In this modern era, many are privileged enough to watch their favorite sports matches on an 80-inch TV from the comforts of their home. So, what’s going to make the next generation of sports-lovers buy a ticket to watch a match in the stadium? That’s where sports leaders are pouring in dollars to rekindle the passion of live sports games in a post-pandemic world powered by technology.
What's Going On?
Whether it’s football, basketball, or hockey, sports teams are quickly realizing the worth of world-class stadiums to call their own for the sake of home field advantages and driving revenue. Some sports teams, like the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Clippers, have already started executing the upgraded stadium plan and invested billions of dollars into it.
For sports teams, improving stadium venues is now a matter of gathering revenue, naming rights, sponsorship deals, and massive cash inflow through real estate projects.
What Will the New Stadiums Look Like?
If you think that the billions of dollars would go into more seating areas, you’re wrong. On the contrary, the head of US Bank Sports and entertainment group, Bill Mulvihill, declared that stadiums in the future would be smaller but with features that will bring a whole new dimension of holistic experience for sports fans. That doesn’t mean seating isn’t important in the latest stadiums. The Texas Rangers incorporated a two-field suite-style seating plan, making the experience of watching a match more up-close and enjoyable.
New York Islander owner Jon Ledecky vouched for bringing something exciting to stadiums, something that makes people want to still visit a stadium despite already having a cinematic experience in their living rooms.
Ideas from various sources are making their way to the sports world too. For instance, the MSG Sphere is planning to introduce an entertainment center that features a multi-language concert experience along with an infrasound haptic system, a dream that doesn’t seem too far-fetched considering the rapid speed at which technology is developing. A similar environment can be created for other venues like sports stadiums, according to Mulvihill.
Arenas that want to stand the test of time with these evolving changes will need to adapt fast to the technological advancements. A recently built arena, UBS arena, uses Amazon’s grab-and-go tech, thus eliminating the need for cashiers and long waiting lines to buy items on the go. Although, this is just the tip of the iceberg, stadiums are bound to become fully automated and tech-advanced in the upcoming years.
Where Does Sustainability Come In?
UBS Arena’s development firm took sustainability and safety as priorities when they decided to go all-in with a $2 million investment on a germ-killing air filtration systems. A need of the time during this pandemic, more sports stadiums will eventually shift towards the cleaner and greener environment concept.
Another crucial aspect for stadiums, alongside becoming future-oriented in technology, is to focus on the carbon-neutral and solar-powered initiatives, a primary goal for sports leaders in developing sustainable stadiums.
These firms are setting the bar high, but it’s becoming essential if sports stadiums want to remain an audience-attracting spot.
Who's Funding It?
Sports teams and development firms are gearing up for the stadiums of tomorrow, but not everybody is a fan of their hard-earned tax money going into the making of such sports centers. Years of debate revolve around the pivotal question of whether public funding deserves to be spent in areas like this rather than more on necessities like education, health care, and public transport.
Ultimately, this has forced sports teams to think about acquiring private funding. For now, projects like that of the Buffalo Bills are dividing costs with the state, but teams now seek to court private funding, and companies (and even crypto currencies) are taking notice.
