For decades the Stadium experience was one that was internal, fans would go to the stadium and enjoy whatever was offered within the walls. That view point lasted for a very long time. Now however, teams are moving away from just in house. Entire entertainment districts are being made around the stadiums focal point. Why is that a good thing and where is it going?
The new experience
Allegiant Stadium is a marker for the progress that has been made for better or worse in the evolution of the stadium experience. Granted it also benefits from close proximity to the Las Vegas Strip. This is by design and shows exactly where things are going and how they are likely to progress. The building itself is a mecca of entertainment providing far more than just the NFL experience, and its loaded with cutting edge tech to further immerse visitors inside of its halls. That being said, its placement is the new direction. No longer do stadiums just stand alone. They are placed or purpose built to provide more entertainment choices around them keeping fans close but able to enjoy in their own ways. Or, indeed to visit even if nothing is going on inside.
Running side by side with Allegiant Stadium is SoFi stadium, the general premise between these two meccas is the same. Providing an entire experience with more surrounding it. Though SoFi does take a few interesting design choices to make a hybrid between open and not.
Its not just the NFL
Though the NFL is certainly the front runner. The concept has spread from the hallowed halls of football to other American Sports. Notably Little Caesers arena the successor to the fable Joe Lewis Arena and The Palace of Auburn Hills took this concept and made an entire city within a city. Most NFL teams have either already taken this approach or look primed to do so. Yes, we are talking about the Chicago Bears here.
The Saga that is becoming the Bears choice is already well reported on so we won’t go into it in depth here. That being said it is just another example of how much this new style has pull and interest for teams.
Domes or not
This one might be a point of contention as teams such as the Bears decide to move along to better and bigger venues. Ones that are multipurpose, can be used even if the stadium itself is silent. These cities within a city are undoubtedly impressive, useful, and adaptable. That being said along with this shift to multiplexes comes another shift. The domed, or enclosed stadium. Again plenty of teams have already done this, and plenty more stay with the traditional open air. Which one is right? Is anyone actually right?
The obvious benefit to a dome is that it is a controlled environment. Any game, at any time, will have good “weather” because its not a concern. Fans don’t have to contend with rain, snow, heat, or anything else. Severe weather not withstanding. This also means that games don’t get delayed, or interrupted. There is a lot of draw to doing this, especially in states that don’t have fan friendly weather.
The other side of the coin is that the weather is part of the experience. It has been for a very long time and it may or may not continue to be so. There are plenty of insane games played in crazy weather in NFL history. Ones that defined a season, simply because of perseverance in the face of additional challenges. Beating a team is one thing, beating a team when the weather forces you to play a certain way is another.
That being said the NFL is a business, it simply makes sense to have a dome. Plus, if you take variables out whats left is skill and effort.
So what is the future like
Honestly, we already see it in what has been recently built, and what will be. Teams are going to continue to move to the city within a city entertainment mecca. Business wise its makes sense, more to do, more often, regardless of if the stadium has an event. Add to it that providing a controlled environment will attract more people to come. Its a lot easier to sit somewhere for a few hours if you aren’t freezing, or roasting, or soaked.
In the end the NFL has been and always be a business. This is the next evolution, the only question for the NFL is how many teams will make this switch. We know that the NHL and NBA are as well. Maybe it will also spread to the NCAA. Its certainly an interesting prospect.
For the story on the Bears moving: Bears Looking for a New Habitat