Bellissimomare Stadium
Bellissimomare Stadium is a 190,000 seat association football arena in Bellissimomare, Sayaffallah. It features a ticketed plaza capable of accommodating 1.5 million spectators who watch the game on projection screens outside the stadium and frequent chances to win a pass to enter the stadium and see the game from a field level suite.
History
Construction and envisioning of Muglu Stadium: 1962-1973
Bellissimomare Stadium was envisioned by a group of high school students in the capital city of Bellissimomare in Sayaffallah as a place where the national team could play and more people would be able to see the game. Prior to this envisioning the Sayaffallah national football team composed of players from the 20 clubs making up the Sayaffallan Royal League played in a small arena that only members of the Sayaffallan Royal League (SRL) could attend along with their friends, families and specific guests with the games televised nationally for all to see. These high school students began stealing cars in the capital and reselling them on the black market for a higher markup, their profits while illegally sparked a national conversation on the merits of a stadium exclusively for the Sayaffallan national team to play.
In 1962 the Muglu family of the famous and recognizable Muglu and Sons Pharmacy decided that it would be a good business decision to buy some land and attempt to build a stadium worthy of the Sayaffallan National Football Team so in the summer of 62 the Muglus teamed up with the Sayaffallan Royal League which agreed to bear 60% of the costs in exchange for unlimited usage rights of the stadium and the construction began immediately. By 1966 the stadium was completed and hosted the Sayaffallan Royal Football Cup as its first in stadium game. The stadium was built to accommodate over 120,000 people and over 60,000 spectators in the plaza outside. The stadium field was built over the top of a 6.2 million gallon aquarium allowing for the field to be rolled up during concerts and events so that the sharks in the tank underneath could be seen visibly.
1972 Muglu Stadium was generation significant cash revenues for both the Muglu family and also the SRL and it was decided to change the field from its roll-up state to a field that could be projected using high strength laser projection over the top of the glass thus allowing players and spectators to see the beautiful fish and sharks and marine life in the tank below but also allowing for players to play the game the same way they had been. The renovations were completed in six months time and was first debuted during the opening game for the Bellissimomare Hammerheads and for the opening game the tank was changed out to just hammerhead sharks the official symbol of the home team which could be seen prominently silhouetted during the entirety of the game.
Tragedy of 1974
During the Sayaffallan Royal Football Cup in 1974 the glass over the tank on the playing field level broke sending 26 players hurtling down a 30 foot drop and through the outer glass of the tank and into the shark enclosure. The players were not attacked by the sharks but they quickly were unable to swim to safety as the upper part of the tank contained no ledges but instead straight vertical walls leading up to the playing field some 30 feet above. Ropes were quickly extended by field personnel but found to be too short for the players to grasp, by the time emergency personnel arrived 12 players had succumbed to the cold temperatures of the water and drowned while the remaining 14 players were rescued.
The aftermath of the tragedy caught deep mourning for several weeks after it happened with flowers and tributes being placed against the gates of the stadium while a formal funeral was held in private for the families and then in public at the stadium for the public which filled the stands to capacity as the names were read off. The tragedy led to a government investigation headed up by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health both who declared the stadium to be off limits until the end of their investigation. The tanks were drained and the marine wildlife were relocated to a marine sanctuary off the shore of the Bay of Crowns.
The conclusions cited that the glass was insufficiently thick and was not supported adequately and that the absence of ladders on either side of the walls in periodic intervals made rescue difficult for those who fell in. The stadium was fined an undisclosed but substantial amount of money and was required to pay for the education of all of the children of those who passed away as well as a monthly stipend for the duration of the lives of the parents and spouses of the players to cover basic living expenses. The stadium was closed for the 1975 season to undergo renovations and in 1976 the stadium was reopened and the tanks refilled and new safety features were added including sufficient nets and ropes necessary in the event of an emergency.
The SRL mulled talks in 1975 of withdrawing from usage of the stadium but by mid-year they decided to continue usage so long as the stadium implemented significant mitigation of ongoing risks and worked to ensure the safety of its players at all times. A group of 30 players refused to play any games held within the stadium but later retracted their statement after being given an extensive tour of safety features and precautions installed during the renovation period. These players who objected later apologized for their objection and instead issued a new statement citing the new features and their willingness to play for the sake of the game and its survival in Sayaffallah.
1999 renovations
In 1999 the Stadium was formally bought by the SRL from the Muglu family and renamed Bellissimomare Stadium and increased the seats to 190,000 and the plaza to accommodate 1.5 million with digital projection screens installed in the walls of the stadium on the exterior. In addition to this the tank was renovated to feature a large luxury restaurant with the reinforced glass and steel under the playing field as a safety measure. This large luxury restaurant allowed fans to see the game by looking directly up and seeing the players running directly overhead but also by viewing television monitors built directly into the table at each of the seats situated around the table giving spectators the option of either looking up or looking down while they ate to see the game as well as large television screens on the wall of the restaurant covering the game and other sports events happening simultaneously. The addition of the luxury restaurant also included an underground museum adjacent to the restaurant showcasing the history of the game and competition within Sayaffallah, the museum extends from its underground position up 4 floors with an exit conveniently located on a sky concourse near the home field section of stands.
The 1999 renovations also included the installation of security boxes in the plaza itself that could be activated in the event of an emergency situation and the creation of a large outdoor performance space for concerts and film screenings that could be held simultaneously during the game. The outdoor plaza was also gated and became a ticketed space by which spectators could actively participate in the game festivities outside of the stadium. The aquarium itself was expanded to a full size aquarium stretching past the playing field and going up 5 floors along the north and south exterior walls removing a section of stands on the north and south end making large aquarium displays visible to the crowd and players extending up 5 floors. The aquarium now featured exhibits of penguins and marine mammals from around the world and became a new attraction available complimentary with a game ticket but also available outside of game days for the general public to come and view on their own.
1999 saw the installation of a full service subway stop directly outside the perimeter of the plaza at the security screening station so as to provide added convenience for spectators arriving for the game. Also a special underground parking lot was created for players to be able to park and drive directly to the stadium itself after passing a vehicle security screen on arrival. These new features added up to over 2.6 billion in valuation and increased the amount of ticket sales possible. One specific area that became popular in games was the newly added field suites allowing spectators to watch the game from special suites built onto the periphery of the playing field in areas typically occupied by security and event staff.
2010 renovations
In 2010 renovations again took place as the field was removed and reinstalled with the ability to be placed on rollers and rolled outdoors for practices and to allow for quick change in the event of a major conference or special feature. Additionally for all home games and championships the field was given a translucent option allowing for the restaurant below and through the clear floor of the restaurant the fish and sharks to be seen. The stadium also saw the addition of a heliport on the northeastern end and the installation of a full museum of sports and athletic art being built and opened the same year. The stadium was given an exterior face lift with a cascading waterfall flowing down the south wall into a large reflecting pool in which gondolas took people with VIP passes across the full length of the reflecting pool (approximately 3.2 miles in length) to the VIP parking areas to retrieve their vehicles or simply join the VIP parking lot festivities. The VIP parking lots were given a facelift as well with large outdoor cooking stations all along the edge of the parking lot and the creation of a 50 seat luxury restaurant on the edge of a lake installed at the parking lots area as well.
2010 renovations also saw the stadium increasing the number of luxury seats with in-game dining options to over 75% of the seats in the stadium allowing spectators to order food from a formal menu while they watched the game. Additionally due to prior incidents of extreme disorderly behavior in prior games a total alcohol ban was implemented in all spaces except for the restaurant under the field in which guests would be able to have drinks at a premium rate. The 2010 renovations also featured the construction of a hotel with rooms facing in towards the field allowing people to be able to watch the game from their room balcony. A total of 600 rooms were built in this hotel and a large indoor/outdoor multipurpose water park was built on the other side of the hotel allowing for additional activities both during game day and also on non game days.
Stadium
Design
Because of its location near to the mountains yet somewhat separated from the city the design was done in conjunction with aeronautical engineers to ensure that it had the aerodynamic design to keep wind streams from the mountain from disrupting the flow of the game or changing the temperature within the stadium. The sleek curvature of the stadium ridges and lines ensures that airflow is not a disruptive presence but instead one that compliments the usage of the stadium by providing a cooling breeze through the middle while mitigating the strongest aspects of a breeze on the side areas of the stadium.
Architecturally the design has been described as kind of Sayaffallan nouveau-riche with hints of futuristic style while others have called it an almost perfect imitation of a water droplet. The varying reactions to the stadium's design influenced its final rendering during subsequent restorations and renovations of parts of the stadium during its long history. The intricate tiles on the top if viewed closely also resemble a common Sayaffallan Islamic design found in mosques throughout the country in a tribute to the rich history but also if one were to look closely they would see the influence of orthodoxy in the way that the stadium ripples similar to the rippling design found on many of the emblems of the Orthodox church in Sayaffallah.
Within the stadium itself design has made the stadium user friendly and efficient with clear lines of sight for security personnel to view the crowds as they stream in. But also each section of the stadium is reached through the queuing system outside the stadium in which the crowds filter down a section of stairs to an underground pavilion where they are lined up according to their section, row and seat number and then they are transported by electrical vehicle upwards into the stadium coming out directly at the top of their row and once exiting the vehicle returns automatically down to the pavilion and picks up the next grouping of people in that row until the rows are filled. This method of filling seats is highly efficient and operates extremely fast as sort of elevator from underground and up with 10 cars in each elevator shaft operating simultaneously and facing the direction of the specific seat in question when the doors open. The elevator cars can be shifted by the elevator operator to different points within the shaft so that if someone is in the wrong queue the operator can simply use their keypad to maneuver the elevator along the walls of the shaft until it is on the correct line going up before they are sent up to their seat area.
Additionally once a person is at their seat they are able to leave their seat and return either to the pavilion or alternative take a simple electric path (people mover path) up to the tram line on the rim of the stadium which connects to different parts of the stadium ranging from the restaurant under the field to the aquarium entrance and even the stadium hotel or medical clinic can be reached by the tram system as the individuals on it need. The tram system was designed for functionality and speed and operates as a high speed tram reaching speeds of 75 mph as it transits around the stadium rapidly during games and other events. There are approximately 6 trams within the stadium of those 1 is exclusively for players and stadium staff to reach restricted areas while others are for stadium guests to reach their intended destination effectively. When a tram pulls into the station a metal railing lined gangway is automatically extending attaching to the tram pathway. That way if a tram is on the fifth line in the spectator tram zone the gangway will extend the entire length while halting other tram traffic through a special signal and thus allowing spectators to safely reach the platform.
The field
The field as mentioned in the section on construction features a 6 million gallon aquarium underneath it. During the 1999 renovations the area between the tank and field was transformed into a luxury restaurant allowing those in the restaurant to see the players on the field simply by looking up at the ceiling while looking down gives the spectator a view of the colorful aquarium and sharks underneath the field itself. The field is built of high tension translucent material which on the playing surface can either be transformed by millions of LED lights into a recognizable playing surface or turned translucent with the playing field projected by millions of LED lights thus giving the illusion that a playing field is actually there. The field has absorbent shock resistant coating on both sides while on the underneath of the field large steel beams coated with a translucent substance ensures that the field is well supported from underneath.
The field itself was given substantial security and safety upgrades following the tragedy of 1974 (see section in history above) and now has a network of senors and cameras under the field and also embedded in the field that allows security and stadium engineers to monitor stressors on the field in real time and provide instant feedback in the event of an emergency. The field itself is regularly tested for its durability, shock absorption and other confidential factors prior to a game and also several days before a game by stadium engineers to ensure that it is prepared for the actual football (soccer) game.
In addition to the field there are several field suites that have been built along the edges of the field allowing spectators to feel as if they are in the game. These field suites are sold for a season length at a premium price and can either be rented out as regular season seats at a higher price or can be used by the field suite owner at their convenience. The field suites have complimentary food and beverage service built into the cost of ownership for the season and can also be used a limited number of times during non-game days through a prior existing reservation at the owners leisure. Presently there are a total of 20 field suites with each suite able to accommodate a maximum of 50 people at any given time.
The Pavilion Plaza
The Pavilion Plaza is a ticketed space where spectators can come and watch the game as it is digitally projected on the side of the stadium. Access to the Pavilion Plaza can only come through the Security Monitoring and Inspection Station (SMIS) through which both pavilion and regular admission spectators must pass in order to gain access to the stadium complex. The Pavilion Plaza was designed to be an interactive area separate from regular admission where the game could both be watched and spectators could also be entertained in a large outdoor area regardless of the weather.
In the event of inclement weather the stadium has large canvas roof-like extensions that electrically roll out of the top of the stadium providing a slanted roof covering the viewing areas where the game is digitally projected for people to watch. There is also a large tropical themed seafood restaurant within the plaza that provides television screens built into the tables so that the game can be watched while people dine. In addition to this there is a large ampitheatre in one section of the plaza where people can listen to concerts and sometimes watch fashion presentations or even feature length movies should they lose interest in the game. The design of the Pavilion Plaza is to encourage interactivity for the patrons who come to enjoy the game. The plaza gives away approximately 250 tickets during the course of the game to pavilion spectators to go inside and enjoy the game either from a field level suite or from a luxury suite level seat thus providing pavilion spectators the chance of not just seeing the game first hand but seeing it from relative luxury that many of the regular admission spectators do not have access to.
Those who are in the pavilion however do not have access into the stadium without a regular admission ticket and likewise those with regular admission tickets cannot enter the pavilion without a separate pavilion ticket this is all to ensure the experience is not tarnished for those in their respective areas and to combat potential overcrowding. Typically on gameday there is around 1.2 million and championships always bring the full 1.5 million into the pavilion itself which wraps around the stadium completely. Those who are regular admission simply go through an underground path from the SMIS that connects directly into the stadium.
SMIS
The Security Monitoring and Inspection Station is the main entry point into the stadium complex that all spectators must pass through to gain admission. There is a separate entrance for those with regular admission tickets and another entrance for those with pavilion tickets. Upon entry tickets are scanned and individuals go through the doors and enter into the receiving room. 50 queues exist and individuals go one at a time into a cubicle where they pass their ticket through a slot in the wall to a security officer on the other side. Each of these cubicles are separate from the others and are blast resistant, some cubicles are up in the air and reached by a sloped ramp while others are down in the ground and are reached by a sloped ramp downwards. Once the pass is validated by the security officer the individual's cubicle is rotated electrically so that the door is facing the interior and once it opens the individual walks out and they are within a long hallway that they must pass through stopping at each metal detector which has a large metal gate in front of it. As the person is scanned the detector either grants or denies entry. If denied the person is escorted by armed guards into another room where a more detailed search is conducted, if an individual refuses they are detained until they can provide further identification and released or if they have no further identification they are turned over to law enforcement who escort the person out of the complex and give them a no return order lasting for the duration of the day. If a person is approved at each check the gates release and the person passes through. After the 6th gate the person is then let through a large door and they are into the main stadium passage underground allowing them direct access into the stadium itself. The underground corridor is patrolled and staffed with armed tactical response security who are have law enforcement powers.
Aquarium
Bellissimomare unquestionably has the biggest attraction of any stadium and that is its aquarium which extends under the playing field itself and also 5 floors on the north and south ends providing viewing for the spectators of the Bellissimomare Hammerheads. The aquarium originally started with 6 million gallon capacity and now has expanded to a much larger 260 million gallon aquarium capacity extending the length of the stadium underneath the field and rising up on both sides of the stadium north and south respectively. The aquarium is accessible to spectators on a regular admission ticket and on non game days it is accessible to the general public and features a large array of sharks as well as a dolphinarium which replicates their natural habitat and several other segments that show a tropical coral reef and a mangrove swamp and a deep sea fish environment showcasing fish from the deepest parts of the ocean.
The aquarium is cared for by a staff of 250 around the clock while a support staff of 300 regularly cares for and cleans the aquarium providing it with the shine it almost certainly has. The Aquarium includes a rehabilitative facility as all fish are rotated out to a natural outdoor environment when they have been at the aquarium for a certain period of time. The Aquarium serves as a rehabilitative facility for animals and fish that are transitioning from captivity to release into the wild. So far the Aquarium has participated in over 62,000 release operations and has contracts to receive wildlife on a monthly basis from a variety of zoos and aquariums across the country.
The Aquarium also features 3 rooms in its shark enclosure accessible by a staff tunnel that can be rented as a hotel room during non game weeks. These rooms are fully equipped and serve as a luxury experience allowing guests to see the sharks swimming overhead of their bed and rooms while they sleep creating an interactive experience for the guests. Each of these rooms is serviced by the stadium hotel staff and receives full complimentary access to the amenities of the hotel while staying there including several free of charge stadium and aquarium tours showing a behind the scenes of daily operations to those interested.
