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Football season is in full swing. So is the planning, construction and renovation of several large stadiums that will be packed on Sunday afternoons.
The newest to open its doors is the $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, where the Buffalo Bills took the field for the first time on September 17, defeating the visiting Detroit Lions 41-31. A joint venture of Gilbane Building Co. and Turner Construction built the project.
It is worth saying that the new stadium in Buffalo has about 60,000 seats, 10,000 less than its predecessor. That also makes it the smallest capacity-wise venue in the NFL. Industry experts say this is part of a trend as end-users move away from large crowds to premium offerings.
“I think the biggest change is the formula. Just like the DNA of what makes a great stadium, arena or ballpark is changing,” said Logan Gerken, vice president of Minneapolis-based Mortenson, which has built numerous sports venues, including the Las Vegas Raiders $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium with project partner McCarthy Building Cos. “Previously it was about the total capacity. Now the conversation is really about the percentage of the premium.”
Stadium builders and designers said these premium offerings, facilities and enhanced requirements for teams and players continue to evolve as professional teams build or renovate their fields.
Premium, premium, premium
Gerken, who grew up in Memphis but has come to support Minnesota sports teams, said square feet per seat has increased as premium offerings change.
These include boxes, suites, lounges and club areas or exclusive restaurants. Gerken said spaces built in the late 1990s or early 2000s averaged three to five enhanced experiences. The new builds aim to include nine to 12.
There are many contributing factors, including the way sports are consumed by fans, said Craig Schmitt, co-director of Atlanta-based architect EwingCole’s sports practice. The availability of events on HDTVs and streaming apps has made watching the game remotely a richer experience.
As a result, Schmitt said, owners must figure out how to build more game-day fun into the physical experience of attending games, especially for sports like baseball and football, which have considerable dead ball time.
“I think what’s happened is people don’t necessarily want to sit in their seats for nine innings of a baseball game or even four quarters for a football game,” Schmitt said.
Baseball, for example, only has about 15 minutes of action, he noted.
“Which begs the question over the course of a three-hour game, what is everyone doing for the other two hours and 45 minutes?” said Schmitt, a Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Phillies fan.
That means builders of today’s stadiums have to consider much more than what happens on the field, said Lee DeLong, managing director of Bethesda, Md.-based Clark Construction’s equity group.
“Cold chicken offerings made in an off-site kitchen and brought there will not deliver the experience our customers are looking for,” said DeLong, a supporter of Washington’s commanders. The results are more robust mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for kitchens, concession areas and lounges.
Renovate or rebuild?
M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, was first constructed in 1998. The facility underwent a $480 million renovation over the last three seasons, with work wrapping this summerbefore the NFL regular season.
Meanwhile, Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Tennessee Titans, opened in 1999. It is receiving a $2.1 billion replacement for a local of the same name, with construction starting in 2024 and an opening date set for 2027.
So why do two different stadiums that are roughly the same age get different types of upgrades? One a reform and another a complete reconstruction?
Experts said these conversations with customers are long and complex, and often come down to figuring out what existing structures can handle.
“Very few buildings that were built in the late 90s and early 2000s have the bones to be able to receive these types of upgrades and still function well,” Gerken said of all the MEP requirements to add new clubs and lounges.
An example is the race for more screens; and not just the televisions covering the lobbies. Scoreboards and jumbotrons have increased in size, another addition to the costs and considerations of MEPs.
Gerken said audio and visual considerations used to take up 3% to 5% of the total construction cost. Now this share can reach up to 12%.
But end-use considerations have also evolved in terms of not just the fan experience, but also the team operating on their field.
Players’ dressing rooms and services
Today’s professional athletes have more resources at their disposal for their diet, exercise, performance and recovery. That has affected design and space considerations for locker rooms and clubhouses, Schmitt said.
“They were a place to change, shower, eat. Maybe there’s a weight room and you do some conditioning before or after the game,” he said. “The amenities are now two and three times larger than they were before.”
Additionally, the rise in popularity of women’s sports, including the WNBA and NWSL, has created new design needs for female athletes. Construction industry professionals said the considerations or end use of such equipment may differ, either due to privacy or the nature of on-site media coverage.
“As each sport becomes more inclusive, it only makes sense that the venues that support them are the right size and the same position,” DeLong said.
Finally, these MEP considerations also spill over into the team’s facility needs, as some sites contain medical facilities or offices for coaches and players to meet, game plan and discuss film.
“These aren’t just game day facilities anymore,” Gerken said.
