{"id":47805,"date":"2023-02-10T09:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T08:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/?p=47805"},"modified":"2025-12-12T00:38:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:38:51","slug":"state-farm-stadium-the-stadium-for-the-2023-super-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2023\/02\/state-farm-stadium-the-stadium-for-the-2023-super-bowl\/","title":{"rendered":"State Farm Stadium, the stadium for the 2023 Super Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"

On February 12, 2023, the State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona) hosts its third Super Bowl (the image is of the second in 2019). It will be the meeting place between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. This world-class event has a special guest who is not always given enough attention: the <\/span>stadium<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The euphoria and focus around sports mean that often, <\/span>the design, architecture, and engineering of stadiums<\/b> fade into the background or don’t appear in the photo at all. In this Super Bowl, we are focusing on the infrastructure that makes it all possible: the State Farm Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

This 2006 stadium is the only one in North America that incorporates grass and a retractable roof, has a metal roof that increases the solar albedo, and can expand its stands at the foot of the field from 63,400 seats to 73,000 seats. This is the stadium for the Super Bowl.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does a stadium offer?<\/h2>\n

The question may sound naive or basic, but the truth is, stadiums have been around for thousands of years and have not always hosted Super Bowl finals, football games, or sports in general. Moreover, for centuries, stadiums were not even a <\/span>place<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stadium (\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd) was <\/span>a unit of measurement<\/b> that indicated a distance equivalent to about 600 feet (depending on whose foot it was, of course). It wasn’t until 776 B.C.E. that the Olympic stadium gave rise to the current concept of a place to watch others practicing <\/span>something<\/span><\/i>. Although at that time, the stadium was little more than a dirt field with meadows with a slight slope for seating.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"first<\/p>\n

First Olympia Stadium, Lesekreis<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

As the centuries passed, stadiums became more professional. Stands sprouted, pits were dug, different tracks took on their characteristic looks, and a complex system of tunnels and galleries snaked under and around them. The Colosseum was one such iconic place that is still standing. The most varied celebrations were held there.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the 20th century, musical techniques improved significantly, and <\/span>stadiums started hosting concerts<\/span><\/a>. They had already served as meeting places, sports arenas, voting areas, and even field hospitals. Today, <\/span>a stadium is a multipurpose building<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stadium with a retractable floor<\/h2>\n

As we’ve already seen, stadiums don’t just serve one purpose, and State Farm Stadium is no exception. This stadium frequently hosts events like concerts, mass gatherings such as fairs, monster truck shows, and competitions that don’t need grass – in that case, the almost 9000 m\u00b2 (2.2 acres) are retracted and stored <\/span>outside<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n