Revealed: The modern features from stadiums around the world that would be welcomed at Victoria Park
From airconditioned seats, fields that retract and immersive LED displays, we’ve compiled a list of state-of-the-art aspects that Victoria Park’s new venue could adopt.
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Brisbane is set to have a brand new state-of-the-art stadium at Victoria Park after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli unveiled the state’s plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Tuesday.
Set to be built at an estimated cost of $3.78bn, the stadium is expected to seat a minimum of 60,000 spectators during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and up to 63,000 attendees following the event.
Victoria Park offers a unique opportunity to develop a world-class stadium which will showcase Brisbane on the global stage.
This stadium will be capable of hosting a range of events, such as AFL, Test Cricket, and major entertainment events.
But, how state-of-the-art will the new stadium actually be?
Today’s modern and extravagantly grandeur stadiums across the world contain unique features that weren’t possible years ago, transforming the experience for fans that attend sporting matches and events.
From airconditioned seats to incredibly immersive LED displays, the stadiums of today have rapidly changed compared to venues from the past.
Here is a list of features from modern stadiums around the world that would be a welcome addition to the stadium planned for Victoria Park.
Airconditioned seats/stadium
A feature of stadiums in countries that experience extreme above average temperatures, airconditioned seats and stadiums have the ability to ensure patrons remain comfortable throughout a sporting match or event.
After being awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar announced its intentions to aircondition outdoor stadiums, equipping seven of the eight stadiums that hosted matches for the competition with airconditioning.
Cool air was distributed around stadiums via nozzles that were placed around the pitch and underneath seats.
Located in the Middle East, Qatar regularly experiences maximum temperatures in the range of 45C to 50C during summer, and 25C to 30C in winter, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup held over autumn and winter.
The introduction of airconditioning to the stadiums resulted in fans experiencing temperatures in the range of 18C-24C while watching matches.
While the 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games in Brisbane will be held during winter, airconditioned seats would be a nice feature for fans attending cricket matches over summer.
Bars and restaurants
Enjoying food and drink is part of the experience of attending a match or an event at a stadium, having dedicated bars and restaurants accessible for the general public would be a nice feature.
While most stadiums in Brisbane have food and drink options, the inclusion of a bar and restaurant with finer dining options within the venue that is accessible to members of the public, could prove popular with patrons.
Docklands Stadium, commercially known as Marvel Stadium, in Melbourne has several restaurants including Amphora and Lee Ho Fook, in addition to other dining options around the venue.
The 71,000 capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA also contains bars, restaurants, as well as a technology lounge within the complex.
Cutting-edge sound systems
State-of-the-art stadium speakers and individual seat speakers would add to the audio experience of attending a match or event at a stadium.
Advancements in technology have led to an improvement in PA and speaker sound systems of stadiums across the world.
While it is common for sections within a stadium to have dedicated speakers, individual seat speakers would add to the audio experience for fans at stadiums.
Individual seat speakers would provide improved sound quality and clarity of speech when announcements are made.
In terms of stadium-wide speaker systems, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, USA is regarded as having one of the more advanced stadium sound systems in the world, with two PA towers accompanied by 62 loudspeakers.
In Australia, the ANZ Stadium in Sydney received a $3m upgrade to its sound system in 2013, increasing the number of speaker boxes around the venue to 374 to provide quality sound for its 83,000+ capacity.
In 2018, almost 500 loudspeaker cabinets were installed at Optus Stadium in Perth, creating Australia’s largest sound system for a stadium.
Interior and exterior lighting display
An immersive interior and exterior lighting display can often result in a stadium becoming a landmark in a city.
Stadiums are no longer just venues for sporting matches, they are a destination in their own right, with exterior lighting displays drawing visitors, with interior lighting adding to the spectacle of sporting matches and events.
One of the more impressive lighting displays for a stadium in the world, the lighting system on the exterior of the Allianz Arena in Germany changes colour depending on the home team currently playing at the venue.
The world’s largest LED lighting system can be found at Optus Stadium in Perth, with the display containing 15,000 LEDs, spanning five levels, and reaching a height of 42m.
The roof canopy of the stadium acts as a background for light shows at the venue, providing fans an immersive experience.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA also features a prominent lighting display with the world’s largest LED scoreboard, while its LED lights use less than 30 per cent energy compared to other stadiums.
Retractable field/multifunctional floor
A retractable field and multifunctional floor would be a welcome inclusion at Victoria Park.
Regarded as one of the more technologically-advanced stadiums in the world, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London contains a world-first retractable pitch and multifunctional floor, allowing the venue to host a variety of events.
While traditionally known for hosting football, the grass turf field can be moved and shaped into different dimensions to host different sports such as NFL.
The field is split into three pitch-long sections that can be moved into storage below the South Stand in the stadium via a motorised system that features 204 electric motors, 32 hydraulic jacks, and 1388 custom steel wheels.
The grass field can also be replaced with a multifunctional floor that can host events such as boxing, concerts, and music festivals.
Underneath the South Stand, patrons can also take to a go-kart at the world’s first in-stadium electric karting facility.
Retractable roof
A retractable roof at Victoria Park would allow sport matches and events to take place regardless of the weather outside.
Retractable roofs are a feature of many stadiums across the world, with MetLife Stadium in New York, USA and Wembley Stadium in London among the most notable.
In Australia, Docklands Stadium, commercially known as Marvel Stadium, in Melbourne is the only stadium to have a retractable roof.
The roof, which takes eight minutes to open and close, allows for sports such as AFL,cricket, football, rugby league, and rugby union to be played regardless of weather conditions.
There are several arenas in Australia with a retractable roof, with Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne the first tennis venue in the world and first arena in Australia to have such a roof installed.
While the weather in Brisbane is far more pleasant than Melbourne, a retractable roof at Victoria Park would allow for sports to continue during periods of heavy rainfall, while creating a more intimate atmosphere during concerts.
High-quality and free stadium Wi-Fi
While high-quality and free Wi-Fi access is a basic feature of many stadiums around the world in the present day, Australia lags behind in internet quality and this feature would not only be welcomed at Victoria Park, but also at other venues across the country.
Suncorp Stadium has a free publicly-accessible Wi-Fi network, but the coverage is limited at the best of times.
In a statement on its website, Suncorp Stadium management advises that while free Wi-Fi is “generally available across the stadium”, venue management concedes that “coverage may be limited in some areas including the centre of the field of play”.
While the Gabba doesn’t have a free publicly-accessible Wi-Fi network, a cheeky punter on Reddit shared a post revealing a password for one of the stadium’s internal Wi-Fi networks.
In addition to its retractable football pitch and multifunctional floor, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has 1600 Wi-Fi access points spread throughout the venue, allowing fans to instantly post selfies and highlights from the grandstands.
High-quality and free Wi-Fi access would be a welcome addition at Victoria Park.
Wrap-around LED screen
A wraparound LED screen that encircles a stadium would engage fans and add to the experience of attending a sporting match or event.
In 2018, the Krasnodar Stadium in Russia became the first stadium in the world to feature a wraparound screen.
The internal 360 degree screen wraps-around the top of each stand in the stadium and showcases the players taking to the field, while splashing with displays when goals are scored.
This type or similar types of displays have been replicated by other stadiums around the world including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, USA and the Gottardo Arena in Switzerland.
It is also a feature of the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, which is the first 100 per cent LED stadium in the world.
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