Allianz Field Lights up Minnesota
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PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2019 ALLIANZ FIELD LIGHTS UP MINNESOTA 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 Populous 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 Minnesota Vikings (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: Target Field, TCF Bank and is specifically designed to Saint Paul bus barn site. Stadium and Xcel Energy Center. 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, Allianz Life Insurance Minnesota-based families and business safe standing space in a dedicated Company of North America, a member 22 www.psam.uk.com 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 23 PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2019 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.