This is the thread for college football stadiums of NCAA Division I and how they got expanded.

I'll start off with Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

1929-Started out as a 30,000-seat stadium
1940-Field-level lights are added
1949-6,000 seats were added to south side
1964-Field level lights are removed, 7,261 temporary seats were added
1967-19640-seat upper deck with press box and club seating added
1981-East endzone stands were enclosed adding 19,000 seats
1982-Lights were added at the top of the upper level.
1991-Portion of west end zone stands were enclosed adding 4205 seats
1994-30 luxury suites added on top of south stands
1996-The hedges are temporarily removed to accommodate the 1996 Summer Olympics Association Football (soccer) matches
2000-20 additional luxury suites are added
2003- A 5,500-seat 3rd upper tier is added to north side
2004-27 SkySuites were added to the north side
2005-New video display added to west end zone

There's already a huge one a few pages back

^^A huge what? If you're talking about a thread about the expansions of college football stadiums, I looked at it a few years ago (before I joined SkyscraperCity), but now that thread is lost.

I thought this was to be a summation of current projects (OSU, Texas, Illinois...). If you're talking comprehensive history I'll save you the trouble:

collegegridirons.com (http://www.collegegridirons.com) has a few errors but is pretty spot on, includes discussion of most major expansions and covers all of 1-A. Plus many pictures. That and worldstadiums.com will get you pretty far.

Next, The Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.

1929-Opened as Denny Stadium with 12,000 seats
1937-6,000 seats added to east side
1950-Capacity expanded to 25,000
1961-Capacity expanded to 43,000
1966-Capacity expanded to 60,000
1975-Given its current name
1988-West upper deck added expanding capacity to 70,123
1998-East upper deck added expanding capacity to 83,818
2006-North upper deck added expanding capacity to 92,138
Future-South upper deck will be added expanding capacity to about 100,458

show some pics to go along with the upgrades.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/jkramb/08.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/jkramb/cc-north-endzone-facility.gif

Here's Clemson's new expansion called the WestZone, which was completed in 2006. Capacity for Death Valley is over 80,000 with 86,092 being the most we've ever fit in for a game versus Florida State.

During construction
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v633/tmac9wr/DeathValley.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v633/tmac9wr/westzone.jpg

View from the WestZone
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v633/tmac9wr/ClemsonStadium.jpg

Running down The Hill
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v633/tmac9wr/Hill.jpg

I open this as a new thread, because i think its interesting, how a stadium was enlarged. As an example,

Westfalenstadium Dortmund

1974 - 1992 (42.800)
http://www.ruhrhopper.de/Bilder/Westfalenstadion_alt_BL.jpg

1992 - 1995 (55.000)
http://www.ruhrhopper.de/Bilder/Westfalenstadion_55000.jpg

1995 - 2003 (68.600)
http://www.ruhrhopper.de/Bilder/Westfalenstadion_68600.jpg

since 2003 (81.168)
http://www.ruhrhopper.de/Bilder/Westfalenstadion_83000.jpg

all pictures from http://www.ruhrhopper.de

great thread,and stadium :okay:

Thanks for the enlargement history of Westfalen stadion.

Old Trafford

http://www.stadiumguide.com/manutdstory.htm

Old Trafford

http://www.stadiumguide.com/manutdstory.htm

Thanks for this. :cheers:

enlargement > build a new stadium

Here is a history of the Fritz-Walter-Stadion in Kaiserslautern.

http://www.go2betzel.de/stadion.htm

Bernabeu
Begin with chapter 3
http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1193041512791/Historia/Santiago_Bernabeu.htm

Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooool.

:D
the name of this thread reminds me on another kind of enlargement :lol:

Old Trafford

http://www.stadiumguide.com/manutdstory.htm

Great thread. I really liked Old Trafford in the early 90's when they completed the single tier all the way around and the capacity was 44,000. Today it just looks unbalanced as that one side and corners are not the same as the rest of the stadium. Hopefully one day they will be built!

http://www.bl04.de/dateien/arena3.jpg

1958 (20.000)


http://www.bl04.de/dateien/arena2.jpg

1997 VIP-Lounges added

http://www.bl04.de/dateien/arena1.jpg

1999 Lindner Hotel build - new name "BayArena"


http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

2008-2009 remodeling (+10.000 added) new capacity >30.000

http://www.bayer04.de/bilder/07_08/11_t580/Unbenannt-1.jpg

http://www.leverkusen.com/newsbild/070330/BayArena01.jpg

more pics see http://www.bl1904.de/include.php?path=content&contentid=169&PHPKITSID=NSjgLzSN68j297VUE8ds9muVIDJ7i7AM

http://www.bayer04.de

BayArena will be stunning !!! Germany has some very nice football Stadiums

american college football stadiums probably go through more expansions than any other kind of stadium. Neyland stadium's expansion is pretty common.

http://web.knoxnews.com/special/gameday/graphic.jpg

La Bombonera
1940-1953
http://www.mundoazulyoro.com/Fotos/LaBombonera2.jpg http://lapaginabostera.netfirms.com/images/HISTORIA/Bombonera%201940.jpg
http://www.mundoazulyoro.com/Fotos/LaBombonera6.JPG
http://www.mundoazulyoro.com/Fotos/LaBombonera7.JPG
1953-1996
http://www.oni.escuelas.edu.ar/olimpi98/Laboca/Bombonera.JPG
http://lapaginabostera.netfirms.com/images/HISTORIA/Bombonera1995.jpg
1996-
http://www.bocareydecopas.com.ar/wp-includes/images/bombonera.jpg
Possible expantion
http://muyboca.com.ar/files/2008/07/boca.jpg

Bernabeu
Begin with chapter 3
http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1193041512791/Historia/Santiago_Bernabeu.htm

More from Estudio Lamela (http://www.lamela.com/nuevo/verFicha.php?idioma=en&id=218)

Quite unusual to use the same roof, but i like it
http://www.lamela.com/DEPOT/fotos/0218_-_tob_-_07%20evolucion%20obra.jpg

soldier field
http://www.soldierfield.net/movie.htm

neyland stadium
http://www.thevib.com/Neylandshouse.html

Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI USA - NFL Packers)

http://www.lambeaufield.com/

Site's 'home' page has a rolling slide-show of the stadium from its first season in 1957 to the present at the top.

Mike

San Siro
1 tier
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-07724%2C_Mailand%2C_Fussballspiel_Italien-Deutschland.jpg


2 tiers
http://i29.tinypic.com/x3y7gm.jpg
http://www.haraldbeisemann.de/mailand_san_siro_800_01pg.jpg
http://i15.tinypic.com/4lgm49c.jpg

3 tiers
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2789206022_01dec35325_b.jpg

San Siro
3 tiers
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2789206022_01dec35325_b.jpg

I was wondering why are there glass panels in front of the third tier??

Probably to serve as a safety shield to stop falls.

I was wondering why are there glass panels in front of the third tier??

If IIRC this is a section where the away fans sit, so it's probably some form of segregation. it's the milan home end, so in derbys they get the bottom two teirs of that end i think, don't quote me though!

I was wondering why are there glass panels in front of the third tier??
Maybe to seperate the 2nd tier from the 3rd tier.
Otherwise many people would buy the cheaper tickets of the 3rd tier and just go to the 2nd tier.

Wow, I love this. :)

http://i29.tinypic.com/x3y7gm.jpg

Wow, I love this. :)

http://i29.tinypic.com/x3y7gm.jpg

What's the capacity in that pic?

i've always wandered about those strange acess ramps...i' mean, they are so long...if you have a ticket for, say the middle of the long side, you'd have to enter the ramp on the middle of the end side...wierd..

Wow, I love this. :)

http://i29.tinypic.com/x3y7gm.jpgWhat's the capacity in that pic?

100,000+

100,000+

Way off. It was hyped as holding 100,000 when the second tier was completed, but in reality it was a lot less than that. I will check my copy of Inglis when I get home.

Way off. It was hyped as holding 100,000 when the second tier was completed, but in reality it was a lot less than that. I will check my copy of Inglis when I get home.

not true had crowds of approaching that, the 1965 european cup final had an attendance of over 90,000 (some sources). Lot's of stadiums in those days had a guidline capacity that wasn't reached, i mean maine road was between 80-90,000 and the record attendance was officially only 84,000 (although it was obviously bigger, gatecrashers etc)

The truth is a lot of stadiums from that era people didn't really know the true capacity...

was hyped as 150,000 iirc, i have read "football grounds of europe" also, he needs to bring out new editions of both books imho!

2nd ring was added 1940 and the proposed capacity was 150,000. But it just reached a record attendance of 125,000.

Later it was reduced:
-1952: 100,000
-1955: 85,000
-1988: 72,000

With the 3rd tier the capacity rised to 88,500.

http://i15.tinypic.com/4lgm49c.jpg

This is realy nice :cheers:

Wasn't the stadium in Dortmund reduce in capacity for the world cup?

Yep. They demolished the first 3 rows of the west stand (the stand you can see on TV)
83,000 -> 81.264
Later they reduced it again to 80.708, now it is 80,552

Wasn't the stadium in Dortmund reduce in capacity for the world cup?

because it had terracing. it puts termporary seats in for international games, reducing the capacity to under 70,000. Although i think the full capacity has gone down from 83,000 to 81,000 recently.... don't quote me though!

Estadi Camp Nou

1957-1982: 93,053
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/barcamania/History/noucamp1957.jpg

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/5339/campnou01sd0.jpg

http://www.fcbarcelonaonline.com/const3.jpg

http://www.fcbarcelonaclan.com/images/club/22/camp_nou-1957.jpg


3rd tier conctruction
http://www.fcbarcelonaweb.com/images/estadis/campnou01.jpg


1982-1994: 3rd tier 115,000
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/ESP/Camp_Nou.jpg

http://barca.sportenter.co.il/Camp/Gallery/noucamp0002.jpg


1994-1998 Lowering pitch (3m) and adding new rows to the first tier. Capacacity stays at 115,000
http://barca.sportenter.co.il/Camp/Gallery/bigcamp2.jpg

Since 1998 all seater: 98,772

Mr. Mit posted a nice overview of the evolution of the Philips Stadion of PSV Eindhoven last year. I've taken the liberty of translating it.

Mr.Mit. [NL];18014316']
The Philips Stadion as we know it today has been built one piece at a time and still hasn't been finished. I've tried to make a time line of the evolution that the stadium has gone through, using photos i've collected from all over the internet:

1912: Ground with Philips factories in the background.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipssportterrein1912achtergrondE.jpg

1913: Celebration of victory in the Napoleonic wars 100 years earlier. This event is seen as the official founding of PSV, although a football team consisting of Philips employees had been around longer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipssportterrein1913100jaaronafh.jpg

1917:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1917.jpg

1919:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipssportterrein1919.jpg

1963:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1963groot.jpg

1980:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1980.jpg

1988: Reconstruction of the South Stand.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/Scan0033.jpg

1988:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/Scan0034.jpg

1988:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/Scan0035.jpg

1988: New South Stand finished.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1988.jpg

1993:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1993.jpg

1995: Construction of the new North Stand.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1995noordtribune.jpg

1995:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1995.jpg

1995: South Stand.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1995zuid-oosthoek.jpg

1997:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1997.jpg

1999: Filling in first corners.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion1999.jpg

2000:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion2000.jpg

2002:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion2002.jpg

2005:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion2005.jpg

2006: Preparations for a concert.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/philipsstadion2007GuusMeeuwisconcer.jpg

2008: Dug Outs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/dugouts2008.jpg

2008: Bringing the South Stand up to modern standards.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/mitchellmaxwell01/Philips%20Stadion/verbouwingzuid2008.jpg

^ the roof over the corner sections is a much more modern design. Do they plan to make the whole roof look like this eventually?

US college stadiums have some of the worst patchwork additions and create some asymetrical stadiums.

Lane Stadium (V Tech) 1972
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/125th/aerial/aerialimg/A1972.jpg
a few additions later
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Virginia-Tech-Print-C12176600.jpeg

Kyle Field, can you spot any additions?
http://sports.popcrunch.com/wp-content/football-stadiums/pics/kyle-field.jpg

Beaver Stadium
http://www.nittanymemories.com/images/beaver%20stadium%20nit%20lions_99.jpg
http://www.steveklotz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/BEAVER~Beaver-Stadium-Pennsylvania-Posters.jpg
http://media.centredaily.com/smedia/2008/04/16/11/247-290-BeaverStadium.standalone.prod_affiliate.42.jpg
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/football/ncaa_blog/beaver_stadium1.jpg

That last pic looks huge! amazing grounds for a college!

Maybe to seperate the 2nd tier from the 3rd tier.
Otherwise many people would buy the cheaper tickets of the 3rd tier and just go to the 2nd tier.

This is correct. If you look, you can see that the panelling goes the whole way around the stadium.

US college stadiums have some of the worst patchwork additions and create some asymetrical stadiums.

IMHO piecemeal stadium construction adds character, and creates the uniqueness that modern stadium design hasn't got...

Way off. It was hyped as holding 100,000 when the second tier was completed, but in reality it was a lot less than that. I will check my copy of Inglis when I get home.

Here we go...

(on the new San Siro in 1955)

"It was certainly perfect for viewing football, and although it never quite held the promised 100,000 - despite being hailed as the Stadio dei Centomila (how the Italians love to exaggerate figures) - the eventual capacity of around 82,000 made it at least on par with Italy's other recently completed major venue, the Olympic Stadium in Rome."

Here we go...

(on the new San Siro in 1955)

"It was certainly perfect for viewing football, and although it never quite held the promised 100,000 - despite being hailed as the Stadio dei Centomila (how the Italians love to exaggerate figures) - the eventual capacity of around 82,000 made it at least on par with Italy's other recently completed major venue, the Olympic Stadium in Rome."

1. just because simon inglis said it in a book, doesn't make it true.
2. there have been many OFFICIAL attendances greater than 82,000 @ the san siro pre italia 1990!

Cite?

^^just look up the 1965 european cup final!

inter v benfica

I was wondering why are there glass panels in front of the third tier??

To stop the Italians from pissing on you when you go there as an away supporter.....

They are very clever though, they managed to get round it by pissing in bottles and throwing them at us, a remarkable display of evolution.

lol

They should've just roofed the two-tier San Siro. Better to be full every game.

florida state university-doak campbell
groundbreaking
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/general/n039557.jpg
first game 1950
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c014204.jpg
1954
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/redkerce/rk0338.jpg
1960's
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c640517.jpg
1970's
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/prints/pr10782.jpg
1980's
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/prints/pr10854.jpg
1985
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc13380.jpg
now
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/prints/pr20768.jpg
http://homecoming.fsu.edu/assets/football_game_phots/doak.jpg

They should've just roofed the two-tier San Siro. Better to be full every game.

Capacity of the 2 tiers is 60,529.
Currently perfect capacity for both teams
But 10-20 years ago too small.
AC Milan average
1987–88 73,284
1988–89 73,209
1990–91 77,488
1991–92 77,868
1992–93 75,830

Capacity of the 2 tiers is 60,529.
Currently perfect capacity for both teams
But 10-20 years ago too small.
AC Milan average
1987–88 73,284
1988–89 73,209
1990–91 77,488
1991–92 77,868
1992–93 75,830

different eras, that was when going to the game and watching it on telly weren't considered the same to a lot of people

Basically italian football is going through an attendance slump, it's only 25 years ago the league had a near 40,000 average, they just need new stadiums to get the families in and sort out how the games are shown on telly and you'd get good crowds again!!!

English football had it, when we won the league in 1989 we averaged around 36,000, only liverpool had a higher average at 38,000, highbury was redeveloped into a 38,500 seater and then boom time, and the stadium was too small, even now at 60,000 the stadium is too small

Basiccally give it time...

first game 1950
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c014204.jpg


:nuts: so many parking spaces for such a small stadium

^^ and in 1950, america was always destined to be car country!

US college stadiums have some of the worst patchwork additions and create some asymetrical stadiums.

Lane Stadium (V Tech) 1972
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/125th/aerial/aerialimg/A1972.jpg
a few additions later
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Virginia-Tech-Print-C12176600.jpeg

Kyle Field, can you spot any additions?
http://sports.popcrunch.com/wp-content/football-stadiums/pics/kyle-field.jpg

Beaver Stadium
http://www.nittanymemories.com/images/beaver%20stadium%20nit%20lions_99.jpg
http://www.steveklotz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/BEAVER~Beaver-Stadium-Pennsylvania-Posters.jpg
http://media.centredaily.com/smedia/2008/04/16/11/247-290-BeaverStadium.standalone.prod_affiliate.42.jpg
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/football/ncaa_blog/beaver_stadium1.jpg

and we wouldnt have it any other way.

Ali Sami Yen (At this date it was called Mecidiyeköy Stadi, 1944)
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/142/asy1940wa3.jpg

Ali Sami Yen Stadi (1963. Adding 2nd tier)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9549/asyinaathalindecv3yf7.gif


Made this one 12 years ago :)
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4584/alisami07sn8.jpg

Lech Poznań stadium

2003 - one stand behind the goal gets demolished and construction of the new stand starts:


2004 + IV stand
http://www.aerofoto-kaczmarczyk.com/images/zoom/CALWMX/Stadion_Lecha_Poznan_2005.05.27.jpg

2006 + roof for IV stand
http://www.aerofoto-kaczmarczyk.com/images/zoom/CALWMX/Stadion_Lecha_2006.07.25.jpg

2007 + II stand
http://www.aerofoto-kaczmarczyk.com/images/zoom/CALWMX/WieczorPn_(274)_copy%5B1%5D.jpg

2008 + 3rd tier of the II stand
http://www.aerofoto-kaczmarczyk.com/images/zoom/CALWMX/Gazownia_(397)-P-n_St._Lecha%5B1%5D.jpg

2008/2009 + deconstruction of I and III stand.
http://www.aerofoto-kaczmarczyk.com/images/zoom/CALWMX/RoStaLe_(161)_23.11.08.jpg

2010/2011 (?) DONE
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee52/wolontariusz/stadion_lecha_poznan07.jpg



After 2012? Maybe 3rd tier for IV stand if needed ;)

:cheers:

Estadi Camp Nou

1982-1994: 3rd tier 115,000
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/ESP/Camp_Nou.jpg

Although the capacity oficially was 115000 there were atleast half a dossen games played when the attendance was above that, The El Classico record I think is just below 119.000 and the stadium record attendance is 120.000.

Yeh.
I remember FIFA 98 where they wrote also the highest attendance.
Was as far as i remember something around 119,xxx etc.

Poznan is IMO not enlargment. Its a new stadium :)

florida state's stadium facade makes it look like a hospital.

Bernabeu
1947 (75,342)
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1877/estadiormbernabeu19471qi4.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8915/unbenanntme8.jpg

1953/1954 (extending the main / east stand and adding more terrace bloks. Capacity 120,000)
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5750/estrenofrenteosbelenenswb0.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3495/938782442b98f77b6ffoub3.jpg


1981/1982 (adding a roof and more seats. 90,000)
http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/classic/stadiums/2000082350022_2401_sq_large.jpg

http://www.lamela.com/DEPOT/fotos/0218_-_tob_-_21%20Bernabeu%20en%201988.jpg

1990-1992 (adding 3rd tier 106,500)
http://www.lamela.com/DEPOT/fotos/0218_-_tob_-_07%20evolucion%20obra.jpg

http://www.lamela.com/DEPOT/fotos/0218_-_tob_-_02%20aerea%20evolucion%20obra1.jpg

1998: all seater 77,500

2002/2003: (Extending main / east stand and roof 80,354)
http://www.lamela.com/DEPOT/fotos/0356_-_tob_-_06%20obra%20grada%20interior.jpg

http://www.lamela.com/DEPOT/fotos/0356_-_tob_-_02%20obra%20estructura%20celosia%20cubierta.jpg

is there any particular reason why the bowl was never made completely symmetrical?

i think 2 tiers was the max. at the other stand (in the 1950s etc)
So instead of a 3rd tier they enlarged the 2nd tier of the main stand which had enough space behind it.

Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX)

Initial Plans (1923)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/OldDKR1.jpg

Memorial Stadium (1929-1968)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/OldDKR1BMedium.jpg

West Side Upper Deck (1969)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/OldDKR2.gif

Eastside Upper Deck Expansion (1998)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/OldDKR3.jpg

Track removed, field lowered, and sideline seats (1999)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/OldDKR4.jpg

North Endzone Expansion (2008)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/fb_stadium_2008_800.jpg

Eventual Full Build Out (TBD)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/hornsnguyen/DKR/29-1.jpg

Some arenas evolved and changed looks or some even change it with a newer and better one. HerE's mine:
Araneta Coliseum
THEN
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7264/aranetacoliseum1960s.jpg
1990's
http://www.orange.com.ph/portfolio/2008/interface_web/web_snapshots/araneta.jpg
NOW
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gC3IZzsqvLg/SNClatnj6sI/AAAAAAAACkk/rH7JOV9wKbA/s400/Aranata+coliseum.jpg

Subiaco Oval, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Opened in 1908

1920's
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd111/111219PD.jpg

1950
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd221/221,088PD.jpg

1968
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd261/261,410PD.jpg
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd261/261,411PD.jpg

1968
(this stand was supposed to be the first stage of a complete wrap around of the oval to seat 70 000+. It covered 1/20 of the perimeter and seated 5000. Typical of the cheap nature of West Australian governments, it remained the only part. Today it desperately needs replacing, it even has signs on the walls stating that it does not meet current building codes and standards.)
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd113/113145PD.jpg
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd341/341205PD.jpg
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd341/341208PD.jpg

1981
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd222/222274PD.jpg
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd222/222271PD.jpg

1996
http://images.theage.com.au/2009/12/10/960893/article-subioval-420x0.jpg

2000's
(after a undersized redevelopement which had 9000 less seats that report recommendations from 1993)
Still a shithole and a political bog.
http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/Portals/0/Subi-Oval-Aerial-Photo.jpg
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2009/12/09/1225808/802144-pn-sport-image-subiaco-oval-aerial.jpg
http://www.stadiumdb.com/images/stadiums/oceania/australia/perth/subiaco-oval.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Subiaco_Oval_Panorama.jpg
http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/Portals/0/fremantle_images/2008_Promotion_Pics/SubiOval_600x250px.jpg

Hinkle Fieldhouse

THEN
http://a.espncdn.com/travel/091215/travel_hinkle01_800.jpg

NOW
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2719/4197904549_17ba6c1f2e.jpg

As you can see, they changed the direction of the court because the sun would get in the eyes of shooters. Not something you see every day for basketball!

GO BULLDOGS!

CUNETA ASTRODOME
1993
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs128.snc1/5488_123420712662_118574062662_2406421_3471791_n.jpg
2008
http://cdn.wn.com/ph/img/36/0f/a13f96e9de698f7f6457a2ad5a43-grande.jpg
2009
http://www.pasay.gov.ph/photos/cuneta%20astrodome/astrodome_new.gif

Ralph Wilson Stadium

Original configuration (80,290 seats, 24 suites)
http://www.bobbundy.com/Auctions34/034NyBuffalo1.jpg

http://www.nflteamhistory.com/images/stadiums/big/buffalo_bills.jpg

Current (73,967 seats, 164 suites)

http://www.aboveallohio.com/galleries/Buffalo/med/Buffalo_Bills_Ralph_Wilson_Stadium_2008_0671.jpg

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0730/ralphwilson_580.jpg

Stadium expansion and new East Side Stadium building underway.

http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1043/961110.jpg

Notre Dame Stadium from this

http://www.ceng.ust.hk/alumni/news/photo/cheryl/ND_stadiumoverhead.jpg

to this

http://ncaafootball.com/image_lib/stadiums_notredame.jpg

You can see how they built the extra ~30K seats around the stadium with the aisle. I personally believe they should do another restructuring and make it up to about 100K, but that's just me.

No article links handy, but the Green Bay Packers (NFL) are now considering another seating expansion at Lambeau Field. The added seats would be above and behind the south end zone and bring it up to just over 80K.

Mike

That would look a little odd, but they would have no trouble filling it. Just seems like the clean unified single bowl has been its thing for a long time now (yes I am aware of its original layout and subsequent renovations). I always wondered why they didn't go bigger in the last renovation; I suppose money, and keeping the suites a little closer, though 80,000-90,000 a game would be no problem.

Yeah don't the Packers have like 100,000 strong waiting list for season tickets lol

Last I checked its an estimated 734 year wait for season tickets, so more seats are probably in order.

No article links handy, but the Green Bay Packers (NFL) are now considering another seating expansion at Lambeau Field. The added seats would be above and behind the south end zone and bring it up to just over 80K.

Mike

If they (the Packers) want another capacity expansion at their stadium, they're gonna have to add additional luxury suites to the south endzone.

US college stadiums have some of the worst patchwork additions and create some asymetrical stadiums.


http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Virginia-Tech-Print-C12176600.jpeg





Bad additions? I love that asymmetric patchwork-style.

Compare it to e.g. Emirates stadium in London. There is no patchwork, no asymmetry and no athmosphere, no style, no football-feeling in there.

Some places it works, some it doesn't, I would put Beaver Stadium and Kyle Field in the top 5 or 10 ugliest in the world. What they are doing at North Carolina right now, or did to Indiana Memorial Stadium and Lane Stadium is atrocious. On the other hand some are quite striking, like Autzen Stadium, Ohio Stadium, DKR or Doak Campbell.

Some places it works, some it doesn't, I would put Beaver Stadium and Kyle Field in the top 5 or 10 ugliest in the world. What they are doing at North Carolina right now, or did to Indiana Memorial Stadium and Lane Stadium is atrocious. On the other hand some are quite striking, like Autzen Stadium, Ohio Stadium, DKR or Doak Campbell.

Whats wrong with Lane Stadium? Its far from terrible. In fact, it looks pretty nice in person.

As the same with Indiana's Memorial stadium? I was luckily a student there both pre-building and post building and the only thing I can say about the extension is that is compliments the already existing structures well.

Holy crap, I hadn't seen the Blue Zone. Damn Keenan was beautiful. Now it will be adding a tackle box to one end. Interesting its coming at a time that their program might be in trouble.

And Lane is very disjointed. Every stand is different. It looks like its nice(meaning well maintained, with nice areas in each stand. But I think Benn is refering to how each stand is kind of its own thing. Like 4 different projects, where as Autzen, Michigan Stadium, Ohio Stadium, DKR, Doak Campell and Bryant-Denny have expanded very cohesively though the expansions have been just as spread out as place like Beaver or Kyle Field.

Some places it works, some it doesn't, I would put Beaver Stadium and Kyle Field in the top 5 or 10 ugliest in the world. What they are doing at North Carolina right now, or did to Indiana Memorial Stadium and Lane Stadium is atrocious. On the other hand some are quite striking, like Autzen Stadium, Ohio Stadium, DKR or Doak Campbell.
What's wrong with Kenan?

I think the Blue Zone addition will look awesome. Won't disrupt the symmetry at all.

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/unc/graphics/view-from-east-1.jpg
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics21/800/EB/EBLVWDVUYRFMJWJ.20100204204106.jpg

Some places it works, some it doesn't, I would put Beaver Stadium and Kyle Field in the top 5 or 10 ugliest in the world. What they are doing at North Carolina right now, or did to Indiana Memorial Stadium and Lane Stadium is atrocious. On the other hand some are quite striking, like Autzen Stadium, Ohio Stadium, DKR or Doak Campbell.

I'm literally stupefied because I can't fathom the criteria you're using here. How on earth can you suggest the efforts at UNC and Indiana are "atrocious" yet find that Ohio Stadium is fine?!!! If you're citing Lane Stadium as a foul for its disjointed form, you'd think Indiana's solution, which was the complete opposite, would be pleasing to you. And while UNC's Blue Zone is overblown for what they'll get out of it, its form is arguably far more harmonious with the existing structure than the last end zone seating added at Ohio Stadium.

I'm not being critical of you, I am just seriously confused as to what criteria you're applying because I don't see the pattern or reasoning behind it.

Regarding this idea of cohesive expansion, let's not get too carried away with making everything too harmonious.

Each construction, while needing to work with the existing structure, should also be respectful of its current time and context. Just we would want to use the latest materials and building codes, we're inclined to improve upon the old where possible. Maybe this means a steeper or closer tier for better sightlines, or higher qualities of seating, deeper concourses, etc. Putting these things in place will ultimately yield a different form compared to the existing structure, and that can be good. Otherwise we're staring at a world full of sterile bowls.

Notice that OSU didn't simply enclose their famed horseshoe. It was recognized that the architecture deemed that end a unique element, and that fans also preferred better sightlines than the deep bend of the old track end. While a simplistic extension of the current form all the way around might have been the most "harmonious" idea, the resulting form is arguably more fan friendly, provided better return for the costs and provided the stadium with a new, unique element. We know it's not part of the original, and it also says they revered the original stadium enough to let it retain it's own personality and form.

http://incahoots.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/oooo61.jpg

I'm not saying Kenan or any other modern expansion is ideal, but we must always remember that the contextual decisions and conditions behind each expansion are different from the last, and as such the metrics used for judging what works and doesn't need adjusting, as well. The form of the Kenan proposal at least mimics the shape and scale of the other end, with some adjusted angles in the corners to create better sightlines. Arguably when full it would be more difficult to distinguish some of these differences. In the meantime UNC gets the prime seating sections their looking for at the best costs possible (presumably). Yes, I'd prefer another form that would more readily accommodate future expansion, but I can see where this meets the merits of their ambitions.

Bottom line, at least recall how each expansion has its own context and that what appears to be the ideal solution in form may not be the most practical, or even physically possible.

Cheers.

I've never been to USA. But all that stadiums (esp the college-stads) look really great. The more patchwork and asymmetry the better!

All these well-designed "state-of-the-art" stadiums are just sad. It takes some Chaos to generate athmosphere, life, feeling etc.


"takes some chaos to generate a dancing star" - hope this translation works.

[QUOTE=KingmanIII;60565713]What's wrong with Kenan?

I think the Blue Zone addition will look awesome. Won't disrupt the symmetry at all.[QUOTE\]


The retro faux historic endzone filling into a Modern stadium totally clashes in an ugly way, to me at least. It feels totally foreign and has nothing to do with existing structure. I know the added capacity and premium seating is needed, but they could have found a more harmonious way of doing this rather than insert tacky retro here, because its the flavor of the month. I liked it as a horseshoe better as well, but personal tastes I guess.

As the same with Indiana's Memorial stadium? I was luckily a student there both pre-building and post building and the only thing I can say about the extension is that is compliments the already existing structures well.

They put a neo gothic little cathedral thing in the end of a massive raw concrete stadium, with out changing the rest of the exterior at all, that club end is totally out of place from the exterior. If they had gone with something that actually related to to the existing building they were adding on to it would have been fine. it didn't really get worse inside the bowl, but I never cared for it personally.

I'm literally stupefied because I can't fathom the criteria you're using here. How on earth can you suggest the efforts at UNC and Indiana are "atrocious" yet find that Ohio Stadium is fine?!!! If you're citing Lane Stadium as a foul for its disjointed form, you'd think Indiana's solution, which was the complete opposite, would be pleasing to you. And while UNC's Blue Zone is overblown for what they'll get out of it, its form is arguably far more harmonious with the existing structure than the last end zone seating added at Ohio Stadium.

I'm not being critical of you, I am just seriously confused as to what criteria you're applying because I don't see the pattern or reasoning behind it.


Does it have to have a pattern of style or formal strategy, some seem balanced (by symmetry or asymmetry) and well executed, others don't. The formerly open end at Ohio stadium could have been done better, but they felt it had to be a separate entity for reasons of history and tradition, and I can get along with that. The rest of it still looks good to me. Lane stadium feels really ugly to me for a lot of reasons, mostly that the various parts don't seem to mesh at all, and the press box from the inside always bothered me, the new endzone isn't much better.
As stated above my main beef with Indiana as the exterior of the new end, and I never really cared for the interior. Both have the same odd cutbacks along the field which seems awkward for no good reason; I know it alows more curvature to the stands while placing them right along the sideline but it tends causes some partial views on the highest portions, and puts people lowest on the sideline right behind the benches which doesn't make any sense. Same problem at Wake Fores, but at least they went with a unified detailing scheme (tacky retro though it may be).

Your above comments about context seems prudent, many of the ones I don't like seem to disregard it on a lot of levels. The The renovations to Michigan Stadium for instance have applied huge Brick Arched facades to a building that never had anything to do with that style (not to mention it doesn't relate all that well to campus, the brick part does, but none of the big schemes to it). It looks fine, but thinking of context it feels like they could have done so much more.

Benn, thanks for clarifying your stance. I truly was curious and at least now have a better appreciation of where you're coming from.

Indiana Memorial: Yes, the exterior now has an element that appears decidedly too grand for the stadium as a whole. To their credit, they needed to dress up this element in order to make it appealing to the heavy spenders they're looking for in that special seating section. Further, the long-term aspiration is to incorporate the nicer look into future expansions. In the meantime, the fans and athletes (especially recruits) can get a sense that the University is investing in the program. Now Indiana has another structure worthy of postcards, even if only from one angle. For that the stadium is considered better, IMO.

Re: The retro/faux facade look
Architects will always have difficulty reconciling dynamism with the language of familiar form. What you might call a retro facade another might call classic, and in either case the common fan will see it familiar and evoking a desired mystique. Archways and colonnades are features that people relate to for civic and public structures, and they're highly functional. Let's face it, within the realm of practical experimentation there's only so many different ways to design a room, or a stadium.

Again, for UNC and UM the idea is to improve upon the overall facility (in UNC's case, as part of a several phase plan), and structurally the form of the new additions required spaces that are often utilized and expressed through arched porticoes, etc. The traffic flow and the use of these for far more than simple seating areas demands this. There may be more detailing and minor touches we don't see in these images that can truly enhance the experience, but even without such there's at least the recognition that the owners wanted a space that was more humane than a minimalist concrete cavern. Again, trying to express the wealth and prestige behind the programs.

I say this only because I hope people realize the difficulty in such expansions, and that they shouldn't be evaluated as succinctly as totally new structures. I'm undecided about either structure expressed here, but I respect their efforts and think that overall both venues are/will be better for the additions. Whether or not there was an even better option, however, is debatable.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Cheers. :cheers:

Expansion history of a deceased stadium: Mile High stadium in Denver, United States.

1948 - Originally constructed as a baseball stadium with a single 17,000-seat grandstand stretching along the north side from the left field foul pole to the right field foul pole on the west side.
1957 - 8,000 seat south stand added, bringing stadium capacity to 23,100.
1960 - The new east stands were added increasing capacity to 34,657.
1968 - Second and third tiers were added along the west sideline, increasing capacity to 51,706.
1976 - Secong and third tiers were extended along the north endzone, increasing capacity to 63,000
1977 - Old east stands removed and a new movable three-tier stand was added in its place, increasing capacity to 75,000. The movable stands allowed the stadium to be transformed from football use to baseball use.
1986 - 77 luxury boxes were added along the west side of the stadium, increasing capacity to 76,123.
2002 - Mile High Stadium passes away.