Sports Illustrated and Wired set out to reimagine the NFL stadium of the future.
In their vision, the football arena becomes less a concrete structure with permanent seating and turns into an open-air village square that serves a larger purpose than for just hosting a game. It transforms from a sports field to gathering spot, open to anyone who wants to catch the action. (And judging by the video, below, drones will serve as the roof.)
Fully immersed in the technology of the day, these live sites in urban locations would give faraway fans the opportunity to interact with a live game. Massive screens and ribbon boards would relay the sights and sounds of the in-stadium experience. But don't think of these as glorified sports bars. Beyond the game, stations within each site would allow for learning—critical for a growing international audience that's still picking up the nuances of the NFL product—and interacting.
The Falcons' new downtown stadium does seem to include some of these concepts: an open plaza, various perches to view the game outside the seats and the ribbon LED display over the field.
You can see more of what else the reimagined stadium looks like here:
What do you think?
