When Dual use Stadiums work and don’t work
When we think of multipurpose stadiums in North America, we usually think about a football/baseball stadium, with both teams playing at that facility. A football field doesn’t fit inside a baseball diamond, and vice versa. Viewers of both sports at the stadium have viewing issues, as sometimes many spectators will be very far away from the action. A single-use stadium fits the needs of those types of fans, whether it’s football or baseball.
Single-use stadiums and arenas have their pros and cons. For example, a Big Five sports team has that specific venue for themselves. They don’t have to worry about scheduling conflicts or reforming the facility. The teams can practice there. Also, the fans will likely have an optimal viewing experience. Another benefit is that the team can practice and play there. Those teams don’t need a practice facility if they are the sole owners of their venue. When a new stadium is designed for a team the engineers and architects can focus on creating the perfect experience for the fans.
There are benefits for multipurpose arenas and stadiums. When a city, owner, or local government is spending money on a new stadium, they want a cost-effective way of paying for it. If two teams play at the same facility, money can be saved. For example, Charlotte FC and New England Revolution, play at the same stadiums as their respective NFL teams do. A football field is the same shape as a soccer field. The only real difference is length and width. When building a stadium, you can factor in both types of sports. Also, the venue doesn’t have to be for sports. These stadiums can host concerts, weddings, private parties, business meetings, corporate retreats, team-building events, expos, and trade shows. Even though, you
The indoor arenas can be the most entertaining venues in all of sports. You have many final fours, NHL games, and NBA games played there. NBA arenas can seat nearly 25,000 people. But for NHL games, it is typically around 19,000 people, because the ice rink requires more space than the basketball court. Aside from basketball and hockey being played at indoor arenas, you can also host comedy shows, concerts, arena football, lacrosse, and figure skating.
There are pros and cons to having a single-use and multipurpose stadium. There are no scheduling issues with a single-use stadium. But a multipurpose stadium can save a city land and money.
