Facilities: Page 543

Stadium & Arena

Venue Bending

With the NCAA crowning champions in three major sports this week, it's clear which among them reigns superior with the ticket-buying public, as evidenced by the adaptation of the host venue to each sport. In previewing the men's basketball Final Four in Indianapolis, one commentator described Lucas Oil Stadium as "a football stadium built for basketball." With the court positioned dead center on the surface typically occupied by the NFL's Colts, and surrounded by temporary and permanent seating in such a way that the seating chart looked like a study in near-symmetrical arena design, Duke defeated Butler on Monday night before 70,930 fans. That's roughly three and a half times the combined capacities of the combatants' home venues - Cameron Indoor Stadium and Hinkle Fieldhouse, respectively.

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Stadium & Arena

Take Me Out to the Ballpark

To welcome the Major League Baseball season, ABCNews.com today offers its list of "America's 7 Best Ballparks." The subtitle of the piece authored by Scott Mayerowitz reads "These Baseball Stadiums Make It a Great Day Out Whether or Not Your Team Wins." With the help of expert opinion, Mayerowitz lists "high-end food" as drivers of the gameday experience in today's best parks, and he quotes Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Heyman, who adds of park design, "They've gotten away from the cookie-cutter park, thank goodness." Mere mention of "cookie cutter" in describing dated ballpark design nearly makes me want to slash my wrists with one. So I'm not going to go there myself. But I did go to MLB.com and looked up the 2009 home records of the clubs occupying Mayerowitz's magnificent seven to see which fans were most likely to have a great day out AND see their team win. Red Sox Nation enjoyed the best odds, as Boston won 56 of 81 regular-season games played last year at Fenway Park - the oldest, quirkiest stadium in the bigs. San Francisco fans faired nearly as well, witnessing 52 wins at AT&T Park. Safeco Field in Seattle, Wrigely Field in Chicago, Citi Field in New York and PNC Park in Pittsburgh weren't as hospitable, with home victory totals of 48, 46, 41 and 40, respectively. The club least likely to cap a great day at a great park with a W? The Baltimore Orioles, the only team on the list aside from Pittsburgh with a losing record at home - in this case, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the design of which is often credited with spawning the retro-park revolution in 1992. The eventual World Champion New York Yankees owned last season's best home record - 57-24 - and their now two-year-old stadium earned an honorable mention from Mayerowitz's experts. The worst home showing, by the way, belonged to the Kansas City Royals, who went 33-48 at Kauffman Stadium, which got no mention from ABC. Built with unique visual amenities (including a centerfield fountain) in the 1970s, the waning years of the - oh, I'll just spit it out - cookie-cutter era, the park has undergone renovation and incorporated ticketing innovation in an ongoing attempt to attract fans. To what degree a park's appeal actually puts butts in the seats is difficult to pin down, as stadium capacities vary widely, but I checked ABC's list against team attendance rankings anyway. With league-wide attendance down 6 percent last season, none of the chosen parks cracked MLB's top-five destinations. However, Wrigley, Citi (in its debut season) and Fenway followed at numbers six through eight, and AT&T landed in the 10th spot. PNC Park, meanwhile, saw fewer fans trip the turnstiles than 27 of the league's 30 teams. So when the Pirates host Los Angeles in their home opener Monday, here's hoping fans enjoy the view of Pittsburgh's skyline and riverfront, even if they lose interest in what unfolds on the field.

AT&T Park home of the San Francisco Giants

Stadium & Arena

Arkansas Ballpark Hosts Class AA Team, Boasts Major League Appeal

Dickey-Stephens Ballpark in Arkansas hosts a Class AA team, but boasts Major League appeal.

Photo of Dickey-Stephens Ballpark in North Little Rock, Arkansas

Stadium & Arena

Sports Lighting Design Now A Valuable Player in Stadium Aesthetics

Sports lighting design, while still ultimately ruled by functionality, is now a valuable player in stadium aesthetics.

The New York Mets' Citi Field

In Search of a Qualified Track and Tennis Court Builder

Look beneath the surface when searching for a qualified builder of tennis courts or tracks.1.) ASK AROUND. Colleagues who have built or renovated a tennis court could be your best source of information. Seek out someone who has a facility similar in scope to the one you are planning, and come prepared with a list of questions. Was your contact happy with the completed project? Did the contractor deliver the project on time and as promised? Were there any unforeseen delays, complications or hidden costs? Did the contractor return calls promptly? After the project was completed, was the contractor available to answer questions and attend to punch-list items? Would your contact recommend this contractor, based on his or her experience?2.) SHOP AROUND. While word of mouth is a great tool, there are other ways to find the right contractor. The American Sports Builders Association, the trade association for designers, builders and suppliers of materials and equipment to the sports facility construction industry, offers a directory of its membership free of charge, as well as a feature on its web site (www.sportsbuilders.org) allowing searches by geographical area, area of expertise and so on. ASBA also offers comprehensive certification programs for builders of both tennis courts and running tracks (see "Confidence Builder," below).3.) CHECK IT OUT. Ask for references, both good and bad, says Randy Futty of Lee Tennis Court Products in Charlottesville, Va. "I often tell prospective buyers to not only check out the positive references of a builder, but ask the contractor to supply the names of customers where the job encountered trouble along the way," Futty says. "This lets the buyer know that the prospective contractor is both adaptable to changing conditions and transparent in his or her approach to business."4.) MAKE SURE IT'S BUILT RIGHT. In order for sports facilities to be ready for competition at their appropriate level (high school, college, club, recreational), they need to be built in accordance with the specifications, rules and regulations set forth by the proper governing bodies. A tennis court, for example, needs to be a certain length and width, sloped and marked correctly, with the proper clearance around the sides and back of the court and, if appropriate, the lighting levels specified for competition. Make certain that any contractor is using the most up-to-date version of the construction guidelines set forth by the American Sports Builders Association, and that the rules of the appropriate governing body (NCAA for collegiate level competition, NFHS for high school) are satisfied.5.) GET IT IN WRITING. Ask for proposals in writing, and take time to review them thoroughly. Ensure that the bids, including products to be used and methods of construction, are identical to your specifications. Look at what is and what is not included in the contract price. Make sure everyone agrees on who is responsible for permitting, site preparation, electrical power, taxes, insurance, removal of trees and shrubbery, restoration of the construction access route and so on.6.) FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS. This no doubt sounds counterintuitive after all these specifics. Set aside your top choice for a minute and listen to your instincts. What are they telling you? Are you at ease with the contractor you're favoring, or do you have lingering doubts? If so, why? Ask yourself whether the person is prompt in returning calls, answering questions and helping you understand complex issues. Remember that communication will be essential to keeping the project moving.

Fertita Tennis Complex at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Stadium & Arena

Crowded Arenas: Supply Exceeds Demand, Spelling Trouble for Some

A glut of multipurpose facilities has created serious supply-and-demand issues during the current recession.

HELP WANTED The bankruptcy of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes could have dire consequences for Glendale, Ariz.'s Jobing.com Arena.

Hybrid Student Centers House Multiple Campus Functions

By combining multiple student life functions under one roof, even small colleges can create campus buzz.

REC ROOM North Central College's newest residence hall envelopes nearly 60,000 square feet of competition and recreation space.

A Floor Rail Offers Visual, Tactile Reminder of Low Ceiling

A floor rail offers a visual and tactile reminder of a low-ceiling in the Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center.

Photo of the Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center's freestanding staircase

Stadium & Arena

Packaging Food With Tickets Works for Teams, Concessionaires

Packaging food with tickets has yielded agreeable sales strategies for teams and concessionaires alike.

CONSUMER ADVOCATES For 70 of 81 home games last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the ticket price in their All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion from $35 to $25.

Who Cares What Building Was the First to Receive LEED Certification?

What was the first building to achieve LEED certification? Who cares?

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Recreation Center

Stadium & Arena

Stadium-Staffing Lesson in Due Diligence Comes After Record Snowfalls

UNFROZEN TUNDRA The Green Bay Packers suffer no shortage of snow or snow-removal help at Lambeau Field. (Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Packers)

Gym & Fieldhouse

Consider These Issues When Proposing an Indoor Sports Complex

Physical limitations, local market needs and funding sources must be considered when proposing an indoor sports complex.

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