Between the Euro football championship in Germany, the organization of XXL concerts and the hosting of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, sports venues will be the stars of this summer. Formerly dedicated exclusively to sporting competitions, stadiums and sports halls have undergone a remarkable transformation over the decades to become epicenters of cultural life. Today, these multipurpose spaces are no longer just hosting matches or competitions; they also offer a rich and diverse program, with concerts and performances with increasingly breathtaking stage sets. Thanks to the prowess of architects, who are asked to increase the audience capacity of these infrastructures, but also to the integration of cutting-edge technologies, these emblematic places are playing the modularity card to attract a growing more diverse audience. Starting from 3D mapping produced with the MS-96, developing these dizzyingly large spaces almost becomes a game!
« More than any other building in history, a stadium can shape a city. It can make a neighborhood known, establishing its identity and serving as a landmark in the landscape. » Rod Sheard, architect, 2016.
As football continues to dominate the global sporting landscape, football stadiums are becoming bigger and bigger to meet the growing demand from fans and event organizers. The economic stakes of major competitions are enormous today. To compete on a global level and apply to host major prestigious competitions such as the World Cup or the African Cup of Nations, certain countries must not only bring their infrastructure up to standard, but also offer larger capacity stadiums.
This is for example the case of the Fez Sports Complex (in video) which has started large-scale work with a view to hosting the African Cup in 2025 and the World Cup in 2030. A complete renovation, estimated at 300 million dirhams, aimed at meeting international standards is underway. The capacity of the stadium will increase from 35,600 to 46,000 seats, by removing the athletics tracks and building new stands.
Concerts in stadiums are nothing new. Football stadiums began hosting huge concerts in the 1970s, meeting growing demand for spaces capable of holding massive crowds. Pioneers of the genre, The Rolling Stones led the way with legendary performances like their concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1975. The movement grew in the 1980s with iconic bands such as Queen at Wembley Stadium and music events with a global reach like Live Aid in 1985. The 1990s and 2000s saw U2 and The Rolling Stones continue this tradition with spectacular tours, while contemporary artists like Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran pushed the boundaries of stage productions in stadiums across the world, attracting record crowds. Some stadiums are getting in tune, combining impressive reception capacities with infrastructures adapted to visually and technically sophisticated shows.
This is the case of the emblematic Santiago Bernabeu stadium of Real Madrid, which with its steel facade and retractable roof is on the way to becoming one of the largest stadiums in the world, after a major transformation estimated at 1 billion euros. A city within a city, the new Santiago Bernabeu has a capacity of 85,000 seats and includes varied catering services, leisure areas, shops and an ultra-modern museum tracing the history of the club.
At the cutting edge of technology, the stadium’s infrastructure is buried six stories below its surface. In a few minutes, it can change configuration from sport to show. The lawn has an underground irrigation system and ultraviolet lighting for its maintenance.
One day, an ice rink hosted a Rangers game. Two days later, it was transformed into a basketball court for a Kniks game before turning into a concert hall for a few days. Madison Square Garden, located in New York, is the iconic venue recognized for its exceptional modularity, allowing it to host a wide range of events. Opened in 1968, Madison Square Garden has hosted some of the most memorable events in history, such as concerts by legends like Elvis Presley and historic sporting events like the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Thanks to varied configurations and an adjustable capacity of up to 20,000 spectators, it easily adapts to the specific needs of each event. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies for sound, lighting and video projection, and benefiting from modular seating, it offers an immersive and flexible experience. Recent renovations have modernized its infrastructure, improved acoustics and introduced new amenities for spectators. Around the world, several arenas rival Madison Square Garden in terms of modularity and versatility. Among them, we can cite the O2 Arena in London, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Accor Arena in Paris, the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Tokyo Dome or the Lanxess Arena (on video) in Cologne. A new venue, the Adidas Arena, built especially for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was inaugurated a few weeks ago in Paris. It will be the home of Paris Basketball and is already hosting its first concerts and shows.
The Viametris MS-96 is an essential tool for scanning these large concrete infrastructures, often with complex architecture, in a minimum of time. In pedestrian version, on the back or in front pack mode, the MS-96 will be able to scan the entire enclosure, outdoor and indoor, in just a few minutes. Data which can then be used by security and event providers, and thus optimize the spectator experience, ensure their safety and guarantee accessibility for all.
The Daniel Alcides Carrión Stadium holds the title of the highest stadium in the world. Located in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, it sits at an elevation of approximately 4,380 meters (14,370 feet) above sea level. This extreme altitude makes it a unique venue for athletic competitions, where altitude conditions can have a significant impact on the performance of athletes and teams.
The Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, is the largest stadium in the world by capacity. Inaugurated in 1989, it can accommodate more than 114,000 spectators and is mainly used for sporting events, festivals and the Arirang Mass Games.
It is still only at the project stage but the Forest Green Rovers Eco Park Stadium aims to become the most ecological stadium in the world. Designed by the Zaha Hadid architectural firm, this stadium, designed entirely in wood, will have a certified organic lawn and solar panels installed on its roof. With a capacity of 5,000 places, it aims to have the most neutral carbon footprint possible, by producing renewable energy on site. The site will also host a training stadium, a green technology business park and a nature reserve: www.ecopark.com.
