Halifax Stadium Discussion

[Empire]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I am still working on the 3D model and have a roof that is basically unsupported which might be adequate for a conceptual model but still it would be better to think about the many different ways of supporting it. The giant masts as with the Commonwealth Games proposal will either have to be huge in diameter or have guy wires to support it. If they have guy wires to the ground for diagonal support then how much space will these require? Also, if the roof is suspended by cables from masts (like with the Alamodome) then will it have to be tied down with cables inside the stadium and if so where do these go? Since suspension cables only provide tension forces, they can't prevent the roof from lifting during a strong wind. Maybe they just rely on the weight of the roof itself to prevent it from lifting. These aren't negatives, just legitimate questions that I don't currently know the answer to. If anyone can tell me, I would really appreciate it.

I have also been thinking about the roof support, and even reading up on different types of trusses and supports. A lot of the soccer (British Football) stadiums use giant cantilever designs. It seems like almost 90% of the newer ones use this method. The older ones are much simpler in that they have columns in the interior of the stadium (but not many people will go for this idea since it will obstruct some seat sightlines). Even the cantilever designs require quite massive structures if the roof overhang is large (the roof for the 3D model would require quite large supports).

I think that the soccer stadiums in Europe tend to get overlooked being in North America. However, they have a similar maritime climate to Halifax with quite a bit of rain so I think that these are worth looking at. It seems that almost 100% of the major soccer stadiums have a large portion of the seats covered with a roof.

This is where the 3D model currently stands. The actual physical model is in the works. If anyone thinks that I am nuts, then I am starting to agree.

If the stadium were to be built in Willow Park or any area with a residential component nearby then I think a more discrete design would be desirable. A cantilever roof would likely work better here as it would garner less attention. To go column and cable free would be more expensive but would yield a very efficient product. Perhaps a goal of raising 25% the cost would get the attention of government and private investors. If the total cost is $60 million could 10-$15 million be raised through fundraising and donations? It seems like a lot without offering a return through a share offering but a trust fund would be the catalyst. Fenwick your latest design looks very good and this style roof would fly under the radar. Also if columns were reqiured for this roof I think it may be acceptable. Maybe the columns could be located between the upper and lower sections so that only the upper section has some obstructed views. This would leave some overhang beyond the support columns if they were vertical. Any angle may obstruct more view?