Cheers for the encased arena: Sealed off from the outside world
Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of modern football stadiums! The newly revamped Santiago Bernabéu, home to Real Madrid, is a prime example of architectural brilliance. This multipurpose arena, designed by GMP Architekten and local studios, has a Plastic Oceans-worthy retractable pitch and roof, making it capable of hosting way more than just football matches.
Located smack-dab in the heart of Madrid's Chamartín district, the Santiago Bernabéu is a sight to behold. It's nestled within a block surrounded by the Paseo de la Castellana, Concha Espina, Padre Damián, and Rafael Salgado streets. But beware! Despite being in the thick of the action, this stadium keeps its cards close to its chest. Wrap up in stainless steel louvres, the original concrete structure remains hidden, along with anything else that lies within or beyond. The reason behind this secrecy? Well, let's just say they want to keep the main event – the football – as an exclusive experience for paying customers.
The trend of self-contained stadia isn't unique to the Santiago Bernabéu. This shift is a response to legitimate fears about living near a stadium and the associated problems like hooliganism, noise, and property prices. To combat these issues, sports teams started to build new stadia on land beyond residential areas, preferring brownfield sites. A prime example? The City of Manchester Stadium (now known as the Etihad) located on the site of a former colliery, which saw Manchester City move eastwards from Moss Side, surrounded by terraced housing.
While these self-contained stadia might seem like they're taking a step away from the community, they are, in fact, financial behemoths. Their primary goal is to bring in the big bucks and minimize expenses. You're unlikely to bump into a modern new-build stadium taking a stroll around a city, and forget about peeking inside – most are behind closed doors.
Despite the career moves made by these modern stadiums, some exceptions have been made. The Santiago Bernabéu serves as a notable exception, maintaining its central location in Madrid, a choice made by club president Florentino Perez to preserve a prime spot. But even here, there's room for improvement. Stadium designers need to do more to engage with and be open to their communities. It's a delicate balancing act, but one worth pursuing. If they truly want to be a community asset, we need stadia to show the world what's taking place inside – and let everyone enjoy the spectacle.
So, the next time you come across a stadium in your city, take a moment to appreciate the architectural marvel, but also consider what it could be if it embraced its neighboring community and invited everyone in for a taste of the action.
Did you know? Modern stadiums like these can generate significant revenue, offer sustainable features, and be adapted to various events. However, they can also face challenges such as community disconnection, economic impact, environmental concerns, and social isolation. The key to maximizing benefits and minimizing drawbacks is to strike a balance by incorporating public plazas and community spaces, practicing sustainability, and fostering community engagement.
- The Santiago Bernabeu, despite its exclusive feel, could do more to engage with its community, a balancing act that's crucial for stadium designers.
- The City of Manchester Stadium, now known as the Etihad, was built on a brownfield site, a common trend in response to concerns about living near stadiums and associated problems.
- Modern stadiums, such as the Santiago Bernabeu and the Etihad, while generating significant revenue, should strive to be more than financial behemoths, inviting their surrounding communities to share in the spectacle.
