Retro-fit the Metrodome, a viable alternative?
Here’s a realistic idea to retro-fit the MN Vikings Metrodome stadium. They've done this at other stadiums – why not here?
October 2009, Steve Digre, steve@stevedigre.com
I’d love a new stadium, but with the economy, budget shortfalls and elections – I just don’t see $950 million being approved. This is an alternative. Let’s keep the Vikings.
The Metrodome stadium is now football only, so there is more freedom to modify it. The following proposal does lower general seating capacity, but it expands suites, provides premium and themed areas, and expands concourses. A lower total seating capacity may not be a bad thing during those 6-10 years when the Raiders come to town.
1. Leave the roof as is.
2. Extend the existing suites outward to consume the area used by the top 4 rows of the lower bowl. Build up the concrete to allow 3 rows of leather suite seating. Re-do the suite interiors.
3. Add 4 rows of seating laterally, along the sides of the field. In the process, modify the first 20 rows, to premium seating, with cushion seats, waitresses etc.
4. Create a ‘dog-pound’ like theme and call it ‘The Viking Ship’ in one of the end zones. Have big horns encapsulate it, like large wooly mammoth tusks. Throw a ships-mast up.
5. Put 2 big video screens at top level end-zones. Consume the top 8 rows. Yes, this will lose seating capacity. Get rid of the grocery store adds and run these screens left to right. They would be massive.
6. Float a New sound system.
7. Add HD lighting.
8. Replace all seats, 4" wider. This would alleviate some leg room issues, sort-of. Yes, this would lose seating capacity. (still flip-flopping on this idea)
9. Extend the buildings outer-structure 50’ beyond the existing 'red' support beams. The red beams would now be in the middle of the main concourse.
10. Double the bathrooms in the expanded concourse. Use the plumbing infrastructure and put second bathrooms on the opposite side of where the existing bathrooms are. Where there is now one bathroom, there would be a second with separate entrances on the other side.
11. Dig down to the lower concourse and open that area up. Put in bars, pro-shops, sit down restaurants, classrooms, etc.
12. Move all ticketing and entrances outward. Parking lots and existing sidewalks would need to be altered and would consume existing street and parking.
13. Locker rooms… (never been)
14. Get quality concessions.
15. Put a plaque out front with my picture on it.
$400 million. Public pays $200, Vikings pay $200.
==
If you reference or copy portions of this article, please include my name and email, Steve Digre, steve@stevedigre.com.
October 2009, Steve Digre, steve@stevedigre.com
I’d love a new stadium, but with the economy, budget shortfalls and elections – I just don’t see $950 million being approved. This is an alternative. Let’s keep the Vikings.
The Metrodome stadium is now football only, so there is more freedom to modify it. The following proposal does lower general seating capacity, but it expands suites, provides premium and themed areas, and expands concourses. A lower total seating capacity may not be a bad thing during those 6-10 years when the Raiders come to town.
1. Leave the roof as is.
2. Extend the existing suites outward to consume the area used by the top 4 rows of the lower bowl. Build up the concrete to allow 3 rows of leather suite seating. Re-do the suite interiors.
3. Add 4 rows of seating laterally, along the sides of the field. In the process, modify the first 20 rows, to premium seating, with cushion seats, waitresses etc.
4. Create a ‘dog-pound’ like theme and call it ‘The Viking Ship’ in one of the end zones. Have big horns encapsulate it, like large wooly mammoth tusks. Throw a ships-mast up.
5. Put 2 big video screens at top level end-zones. Consume the top 8 rows. Yes, this will lose seating capacity. Get rid of the grocery store adds and run these screens left to right. They would be massive.
6. Float a New sound system.
7. Add HD lighting.
8. Replace all seats, 4" wider. This would alleviate some leg room issues, sort-of. Yes, this would lose seating capacity. (still flip-flopping on this idea)
9. Extend the buildings outer-structure 50’ beyond the existing 'red' support beams. The red beams would now be in the middle of the main concourse.
10. Double the bathrooms in the expanded concourse. Use the plumbing infrastructure and put second bathrooms on the opposite side of where the existing bathrooms are. Where there is now one bathroom, there would be a second with separate entrances on the other side.
11. Dig down to the lower concourse and open that area up. Put in bars, pro-shops, sit down restaurants, classrooms, etc.
12. Move all ticketing and entrances outward. Parking lots and existing sidewalks would need to be altered and would consume existing street and parking.
13. Locker rooms… (never been)
14. Get quality concessions.
15. Put a plaque out front with my picture on it.
$400 million. Public pays $200, Vikings pay $200.
==
If you reference or copy portions of this article, please include my name and email, Steve Digre, steve@stevedigre.com.
posted by Steve, Sue, Oliver at
12:43 PM
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