A Re-imagining of the Stadium

Abstract-

My thesis begins to explore therelationship between sports franchises, fans, and their cities through anarchitectural lens.  I have recognized adisproportionate advantage large corporations and professional athletes whorepresent sports teams hold over their public supporters and cities.  Can the architecture of stadiums begin tobridge this gap?  Landscape urbanism willprovide the medium to solve this issue. 

Public Space has played an importantrole in in the course of United State history. We rely on our public space forinteraction and public gathering.  Havinga space where anyone, no matter what political, social, or ethnic backgroundcan come is a cornerstone of our free society. Based upon Rem Koolhaas andKenneth Frampton’s claim that landscape is the ordering medium for modernurbanism I will explore how cities define themselves through landscapeurbanism.  Boston in particular has emphasizedpublic space and over the course of history has defined itself through theemerald necklace.  Through connectingFenway Park to the emerald necklace it will anchor the stadium to the backboneof the city.  This will provide theneeded connection that stadiums should have with their cities.  The public green space will also provide thehuman connection to the stadium.  Fenwaywill become permeable which will increase the public’s ownership of thesite.  This connection will attempt toaddress the advantage the Red Sox hold over their fans. 

Questions-

Will redefining the boundary ofFenway Park and increasing the access of the public undermine the idea of thestadium or the profitability of the park? Will increasing public access increase interest and promote livelinessin the area?  Will a solution for Bostonbe applicable in other cities?