GB2453552A - Modular Enclosure for Stadium - Google Patents

Abstract

An enclosable area for the provision of entertainment to an audience located in a defined area of an open air stadium comprising a roof structure extending over the defined area and at least one partitioning structure supported within the roof of the stadium and extendable from the roof to the floor whereby the partition is retractable from a fully extended position in which the defined area is completely enclosed and a storage position in which the entire stadium is open. The area also includes means to secure the partition in a fully extended position. The stadium may be an open air stadium and the partition may comprise a foldable door structure which may be manufactured from a double vinyl coated polyester sheet material. The partition structure may further comprise a support frame consisting of prefabricated steel parabolic arched roof structures and may also include mobile drop down support posts.

Description

STADIUM DESIGN

The present invention relates to a stadium design. The invention especially relates to a stadium that is designed to act as both a sports stadium and an entertainment arena, for example an exhibition hail or concert venue. More especially, the invention relates to a stadium design that stands alone as a venue or that can be incorporated into existing stadia.

This application is an improvement to the Applicant's earlier international application no. PCT/GBO7/OOj.495. In particular, this application is directed to the further design detail over and above that what is disclosed in the Applicant's earlier application.

There is a continual demand to provide increasingly large and modern stadia for sporting events. New stadiums are being constructed throughout the world which are designed to house and provide for tens of thousands of followers of sports teams. The cost of constructing suitable stadia is vast, running often into hundreds of millions of pounds. It is very difficult, and In most cases impossible, to recoup the cost simply through the sporting events held at the stadia. In football stadiums for example, games are only played at the stadium approximately twenty two times every year. The majority of football stadiums are not equipped to provide any other sort of entertainment events other than football. Even for the few which are, the time of publication of the yearly schedule of games is such that other events cannot be practically booked in advance.

Moreover, football stadia are open-air such that events, other than football, cannot be realistically held at the stadium throughout the winter months. Some newly constructed stadia incorporate retractable roof 1 C mechanisms which may allow events to take place at any time during the year. However, the grass or sports surface, suffers considerable damage when the roof of the stadium is shut for a sustained period. Also, the size of the roof construction does not allow the roof to be opened and closed intermittently following changes to weather Conditions.

The present invention sets out to provide a sports stadium, which has a partitioning structure capable of extending downwardly from the roof structure of the sports stadium to provide a closed auditorium within the main stadium structure which is suitable for other entertainment events such as a new product launch, an exhibition or musical concert.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an enclosed area for the provision of entertainment to an audience located in a defined area of an open air sports stadium comprising a roof structure extending over the defined area; at least one partitioning structure Supported within a roof structure of the stadium and extendabie from the roof structure to the floor of the defined area whereby the partitioning structure is retractable from a fully extended position wherein the defined area is completely enclosed, to a stored position wherein the entire sports playing area is open; and means for securing the par-titian in a fully extended position.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a stadium incorporating a stand constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side cross-section view of a box stand constructed in accordance with the present invention; ( (* Figure 3 is a side cross-section view of a bowl stand constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 4 is a side cross-section view showing the provision of an enclosed auditorium at one end.

It will be appreciated that stadia include a large number of different design and constructional features, for the purposes of this application, only the construction features that contribute to the invention will be described.

It will also be appreciated that thorough tests and reports, for example civil and structural reports, architectural reports, fire engineering reports, MEP reports and acoustic reports had to be conducted over a considerable period to time to ensure that the proposed construction, as described in this application, met all necessary criteria for its feasibility.

The present description is generally directed to a new-build stadium design. It is however clearly envisaged that the design could be applied to existing stadia. To this extent, the design would apply to a situation whereby one stand of an existing stadium is demolished and rebuilt or to a situation whereby a stand of an existing stadium is refurbished and upgraded to accommodate the design concept.

Fundamentally, there are two stadium designs which need to be considered. These being an individual "box" stand stadium and a "bowl" stadium.

For the purposes of this description, the construction detail is divided into two main areas, the partition 18 and front bay section 26, and the end "box"sta nd/end "bowl" section.

C C If

Figure 1 is a simplified plan view of an outdoor stadium, in this case a football stadium 10. It is clearly envisaged however that the stadium could apply to any outdoor sports ground.

The building structure of the stadium 10 surrounds (in this case) a football pitch 12. The stadium comprises four box stands 14. The stadium 10 is an open-air arena i.e. the playing pitch 12 is not covered by a roof structure. This maintains the integrity of the grass surface of the playing pitch 12.

An end stand 16 of the stadium 10 is constructed in accordance with the present invention in such as way that the stand 16 can be separated from the rest stadium 10 as and when required by a partition 18. Although this Figure shows one stand 16 designed for this purpose it is clearly envisaged that any or all of the other stands 14 could also be constructed in the same way. Consequently, it may be possible to provide two, or even four, separate enclosed "auditoriums" four public or private use at any one time.

The partitioning system will now be described. The following description refers to a single partition 18. Clearly though, more than one partition may be present.

The partition 18 generally comprises a folding door structure. The door is preferably made from a double vinyl coated polyester sheet. The door si operated electrically and operates vertically. Similar fabric doors are used in the Construction of aircraft hangers, and are manufactured and supplied, for example by a Swedish company, Megadoors AB. ( (

As can be seen best from Figures 2 and 3, the partition 18 is supported from a parabolic arched roof structure 20 which spans the length of the stand 16.

In the case of a box stand (like that shown in Figures 1 and 2), the partition would be typically constructed of three 30m sections with an openable height of approximately 18m. In the case of the bowl stand (Figure 3) the partition 18 will require a greater span resulting typically in five 28.3m sections with an openable height of approximately 19m.

The main support frames for the partition 18 consist of pre-fabricated steel parabolic arched roof structures supported by four steel columns 22.

Preferably, the arch and column structures are braced on plan and elevated to provide an independently stable structure, supporting the partition 18, first roof section and any stage lighting equipment.

The partition 18 the support structure further consists of two main trusses 24 covering the bay area 26. The support structure 22, 24 may act as an independent structure or alternatively, may form a front section of the overall stand structure.

The main foundations are constructed independently of the stadium foundations and are set typically 600m below the finished ground level. To ensure sufficient flexibility to deal with the variable ground conditions likely to be encountered and to cater for localised loads envisaged, piled foundations are used, consisting of 4no. reinforced concrete pile caps, each consisting of 13.5m -C40 concrete and 2.0 tonne reinforcement; and 4no.

Pile groups, each consisting of 4no 450mm diameter by lOm long reinforced concrete CFA piles.

The overall partition structure will include mobile drop-down partition support posts 28, including winches. Base anchorages 30 are formed at ( I ground level to secure the support posts 28 when the posts 28 extend fully from the support structure 22, 24 (i.e. when the partition 18 is fully extended so to provide a fully enclosed auditorium). The anchorages 30 are constructed to accept manually operated locking pins and shall typically consist of in-situ reinforced concrete foundations consisting of 2no. reinforced concrete ground bearing bases, each Consisting of 6.0m3 -C40 concrete and 0.6 tonne reinforcement.

The wall and roof cladding to the partition frame 22 is preferably chosen to be commensurate in appearance with the adjacent stand or stadium development. The system is Constructed from a two-skin built up system, with the provision of quilt insulation and a perforated liner tray. The perforated liner tray and insulation are required to provide acoustic attenuation to avoid adverse reverberation and limit noise penetration.

Furthermore, the insulation will assist in preventing the build up of condensation within the internal, un-heated environment.

A typical wall and roof cladding system would comprise an outer sheet consisting of a 40 mm deep trapezoidal steel sheet coated with plastosol, a mm acoustic insulation quilt, a perforated steel liner sheet Coated on its underside with plastosol and the provision for louvered ventilation and smoke extract panels. Typically 5no panels, 5m wide by 3m high.

Provision for roof access to service high level lighting rigs 32 and associated equipment should include aluminium suspended walkways 34 complete with handrails 36 (typically 120 linear meters) together with two access points. The roof access should also include support structures for the lighting gantry, typically 5 tonne of structural steelwork.

The roof 20 of the stand 16 extends over the front bay section 26 with sides 38 of the stand 16 extending across to complete the closed ( (_ environment of the stand 16 when the partition 18 is fully extended downwardly from the roof 20.

Similarly, the roof 20 will extend over the front bay section 26 of a bowl stand, with the sides 38 of the stand 16 completing the enclosed environment by the addition of the front bay and an extended external elevation and terrace deck (see Figure 4). At the point at which the terrace deck meets the side stand deck, there will be located a slot (not shown), approximately 1.5m in width, to allow the partition 16 to be fully closed.

This will, in effect, and coupled with a tunnel, separate the stand 16 from the main stadium io. A system of panels may be set into the side of the slot which can be extended across the slot and secured into place to cover the slot to avoid risk of injury to the public. Additional guard rails may be required on either side of the deck.

In a closed situation, a stage 40 may be provided in the front bay area 26, particularly in the event of a music concert. The stage 40, which would typically be 20m wide and lOm deep may be provided in sections. The sections would be separatable for storage purposes. When required the stage 40 may be wheeled into position within the front bay area 26.

Dedicated storage facilities for the stage 40 may be accommodated, for example, under the terrace deck.

A ground floor slab supports the temporary demountable stage 40 and provides an adequate carriageway for vehicle access between the main access doors. The floor apron formed in front of the stand 16 is constructed with a power float finish sealed to accommodate occupational event use. The slab consists of a rolled and compacted sub-base Consisting of DOT type 1 x 250 mm thick, approximately 225 m3 and a 250 mm thick C40 air entrained concrete slab, complete with two layers of A252 mesh reinforcement with a power float finish and seal. r C,

Roller shutter doors may be required at either end of the front bay area 26 to allow vehicles access to and egress from the stage area. These doors may be adapted for the use of escape in the event of an emergency.

In the bowl stand scenario, the roller shutter doors would be accessible by the inclusion of one or more tunnels under the extended terrace decks at each side. Again, the tunnels may be adapted for the use of escape in an emergency.

Power supplies to the partitioning system would be provided through the existing switchboat-rJ with a mains cable being installed through the stadium 10. The supply would terminate within a control panel suitably located adjacent to the partition 18. On the basis that the partition system would only be operated when the stadium is in non-event mode, there would be no reason for the electrical supply to the stadium to be upgraded. Field wiring would be installed from the control panel to the individual drives and limit switches. All such wiring would be secured to the partition structure.

The performance power supply would be provided from the existing main switchboard, with a mains cable being installed through the stadium 10 * This supply would terminate within a feeder pillar suitable located adjacent the partition structure. The feeder pillar would be supplied with suitable outgoing field wiring connections to service the performer's stage lighting and Sound system. A stage lighting rig, including raising an lowering manual winches and support bars would be suspended from the partition structure.

Final circuit wiring from the performance power supply feeder pillar patch panel would be secured to the structure, terminating in power sockets integrated within the support bars.

The heating and ventilation to the stand 16 would be provided by the installation of individual air handling units located within the roof space at the rear of the stand 16. Ductwork runs would be installed from the * C $ air handling units within the roof space feeding supply air grills within the stand 16. The supply of air would be tempered to raise the temperature within the stand prior to the commencement of the performance. Control of the air handling units would be zoned to match the proposed audience capacity segregation Curtains.

The front bay area 26 may be used for a number of different purposes.

Rather than a stage, for example, indoor sport Courts, for example for tennis, squash or badminton may be installed within the front bay area 26. rn such a case, the stand 16 may be required to be set back at least two bay sections to accommodate the court sizes. Storage facilities for a removable sprung floor may be accommodated under the terrace deck for example.

The present design lends itself to the provision of one or more fully enclosed auditoriums with a capacity of for example 6000 (box stand) which could be Subdivided to achieve lesser capacities of 4000 and 2000 people. In the scenario of an end bowl stand, a fully enclosed auditorium with a capacity of 8000 people would be achievable.

Sightlines have been assessed by the Applicant for both stage and court situations. In both cases, although spectators would be positioned further back from the goat line, the pitch sightllnes are greatly improved and are well above CO, the traditional accepted minimum. Experimen have achieved C90 as a minimum for the stage in both box stand and bowl stand scenarios and C60 for court (e.g. for tennis). The assessment has shown that basketball sighthnes from all parts of the stand are difficult to achieve, but can be improved by locating the stand further from the pitch.

Divider curtains may be provided for sub-dividing the auditorium into smaller, more intimate venues. The curtains would preferably be stored at high level, closing in a vertical manner. Alternatively, the curtains could be formed in sections and rolled up from the deck by mechanical means. I 1

Alternatively still, roller type blinds1 guided on tension cables may be used which are dropped from above and connected to the deck.

The above described embodiments are given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. (

Claims (9)

1.An enclosable area for the provision of entertainment to an audience located in a defined area of an open air stadium comprising a roof structure extending over the defined area; at least one partitioning structure supported within a roof structure of the stadium and extendable from the roof structure to the floor of the defined area, whereby the partitioning structure is retractable from a fully extended position wherein the defined area is completely enclosed to a stored position wherein the entire stadium area is open; and means for securing the partition in a fully extended position.

2. An enclosable area according to claim 1 wherein the stadium is an open air sports stadium.

3. An enclosable area according to claim 1 or claim 1 whereIn the partitioning structure comprises a foldable door structure.

4. An enclosable area according to claim 3, wherein the door structure Is made from a double vinyl coated polyester sheet.

5. An enclosable area according to claim 4, wherein the partitioning structure includes support frames consisting of pre-fabricated steel parabolic arched roof structures.

6. An enclosable area according to claim 5, wherein the partitioning structure further include mobile drop-down support posts.

7. An open air stadium having an enciosabie area according any preceding claim. 1' 1

8. An enclosable area for the provision of entertainment to an audience located in a defined area of an open air stadium as hereinbefore described and referred to in the Figures.

9. An open air stadium with an enclosable area as hereinbefore described and referred to in the Figures.