Cheney Stadium: The Roof Overhead
The freshly updated Cheney Stadium is due for what is sure to be an exciting April debut. As is customary for public projects with large budgets and complicated contracting procedures, a little daub of controversy has emerged before all the congratulations could be distributed.
The Tacoma News Tribune released an article this weekend based upon review of public information requests regarding the contracting and design of the stadium. The inquiries focused on the issue of covered seating, considered an important and unique feature of Cheney’s original design. The City expressed that they wished to maintain a certain level of covered “cheap seats”, in honor of the stadium’s legacy. The winning design proposal, it seems, did not quite meet those expressed desires.
The City, so far, is defending the incremental decisions that led to the reduction in covered seating. The reasonable argument saying that most games will be called off for rain, thus negating the need for covered seating, has been raised – as well cost savings and view improvement.
Overall, it seems tax payers got a pretty satisfying value from this project. The fact that the work is keeping up with aggressive scheduling is rare and impressive as well. Perhaps some additional clarity in the contracting and selection process might be in order, especially when the public and interested RFP (request for proposal) respondents are told that a very specific element is key to the project. Read the full story and let us know what you think…
(Also, let us know if our headline wordplay was better than the TNT’s. We think it was, but we’ll await your verdict before bragging about it.)
Filed under: cheney-stadium
11 comments
J Jenny C March 21, 2011
sorry, “Receding Roofline” takes the cake.
R RR Anderson March 21, 2011
I blame David Boe for not using enough unethical behavior to benefit the people of Tacoma. Did his design have a better roof? Yes.
T Thorax O'Tool March 22, 2011
It is what it is until opening day. I’ll hold my opinion until then.
M Mofo from the Hood March 22, 2011
A roof can also provide shade to protect fans from scorching hot sun.
S Squid March 23, 2011
“Scorching hot sun” has never actually been experienced in these parts. Add to that that 80% of the games start at 7:00 pm, when chances of it exceeding 80 degrees are practically zero.
Who wants to watch a ballgame sitting in a cave?
M Mofo from the Hood March 24, 2011
Cavemen?
S Squid March 24, 2011
Precisement.
W William B. March 24, 2011
@6 “CAVE” men = “citizens against virtually everything”
J Jesse March 24, 2011
Did the walkable mezanine make it into the final plans? Or did it end up offices as originally planned?
M Mofo from the Hood March 24, 2011
When speaking about seating at the new and improved Cheney Stadium, is the use of the term “Bleachers” politically incorrect?
U Unintentional Housewife April 2, 2011
I can’t wait to see it all for myself tomorrow!