Short-Lived Sports Venues
One of the more unusual aspects about North America's consumer culture is the tendency for professional sports venues to be declared obsolete and replaced not that long after they're built. For instance, a large majority of the major league professional sports venues built in the postwar era of the 1950s, 60s and 70s have been, for the most part, replaced. The few remaining examples of those types of structures from that era generally have plans for replacements in the works.
What's interesting about this is that the buildings are seldom in poor strucural shape when they're demolished and they are still perfectly capable of hosting the events for which they were designed. The considerations are mainly driven by the businesses that occupy them. The older venues somehow inhibit the team's ability to maximize its revenue potential, so the owner will generally aim to replace it with something more lucrative. In some markets the owner will pay for the replacement, but for the most part the public ends up subsidizing or outright paying for these venues under the threat of team relocation to a friendlier jurisdiction (read: one that is willing to pay for a new venue). The idea for this post came to me when reading about the plans in place to replace the Georgia Dome. On one level, it's astounding that a barely 20-year old venue which is still in excellent condition, can be deemed in need of replacement. But as team owners get better and better at playing muncipalities off of one another, it's not shocking that the typical lifespan of the new venues is getting shorter. Here are a few of the short-lived professional sports venues that I can think of. (All images sourced from the Wikipedia entry for the corresponding venue) Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium, which stood from 1966 to 1997 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ntystadium.jpg Miami Arena, which stood from 1988 to 2008 (but was only used as a major league venue for its first 11 years before being replaced) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Miamiarena.jpg Charlotte Coliseum, which stood from 1988 to 2007 (but was only used as a major league venue for its first 14 years, and once again in its final year before being replaced) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...liseum1988.jpg Georgia Dome, built 1992, scheduled for replacement http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...eorgiaDome.JPG Richfield Coliseum, which stood from 1974 to 1999 (but was only used as a major league venue for its first 20 years) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...A_-_558054.jpg What are some of the other short-lived professional sports venues out there? |
The Seattle Kingdome was opened in 1976, and demo'd in 2000.
http://www.vintageseattle.org/catego...t_post/page/2/ http://www.vintageseattle.org/wp-con...seattle_01.jpg |
Forgot about the Kingdome!
Another dome with a similar lifespan was Indianapolis' RCA Dome, home to the Colts from 1984-2007. A really nice looking stadium that didn't even make it to the quarter-century mark before being replaced: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...a-rca-dome.jpg Source: Wikipedia |
Houston voters are voting today on a ballot measure to save the Astrodome from destruction.
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To be fair most stadiums designed from 1950-1990 in North America were terrible, and in terrible locations.
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I was going to mention the Miami Arena, but you already have it.
Originally home to Florida Panthers, Miami Heat and Miami Hurricanes basketball, all 3 fled to new arenas. It wasn't "terrible", but it definitely didn't excite either. Orlando just replaced their Arena too. According to Wikipedia it opened in 1989 and closed in 2010. Fun times were had there, but it likewise lacked a soul. http://cdn.sting.com/non_secure/imag...rlando_640.jpg src: http://sting.com/tour/date/id/537/ |
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The Pyramid here in Memphis was only open from 1991-2004. Once the FedEx Forum opened both the Grizzlies and the Memphis Tigers Men's team moved there. It's currently being converted into a Bass Pro Shops superstore.
http://dlynx.rhodes.edu/jspui/bitstr...%20Pyramid.jpg http://dlynx.rhodes.edu/jspui/handle/10267/8888 |
Joe Louis Arena (blt 1979) in Detroit probably won't survive the decade with the new multi-purpose arena soon to be built in Detroit's midtown.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ouis_Arena.JPG DrVenkman The monstrosity should have never been built, and certainly not right on the Detroit River. |
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http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3296/2...d06f2df5_b.jpg donr |
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Let's face it, the Orlando Arena and the Silverdome weren't replaced because they didn't meet the needs of the fans. As a fan, you buy a ticket, show up and watch sports... the venue is merely a backdrop to what is taking place on the field, the court or the ice. Even if a place like the Metrodome is a little boring, it's hard to make sense of demolishing a $100 million dollar facility to replace it with a $1 billion dollar facility on that basis alone. These venues were replaced, in most cases, at significant public expense, because they simply didn't meet the business needs of the owners. How else do you explain shutting down a 13-year old sports venue like the Pyramid in Memphis? |
bah, Just a tangible example of how billionaire owners willingly ransom their teams to extract more money from taxpayers for luxurious new stadia (with seat options out of the price range of most citizens). Among the poorest possible use of public monies. Especially since studies show the dubious value of professional sports teams to cities' economies. Where the hell is the moral outrage? Ah, just like in ancient Rome: distract the plebes with gladiator shows.
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Now that Bass Pro is leasing the Pyramid from the city and has taken of the payments for it most people are fine with the Forum. A Bass Pro shop is a pretty crappy idea of what to do with the Pyramid, especially since they have their superstore, hotels, entertainment, etc. all in the Pyramid where they can keep people in there without them having to leave to eat or sleep. At least the tax payers of Memphis aren't paying for it anymore. |
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Where it starts to get weird for me is when governments get involved in replacing relatively new facilities that aren't in any way deficient or non-functional. It blows me away that there is serious discussion about replacing the Georgia Dome at public expense. The place is barely 20 years old, it's gigantic, it has every creature comfort... but it's still not good enough anymore and time to replace it with a billion dollar palace. As of January 2013, there was still $99.975 million of debt outstanding on the Georgia Dome, which cost $214 million to build. A new venue is expected to cost $1.2 billion. The purported reason for the new venue (so far as I can tell) is because the NFL now requires a retractable roof on its stadiums, and apparently won't grant Atlanta the Super Bowl without such a facility. (How did NYC get the Super Bowl?!?) That seems like an absolutely crazy justification for an expenditure pushing $1.5 billion. |
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To me I see no uniqueness between RFK Stadium, the former Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Shea Stadium (except for it missing a side), Three Rivers Stadium, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Busch Memorial Stadium, etc. etc. |
A fishing tackle shop in a stadium. unbelievable.
of course they also sell turkey fryers. which describes the politicians that permit these excesses and what they should receive in punishment. |
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