Placemaking and the Community Stadium: achieving the benefits of stadium development

Abstract

This research recommends how stadia can be used effectively within placemaking, considering three case studies of ‘community stadia’ designed with the fundamental aim of serving the local community. Interviews with individuals with experience of stadium planning, analysis of related documentation, and observation, assess research questions covering the consideration of placemaking principles during the planning process, the impact of stadia upon design and place quality, and implications for place identity. Within a complex planning environment in which viability concerns heavily shaped development proposals, principal results include the challenging tension between the requirement for stadia to function both effectively on a matchday and as a successful everyday place, and the partial bridging of this divide through their role as an urban landmark shaping place identity. This work recommends: collaboration between actors to develop solutions meeting community needs; using brownfield urban sites where possibile to achieve the benefits of organic activity and regenerative impact; devising clear strategies to create a destination with a strong sense of place; and emphasising place identity to produce a distinctive landmark. Within a planning context in which stadium-led regeneration is increasingly common, community stadia offer valuable opportunities for achieving wider benefits from stadium development.