A sports stadium is an open area or venue for athletic events, concerts, outdoor games, or any other event and usually features a flat field or court either partially or fully surrounded by a covered structure designed to enable spectators to sit or stand in and watch the event. These venues can be found in all parts of the world. The most famous ones are in major cities like Houston and Atlanta, where large stadiums are built especially for sports teams.
There are different kinds of seating available for spectators at a sports stadium. Seating options are separated according to the type of event it is intended for. For example, a baseball game would have different seating arrangements than that of an ice hockey game. Stadium seating comes in various shapes and sizes. The most common types of seating arrangements are curved seats, level seats, partial seat backs, and wheelchair-accessible seats.
Most stadiums feature multipurpose seating that is suitable for a large number of spectators. For example, a football stadium has open-air sports bars, clubhouses, locker rooms, and concession stands for its patrons. In case of an open-air sports bar, there is no need for large structure for spectators. However, if the venue is equipped with locker rooms, the waiting and seating area must be large enough to accommodate a large number of people.
A basketball stadium, like that of a football stadium, features smaller multipurpose spaces that allow a lesser amount of crowding. This makes it more convenient for sports teams and other promoters and advertisers to hold their events. However, the bleachers in a basketball stadium are much smaller in size as compared to that of a football stadium. Sports venues are built not only to host sports events but also to host large gatherings of people. Large open-air stadiums can sometimes accommodate up to 90% of the expected attendees of the sports event.
Sports stadium advertisements are typically placed on the concourses or on the side of the stands. Sports field advertising provides an opportunity for a stadium to create more income by allowing it to host large outdoor advertising events. However, companies must carefully consider the type of audience they are trying to attract when placing their ads on the stadium concourses or on the stands. One should take note that television and print media are also competing for ad space on sports stadiums.
Depending on the size of the venue, companies can place their ads on the lower bowl where most of the general audience sits or the upper bowl where the hardcore fans gather. One of the advantages of placing an ad in the upper bowl is that it will be seen by more people because everyone who goes to the games would see it. However, when placing an ad in the lower bowl or on the side of the stands, the company must carefully consider the demographics of the audience to determine which locations will generate the best sales.
Unlike other venues such as arenas or stadiums where there are several seats in a large structure, most stadiums have limited seating. For example, a baseball game may have twenty or more home runs or more than thousand baseball players on the field. A television or newspaper advertisement in this type of large structure will only bring in a very small percentage of the audience. In contrast, an open-air sports stadium allows companies to reach a larger number of potential customers because it is less restrictive in terms of the viewing area. The smaller size of an open-air sports stadium allows companies to place their ads on the outside and on the inside.
One advantage of using an open-air sports stadium to advertise is the wide range of customers one can reach. Unlike other venues, open-air stadiums allow a company to reach a targeted demographic. For example, during the Super Bowl in New Orleans, one’s ad will be shown to people in the surrounding areas and even those watching the game from home. Similarly, during football games in sports stadiums, one’s ad may be shown on hoardings or within stadium facilities. Another advantage of this type of advertising is that it is cheaper than traditional venues. Sports stadium advertising contracts are usually less expensive than a television or newspaper ad.