The subtle art of stadium design

Aside from the obvious history tied to sports or concerts, stadiums often come with unique architectural features that make them stand out. Take the Melbourne Cricket Ground's drop-in pitch, for example, or the Lord's Cricket Ground's 8'2" slope that's been yielding advantage to bowlers ever since the 1800s. 

Then there's Old Trafford, Manchester United's home, boasting Britain's 'third greatest waterfall'. And by waterfall, we mean the massive roof leak that turns the stadium into a rain drenched water park—because, as everyone knows, "it's always sunny in Manchester." 

So, stadium designs need to be safe and sturdy as well. 

Our Bangladeshi stadiums might not have the deep-rooted heritage of their European counterparts, but that doesn't mean they lack charm. 

In fact, the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) has been the stage for some of the most unforgettable victories by the Bangladesh cricket team over the last decade and a half. 

And let's not forget the Bangabandhu Stadium, which has been around since the 1950s. It's one of the oldest Test cricket venues in the subcontinent, but its real claim to fame? That unforgettable moment in 2011 when its dry and neglected pitch was graced by none other than Lionel Messi—arguably the finest footballer of his time.

If anyone knows their way around designing Bangladeshi stadiums, it's Architect Masudur Rahman Khan from Bashat Architects Engineers. He and his team were behind the creation of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS), the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS), and are currently working on the renovation of the Bangabandhu Stadium.

We got in touch with him to uncover some of the fascinating architectural details behind these iconic Bangladeshi stadiums.

One side of the SICS stadium was left without seating, featuring an open area of lush green grass. This design choice was meant to mimic the tea gardens, allowing spectators to move around freely.

An umbrella-like cover

One aspect of design that lies common in both the SBNCS and SICS venues, and soon to be implemented in the Bangabandhu Stadium, is the umbrella-like overhead covers in some galleries and boxes. 

Khan claims that SBNCS witnessed the first functional and large-scale implementation of tensile structures— back in 2010-11. These are structures that use tension, rather than bending, to establish load bearing stability.

"Tensile structures offer several advantages that make them an excellent design option for stadiums. These structures can also enhance the fan experience with improved acoustics and provide shading and natural lighting that boost athlete performance." 

A key feature of tensile structures is their ability to span large areas without internal supports, creating open spaces and unobstructed views, perfect for stadiums and arenas.

"Tensile structures are preferred for sports arenas because we can cover large areas through relatively thin support," said Khan. 

Their lightweight yet durable materials also allow for flexible and unique designs, adding aesthetic value to the venue. 

Additionally, tensile structures can be installed quickly since most components are prefabricated, making them ideal for projects with tight deadlines.

"Stadiums always go through renovations and reconstructions. The fact that materials used in tensile structures are lightweight, helps for a more streamlined process. This practice was very popular in places like Thailand and China and we thought about applying in these stadiums," added Khan.

The soon-to-be renovated Bangabandhu stadium features umbrella-like tensile structures, that can be installed quickly since most components are prefabricated.

Another significant advantage is energy efficiency, as the translucent fabrics allow natural light to filter through, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Many fabrics also reflect heat, helping to regulate temperatures. 

Tensile structures are durable, requiring minimal maintenance, as they are designed to withstand environmental elements like wind and UV rays. 

Finally, they are environmentally friendly, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional sports architecture.

"Most stadiums in Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh used to be open with no shades or covers. I believe that's due to financial constraints for the sports arena. We wanted to change that," Architect Khan said.

Managing traffic flow with separate entryways

Before diving into the actual design of the ground and gallery, Khan emphasises that the top priority for architects in stadium design is to estimate and understand how the crowd will circulate when entering the venue.

"The most important thing is figuring out how to manage traffic flow, control the circulation, and ensure that different categories of personnel have secure access to the stadium. Not everyone is just a spectator—there are athletes, officials, media, and security personnel, all of whom need to be factored into how easily the ground is accessible. We've tried to provide separate access routes for each group," he explained.

One of the bottlenecks when it comes to the circulation aspect is the abnormally high population density and the narrow streets that exist in Dhaka. That's a real challenge to find wide open spaces that can accommodate the large pool of visitors. 

To rule out traffic congestion, the architects unfortunately allowed car parking only for officers and other personnel and not for the spectators.

"We divided spectators into different categories. With four separate entry gates at the SBNCS with another one solely for the entry of officials and athletes, the design ensures that there's no clash on match day," added Khan.

Draining the rain

Stadiums in the subcontinent are notoriously bad when it comes to drainage. You don't need to look far for an example—just consider the second Test match currently happening in Kanpur, India, between the hosts and Bangladesh. 

Despite a full day of sunshine, play couldn't resume due to wet field conditions. This is something you'd never see at a Bangladeshi ground, especially not at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. 

You'd have to dig deep into the history books to find the last time play didn't start after rain here. 

With four separate entry gates at the SBNCS with another one solely for the entry of officials and athletes, the design ensures that there’s no clash on match day.

It's widely recognised by cricket professionals that SBNCS, along with other Bangladeshi grounds, has the best drainage systems in the subcontinent. The likes of SICS and ZICS (Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium) aren't far off either.

"The functionality of a cricket ground is not based on how many spectators it can seat or how flat the wicket is. A top priority is how quickly the playing conditions can be revived after rain. After the initial outfield layout design of the SBNCS, we calculated that we had a completely dry outfield in just 18 minutes after the rain stopped," said Khan. 

He mentioned that although it used to take about 18 minutes for the outfield to dry, including the time for pitch and outfield inspections by the umpires and officials, play could typically resume within 30 minutes.

They first excavated about two and a half feet below the surface to accomplish this, creating a slope. They then installed a spider-patterned net using a perforated piping system. A combination of geotechnical materials, along with various sands and rocks, was applied to form the underlying layer.

A breathing space for spectators 

Unfortunately, if you look at most of Bangladesh's stadiums from a drone or panoramic view, they all tend to look almost identical—something Khan and his team wanted to avoid when designing the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

He noted that cricket, being a British sport, was originally meant to be played on 'grounds', not in enclosed stadiums. Historically, the British designed cricket to be played in large, open areas where spectators could move around freely, rather than being confined to their seats.

"The game can last up to five days, and even ODIs stretch around 8 to 10 hours. You don't want people stuck in their seats—you want them to explore the amenities, enjoy time with their families, have children running around, and experience good recreation. Just like you see on grounds in New Zealand, Australia, and some South African venues," Khan explained.

Khan aimed to incorporate a natural element of Sylhet, like the sloping tea gardens, into the spectator experience at SICS. 

To achieve this, one side of the stadium was left without seating, instead featuring an open area of lush green grass. This design choice was meant to mimic the tea gardens, allowing spectators to move around freely.

"It's like you can go out with your family on a picnic while enjoying a game of cricket. It's an interactive experience. We wanted diversity in Bangladeshi grounds and that's why we opted for this design."

Let there be light

Khan pointed out that while the floodlights in Bangladeshi stadiums were once cutting-edge for the country, they are now falling behind international standards due to a lack of funding.

When the SBNCS was first designed, no expense was spared. Instead of opting for cheap steel posts, they installed proper pole-mounted pillars similar to those at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

"At the time, the ICC (International Cricket Council) had a minimum requirement of 1000-1200 Lux (coefficient of luminosity) for floodlights, and SBNCS met or even exceeded that standard," Khan explained.

However, as the sport and broadcasting technology have advanced, including factors like accurate color grading and other technical aspects, the ICC has updated its lux requirements to 2800-3000. 

Unfortunately, Bangladeshi stadiums have yet to make the necessary upgrades to meet these new standards