1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2000
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2000
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STADIUM AUSTRALIA
World-class design The stadium's design makes it one of the largest, most advanced, comfortable and versatile stadia in the world. Beside its natural beauty, the building is also functional. The pitch of the roof helps focus attention onto the field, enhancing atmosphere within the stadium. The roof affords effective weather protection and good acoustics, while allowing maximum sunlight to reach the playing surface all day. Designs for the stadium were inspired by the curves of an Australian slouch hat and adapted for the Australian environment. Track and turf Stadium Australia chose the Mondo Sportflex Super X track surface. This solid rubber surface provides a honeycomb structure with one air pocket per square centimetre and millions of individual shock absorbers directly under the running surface. Penetrating spikes are unnecessary, and new generations of cone and pyramid shaped spikes have been designed to deflect the running surface rather than penetrate it. Body impact is reduced as athletes’ feet do not make full contact with the ground. Some 120 world records have been set on Mondo Sportflex Super X since its development. The reinforced sand/mesh element base of the StrathAyr Turf System provides a safe and consistent surface where there is little variation in wet or dry conditions. The surface caters for extreme levels of use; in conjunction with the use of modules over the running track this allows the field to be used for play immediately after repair. The modules have enabled the stadium to be used already for various football codes. Catering for future uses Although Stadium Australia was purpose-built for the Olympics, its designers have made provision for its future uses, with technology like 'smart seats' incorporated into the design. From 2001, the stadium will be able to be quickly reconfigured from rectangular to oval shape and vice versa. Once the athletics track is no longer needed, it will be taken out and replaced with flexible seating. This seating (the bottom two sections of the east and west bowl) can be moved hydraulically 15.6 metres forward or backward to form a rectangular playing surface for Rugby League, Rugby Union or Soccer, or an oval for Australian Rules and Cricket. The retractable seating system can increase the size and change the shape of the playing surface at just eight hours' notice. The stadium could host a Rugby League game on a Saturday and an Australian Rules game on a Sunday. The north and south ends of the lower bowl will be roofed following the Olympic Games, and provision has been made in the design to accommodate a retractable roof in the future. The low front edge effectively shades and protects spectators, and minimises shadows and patching of direct sunlight onto the playing area. No matter what time of day, lighting conditions will be at their best. The 'green' stadium Stadium Australia has invested in alternative energy sources like solar, wind, hydro and biomass instead of traditional fossil fuels. As a participant in a ‘Green Energy’ initiative by Energy Australia, Stadium Australia is the largest single site using green energy in the country. It is estimated that this initiative will prevent the release of more than 13 million tonnes of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere every year. A responsible attitude to ecologically sustainable development informed the design of the Stadium. For example, when the original residents - a 300 strong colony of green and golden bell frogs - were discovered, development plans were modified to accommodate them. Other initiatives include:
Building the stadium Construction of Stadium Australia started in September 1996 and finished in March 1999. Development to date has cost over $650m. A massive cut and fill earthworks operation levelled the site, moving 55,000 cubic metres of soil with over 50,000 trucks. Materials used during construction included:
Some 900 construction workers were on-site when work was at its peak. Stadium Australia - some facts and figures The foundation stone, donated by the Greek Ministry of Culture to honour the last Games of the millennium, was quarried just 10 kilometres from the original, ancient Olympic site at Olympia. At its highest point the Stadium’s arch reaches 14 storeys, and the span from north to south is enough to fit four Boeing 747s side by side. The roof size is equivalent to 115 tennis courts.
Hosting the Paralympic Games Stadium Australia will also host the 2000 Paralympic Games. Over 4,000 athletes from 125 countries will attend the Paralympic Games held 18–29 October 2000. Facilities for people with disabilities exceed those at any other venue in Australia, and include disabled access to all viewing areas, lifts to all levels and more. Disabled areas are world class. Some 1,000 special seats have also been reserved for people using wheelchairs. These have good sight lines that cannot be blocked by standing spectators. Tours Large numbers of people arrive every day to view Stadium Australia - 21 guides have shown as many as 1,600 people a day around the venue. Patrons come from overseas, all around Australia and Sydney. Many individuals and groups get involved - including politicians, school groups, senior business people, bus groups, conference delegates, and Olympics-related and inbound tourist groups. Facilities and services Stadium Australia provides a very high standard of spectator service. Spectators enjoy an unobstructed view of the action from every seat, as well as ease of access to seats, and excellent food and beverage outlets, toilets and stadium entry and exit points. There are 86 food and beverage outlets, and a kitchen capable of producing 15,000 meals and serving up to 7,000 plated meals at a time. Over 2,400 catering staff work on days involving major events. Corporate facilities and club membership Like most major sporting and cultural institutions, Stadium Australia has its own Club, offering two levels of membership. Members enjoy benefits like guaranteed seating at many events and VIP hospitality. Conference facilities for business meetings, product launches and other events are also available. Fully equipped and catered conference and function rooms can accommodate up to 2,000 delegates. Media Information infrastructure is in place to accommodate an in-house media service, including broadcasting and production centres for TV and radio, and a photographer’s moat and press centre. Work space has been created for 600 journalists. Beyond 2000 A great effort has gone into the building of Stadium Australia, resulting in a world-class main venue for the 2000 Olympics. Its outstanding design, superb facilities and exciting atmosphere ensure that the stadium will be an important sporting venue long into the future. Source: Homebush Stadium, courtesy of Julian Andrews, Sun Herald Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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