Club opened a 360-degree canopy that will serve new Experience Centre in 2,100m� of two purposes: to keep the noise of the repurposed office space to showcase crowd contained within Allianz Field the various features and amenities and to protect fans from the elements at Allianz Field. It allowed fans to see throughout a match. the stadium plans up close, with an Approximately 87% of the crowd will interactive gallery detailing the team’s be protected from inclement weather story and future. by the canopy. Features also included 3D seat-selection Like Target Field, home of the MLB technology, a photo booth and a 3D Minnesota Twins, Allianz Field will use hologram display. Season ticket holders a hydronic field heating system to keep were contacted to set up appointments, the grass in optimal shape even during with brisk sales reported. Great view from popular Loge Box. early spring and cold late-fall matches. At that time, CEO Wright said: “We’re The comprehensive climate control excited to give our fans a first taste of the State of Minnesota including the system for the grass includes an Allianz Field through the Experience Mississippi River and the thousands advanced drainage system that will Center and show them how powerful of lakes throughout the State and the harness and re-use stormwater, the new stadium will be.” incredible night skies of Minnesota and minimising discharge. Essence of Minnesota the glowing aurora borealis. Allianz Field is being built with fans as Populous senior principal and Allianz “We have enjoyed an incredible the top priority. As such, every seat in Field project architect Bruce Miller working relationship with Bill McGuire, the stadium will provide excellent sight told PS&AM: “The architecture of the managing partner and all of the lines to all the action on the pitch. The the building is intended to capture Minnesota United Football Club staff to closest seat will be 17 feet away from the essence of the upper Midwest make the building the most intimate and the pitch, while the farthest seat from and specifically the great State intimidating soccer specific stadium in the sideline will be just 125 feet away— of Minnesota. North America.” providing one of the most intimate settings in all of professional sports. “The architecture draws inspiration Miller highlighted a “Wonderwall” from the great bodies of water in Supporters Section at the back of the The steep rake (33.4 degrees in the upper bowl and 34.75 degrees in the Supporters Section) will put fans right ME Engineers Helps Develop on top of the action. Dramatic New Allianz Field Exterior LED lighting outside Allianz Field Colour-Changing Lighting will allow it to change colours, light Looking at Allianz Field it’s hard to ignore the more than 6,100 linear feet of LEDs intensity and patterning to reflect illuminating the stadium’s exterior facade. the festivities inside as well as shift Headed by David Riffel, ME Engineer’s project manager, the firm’s architectural to represent initiatives and ideas of lighting design team, illume, working closely with the owner, architect, structural the club. engineer and general contractor, created an unparalleled identity for the new home The elegant “flow” design concept will of Minnesota United FC. dazzle soccer fans and Minnesotans Inspired by the Northern Lights—the elusive light show sometimes visible in the alike as it simultaneously blends in Minnesota night sky—the stadium’s exterior PTFE skin system is backlit with over and stands out in a reinvigorated 1,600 colour-changing lights mounted to the building’s interior structure. Midway neighbourhood. The skin system allows the colour of the stadium to change. The exterior lighting Hi-tech can replicate the team’s colours or be customised for holidays, top matches, or other special events. Among other tech innovations, a new The exterior lighting can also be synchronised with the field and interior club lighting Distributed Antenna System (DAS) will to create dynamic game-day effects. let everyone never miss a call or never miss a moment of action. Allianz Field Because of the unique nature of the skin system, the team developed a series of will allow fans to follow along online large- and small-scale mock-ups of the façade lighting. and post their favourite moments During the review process the team noticed unexpected shadows cast along the of the match flawlessly on social skin. With the addition of custom shields, they eliminated the shadows and optimised media platforms. a filtered view of the LED lights. Transportation is another bonus for the The mock-ups were also used to determine the exact aiming angle of the new stadium. Whether walking, driving, lighting fixtures. biking or taking public transportation, With its unique, translucent skin and illuminated exterior, Allianz Field provides a getting to Allianz Field is easy stellar fan experience. and convenient.

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Walter P Moore Helps Create Unique VENUE IN Protective Allianz Field Exterior Skin FOCUS ALLIANZ FIELD Allianz Field demonstrates the power of an integrated structural and enclosure engineering team while bringing a new material to stadium design, noted Justin Barton, Walter P Moore Project Manager, along with David Landis, Principal in Charge. ALLIANZ FIELD Minnesota United FC and Populous set clear goals: an exterior skin that would protect fans from inclement weather but have translucency so energy generated on Project Team and Fact File the pitch pulsated outside the stadium. Location St. Paul, Minnesota Walter P Moore, working with St. Gobain, developed a new fabric to meet Opening Date April 2019 those requirements. Construction Cost $250 Million A cross-weave of fiberglass yarns gives the material its strength and holds the gray Owner Minnesota United FC color -- giving Allianz Field its distinctive sheen. The fiberglass weave is laminated Minnesota United FC with a clear polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that makes the material weather-tight Operator and allows twice the amount of light transmission compared to traditional PTFE Capacity 19,400 coated membranes. Architect Populous Large diameter, round, hollow-structural steel pipes served as a backbone to General Contractor Mortenson support the fabric. These shapes, dubbed “driver pipes,” drove the undulating Construction skin geometry. Structural Walter P Moore In concert with Populous, Walter P Moore digitally controlled the driver pipe Engineers geometry, evaluated fabric stresses and adjusted the driver pipes in order to not Services (MEP) ME Engineers overstress the fabric while maintaining the design and minimising the backup steel Engineer required to meet the project budget. Civil Engineers Loucks Electronics// WJHW/Daktronics The resulting loads on the driver pipes were coupled with the main stadium model to Videoboards optimise the overall structural system. Landscape Populous The final product is an iconic, world-class stadium design. Architect F&B Concessionaire Delaware North upper deck on the East Side offering “We have set very high standards of Major Tenants MLS Minnesota United FC; 2019 safe standing for 2,800 fans, with a design for the building and I believe CONCACAF Gold Cup steep 34-degree pitch. that Allianz Field truly will deliver an Amenities The West Side offers Field Club seats, unprecedented game day experience for the fans and players alike.” Seating design includes future expansion to with fans sitting next to the home club 24,000-plus with 25 suites, 38 semi-private sideline. Just off the main concourse Summing up, Chris Wright, chief loge boxes and four club spaces including are VIP Directors’ Boxes, and outdoor executive of Minnesota United, 1,000-seat Stadium Club, Field Club & Loge Boxes. One level up, the Stadium emphasised: “Allianz Field is going to exclusive Upper 90 Club. It has a translucent Club for about 1,000 members runs the bring our fans together around the PTFE laminate mesh skin and features length of the pitch. world’s game like never before. They’ll LED lighting technology similar to Allianz be closer to the action and enjoy top-of- Arena in Munich, which allows the stadium Two large Party Suites are on the south to change colours in response to different the-line accommodations in a state-of- end, while mini Suites are paired with events and activities. It will feature modern n exclusive The Upper 90 Club on the the-art stadium built for soccer.” amenities and advanced technology, north end. specifically designed to positively address sustainability while minimising Allianz Field’s skeleton is Safe-standing "Wonderwall" environmental impact and energy usage. wrapped in woven fiberglass supporters section. laminated with PTFE, manufactured by French specialist Saint Gobain. It’s reflective and bright in the sun, and transparent in the shade. At night, LED Lighting outside allows the building to change colours, light intensity and patterning to reflect specific activities inside. “Overall,” Miller emphasised, “I have to give credit to our entire project team that provided the vital teamwork that brought the very tight construction schedule to completion on time and on budget.

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