Football attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to stadiums every year. Playing football without fans in an empty stadium is an incomplete experience. For many fans, watching their favorite players on their TV screens is not satisfactory enough.
Football fans across the globe have been filling up stadia every other week either to watch their national teams play or to support their favorite football club. Football fans generate a lot of revenue from buying tickets in order to watch their favorite sports teams. They also generate money from playing free bets and paid bets on their favorite teams.
Football continues to grow because of patronage from fans. Fans are important stakeholders to football teams, but as their numbers continue to swell, stadiums need to provide the latest construction that is conducive and safe for use. They need to ensure that the stadium can offer all of the latest amenities for all kinds of football fans.
Important Football Stadium Design and Construction Trends
Apart from amazing architectural designs and breathtaking landscapes, many stadiums worldwide are now using the latest technology and proper safety arrangements to improve the fan experience. The FIFA world cup coming up in Qatar in November will unveil some of the world’s latest stadium constructions. These stadiums cost billions to construct. However, the construction costs are valid, as long as every fan gains easy access, enjoys their stadium experience, and safely gets back to their destinations.
The latest stadium construction trends are interesting to see. Some already constructed stadiums are also beginning to renovate and implement these construction trends to make them safer and better for the fans.
Here are five trends in football stadium construction making loud statements and sounding a loud gong of commitment to football fans’ safety:
– Safe standing areas
Standing in football stadiums was common in England. Following the Taylor report on the unfortunate Hillsborough disaster, highlighting the inferior quality of the terraces and barriers, stadiums in England were mandated to allocate seating arrangements to every spectator. In the recently concluded 2021/2022 season, some Premier League clubs trialed safe standing after getting approval from the FA. They utilized rail seating arrangements with terracing and crush barriers in place. Stadium designers are turning to safe standing because it has become quite common for fans to stand on their seats during games, and that practice raises a lot of safety concerns. Their trials were largely successful, and it appears that safe standing will be one of the construction features to look forward to across stadiums in England. The current safe standing arrangements are not entirely designed for fans to stand throughout matches. The standing arrangements can also be converted to seats and used according to the spectator’s preference.
– Advanced Lighting Design and Arrangement
Lighting is essential in creating unique fan experiences across stadiums. Many stadiums have started to utilize LED lighting which lights up the stadiums once flicked on. These lights can be designed to flicker along to the beats from the stadium’s sound system. These LED lights are great for fan experiences and contribute immensely to reducing energy consumption in stadiums.
– Increased Connectivity
In the past, stadiums were secluded from the rest of the world. Now, stadiums ensure that every fan stays connected by providing internet connectivity via Wi-Fi and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). A football game is no longer complete without tweets and real-time statistics. Being able to stay connected right from the stadium helps fans enjoy their favorite teams while staying connected with the rest of the world. Stadiums also use connectivity for marketing purposes. Fans can scan barcodes and browse the links displayed on advertisement boards.
– Air Conditioning
Harsh weather conditions sometimes affect fan experiences in football stadiums. With the increasing use of air conditioners in stadiums, fans can have a smooth experience without weather interference. Air conditioning in stadiums seemed like a far impossibility. Now, they are guaranteed improvements to fan comfort and enhanced spectator experiences.
– Free Flowing Traffic Arrangements
Stadiums are incorporating a lot of traffic infrastructure and arrangements in their considerations. When fans can easily access the games and get back home without much hassle, it encourages them to come back to see the next game. Stadiums are designing and implementing car parks that allow easy entry and exit. They also include alternative traffic arrangements to connect fans from different sports.
Conclusion
Other interesting trends that are shaping stadium construction include the hospitality arrangements. Stadiums are also built with adequate fan attractions such as hotels and other interesting entertainment options, including restaurants, parks, and stores where fans can pick up souvenirs.
Stadium management companies stand to gain more when their stadiums are fitted with the latest construction trends. Many stadium management companies and sponsors will invest money into their stadiums to generate more revenue in the near future.
