Stadium / Arena Canopy and Roof Options

Canopy and Roof Variations

Sloping Forward or Back

The canopy may slope to the back. This makes drainage better, and in some circumstances (a very low Rugby stand for example) allows spectators a better view of high balls. But it lets in more rain and wind, sometimes right to the back; and produces much more shade to the pitch.

In cold windy climates the backs and sides should be filled in. In hot tropical climates the back should stay open for maximum ventilation and pressure reduction. In cyclone or typhoon or hurricane areas, cable ties at the front may resist uplift, without obstructing the view.

Generally grandstand roofs serve their purpose better if they slope down at the front. One difficulty is getting rid of the rain, which may have to be by syphonic pipes either end. Another difficulty is seeing the high ball in cricket or rugby, especially in small low stands. But such roofs give much better protection from driving rain and setting sun. Such roofs are essential on east or west sides of tropical cricket grounds.

King Truss

A grandstand which is short in length (say the end stand at a football ground), but very deep (which would make cantilevers expensive) may be made economically with a King Truss or Goal Post Truss spanning end to end.

Here the King Truss is below the roof, good for drainage and maintenance, but results in a high fascia. This cannot be used where corners will be in filled.

A roof may be suspended from a goal post (King) truss, and thus slope forward. This is good for planning, protection and so on, but the drainage is more of a problem. Penetrations through the roof may be minimised by cladding the truss. The Holte End at Aston Villa, the Tranmere Kop and Notts County Cop have variants of this roof.

Cantilever

A stand may be cantilevered on internal steel from the rear. If the roof slopes up or down, this is most often the best way of building the stand. Under cyclone, typhoon or hurricane conditions slender ties may be needed to tie down the front of the roof. The cantilevers are always best on long narrow stands.

Cantilever with Box Zone

A way of cantilevering a roof is over a "box" zone at the rear. This can have studios, boxes, police posts, sales points or simply be a platform for rear exit. In tropical areas REIDsteel like to keep this back concourse as open as possible. In wet cold windy climates it should be closed off. The zone also permits large areas of accommodation to be built underneath.

External Cantilever

These architectural designs look very attractive when they are first built, however there are many problems associated with the external cantilever canopy. The painted steelwork rusts after a few years, the canopy is flexible resulting in the seals around the many roof penetrations being broken causing leaks. OK, it does save a bit of weight in long cantilevers, but the maintenance costs can be huge as the building gets older.

Free Span Roof

An economic and stylish roof. The clear span can readily go up to 150m in length and is economical. The lower height both ends can be a boon in some planning situations, and it is no higher at the centre than a normal King Truss. These frames use the REIDsteel patent Archspan, Aircraft Hangar frames.

Covered Arena

A Covered Arena can easily and cheaply be made up to 200m clear span if REIDsteel can design it in combination with the internal grandstanding.

Covered Arena with Sliding Roof

If treated as a structural engineering problem, then an Arena or stadium with an opening roof can be built quickly, simply and economically. Grandstanding, and vertical grandstanding in the 4 corners adds to the design and adds to economy. No columns need mar the view.