Buzz
The retractable roof at Houston's Reliant Stadium is shown in its closed position.
Brian Bahr/Getty ImagesStadium designs follow trends just like fashion and hairstyles. During the 1960s and 1970s, multipurpose stadiums with circular designs became popular. This era also saw the rise of domed stadiums, with iconic structures like Houston's Astrodome and Seattle's Kingdome capturing public imagination. However, the current trend favors retractable-roof stadiums, leading to the demolition of the Kingdome and the uncertain future of the Astrodome.
Modern convertible stadiums feature roofs that can be closed during bad weather and opened on sunny days. This innovation has largely replaced artificial turf fields, which are associated with higher injury rates compared to natural grass. Retractable roofs have become a defining feature of contemporary stadiums, but their mechanisms vary widely. Let’s explore how some of these stadiums operate:
- Skydome, Toronto -- The MLB's Blue Jays call this stadium home, which debuted in 1989 as the pioneer of retractable-roof stadiums. Unlike earlier designs with removable tops, Skydome's roof is fully retractable. It comprises four steel panels that glide along rails at 71 feet (21 meters) per minute, taking 20 minutes to fully open or close. Seventy-two motors power the movement of the panels, which telescope over a fixed section, while a fourth panel rotates to seal the roof.
- Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix -- Opened in 1998, this stadium is home to the MLB's Diamondbacks. Located in Arizona's intense heat, the stadium's roof is essential for comfort. Its drawbridge-like system uses two 200 horsepower motors and four miles of cables to open or close in just four minutes.
- Safeco Field, Seattle -- In 1999, the Mariners moved from the Kingdome to Safeco Field. The roof here consists of three gypsum and glass fiber panels covered with a waterproof layer. These panels slide apart on motorized steel wheels powered by 96 DC motors, moving at 30 feet (9.1 m) per minute and taking 10 to 20 minutes to fully open or close.
- Minute Maid Park, Houston -- Originally named Enron Field, this stadium opened in 2000 and is home to the Astros. Its retractable roof features three panels of varying heights that slide completely off the field. Sixty electric motors power 140 steel wheels, enabling the roof to open or close in 12 to 20 minutes.
- Reliant Stadium, Houston -- Home to the NFL's Texans, Reliant Stadium opened in 2003. Its massive 956 x 385-foot (291 x 117 m) roof splits into two translucent Teflon-coated panels that slide open over the 50-yard line. Supported by trichord trusses, the panels move at 35 feet (10.7 m) per minute.
Retractable roofs stand as remarkable achievements in contemporary architecture. These structures are engineered to shift massive panels weighing millions of pounds within minutes, revolutionizing the spectator experience at baseball and football events. Their widespread appeal suggests that the coming decade will witness a surge in the construction of such adaptable stadiums, until the next innovation in stadium design takes center stage.
