Football stadiums in the UK used to be built for the sole purpose of sitting down for 90 minutes to watch your favourite team win. In the origin of football, early grounds often featured wooden terraces and rudimentary stands, prioritising maximum spectator capacity over comfort or complex design. However, modern football has completely changed the way stadiums are designed, as they now use mass-produced steel and reinforced concrete to make them feel larger than life.

Clubs and developers are now designing stadiums as multi-functional structures for urban regeneration and year-round revenue. The goal is to maximise the return on investment (ROI) by transforming the traditional stadium into a place where multiple forms of entertainment can happen. We have seen more stadiums being used for concerts and exhibitions, making it about more than just football. Some say this is for the better, while others think it's for the worst.

This guide will explore how football stadiums of the 21st century are designed to be multi-functional, as they prioritise modern practices and state-of-the-art technology. Continue reading to learn more.

Multi-Purpose Adaptability

Modular Systems

Having modular systems in a football stadium has influenced the multi-use design. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a prime example of this with their new retractable natural grass pitch that slides out to reveal a synthetic field underneath. This allows the stadium to host other major sporting events like NFL games with a fresh field under the football pitch. It has also been designed to host concerts and motor sports, all without compromising the surface for their Premier League and cup games.

Convertible Seating

Stadiums now feature seating systems and telescopic stands that can be reconfigured with different settings. This allows for adjusting steepness and capacity to optimise sightlines for different event types, making the venue feel intimate for a small concert or vast for a major final to make it feel more grand.

Zoned Hospitality

Premium spaces and concourses are designed with movable partitions and reconfigurable furniture, allowing them to transform seamlessly from matchday corporate suites into conference rooms or exhibition spaces. The goal is to ensure that these premium zones are used for a large range of events, which can boost the stadium's profitability so the costs it takes to build it is worth it.

New Technology

High Connectivity

High-speed 5G connectivity is now non-negotiable, supporting thousands of concurrent connections. This powers mobile fan apps for digital ticketing, contactless payments, in-seat concession ordering and immersive experiences like augmented reality (AR) overlays that display live player stats when a fan points their phone at the pitch. This new technology is very mouth-watering for stadium owners who want to create the best experience for their fans.

Immersive Visuals and Sound

New stadiums tend to have massive 4K video boards to provide better visibility for those in the seat furthest away from the action. Adaptive acoustic engineering uses retractable panels and directional speaker systems to adjust reverberation time. This improves the sound quality, so fans feel immersed in the action like never before.

Operational Intelligence

IoT sensors and AI analytics are used behind the scenes to monitor and optimise crowd flow, predict queue wait times and adjust lighting systems based on real-time occupancy. This can maximise energy efficiency in the stadium, as well as give fans a better place to sit in as they watch their favourite football match.

Sustainability Practices

Energy Conservation

Many modern venues aim for green building certifications. This involves integrating on-site renewable energy sources, such as solar panels on the roof or canopy. While Forest Green Rovers have a very small stadium, it has been built to be completely eco-friendly. Advanced water management systems can also be installed and these include rainwater harvesting for pitch irrigation and low-flow fixtures throughout the facility.

Material and Machinery Selection

Designers prioritise materials with low embodied carbon, such as recycled steel and sustainably-sourced timber for lightweight roofing. Using machinery like scissor lift hire has been very popular when designing new stadiums, which are now made to use less emissions so stadium owners can reduce their carbon footprint. These machines also help keep engineers safe while working at height.

Urban Integration

There are some new stadiums across Europe that operate as public parks, community sports facilities and retail spaces during the off season and non-event days. This improves the relationship with the local community and provides year-round employment for those in the area. If you’re already a fan of your local team, this can only make your heart grow fonder for it.

Stadiums like the Allianz Arena in Munich have a design focused equally on football, with the adaptability for large-scale concerts, fully embracing the multi-functional mandate. The 21st-century stadium ensures it plays a crucial role in the world of football, while improving the urban landscape and economic health of the city it calls home.