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The economic logic behind modular stadiums is driving greater acceptance among industries and sporting associations, including the advantages of adaptive reuse.
Amid increasing scrutiny over the allocation of taxpayer money to construct elaborate sporting stadiums, cities and sports clubs globally are turning to modular construction as a viable and cost-efficient alternative. This shift comes as numerous Australian governments have stepped back from hefty investments in sports infrastructure due to escalating costs and public dissent. (main pic: render of Populous’s modular constructed cricket stadium in New York. credit: Populous.)
The modular stadium concept, which involves assembling prefabricated elements such as steel frames, offers a significant reduction in both time and expenditure compared to traditional concrete and steel constructions. Adam Torpey, Vice President of Business Development at SixFive Sports and Entertainment, remarked, “The minute anybody talks about stadiums – you think crazy money. (With modular stadiums) you’re not spending 400, 500, 600 million dollars on conventional concrete stadiums. You’re drastically reducing the cost.”
Western United, an A-League club based in Tarneit, 25 kilometres west of Melbourne’s CBD, captures the growing adoption of modular construction. The club, which currently plays in a small, 5,000-capacity stadium, plans to expand using modular construction to potentially accommodate up to 30,000 spectators as demand increases. Jason Sourasis, chairman of Western United, stated, “We’re not trying to build a 50,000-seat stadium. We might start with a 10,000 capacity and grow to 15, that grows to a 20, that grows to a 30, but we’ll grow as the demand grows.”
Internationally, the concept has seen significant uptake. Arena, a global supplier of temporary architecture based in Milwaukee, has demonstrated the capabilities of modular construction at a significant scale by building a 34,000-seat temporary modular stadium for the International Cricket Council’s T20 World Cup in New York. This stadium, described as the largest completely demountable structure built around a single field ever delivered in the United States, includes premium grandstands and interconnected, multi-story facilities for VIP experiences and operational needs.
Watch a short video of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20 World Cup stadium in New York
Martin Blackburn, director of seating US at Arena, highlighted the project’s significance, “The T20 World Cup modular cricket stadium is a perfect example of how Arena continues to redefine what is possible by building a fully functioning, demountable stadium activation that is applicable to any large-scale sporting event globally.”
The increased appetite for modular stadiums is not only a response to economic pressures but also aligns with broader sustainability goals and adaptive reuse.
