Visual Techniques

Madison Square Garden, NYC

Madison Square Garden has Balance, Symmetry, Regularity, Simplicity, Unity, Economy, Understatement, Predictability, Stasis, Subtlety, Neutrality, Opacity, Consistency, Accuracy, Flatness, Singularity, Sequentiality, Sharpness, Repetition.

Kezar Stadium (1922-1989), SFC

Kezar Stadium had Instability, Asymmetry, Irregularity, Simplicity, Fragmentation, Economy, Understatement, Spontaneity, Activeness, Subtlety, Accent, Transparency, Variation, Distortion, Depth, Singularity, Sequentiality, Diffusion, Repetition.

Compare & Contrast

Both of these stadiums are in highly populated super dense metropolitans. Although when Kezar was in use for a professional team San Francisco was far from where New York was but today the two cities have more in common then not which is why Madison Square Garden (MSG) is such a good example of how a stadium can become a crown jewel of sorts. Garnering world wide recognition and attracting a vast array of events, MSG is that anchor to the big apple. What motivates me to get involved in this aspect of design is the thought that goes into not just how the stadium looks but how it acts. MSG doesn't have a parking lot instead it utilizes public transportation (being the only pro venue with a rail station located directly underneath). San Francisco is facing a decision regarding how to keep the 49ers in the city and I believe the best option is Kezar. Imagine a world class multi use stadium open to the public nestled in the edge of Golden Gate Park with a living roof and a BART station underneath! That's what motives me...

Contrast

Here lets focus on how the outfield wall (representing a split line between the playing surface and the crowd) presents a direct design opportunity for contrast and how it is addressed in contemporary ballparks.

Green Monster, Fenway Park

Fenway Park home of the Boston Red Sox is famous (or infamous) for how they contrast the playing surface by contrasting a short right field with a 37 foot high green wall. Separated from the outfield grass by the tan of the warning track dirt the wall shoots up in the sky and adds unique features to the game no other ballpark in the majors can offer. One example of this is a mysterious door home team players go in and out of. Another example of how this contrast creates new elements is line drives that normally are catchable must now be played off of the wall. the main way i see this as a successful exhibition in contrast is that it is so different, unconventional, and truly extreme yet feels as if it belongs there comfortably nested in the boston sky. On top of that the seats that are on top of the wall brings the fans a new experience and are some of the hardest tickets to get.

Tal's Hill, Minute Maid Park

Here we have a feeble attempt at contrast. Above is Tal's Hill a 90 foot wide hill on a 30 degree slope. Not to mention the pole. All of which is in play. Even though these features happened in historic baseball parks, when they did it was because they were natural features of the sight, Tal's Hill is purely decorative and in that it fails. While it has produced some highly replayed highlights the down side of the danger of playing on a hill outweighs the associated glamor, especially for the players. Wikipedia states a petition by fans to remove the hill and pole was started but not followed through. Without any function or rational it is empty contrast which is why it feels out of place.