Keys To Design
Aesthetic
Aesthetic is the look and feel of the stadium. The stadium needs to be inviting and elegant with its design, well maintained, and should blend in to the surrounding city. Aesthetic is the most basic element of stadium design - while perfection is perhaps ambitious each stadium can be beautiful in its own way.
A stadium with good aesthetic should be aesthetically pleasing and interesting, feature a design which is innovative and unique, and reflect its environment and the culture of the city.
A stadium with good aesthetic should be aesthetically pleasing and interesting, feature a design which is innovative and unique, and reflect its environment and the culture of the city.
Case Study : Busch Stadium - St. Louis Cardinals
This stadium masterfully incorporates the wonderful St. Louis skyline into the outfield, featuring the famous St. Louis arch framed by the foul poles of the field. This stadium also uses a wonderful modern/retro brick and steel design which wonderfully matches the surrounding buildings. The stadium was well kept and seemed brand new, making the overall aesthetic of the stadium a complete success.
It is important for a stadium to use its surroundings and the culture of the area to cultivate a great fan experience. While not every city has a wonderful arch to display, many stadiums can learn a thing or two from the simple beauty that Busch Field displays. A+ for aesthetic.
It is important for a stadium to use its surroundings and the culture of the area to cultivate a great fan experience. While not every city has a wonderful arch to display, many stadiums can learn a thing or two from the simple beauty that Busch Field displays. A+ for aesthetic.
Good Elements of Aesthetic:
- Outfield decoration, waterfalls, fountains, etc.
- Field patterns and design.
- Integration of the stadium with existing buildings.
- Relatively few advertisements displayed.
- Incorporating player's images into the stadium with banners or flags.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Closed hallways with no natural light or ability to see the field.
- No artwork, historical artifacts, or team memorabilia displayed.
- No clear main entrance with the stadium name.
- No parks, sidewalks, or open surrounding areas around the stadium.
- Dirty, trashed, and run-down facilities.
Why Does it Matter?
Aesthetic matters because people like using nice facilities and being in structures and buildings that are beautiful. There is a reason why new buildings and innovative designs attract a certain amount of awe - people like elegance. It is no different with baseball stadiums. Fans want the stadium to be pleasing and well kept. It doesn't matter if the stadium did everything else right, if it is rundown and dirty, fans will not enjoy the experience as much.
Aesthetic matters because people like using nice facilities and being in structures and buildings that are beautiful. There is a reason why new buildings and innovative designs attract a certain amount of awe - people like elegance. It is no different with baseball stadiums. Fans want the stadium to be pleasing and well kept. It doesn't matter if the stadium did everything else right, if it is rundown and dirty, fans will not enjoy the experience as much.
Usability
Usability is the ability of the stadium to host a large crowd without feeling crowded, cramped, or busy. The stadiums facilities and amenities must be adequate for everyone to use, and must not hinder to fans ability to enjoy the game. Usability is a necessary criteria for good stadium design - without it, the fan experience will suffer.
Case Study : Coors Field - Colorado Rockies
Coors Field is a beautiful ballpark, but on of the reasons it is one of my favorites is because the stadium was designed with usability in mind. The walkways through the stadium were almost 30 feet wide all the way around the stadium, and the vendors and shops were numerous and withdraw from the main walkway such that you didn't have to navigate your way through a dense crowd to get anywhere. Even though there were more than 40 thousand people at the game, the stadium was able to handle the crowds and provide a wonderful experience for everyone. I wish more ballparks followed Coors' lead in this respect.
Additionally, the stadium provided ample parking, and being situated right next to a main freeway, egress from the stadium was not a problem at all. A+ for usability.
Additionally, the stadium provided ample parking, and being situated right next to a main freeway, egress from the stadium was not a problem at all. A+ for usability.
Good Elements of Usability:
- Abundant and affordable parking.
- A large scoreboard that can be seen from most/all angles.
- A variety of small scoreboards with auxiliary information.
- Public transportation to/from the stadium.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Walkways that are too narrow, cramped, and hard to navigate.
- Only one main parking area or one road for fans to leave from.
- Not enough parking for fans in the surrounding areas.
- Not providing an adequate number of shops, food stalls, or vendors.
- Poor crowd management leading to lines obstructing walkways
Why Does it Matter?
Usability matters because nothing makes a person more angry than waiting in a line, trying to leave a busy parking lot, or trying to wade throw a crowd to get back to your seat. It can be frustrating and off-putting if the stadium builders do not put enough thought into their designs so that you have to wait. There is an implicit expectation among the spectators that the facilities will be up to par, and when they are not, the fan experience suffers.
Usability matters because nothing makes a person more angry than waiting in a line, trying to leave a busy parking lot, or trying to wade throw a crowd to get back to your seat. It can be frustrating and off-putting if the stadium builders do not put enough thought into their designs so that you have to wait. There is an implicit expectation among the spectators that the facilities will be up to par, and when they are not, the fan experience suffers.
Interactivity
Case Study : Petco Park - San Diego Padres
Petco Park is a modern stadium that has many amenities that make it a front runner in terms of interactivity. Most importantly, Petco Park features the famous "park-in-the-park" where children can play their own pickup games of baseball in a small grass area in the outfield. Just next to this area is a grassy knoll where spectators can pay a modest $5 entrance fee to picnic on the grass and enjoy the game from the outfield.
Additionally, this stadium provides many fan activities including pitching and a children's play zone. Petco also runs fun inning break games on the scoreboard, mascot interactions, and homerun celebrations. While may stadiums provide these different forms of interactivity, I believe that Petco does an exceptionally good job of cultivating a community spirit. A+ for interactivity.
Additionally, this stadium provides many fan activities including pitching and a children's play zone. Petco also runs fun inning break games on the scoreboard, mascot interactions, and homerun celebrations. While may stadiums provide these different forms of interactivity, I believe that Petco does an exceptionally good job of cultivating a community spirit. A+ for interactivity.
Good Elements of Interactivity:
- Scoreboard Games
- Inning Break Giveaways, Prizes, Competitions
- Children Play Zones
- Homerun Celebrations
- The Wave, Beach Balls, etc.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Walkways that are too narrow, cramped, and hard to navigate.
- Only one main parking area or one road for fans to leave from.
- Not enough parking for fans in the surrounding areas.
- Not providing an adequate number of shops, food stalls, or vendors.
- Poor crowd management leading to lines obstructing walkways
Why Does it Matter?
Interactivity matters because it is the reason why fans choose to attend the game rather than just watching at home on TV. There is a value in seeing the game where you can hear the thunderous roar of the crowd and witness the game winning homerun with your fellow fans. Interactivity builds a sense of community among fans, and allows the stadium to transform from being the physical location of the game into a much broader fan experience with activities, games, and amenities.
Interactivity matters because it is the reason why fans choose to attend the game rather than just watching at home on TV. There is a value in seeing the game where you can hear the thunderous roar of the crowd and witness the game winning homerun with your fellow fans. Interactivity builds a sense of community among fans, and allows the stadium to transform from being the physical location of the game into a much broader fan experience with activities, games, and amenities.