University of Phoenix Stadium
 The University of Phoenix Stadium, with its retractable roof & field, is unlike any other stadium in North America and a marvel of design, engineering, and technology. The stadium opened in August of 2006. University of Phoenix Stadium is home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, as well as the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the newly created BCS National Championship game, concerts, trade/consumer shows, corporate events and special occasions of all kinds.
Amenities
Approximately 63,400 permanent seats, expandable to 73,000 seats
88 luxury suites, approximately 7,400 Club Seats, Two (2) 39,000 square foot Club Lounges
160,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, 20,000 square feet of meeting room space
Two (2) high resolution video scoreboards
77 Public Restrooms (30 Men’s, 35 Women’s and 12 Family)
47 Concession stands operated by Centerplate
Design
University of Phoenix Stadium was designed to be a truly multi-purpose facility with the ability to host football, basketball, soccer, concerts, consumer shows, motorsports, rodeos and corporate events.
Designed by world-renowned architect Peter Eisenman, in conjunction with HOK Sport, Hunt Construction Group and Urban Earth Design.
The exterior skin represents a barrel cactus.
The building features alternating sections of shimmering metal panels intended to reflect the shifting desert light alongside magnificent vertical glass slots allowing patrons a spectacular view of the horizon from any level of the exterior. There are 21 vertical slots on the exterior wall of the stadium.
Operational Advantages & Features
The stadium encompasses 1.7 million square feet of space.
The stadium features the first fully retractable natural grass playing field in North America.
Slab on grade with utility floor boxes spaced on 30 x 60 increments throughout stadium floor.
Direct stadium floor access for consumer and trade show event patrons.
Restroom and attendee amenities on floor and exhibit hall level.
Fully air conditioned.
14,000 on-site parking spaces, 12,000 adjacent spaces.
Conveniently located of the 101 loop-only fifteen minutes from downtown Phoenix Funding & Economic Impact
The overall cost of the stadium was approximately $455 million.
The Construction phase added 3,500 jobs and $400 million in economic benefits to area.
Arizona State General Fund receives $20 million over construction period.
The NFL Arizona Cardinals contribute $150 million to the economy each year.
The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl contributes approximately $140 million each year in economic impact. The new BCS formula which adds a second game every four years will have an additional positive impact.
Super Bowl XXX in Tempe in 1996 was seen by 900 million people around the globe. This number will increase for Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona.
On game days there will be over 3,000 employees on site, ranging from event, team, facility, catering and concessions, security, and housekeeping operations and services.
Fun Facts
The stadium seats, if set in a straight line, would stretch for approximately eighteen (18) miles or the equivalent of one hundred and eleven
(111) football fields.
The amount of concrete used on the stadium is equal to 900 miles of sidewalk, the distance between Phoenix and San Francisco.
The stadium air-conditioning system will generate 8,000 tons of cooling capacity, enough to cool 2,300 residential homes in the Phoenix area.
The 60-foot logo and the wall honoring team greats will greet fans at the Glendale stadium's north entrance.
Four large columns will frame the inside concourse area and serve as the team's hieroglyphics of records and significant moments.
Five layers of Arizona-themed murals will usher fans through the stadium escalators.
Two massive "thermometers" at the south end zone gauge crowd noise. The north end zone bridge displays photos of past players.
There are six levels in the stadium: the field (or service) level; the main concourse, the club level, the suite level; the upper concourse and the mechanical level.
The stadium features a mural on each level. Each mural is designed to represent Arizona's environmental attractions. The 400 level, the highest in the stadium, replicates the night sky and has the names of state observatories on it. The rest spotlight state rivers, canyons, deserts and mountain ranges.
The stadium includes 88 luxury lofts featuring preferred parking, an exclusive entrance, private restrooms, multiple televisions, in-suite catering and a bold, modern interior design unlike any other suites in the industry.
The luxurious Club Level features wider seats, preferred parking, private entrances, and climate controlled club lounges with multiple two-story spaces, comfortable seating, plentiful TV monitors, upgraded food and beverage offerings and dedicated restrooms.
The Field
The grass field rolls out of the stadium on a 18.9 million pound tray, residing outside of the stadium except for football and soccer events, is the first of its kind in North America.
Excavation will take field down to 26 feet below the present grade. When completed, the field will lie 39 feet below the main concourse level because 13 feet of berming will be added around the stadium.
The grass field remains outside the stadium in the sun until game day getting the maximum amount of sunshine and nourishment, eliminating humidity problems inside the stadium and providing unrestricted access to the stadium floor for events and staging.
The site has the stadium situated along a slight northwest to southeast axis for maximum sun exposure for field in the outboard position.
Having the rollout field saves $50 million in costs since it is more economical to move the field than having the entire roof retract to allow the necessary sunshine to reach the grass.
The roll out playing field weighs 18.9 million pounds and will travel at a speed of 11.5 feet/minute (1/8 mph); it will take approx. 75 minutes to travel approximately 741 feet.
The field is 234 feet wide x 403 feet long and 39 inches tall.
Field tray rests on 13 rail tracks and moves in and out of the stadium on 546 steel wheel assemblies (42 rows).
76 of the wheel sets are powered by a 1- horsepower motor (total = 76 hp).
The field will support approximately 94,000 square feet (over 2 acres) of natural grass.
The grass is Tifway-419, a Bermuda hybrid. It was planted by using stolons, or plugs, that provide the best long-term field conditions.
The tray has a fairly sophisticated irrigation system that works on timers and can be customized. The water will drain through a 1-inch-deep
mat and several pipes that lead to a main drainpipe underneath the field tray.
A few inches of water will remain in the tray while the field is in play to keep the grass moist.
The Roof
The translucent “Bird-Air” fabric roof will allow the stadium to have an open, airy feel even when the roof is closed. The roof has two large retractable panels that will uncover the entire playing field while providing maximum shading for fans. The roof can be closed and the facility air conditioned in the hot months, while the roof can be opened to take advantage of the Valley’s world-famous climate in cooler months.
The roof is supported by two 700-foot long trusses.
Each truss is 87 feet high at its tallest point and weighs about 1,800 tons.
The top of the roof is 206 feet above grade.
Each roof panel weighs 550 tons.
Surrounding the Facility
The stadium occupies more than 25 acres.
Included in the parking lot is an eight acre landscaped area located on the Southwest side of the facility called Sportsman’s Park.
The Youth Sports Complex and the Youth Sports Fields are also featured on the property.
The property features approximately 1,100 trees spread throughout the plaza, parking lot, pedestrian walkways and Sportsman’s Park.
Featured trees include: Arizona Cyprus, Arizona Sycamore, Mondell Pine, Bradford and Evergreen Pear, Cork and Live Oak, Chinese Pistache and Tipu Trees. The species were chosen specifically with shade, color, and time of bloom in mind. For instance, the Chinese Pistache was chosen due to its bright red leaves, to reflect “cardinal red”, and heat resistance.
The stadium is located adjacent to and south of Jobing.com Arena, home to the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, and Westgate City Center, a master-planned, mixed-use retail, entertainment and commercial development.
Interesting Arizona Facts
Since elevations in Arizona range from 70 feet on the Colorado River to 12,633 feet on Humphreys Peak, it is possible for the coldest or hottest temperature in the United States to be recorded in Arizona.
The hottest temperature in Arizona was 128 degrees, recorded in Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994.
The coldest temperature in Arizona was -40 degrees, recorded at Hawley Lake on January 7, 1971.
Phoenix sees an average rainfall of 7.64" per year. A desert location is defined as one that receives less than 10" of rain per year.
Flagstaff was named by "Custom Weather" as among the "Top Ten Cities with the Best Summer Climate." |
Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Ariz.
