Letzigrund Stadion Zurich. Best track facility in the world?

Stockholm

Old Skool Stockholm

noVan wrote:

What are the poles sticking up above the roof? They look like lights, but why put lights above the roof?

Steel rods that support the roof. The aesthetic called for a roof that appears to float. Best of both worlds because the roof looks awesome and there's nothing obstructing your view.

noVan wrote:

What are the poles sticking up above the roof? They look like lights, but why put lights above the roof?

Stephen Dedalus wrote:

Steel rods that support the roof. The aesthetic called for a roof that appears to float. Best of both worlds because the roof looks awesome and there's nothing obstructing your view.

Those aren't supporting columns at all. It's straightforward - they are the light towers.

NoVan, I'm not sure why you are asking the question, it seems self-evident to me. You put the lights on top of the roof for the same reason you locate lights at any other stadium - it's the highest point on the structure. Where else would you put the light towers?

malmo wrote:

Old Skool Stockholm

Image:

http://oi53.tinypic.com/1611de.jpg

On the scoreboard is Kjell Eric Stahl. Is that the marathoner?

Luzhniki Stadium

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05_01/LuzhnikiStadium2_468x312.jpg

malmo wrote:

Letzigrund is an small enough for the crowd to feel an intimate part of the event. The cantilevered carport roof gives an open and airy outdoor experience, with the added bonus of a warm ambiance and luxurious seating. It does what architecture is supposed to do -- it enriches the utility of the structure and of the experience.

To me, it's the perfect stadium.

I was in Zurich for a couple months and went over to see the stadium. It's major cool indeed. When they have the lights on at night it looks really wild at a distance. It's clearly visible from the train heading into Zurich HB.

Berlin is an awesome stadium for championship events like 2009 World Championship. Whenever you're able to fill that stadium. Unfortunately, you won't fill that stadium with the diamond league. For that, Zurich obviously is much better.

Berlins Olympic Stadium is a landmark, however, these days its primary use is soccer and for that it's not a great stadium.

Nutella1 wrote:

Berlins Olympic Stadium is a landmark, however, these days its primary use is soccer and for that it's not a great stadium.

Berlin WAS a landmark. Now it's a theme park.

malmo wrote:

Nutella1 wrote:

Berlins Olympic Stadium is a landmark, however, these days its primary use is soccer and for that it's not a great stadium.

Berlin WAS a landmark. Now it's a theme park.

No it's not. Architecture is largely still the same as during the Olympic Games. There is not that much around it. It's not your typical arena that you know from NFL/NBA.

Bislett Stadium:

http://c0056906.cdn2.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/386188.jpg

It's too bad that there are no stadia in the U.S. that "get" the most important aspect of these Euro-facilities: blocking of wind. Hayward in particular is ridiculous in this regard, for a Diamond-League venue.

Limpy McGimpy wrote:

It's too bad that there are no stadia in the U.S. that "get" the most important aspect of these Euro-facilities: blocking of wind. Hayward in particular is ridiculous in this regard, for a Diamond-League venue.

Yeah I was also always pretty curious about this. How effective do you guys think a completely surrounded stadium is at blocking wind on the track?

Limpy McGimpy wrote:

It's too bad that there are no stadia in the U.S. that "get" the most important aspect of these Euro-facilities: blocking of wind. Hayward in particular is ridiculous in this regard, for a Diamond-League venue.

There is one stadium that is famous for the wind because of the characteristics it is build. It blocks the wind on the homestretch but allows for a nice tailwind on the backstretch...or was it the other way around. Anyone remember which stadium that is?

Nutella1 wrote:

There is one stadium that is famous for the wind because of the characteristics it is build. It blocks the wind on the homestretch but allows for a nice tailwind on the backstretch...or was it the other way around. Anyone remember which stadium that is?

Escher Stadium.

This is all true. Glad to see good architecture getting its due, however, not all venues can afford to have such low seating capacities. Economic concerns often dictate these things and aesthetics usually takes the back seat. Zurich is an example of quality winning out over quantity.

By coincidence I was recently in Philly for an interview at the UPenn hospital complex. I had time, it was a gorgeous day, and so decided to walk back the to the train. I hadn't gotten far down 33rd St. when, as I was admiring the brick gothic look of the UPenn campus, suddenly realized I was walking by Franklin Field- the rows of blue seats rising behind the lower brick structures on the street just popped into view without warning behind the 33rd St buildings. I was quite impressed with how a 50,000 seat stadium was placed so comfortably into an otherwise smaller scaled streetscape. When I got a chance later I looked at further images of FF. Looks like a great place to watch an event.

jjjjjjjjjj wrote:

...or Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, CA over Zurich's ugly apt buildings any day.

Come on jjjjjjjjj, the views from Redwood HS and COM are much better than those from Tam, but I do like where you are coming from.