The Changing Face of Sporting Venues through time

Suncorp Stadium, Westpac Trust Stadium and the proposed Melbourne Rectangular Stadium are among the long lists of renowned stadium architecture that Alex Richardson has worked on.

Speaking in Perth yesterday, Richardson who is a key consultant with the Major Stadia Task Force spoke about the changing face of stadium designs throughout history.

Richardson who is presently directing the 2011 Rugby World Cup bid by New Zealand and is the present Design Director of a proposed redevelopment of Eden Park outlined the five phases of generational shift in stadium design.

From the 1st Generation which was looking at a stadium to fit as many people as possible in such as Perry Lakes, to today looking at becoming part of a community such as Camden Fields in Baltimore U.S.A

The first generation was aimed at getting as many people as possible watching the sport. "These stadium's where packed in tightly with the optimum to get as many people as possible into the ground".

The next generation was 'Suburbia' with the growth of cities they brought the stadiums to the suburbs Richardson. "These stadium's did not have public transport and lacked any character...they where removed from the community".

The third Generation was the development of sporting stadiums centrally for entertainment while the fourth Generation of stadia opened up the prospect of marketing and sporting professionalism with the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Current stadium designs indicated that these sporting facilities are now embraced and an important part of inner city life, sparking the fifth generation that we presently have. "They are seen as good neighbours, key components of city life...a stadium can not be seen in isolation from the city".