How has Sports Architecture developed as a result of the modernisation of the sporting world?

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening- wherever in the world you are, I'd like to formally welcome you to my blog: BrickbyBrick. An architecture journal blog, where I, Ana Francesca Malai explore and analyse histories, theories and matters of concern in the architecture and design world. I am a first year BA Architecture student, currently studying at the University of Portsmouth, and hoping to pursue a career in the field of architecture.

My love and passion for architecture and the built environment stems from an initial interest in sports, which later grew into an interest for sports architecture. Therefore, I thought it was only right if my first blog post was about sports architecture- in particular how they have developed as a result of the modernization of the sporting world.

To start, the sporting world has dramatically changed ever since the first stadiums and arenas were built. Going back to the Roman era, the Colosseum (see Image 1 below) was built to house gladiator events and emphasized the importance of volume and visibility (Whitelaw, A., 2024). Both of these features are still crucial today to help maximise what a spectator sees and hears, and ultimately improve the entire fan experience.

Image 1- The Colosseum (Cartwright, M., & Jarvis, D., 2018, May 29).

With the modern day sports day out, stadiums have had to develop and meet the needs of the new and improved fan experience. These are crafted by the modernisation of sports architecture where more features are added to ensure a more enjoyable experience. An entire day out can be made from simply watching a sports match in a stadium or arena- where food and merchandise can be bought. Furthermore, certain places offer tours of the facilities- which create intimacy and key memories for the fan, helping to expand the market beyond traditional fan bases (Humphreys, C., 2019). It is also crucial for cultural exchange and helps to dissolve boundaries between social classes and ethnic groups- as there are less cases of discrimination when people support the same club (Katzer, N., 2010). In todays world, stadiums are seen as sacred places where fans can show their support and adoration to their team (Humphreys, C., 2019).

The exterior designs of modern stadiums has become very innovative and intriguing. For instance, the Allianz Arena (see Image 2 below), home to Bayern Munich in Munich, Germany includes a smart colour-changing facade fixed with illuminated air cushions. These allow the stadium to be lit up in different colours, linking to the current celebrations or events.

Image 2- Allianz Arena - world-known stadium of Bayern Munich FC. September 2020, Munich - Germany.(Taranchich., 2020)

In terms of athlete performance and multi-usage of the stadiums and arenas, they have also been aided and improved because of the modernisation of sports architecture. The ability to house, rotate and change the surface of a stadium can severely improve the usage, making the space multi-functional and sustainable. The surface is also used to improve the performance of athletes and therefore maintaining it is crucial and it can also be easily changed thanks to the layout of the stadium (Whitelaw, A., 2024). Smart stadiums have also become a more widely known and used thing, where AI, sensors and cameras are used to speed up certain processes (such as ordering food), but also maintain security within and around the building.

Therefore, sports architecture has really develped thanks to the modernisation of the sporting world. These developments and improvements have helped both the fans and athletes to have an amazing day and put in their best performance.

References:

Arup. (n.d.). Providing structural engineering and sports architecture for Munich's Allianz Arena. Arup. https://www.arup.com/projects/allianz-arena/

Cartwright, M., & Jarvis, D., (2018, May 29). Colosseum. World History. https://www.worldhistory.org/Colosseum/

Humphreys, C. (2019). The City of Sport: London’s Stadiums as Visitor Attractions. In A. Smith & A. Graham (Eds.), Destination London: The Expansion of the Visitor Economy (pp. 91–116). University of Westminster Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvhrd0t9.8 

KATZER, N. (2010). Introduction: sports stadia and modern urbanism. Urban History, 37(2), 249–252. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44614273

Taranchic. (2020). Allianz Arena - world-known stadium of Bayern Munich FC. September 2020, Munich - Germany. iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/allianz-arena-in-munich-bayern-gm1284429755-381568340

Whiteley, A. (2024). Form Follows Function: The Relationship Between Architecture and Sports Performance. https://amazingarchitecture.com/articles/form-follows-function-the-relationship-between-architecture-and-sports-performance