Technologically Advanced Sport Stadiums
In an era of digital and sustainability, sports stadiums need to cater to these areas and make them future proof for any changes in viewing habits and technological advancements. These huge long-standing venues would last for many years and will play host to thousands of matches and events during its lifetime. Here are two newly built stadiums that are the world’s most technologically advanced stadiums.
Atlanta Falcons – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
First opened on 26th August 2017 at a cost of £1.2bn to construct. The stadium features a retractable roof that’s constructed out of eight panels and arranged in a circular formation that rotate to open and close. The stadium has over 2,400 screens, including in the toilets, allowing fans to follow games even when they pop out to use the toilets. The stadium features a Halo screen that circles the perimeter of the roof (1,100ft). At the entrance of the tunnel, four 100ft tall LED columns projecting NFL players. The stadium features no fixed signage therefore 4,000 miles of fibre cable was installed to link up the digital displays. The digital displays allow the stadium to adapt and change according to the event. For example, when playing host to a final, the stadium is able to change its colours and signage by the touch of a button.
Despite its sheer size and the digital screens, the Mercedes-Benz stadium remains environmentally friendly. The stadium has 4,000 solar panels installed, uses 47% less water and has edible gardens on the outside of the building as well as bioswales. The stadium also collects rainwater and stores them in a cistern for the cooling tower and to irrigate the landscape. During high levels of rainfall, it is capable of holding up to 680,000 gallons of water, thereby decreasing the risk of flooding to the neighbourhood located west of the stadium. The stadium is located near two public train stations, reducing the number of people travelling by car as well as offering bicycle parking and electrical charging facilities to encourage eco-travel.
Tottenham Hotspurs – Tottenham Hotspurs stadium
Opened on the 3rd April 2019 and costing £850 million to construct, this new football stadium is full of innovative technology. The stadium features a retractable pitch that allows the stadium to convert itself from a football stadium to an NFL stadium. The stadium is able to slide the grass football pitch, which is split into three sections each weighing at 3,000 tonnes. 68 electric motors power the 168 wheels that carry the sections out of the stadium, the conversion process only takes over 1 hour to complete. The Spurs pitch features latest grass growing technology which is made by a 120-tonne lighting system that features 863 lights. Suspended over the pitch to ensure every blade of grass is getting sufficient light, however when stored underground, LED lights are used to keep the grass growing.
The stadium features 1,800 HD TVs as well as the two biggest screens in a Western European football ground. Around the ground, screens are used to help guide visitors and in the dressing rooms, screens have replaced the names and numbers that normally sit above the player's seat. Touch screen TVs now occupy the dressing room replacing the old fashioned technology of the whiteboard. The stadium also has 1,600 wireless access points that have the capacity to cater to 65% of the 62,000 crowd, allowing fans to stream live video at the same time without disruption.
The Spurs stadium also features the longest bar (65m) in Europe that has a beer filling up system that will fill the beer from the base of the cup. The club claims that up to 10,000 beers can be poured in a minute due to the new technology. The stadium has also fully gone cashless with 60 food and drink outlets no longer accepting cash at the ground. Customers are able to tap their cards, mobile devices or via their season ticket to pay for food and drinks. The club’s app allows supporters to enter the ground via a digital ticket and the app features an interactive map and navigation system to guide fans to their seats.