tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post4183054720447804492..comments2023-11-03T04:29:29.498-04:00Comments on Paleo-Future: Mechanized Stadium of the Future (1958)Matt Novakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360406896692501416noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-62546445600007352332008-08-31T23:11:00.000-04:002008-08-31T23:11:00.000-04:00I believe the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, which opened...I believe the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, which opened in 1961, was built with a retractable roof that could open in the summertime -- one of the facility's initial main tenants was the Pittsburgh Civic Opera, which used the open roof for summertime programs. (A minor-league hockey team was an early wintertime tenant; the NHL's Penguins didn't come into being until 1967.) The arena still houses the Penguins, although it no longer is convertible (IIRC, you can see the roof open in the basketball movie comedy "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh") and it.s considered outmoded by current standards. I think the team will be getting a new arena in a year or two.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-62068096417743632732008-08-05T21:39:00.000-04:002008-08-05T21:39:00.000-04:00There are blocks of seating which can be removed i...There are blocks of seating which can be removed in Bayern Munich stadium to create standing areas, and many new stadiums have retractable roofs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-58164553898569103632008-07-08T15:50:00.000-04:002008-07-08T15:50:00.000-04:00I like the moving grand stands idea. They're using...I like the moving grand stands idea. They're using it in an opera, Die Soldaten:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/07/arts/music/07armo.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-1655323806891396522008-07-03T08:37:00.000-04:002008-07-03T08:37:00.000-04:00This theme crops up a lot in the paleofuture -- en...This theme crops up a lot in the paleofuture -- enclosed megastructures that people get to via enclosed, flying vehicles. What I see there is a trio of persistent cultural attitudes, pretty accurately rendered: (1) mistrust toward nature, expressed as a preference for controlled environments; (2) a sort of terrestrial version of life in space (the only place where maintenance on such structures would absolutely have to be done); (3) a power daydream: having so much cheap energy available that we can move buildings around for the hell of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-49645035233041489602008-07-02T16:53:00.000-04:002008-07-02T16:53:00.000-04:00Wow! A Radebaugh piece that's almost a little bit...Wow! A Radebaugh piece that's almost a little bit accurate! (Though I see he couldn't help putting in the flying family cars . . .)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-33698086517782711722008-07-02T10:12:00.000-04:002008-07-02T10:12:00.000-04:00From what I can tell (I could be wrong, I don't re...From what I can tell (I could be wrong, I don't really make studying such things a priority) most cities have abandoned massive multi-purpose stadiums and gone back to separate dedicated facilities for each major sport. But the big trend now does seem to be indoor/outdoor use with retractable roofs or playing fields that move outside.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-1870703384690612702008-07-02T04:54:00.000-04:002008-07-02T04:54:00.000-04:00SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) in Toronto, which open...SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) in Toronto, which opened in 1989, was the first stadium in the world to have a fully-retractable motorized roof. It could be fully opened and closed in 20 minutes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-39232701265747929982008-07-01T19:52:00.000-04:002008-07-01T19:52:00.000-04:00According to Wikipedia, Aloha Stadium near Honolul...According to Wikipedia, Aloha Stadium near Honolulu actually did this:<BR/><BR/>“Four movable sections, each 3.5 million pounds and with a capacity of 7,000, could move using air cushions into a diamond configuration for baseball (also used for soccer), an oval for football, or a triangle for concerts. However, in January 2007, the stadium was permanently locked into its football configuration, citing cost and maintenance issues.”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com