Summary
Sport facilities have undergone significant changes over time, especially over the past two centuries. The Greeks and Romans intertwined politics and religion to build large PAFs to placate the masses. These types of facilities have evolved over the years into architectural and mechanical marvels. Today’s PAFs serve as economic catalysts for growth to promote economic, geopolitical, and local political ends.
Although this chapter gives more attention to larger facilities, smaller facilities have also undergone changes that have made them more marketable and economically viable.
This growth will undoubtedly continue in the future, and the same trends seen in the growth of facilities in the United States will feature more prominently around the world. In fact, recent Olympic and World Cup facilities show that the world has caught up with the United States in producing the best facilities for the needs of current teams and fans.
Discussion Questions and Activities
1. What do you think current facility managers have learned from their prede- cessors?
2. What similarities and differences can you see between Madison Square Garden and Maple Leaf Gardens?
3. Take a tour of your school’s fitness or recreation center. What similarities and differences can you see between your fitness and recreation facilities and the facilities at the University of New Haven described in this chapter?
4. Why did the Romans build stadiums?
5. Why did modern universities build major sport and recreation complexes on campuses?
6. Why do cities build stadiums and arenas for professional sport teams with public money?
7. Is building new Olympic stadiums and facilities a good investment? Why or why not?
8. Which recent Olympic venue do you think is the best for its intended and future use?
9. If you were charged with building a new Olympic facility (or other major venue), what high-tech bells and whistles would you add and why?