A sports stadium is an open area or field designed specifically for an event, concert, or other sporting events and usually consists of a flat area partially or entirely enclosed by a raised platform designed to allow audience members to sit or stand and watch the event. Such venues are widely used in the United States for a wide range of different sporting events, including football, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, hockey, wrestling, gymnastics and motor sports. Even in countries that do not typically enjoy a tradition of professional sport, a variety of public recreational sports can be held at a sports stadium, such as soccer, rugby, motor cycling, and even cricket. Sports stadia are increasingly being used for other special events, such as corporate hospitality events, corporate training and development conferences, concerts and even theatrical performances.
Perhaps the most well-known event to take place in a sports stadium was the hosting of the 1996 FIFA World Cup. The World Cup was a global phenomenon, drawing millions of television viewers from around the world. Aside from providing fans with exciting sports coverage, the FIFA World Cup also served as an opportunity for countries to showcase their own nations and their unique history and culture. When the tournament was suspended following the infamous FIFA scandal, the USA was not left out in the dark, with stadiums such as RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. filling up almost immediately with enthusiastic fans and tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the famous hosts and play some soccer.
Unlike the USA, Australia does not have a very rich history of hosting football matches, nor has it shown any interest in joining the FIFA bandwagon. As of late, however, there has been an upsurge in the number of sporting venues available for a variety of different events and competitions, with an increasing focus on the development of infrastructure and modernizing sporting venues across the country. As the demand for both the matches and the surrounding atmosphere has increased over the years, so too has the popularity of the Aussies’ football team, which currently boasts the highest national average Attendance Per Match (APM). In this sense, the football team has not only achieved worldwide recognition, but it has achieved it in an incredibly short time since it first joined the national football league in 1992. Consequently, the popularity of the Aussies’ football team and the standard of the standards which it represents has grown significantly.
Hosting a competition such as the Olympics in Sydney or bidding for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) in India has been expensive and challenging for Australian organizers in the past. In the case of hosting a major international event, such as the Olympics, it is likely that the organizers will look to bid for the hosting rights alongside a number of other countries. For example, in the case of South Africa, the organizing committee will look to host the games once the country becomes independent from Great Britain and in addition to the regular football schedules. It is therefore important for the country hosting the games to have a modern stadium, as well as an impressive sporting infrastructure. However, it is important for the sporting fans to ensure that they are able to watch their favourite Aussie teams whether they are playing in their home country or participating internationally.
Unfortunately, many smaller countries and soccer clubs lack the financial resources to build state-of-the-art sports stadiums. This means that when choosing a venue, potential hosts may consider smaller, cheaper options, which can be potentially disastrous. Hosting a major international event requires hosts to be able to fulfil the demands of the large global audience, and having a poorly performing stadium will prevent them from fulfilling these requirements. In addition, a poorly performing stadium may also deter visitors, who will prefer to avoid stadiums with poor facilities. Furthermore, stadiums hosting matches with large sums of money on the line will also require a high degree of organization and cleanliness to guarantee the safety of all spectators and athletes.
Sports stadium construction is often the responsibility of private businesses. These companies specialize in the design and construction of sporting facilities and they often work with experienced construction teams to ensure that a project is completed to the highest standard. However, it is important to ensure that these companies are well-established and reputable, as construction of sporting venues can sometimes lead to unexpected delays and extra costs. For example, in Brazil, the state-owned oil company Petrobras is responsible for the design and construction of the Belo Monte stadium, while organizers of the soccer World Cup have had problems with the stadium’s design and construction. Similarly, in India, the construction of the new cricket stadium at the National Stadium, Chennai has proved problematic and delayed the start of the season.
Major sports events usually involve hundreds of thousands of spectators and there are many potential pitfalls if the chosen venue is not designed correctly. Poorly coordinated seating and flooring structures can lead to queues of hundreds and inconvenience for everyone involved in the game – fans, players and officials. In addition, poorly managed facilities can cause negative impacts on other aspects of a sporting event such as television coverage and spectator safety. Stadiums must also meet all necessary regulations and safety standards in order to host a major sporting event, and the construction of the facilities is an essential part of their overall success. While there is a large range of options available when planning a stadium, many developers choose to build a facility which includes some elements of more traditional sports hospitality, such as restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
With the current economic climate, the future of this industry looks gloomy but there are some factors which can help to increase the chances of success. If planning permission is obtained, it will be much easier to find suitable locations for development because it will not require planning permission for the same type of facilities. The financial support from a large number of sponsors may also be a great help, as some of the stadiums will be outside of London, allowing the location to be considered more economically viable than London. Finally, because construction of the facilities is often left to professionals the overall appearance of the sports stadium can look attractive, especially if modern techniques are used.