2 (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

Experiences are the new stuff.

“Everyone thought that digital would cannibalize live events. But the more time people spend on social media, the greater their desire for one-off experiences” Chris Lee, Populous

How do you spend your Thrills, spills and It’s not just to have downtime? In a digital, on- roller coasters something cool to demand world, the choices are almost “The more we’re put on your Instagram infinite. We can tap into any kind of able to do at home, 2018 was an eighth record feed … In 2018, Live Nation, whenever we want, year of growth for Live Nation, surveyed 22,500 13-49 year olds from anywhere. YouTube users watch 1 the more we crave the world’s largest live events across 11 countries: billion hours of video every day,[1] Spotify company. 2019 promises to users can stream more than 50 million going out, being with be another. Ticket sales were 66% said they were “starving for songs,[2] Netflix subscribers can surf people we care about up by 16% in the first half, experiences that put them back 1,569 television programmes and 4,010 with its concerts expected to in touch with real people and raw films,[3] and Twitch’s 4 million monthly and doing something draw nearly 100 million fans emotions” streamers produce content for an worldwide [6] average of 51,400 live channels at once. hopefully a little 71% said “the moments that [4] But doesn’t watching on your own In an average week in 2018, give me the most life are live get lonely? extraordinary” sports events across the experiences” It seems that it does: in this atomized Craig Hanna, world attracted cumulative space, live communal 03experiences attendances of 42 million 73% agreed with the statement: have become more valued than ever. Thinkwell people [7] And the more of the world we see on “Now, more than ever, a screen, the more we want to go and In 2017, a record 1.1 billion I want to experience real explore it. Clutter is out, memories are thrill-seekers went to theme rather than digital life” in. Consumer data shows that people parks around the world, are spending less on “stuff” in favour of spending US$44.8 billion [8] Welcome to a world of 24/7 stadiums, shape-shifting travel, dining out — and events. sports pitches, alternative-reality theme parks, and tours by Even gamers are going dead rock stars. It’s going to be one hell of a ride … out. More than 23,000 esports fans

went to the World 2017 2030 Championship Finals at Incheon WORDS BY KATIE PUCKETT Munhak Stadium, South Korea in October 2018, and 174,000 fans attended two weekends of esports Between 2017 and 2030, global spending on experiences [9] is predicted to grow by to reach tournaments at ESL One in Katowice, 38% US$8tn Poland in March 2019. “Reality gaming” is growing too, in the form of escape rooms, immersive problem-solving games where teams work together to escape against the In the US alone, clock. The first opened in Japan in 2007, spending on live [10] and the phenomenon has since spread experiences has US$5bn per year over the last decade across Asia, North America and Europe. grown by There were approximately two dozen escape room facilities in the US at the

end of 2014. By mid 2018, there were [1] YouTube [2] Spotify [3] Flixable [4] TwitchTracker.com [5] roomescapeartist.com [6,10] Live Nation Entertainment [7] Two Circles [5] more than 2,300. [8] IAAPA Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook 2018-2022 [9] Euromonitor (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

You won’t believe your eyes: a screen on every surface, holograms and AR

“The digital world has transformed buildings. They’re huge billboards, they’re interactive machines” Albert Paquette, Architecture49

There are no more compete with that device so we if there were cameras around the captive audiences. The have to make it seamless to the Don’t look down … ground, converting the action into market for our time, money experience.” Green Lantern: a live VR version of the game,” and attention is an incredibly Technology is a tool rather than Galactic Odyssey starts says Peter Chipchase, director competitive one, and it’s stalked a starting point, says Hanna. off as a planetarium at WSP in London. “Say you’re by a constant Fear Of Missing “A lot of our experiences are show, before riders sat in the back row and you can’t Out. If you go to one event, heavily laden with incredibly are thrust into an really see what’s going on, you what aren’t you experiencing sophisticated technology, but immersive “4D flying could watch the digitized version elsewhere? Even when you’re most of it is invisible to the guest.” theatre experience”, on a VR headset but still feel the [12,13] there, there are constant Take the Scooby Doo and the suspended in front of a atmosphere. Or you could fly distractions, reminders that there Museum of Mysteries attraction 38m half-dome screen down and be in the middle of is a world of other possibilities … at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, YOUR FAVOURITE DEAD STARS — LIVE! while their senses the action.” Hosts might manage to tempt a ghost train or dark ride where It used to take many, many hours of programming to create even are bombarded with people through the doors, but how you board the Mystery Machine a short segment of hologram. But more powerful processors and , With 5G connectivity, can they hold their attention? van to explore a haunted mansion. algorithms are increasingly able to take on the computational heavy 05wind, scents and mist. millions will take part in a Maybe we should stop trying “The ride system is trackless, so lifting, enabling longer, more detailed, more realistic shows. At the It was designed by single event. Theoretically 100 so hard, says Craig Hanna, chief as designers we are not bound League of Legends championship in Incheon, South Korea in 2019, a Thinkwell Group, and times faster than 4G and coming creative officer at Thinkwell, by the linear nature of a track and virtual band made up of game characters debuted their new song live is one of the most soon, 5G not only enables the creator of some of the world’s can play games with the vehicle’s on stage alongside real-life artists — so real, the holograms even had popular attractions at transmission of information-rich, largest and most successful motion and capability. When reflections on the shining floor surface. Holograms are now selling Warner Bros World realistic experiences in real-time, theme parks and destination Fred says, ‘Let’s split up and look out arenas in the guise of music legends such as Roy Orbison, Buddy Abu Dhabi. it dramatically reduces the latency resorts. “I’ve been to so many for clues!’ the vehicles actually Holly and Maria Callas, with Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse and or lag in two-way connections. seminars in the leisure sector split up — something you can’t Frank Zappa all set to be digitally resurrected. [14] n The 2018 PyeongChang Winter about how we have to keep people do in a tracked ride. We use this Olympics in South Korea offered from using their phones. But we to enhance the story and create time is the ride marketed as ‘an me, to know what I do, know So how far are lifetimes.” But maybe we don’t live VR footage of skiers and can’t assume we’re ever going to something unexpected, but at no innovative trackless dark ride’. It’s how many times I’ve done it we from a real-life need them: “AR can certainly “Virtual and augmented snowboarders over a 5G network, simply presented as a family dark and communicate that back to Westworld? The 1973 film create something pretty close. and instant replays of 360° high- ride that takes guests through staff, then the entire place could about a no-limits immersive If people have glasses on, you reality will be a paradigm definition footage. an episodic structure and then become more like Westworld than theme park is now whetting the can populate that entire world n A violinist on-stage in Bristol, surprises them.” we could imagine.” appetites of a new generation with sentient creatures that only shift in how people UK, was accompanied over 5G Hanna believes that augmented Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is as an HBO TV series. In the real appear in your overlay.” watch games” by a pianist, vocalist and second reality (AR) will play an enormous already doing this to some degree world, it is rumoured that Disney For sports fans, there are violinist at two different locations role in dazzling the visitors with its phone app. “When I go to World’s new Star Wars-themed a dizzying array of possible Jay Wratten, WSP in London, 100 miles away. The of the future, in combination get a drink after I’ve had a great hotel will have no windows, only applications, just coming on 5G connection worked almost with and run in the Millennium Falcon, the video screens, notes Hanna. “If I’m stream. “We’ll start to see video too well: the two violins were so wireless, low-power wearable guy who serves me my blue milk constantly looking out at space feeds that give you the chance perfectly synchronized that they devices. “AR has absolutely the might say, ‘Hey, I heard you made and spaceships, that gets pretty to experience the game from sounded like a single instrument, greatest opportunity to transform a Kessel Run in three parsecs’. close to a sense of being there.” different perspectives, even when so the piece was rewritten with location-based entertainment, That’s magic, and it puts me in Not every technology is you’re sitting in the arena,” says two different parts. the possibilities are really the experience in a very cinematic advancing as fast: “Obviously, Jay Wratten, sport sector lead at n In its bid to host the 2022 World [11] extraordinary. If a guest could way. That’s how immersive we’re not going to have artificially WSP in the US. [11] Thinkwell Group Cup, Japan pledged to telecast Above The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride, a dirt-bike adventure complete with VR wear a piece of technology that people are going to expect future intelligent, human-like robots Or why not “sit” somewhere [12] Michael Lewis for BASE Hologram the games live in 3D to stadiums wolves at Thinkwell’s Lionsgate Entertainment World in Hengqin, China allows an attraction to track experiences to be.” populating this place in our completely different? “Imagine [13] Riot Games [14] Thinkwell Group around the world.

(THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

“The first time a train came through the screen in a movie theatre, audiences ducked. It’s going

to be the same for the audience in here” “You can put on an Oculus Rift headset and go into a virtual world, but physically it’s just you in there. We wanted to create a way to be in that world together” From the team behind Cirque du Soleil, Montreal’s PY1 takes immersiveness to new depths Calum Pearson, Lune Rouge

Ticket holders for PY1 PY1 is one of the it is augmented reality-ready too. on your arms, you don’t usually get ,” says Anderson. “My weapon: it will be very difficult to will have little idea of the most technologically There is no traditional seating, and this feeling watching television or daughter has friends literally all capture such a multidimensional experience that awaits advanced venues in the the audience is free to sit, stand looking at your phone. It’s a social, over the world, but she’s never experience on a phone screen. them as they approach the world, but its novelty derives or roam. interactive moment where there’s actually spoken to or met any one They want people to want to try — mysterious pyramid on Montreal’s in part from a more mundane Interactivity is essential to hold five people, or 1,000 people, or of them. One of the coolest things and then they want them to give docks. But its creators don’t really reason: its unconventional a modern audience’s attention, 100,000 people in an arena and it I ever experienced was at a high- up and just be in the moment. “If know either. shape. “The audience have never says Pearson. “Even in the 90s, feeds off itself.” school robotics championship we have an ambition left to fulfil, “Something we talked about been in a venue like this and so the challenge was always how in St Louis. There were 70,000 it’s to bring everybody from the really early on was ‘what is the they’re going to be experiencing you break down that fourth wall. As fathers, they have teenagers in this gigantic football Millennials and younger out of the audience going to feel?’” says something in a way that they But now people have access07 to a more personal goal: arena, all engaged in what was seven-inch world to the 360º real Mike Anderson, production never have before,” says Calum technology that surrounds them getting the younger generation going on, and not one of them world,” says Pearson. “Just for 60 director at Lune Rouge Pearson, Lune Rouge’s general and stimulates all of their senses to look up from their phones, for had their cell phones in their minutes, you’re ours.” Entertainment. “To be perfectly manager. just from their own couches.” a short while at least. “We have hand. That was a goosebump “And then,” adds Anderson, honest, we’re not exactly sure how Both Pearson and Anderson both lived through them growing moment for me.” “we want them to go out of the they’re going to react because are veterans of Cirque du Soleil’s The goal of PY1 is to to the age of living inside of their Here, the pyramid’s unusual pyramid, pick up their cell phone it’s so new. We’re going to be spectacular touring productions, offer the same level of cell phone or living inside the shape is again their secret and talk to their friends about it.” watching carefully.” but that proved to be no immersiveness, but in a Lune Rouge is the new venture preparation for a 125ft square communal setting. “ Today, of Guy Laliberté, founder of with 85ft-high slanting walls. “For you can put on an Oculus Rift Cirque du Soleil, and the hope my entire career of 30-plus years headset and go into a virtual is that it will follow the same in entertainment, we’ve always world, but physically it’s just you trajectory from cult secret to worked inside of a box, where in there. We wanted to create a global phenomenon. Having things go up and down in a linear way to be in that world together. opened in June this year, PY1 is way,” says Pearson. “Here that Human beings are still very social a touring venue with “multiple doesn’t happen — everything is creatures, we want to get out and personalities”. By day, it hosts at an angle and we don’t have the experience things together.” Through the Echoes, an traditional ceiling. So we’ve kind of As storytellers, their ultimate interactive 60-minute show that had to throw away everything that job is to give the audience will take visitors on a multimedia we knew. It presents completely goosebumps, says Pearson. journey from the Big Bang to the new challenges for a lighting “The story has to take them on a present day; by night, it becomes designer, for example. How do you journey. It has to have moments of a nightclub with themed live light the floor to create a certain adrenaline and moments where you music experiences and 360º mood, without lighting up the just get to breathe, and the venue projections. It can also be rented projection surfaces on the walls?” has to be able to support that.” out for anything from corporate As well as projections, shows The communal element is presentations to yoga retreats. feature lasers, kinetic physical crucial, adds Anderson: “If you elements and of course, state-of- think back over the times you’ve [15] [16] the-art sound and lighting, and experienced the hair standing up Patricia Brochu Jimmy Hamelin [16] [15] (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

Beating the competition: your sofa.

“The point of smart buildings is to enhance the spectator experience. People want to get in and out quickly and safely, be comfortable, and not have to queue for ages for a beer” Peter Chipchase, WSP

Immersive sound, find it again easily. We could even Long queues will be a This data will also virtual reality, instant extend the wayfinding experience thing of the past. Bluetooth play an invaluable role Silicon Valley’s home ground: At San Francisco’s 360° replays … the venues with turn-by-turn instructions to beacons can monitor foot traffic in key decisions about Levi’s Stadium, home of the 49ers, you can use the of the future will offer all of this — reach your seat. and the length of food queues, everything from sponsorship to official app to order food to be delivered to your seat, but so will home entertainment Security will be more rigorous directing spectators to the event management, says WSP’s find the shortest queues or a place to park systems. It’s a lot more convenient but less visible, as biometric shortest ones. But why leave Wratten. “Mobile devices allow to stay home. You can eat identification and intelligent your seat at all? “The beacons us to interact with fans in a very whatever you want. You can sit video analytics become the provide such accurate locations different way, from an operator with your friends. You get the best norm. Cameras with built-in AI that rather than having to go and and marketing perspective. Data views. You don’t have to travel, will monitor footage and identify queue for food, it comes to you,” and analytics about their fan brave lengthy queues or pay unattended bags, for example, says Marson. “You order it on the base is hugely important to how exorbitant prices. When you put it or changes in the way a crowd is app and the delivery person can teams establish partnerships with like that, why would you ever leave moving. “ can watch see where you are.” sponsors and how they weigh the the sofa? all the screens at the same time Combining all of this data with success of different initiatives.” So we have to make it easy. and they don’t miss small details,” information from occupancy Datasets on how people buy 09 In tomorrow’s venues, the says Marson. “They can see if sensors in lighting systems will tickets, their preferred food and technology you can see will be just the crowd has started to move in make maintenance and cleaning their social media interactions the tip of an AI-powered iceberg an unusual way, and flag up that more reactive — the restrooms during and after an event could working to optimize every part someone needs help.” of the future will never run out of be mined to drive engagement of the experience and make it as The system could even toilet paper or soap. And for those or secure funding. “For a sports frictionless as possible. identify when rival fans go into who like to plan every detail, the team today, there is no off-season. “We need to raise expectations the opposing team’s area: “If app could show you a concert They need to be in front of fans of what a digital service should it’s Manchester City versus setlist, so you can choose the 24/7, 365 days a year, constantly be,” says Matthew Marson, head Manchester United and someone perfect moment to go. engaging. That’s the way we now of smart buildings at WSP. “I don’t in a blue shirt goes over to the red- consume entertainment. Going want a paper ticket or to have to shirt side, you can put in a virtual to the venue is a part of it, but look for a parking space. I expect tripwire to alert security staff.” your loyalty to the team or artist is food to come to me, and if I miss going to be built digitally. These that all-important shot, I want to At Taylor Swift’s Rose Bowl concert in May 2018, a kiosk facilities represent the culmination be able to go back and watch it in equipped with facialrecognition cameras showed rehearsal clips. of that relationship.” my own time.” This will make for a As fans watched, their images werebeing cross-referenced radically different guest experience, with a database of hundreds of her known stalkers but it will not necessary require physical changes to existing buildings: “We can just overlay them with a set of digital services.” Live Nation has invested in With digital ticketing, there’s no Blink Identity, a start-up that need to print out tickets or pick uses military facial recognition them up — they’re already pre- technology to identify people loaded onto your phone. If you’re passing at full walking speed, taking your personal vehicle, you’re even if they are not looking automatically directed to your pre- at the camera [17] Jim Simmons Photography booked parking space, and can (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

The real home advantage: how stadiums drive sports teams’ success.

“It’s making sure that the fan is entertained from the minute they get there to the minute they leave, for the entire day even” James O’Neil, Cushman & Wakefield

The fan experience [18] [19] doesn’t come cheap. Bored of the action? Today’s technology-saturated venues are far more expensive No problem … to build than their predecessors. n At State Farm Arena in Atlanta, basketball “Prices have sky-rocketed,” says fans can get a shave or a haircut in the courtside James O’Neil, leader of the sports barbershop, or practise their swing in a TopGolf and entertainment practice at driving range simulator overlooking the arena. Cushman & Wakefield. “Maybe 20 n Lucky Jacksonville Jaguars fans can stay cool years ago, a new stadium was a in the Axalta Spa Cabanas, a two-level space field with concrete around it, and Left At Miami Dolphins’ with video screens, bars and two large wading parking lots around that. People Hard Rock Stadium, pools with prime views of the field. went to go see that one event and there are 11 different n Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena has built a that was pretty much it. Now it’s not seating options, massive, high-end sports bar across the road, just building a stadium, it’s building including the 72 Club 11with a 39ft HD big screen and rave reviews for an entire entertainment district.” its food, ambience and service on Tripadvisor. Mass transit links are essential in how revenue is calculated,” says here, come on over, we’ll hang phenomenally well,” says Chris pitch too. Broadcast revenues are “Being in that space is actually more exciting and stadiums are more often in Turner. “It used to be about selling for a quarter.’” Advertisers love to Lee, managing director EMEA at fixed, and players’ salaries set by A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME than the stadium itself because it’s such a central locations, on higher value as many seats as you could, but attach their brand to these spaces: Populous. “They’re the same price an increasingly global market as Food and drink is luring fans in earlier, and highly charged environment,” says Albert sites. As the cost and complexity that’s way down the agenda “Owners may not get as much for per seat as a box, but you can buy sports such as soccer, American keeping them longer Paquette, principal at Architecture49. If you of projects has risen, developers now. The premium product is the seat, but they get a lot from just four of them, which might suit football and basketball expand can get a table, that is. have had to seek additional the biggest thing that generates the sponsorship.” the way you entertain better.” into new territories. But income From fine dining to family meal deals, everything’s capital, from lenders who expect revenue, up there with naming At Tottenham Hotspur’s new from ticket sales and match-day available in today’s most advanced venues. Food a strong return from match-day rights and sponsorships.” ground in north London, designed The regular fan spending can vary dramatically — and beverage has traditionally been a big earner for operations. New stadiums have many more by Populous, premium options experience is intended and help to drive results. “Stadiums stadium owners, but an underwhelming aspect of the levels and a greater degree of range from optimal-viewing to keep people coming are a differentiator between club fan experience. Now they are taking a more strategic So operators need segregation, but also greater seats to a £30,000-a-year private back again and again. A and club B,” says Lee. “Stadium approach, so that dining at the venue becomes a choice people to come — and freedom of movement. “Standing members’ club that will store your “Even the cheapest season ticket revenues become a huge part of rather than a grudging last resort. to spend money. That has room is a real trend now,” says vintage wines and cognacs. New is expensive,” Lee adds, “so we the business plan because it’s the “People are demanding it,” says Turner. “You have changed the game completely, Turner. “The younger generation to the UK, Tottenham’s “loges” should be giving them a fantastic one piece they can modify. When to have really good kitchens, and really good chefs says Ron Turner, principal and like to move around. We have to seat between four and 10 people experience. UK football or soccer you’ve got £50m more a year to providing quality food. Each event is a different kind of sports leader at Gensler. “The provide places where they can in booths overlooking the pitch, fans might go to 26-29 games spend, that can enable you to buy opportunity from a food and beverage standpoint, and [20] performance of these buildings is text their friends and say, “I’m over with table service. “They sold a year, so you want to be able to better players and therefore do every building is taking advantage of that now. So the extremely important — that’s what do different things depending on better on the field.” buildings need much more sophisticated facilities back- drives, in many cases, whether whether you’re going with your of-house.” or not you can get a loan to build “Ten or 15 years ago, there were general seats, club friends, your partner, your children When London football Tottenham Hotspur’s new ground has a Michelin- them in the first place.” or a client. It’s about designing club Arsenal moved from its calibre restaurant, but also beer priced to match local This is a global trend with seats and suite seats. Now there are usually at least and curating phenomenal historic Highbury ground to pubs and a microbrewery on site. “We’re selling out of operators in Europe and Asia experiences, rather than designing the Emirates Stadium in 2006, beer every game,” says Lee. “People are coming two- all following the US model: a ten different seating experiences: theatre boxes, loge a beautiful, iconic building and match-day revenues and-a-half or three hours early, and they’re staying for constantly expanding range of seats, field club seats, club and restaurant seats, in- then trying to fit everything into it.” doubled from two-and-a-half or three hours after the game. It’s not [21] amenities and more premium A team’s ground can play a £42m to £90m this massive rush getting there five minutes before and [18] Miami Dolphins [19] Hufton+Crow [20] Jacksonville Jaguars seating. “There’s been a huge shift bowl dining seats …” David Manica crucial role in its fortunes on the leaving five minutes before the end.” [21] State Farm Arena (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

wheeled out into the pit. One of One great day out isn’t enough. Venues need to the challenges of rigging an arena is access to the roof soffit. With host something different every day, flawlessly. this approach, you can lift it a little way and lock it off to rig all the equipment from head height, so “You don’t want to be in a situation where someone comes along and says ‘can you put on X’ there’s no need to work at height. As soon as you finish playing and you have to say no” Peter Chipchase, WSP football on Saturday afternoon, you can lift the roof up ready for a concert in the evening.” Stadiums and arenas Accommodating Saracens rugby club have signed are expensive, energy- differentsports calls for a five-year deal to play their big Anticipating the NEW GAME IN TOWN hungry buildings — and some creative solutions. games there. And rather than many uses of a building most of the time, they’re At Tottenham Hotspur’s football having to wait right until the end over a 30-year lifespan is World’s fastest growing sport draws empty. UK football stadiums ground, the grass pitch is in a of the football season to stage a tough call. But even short- previously hidden demographic only stage league matches every tray that slides back to reveal a concerts, so as not to destroy term predictions are problematic: other Saturday; in the US, there synthetic one 1.5m below — the the grass, it can be slid out and “It’s really dangerous to design a Livestreaming video games such as are just eight home games a year. first bespoke NFL pitch outside replaced overnight. building for today’s technology Fortnite, Dota 2 and Overwatch (pictured The days of building bespoke North America. “The business model changes says Peter Chipchase at WSP. because by the time it’s built, left) has become a major spectator sport, venues for one team and one kind The technical requirements for quite dramatically through the “You need to be able to effect four years in the future, it’ll be and real-world events are growing in of event are gone. The sporting the two sports were very different, ability to change that one thing,” a complete conversion — for outdated,” says David Manica popularity — some leagues now require facilities of the future will have says Populous’ Chris Lee. “In says Lee. “They can run a lot more example, the ability to convert at sports and entertainment that teams have a local venue for home to be chameleons, winning fans’ soccer, no one’s on the pitch other events and the turnaround time is a football stadium with no roof specialist MANICA Architecture. matches. The global esports market loyalty even when there is no longer than the players and you just a lot quicker. On a business level, into a fully enclosed arena. Once “So we design for the unknown will grow by 26.7% in 2019 to top US$1 an exclusive relationship. “Instead have two managers at the side. that makes huge sense, but also it’s an arena, it needs to have and provide a blank canvas that billion[24], with dedicated arenas, bars and of having several stadiums spread In American football, there is a on a sustainability level. If you’re multiple modes: concerts with is flexible.” 13cafes proliferating across Asia, the US out across cities, I think you’re massive entourage of about 80 investing all of this carbon into a different combinations of seated In a more resource-conscious and Europe. China leads the trend, with going to see consolidation between people, so the first spectators are building, we should be using it as and standing areas, touring world, adaptability will become an six cities vying to become its esports hub. teams and sporting events, always elevated. It’s also pretty much as we possibly can.” shows, EDM, ice hockey, boxing, even more important component “It’s a different demographic, and it’s especially in highly populated hard to get line markings off basketball, Cirque du Soleil … of a design, believes WSP’s Jay huge and growing,” says Ron Turner at areas,” says James O’Neil at natural grass, and then there’s the The transformation That means flexibility in spectator Wratten. “If you look at the change Gensler. “There’s a push to adapt the Cushman & Wakefield. “You feel difference of having 40 incredibly has to be convincing. requirements and behaviour in fans’ expectations over the last esports experience to existing venues, so like it’s your home field when you large NFL players on the grass To really maximize revenue patterns, loading patterns, rigging 30 years, some facilities just can’t you create smaller venues for maybe 200 go there to see your team. But pitch — the damage they do to the generation, venues have to be loads, all the lights, the AV. The meet those in their current state,” or 300 people to take advantage of the then maybe a few days later, your field is huge.” able to host anything that comes climate might be different for each he says. “If we take the stance food and beverage component. There can across-town rival is coming into the The sliding field solves those along, from a full-capacity sports type of event. There’s no reason that they’re supposed to last, the be a worldwide network of games taking same stadium. They can change problems and will enable crowd to intimate corporate why you can’t accommodate all new challenge will be how to place in different time zones.” the team name and everything else maximum use of Tottenham’s events. That means being able to these requirements, it’s just about keep them current with the bones A very high level of power and within a few hours.” stadium. As well as NFL games, tailor every aspect of the building, setting the right brief.” in place.” bandwidth is essential: “It’s almost like One client wanted a 42,000- Like airports, which are a surround-video situation with dozens seat turf sports stadium that constantly updated, stadiums of cameras on all of the players so fans could quickly be converted into also need to evolve over their can watch them as well as the in-game an arena with a roof. Chipchase’s lifetime. “Perhaps we need to action. Then you have commentators and design, for which he has filed a start designing these facilities celebrities, so you need a booth that’s patent application, has the pitch in a modular way, so you could visible to the audience.” in a tray on a frame and strand upgrade them by pulling out a There must also be areas for teams jacks on the roof. “The strand piece of programme and putting a to prepare and for fans to try out new jacks pick up the pitch and it new piece in. games. “You need to provide a variety of becomes the roof, creating a pit “If autonomous vehicles and self- experiences, not just rows and rows of [22] at the base that can be fitted out driving cars take over, in 20 years seats. It really comes down to flexibility — Déjà view … San Francisco’s Chase Center will be home to the Golden State Warriors basketball team, in various configurations. The we might want to turn parking making sure that you can accommodate but it also has a Broadway-style stage. “When you enter the building you would never recognize it as a sport stage, lower tiers and all the other levels into retail. We need to be all these different types of activity and arena, it feels more like a performance hall,” says architect David Manica. “The arena can even transform to arena equipment can be stored considering what that will mean that you have enough power.” host smaller theatre events. It is really three buildings in one.” under the upper tiers and quickly for entertainment buildings.” [23] [22] steelblue [23] [24] Newzoo (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES “One night we’re Atlanta United, the next day we’re Atlanta Falcons”

The 70,000-seat Mercedes-Benz stadium has multiple identities — but always puts fans first

If there’s one thing completely customizable inside sports fans love as and out — essential given that much as the game, it’s it’s not only home to the NFL the stats. Atlanta’s Mercedes- Atlanta Falcons, but also soccer Benz stadium doesn’t disappoint. start-up Atlanta United. It hosts There are 4,000 miles of optic the Southeast Conference football fibre snaking around the building, championships and the Chick- feeding 3,500ft of LED ribbon fil-A Kickoff Game that opens the displays, the world’s largest college football season, as well as scoreboard, 58ft high and 1,100ft corporate events and concerts all wide, and another 100ft-high year round. videoboard wrapped around a “We don’t have fixed signage giant structural column. At the in the building, everything is other end of the scale, hot dogs digital,” says Jenkins. “One night, are just $1.50, you can drink all we’re Atlanta United and the the Coke you want for $2 and next day, we’re Atlanta Falcons, the seats are 2 inches wider so the building has to be able to than those of its predecessor, convert overnight. With the push Georgia Dome. of a button, we can dramatically 15 The goal of all of this, says change the look and the feel, and general manager Scott Jenkins, light up our facade in colours that is nothing less than to redefine complement the event.” the stadium experience. “It’s Heavy-hitting technical wizardry a very lofty objective, but it’s a is certainly part of what makes and they can go fill up as much as with all those screens, its energy environmentally preferable habits.” competitive marketplace out a great stadium experience, but they want.” consumption is 29% lower than Aluminium and plastic bottles there. People have a choice of the simpler things matter too. Going cashless was at the its peers, and it uses 40% less are collected in clearly branded where they spend their money To make sure the seats were request of the fans — one of water. On-site there is solar power containers and sorted on-site. The and they have a choice of being comfortable enough, billionaire many tweaks that Jenkins and generation, a 680,000-gallon value of the aluminium is donated at home. So we’re trying to give owner Arthur Blank personally sat his team have made in response system that reuses rainwater to Habitat for Humanity, which you a live venue experience in every prototype, and the food to post-game surveys since the for cooling and irrigation, and is currently building a second that you can’t get at home or and beverage offer is stadium opened in August 2016. capacity to store 2.1 million house from the proceeds. The anywhere else.” competitively priced and served “Any venue that’s going to be gallons of stormwater, some of stadium’s PET plastic bottles, The 70,000-seat venue is right fast. “When we opened, we had successful is going to be maniacal it in landscape features called meanwhile, were used to make in the heart of Atlanta, and it whole-dollar pricing on everything about focusing on the fan bioswales. A garden produces jackets for 10,000 volunteers wears its ambition proudly for all so there was no change. We’ve experience, getting feedback then healthy food options for the when the stadium hosted 2019’s the city to see. Designed by HOK, since gone to a cashless stadium, taking action to deliver the kind of concessions. So far, 50 tons of Super Bowl. it has a complex multifaceted so it’s all card transactions. And experience they want.” uneaten food has been donated “We’re trying to make it tangible form and a retractable roof whose we took the soda dispensers off With the boot on the other foot, to the community, providing for our fans and get them to camera-aperture-style opening the counter and we put them in he has been trying to guide fans’ 150,000 meals. contribute to the recycling, but is almost a newsworthy event in the concourse. So now, when behaviour to make the stadium’s Jenkins, who is one of the we’re also trying to show them itself. The display screens and fans come up and say ‘I want four operations more sustainable. Here, founders of the Green Sports the value of the materials to help LED lighting throughout make it Cokes’ we hand them four cups too, there are some impressive Alliance, would ultimately like the build the circular economy. Sports stats already. Mercedes-Benz stadium to be zero waste. “As we has a unique position in all of our stadium has Platinum LEED do that, we have an opportunity communities and I think it can “Any venue that’s going to be successful is going to certification, scoring 88 points, to engage our fans and the play a role in moving us in the the highest that any professional business community to help right direction.” be maniacal about focusing on the fan experience” sports venue has achieved. Even drive more innovation and more [25] AMB Group [25] (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

Entertainment will be at the centre of tomorrow’s cities. Entertainment boosts “Entertainment buildings are some of the most important and iconic any city can build. property values Sport in the city 0.25 miles n London football club Fulham is They become a source of pride and a hallmark for the quality of life they offer” David Manica Office and retail space close to a new 100 buildings redeveloping its Riverside stand entertainment development commands 6.38% vacant to open up the walkway along a 20-30% rental premium. the River Thames: “It’s designed Fun is coming in from future is multi-venue destinations In smaller towns, multipurpose theatre group, and a cafe where as a riverside venue that just the cold. Entertainment in urban settings, which take less venues refresh the parts that various social activities take place. Vacancy rates for more than 7,000 happens to have a seating tier venues were often seen as bad footprint.” Thinkwell’s Lionsgate other developments can’t reach: But for O’Dowd, the most office buildings across the US show on the back of it,” says Peter neighbours by city planners and Entertainment World in Hengqin, the 5,000-seat Meridian Centre successful theatres are more that occupation increases with Chipchase at WSP. residents — noisy, litter-strewn, China, is a case in point — an in St Catharines, Ontario is on than a meeting place — they go proximity to an entertainment n Polar Park in downtown antisocial and best banished to indoor, vertical theme park with an awkward brownfield site beyond their walls and engage development. Worcester, Massachusetts, is the outskirts of town. But their 30 attractions on 10 levels. 50ft below a main street. “They directly with people in the street. a 10,000-seat baseball facility social value is being reappraised, couldn’t get any commercial “How theatres integrate into the with an office built in the as is the environmental cost of Entertainment is an interest but now there’s this whole cityscape is potentially the future outfield. “Office workers will be locating them in places that can essential component of hub of sports and entertainment of trade and commerce. Who able to look into the park,” says only be reached by car. vibrant places, says Albert that has reactivated a street that still wants to just go shopping? 0.5 miles 2 miles WSP’s Wratten. “There are no buildings out in Paquette at A49 in Toronto. It has was dying,” says Paquette. Performance can turn town 488 buildings 2652 buildings n San Francisco’s Chase Center the middle of a parking lot any several major venues downtown, centres into experiential places.” 10.03% vacant 12.73% vacant is a sports and cultural venue, more,” says Gensler’s Ron Turner. linked into the transit system and “The arts have a This is already happening, and a major mixed-use project, “People understand that stadiums spilling out into public spaces, huge role to play as not just with culture but sport designed by MANICA, with and arenas are destinations that even when the game is elsewhere. community glue,” believes too. When venues are centrally 17interiors and retail by Gensler. create a footfall, and are therefore Its Raptors basketball team Robert O’Dowd, chief executive of located, it’s even more important There will be offices, shops, bars, 1.5 miles great for cities in terms of their secured their historic NBA win the Rose Theatre Kingston, a that they are well used, and this [27] restaurants and a public plaza. 3829 buildings longevity and sustainability, and in California. But back home, the 800-seat venue in outer drives more porous designs. “The entire development becomes 11.78% vacant from a transportation standpoint. area outside Scotiabank Arena London. “With the digitization of a part of the fabric of the city and It makes sense for these buildings — known as “Jurassic Park” — community life, where does the The nascent trend a draw even on non-event days,” to be in cities.” became a focal point for fans, community meet now? Where are for “sports-oriented says David Manica. Downtown destinations are some queueing to secure a place people bumping into each other, development” takes this also more likely to draw the in front of the big screen for 48 sharing experiences?” The Rose to its logical conclusion: if a punters. “At the end of the day, hours. “It was as active there as if is one of those places: it has 100 transport hub can be an anchor not a well-connected, amenity- as opposed to the gates being it’s not iPhones or Instagram the game was happening inside,” volunteer ushers, the majority around which housing, workplaces rich sports facility? “We’re starting closed except for a few times a we’re competing against, it’s he says. of them retirees, an active youth and retail facilities are built, why to see many cities looking at week or a month.” time,” says Craig Hanna at entertainment facilities as a Stadiums already include Thinkwell. “So we have to create component of that anchor,” says amenities that new communities a new offering that is faster to Wratten at WSP. “What if you had need. “Many have health facilities get to and easier to consume. apartment buildings that looked that outpace urgent-care centres,” As densification continues, the into the bowl, or all around it? says Wratten. “What if we What if on your way to work or the started to use them as everyday The ultimate blurring subway station, you could walk healthcare facilities? Or maybe of boundaries The through the concourse and buy a stadiums could house battery “We include places for Shed at Hudson Yards coffee from the concession stand? banks as part of the sustainability people to gather, whether in New York, designed It becomes part of the community, strategy for the surrounding grid.” [28] by Diller Scofidio + they’re coming to an Renfro, expands and Just add screen … Cricket fans watching the 2019 World Cup final in Trafalgar contracts into the Square, London — public spaces are becoming extensions of stadiums or event or not, so it creates public space in front “I think the whole city should become a space for spectator venues in their own right a new town square” to host performances, entertainment, where retail, performance and the city exhibitions and events of [26] Philip Scalia / Alamy Stock Photo [27] Cushman & Wakefield Ron Turner, Gensler different sizes blend” Robert O’Dowd, Rose Theatre [28] Peter Manning / Alamy Live News [26] Developed by Miral, Yas Bay Arena in Abu Dhabi will be an integral part of the Yas Bay waterfront, a 14 million ft2 mixed-use destination set to transform the southern end of Yas Island. The arena is being delivered by a WSP-led team, including architect HOK, and is designed to expand from a 500-seat theatre to a multipurpose venue that can host 18,000 spectators.

This article was produced for issue 05 of The Possible magazine, published by WSP in September 2019.

With thanks to the following contributors: Architecture49, AMB Group, Cushman & Wakefield, Gensler, Lune Rouge Entertainment, MANICA Architecture, Miral, Populous, Rose Theatre Kingston and Thinkwell Group

From WSP: Peter Chipchase, Matthew Marson, Bill Price, Pierre Rodrigue, Jay Wratten WHAT IF WE CAN?

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