Stadium heating
With stadium heating or grandstand heating are meant heating systems that provide the spectators in the grandstands with pleasant temperatures when the outside temperature is cooler. A stadium heating is primarily intended to increase the comfort of the spectators. It should not be confused with underfloor heating , which is supposed to keep the playing field free from frost and snow.
Problem
Sports viewers feel uncomfortable on cool days. This discomfort is essentially the result of three factors: low ambient temperature, moving air (wind) and falling perception temperature, caused because the human metabolism (metabolism) decreases due to static activities (here sitting). Many stadium operators are familiar with the situation and compensate for the difference in perceived temperature with stadium heating (grandstand heating).
Image factor
There are contradicting opinions about stadium heating. Many believe that only those who expose themselves to wind and weather really deserve the name “fan”. However, the increased demands on “the product football” have changed the architecture of the stadiums. As a rule, all places are covered. Exclusive boxes are intended to attract celebrities from politics and business to the stadium. The stadium serves as a representative building for the financial strength of the club. Architecture and stadium technology provide the framework for staging football as an "event". Many stadiums have recognized this and invested in stadium heating. In the Benelux countries, grandstand heating has long been an elementary part of planning. Today around three quarters of all grandstands in the first and second leagues in the Netherlands are heated.
Interestingly, the majority of the heated stadiums are located in temperate climates. As a non-representative elaboration by a stadium heating manufacturer shows, it is precisely the economically viable stadiums, i.e. those that are continuously selling out their seats, that invest in stadium heating.
technology
Stadium heating (grandstand heating) work on an infrared basis - comparable to the principle of the sun. A stay on the glacier should serve as a comparison: It seems warm there when the sun is shining, although the air temperature is actually only 0 ° C. This has to do with the electromagnetic waves that are converted into heat on the surfaces of a body (molecules are excited to vibrate). Without direct sunlight, for example in the shade, the temperature is perceived as cold. It works similarly in the stadium. While the actual air temperature rises only insignificantly, the perception temperature of the audience increases due to the direct infrared radiation. We perceive this as cozy warmth.
Effective stadium heating based on infrared uses gas as a medium. The stadium radiators are directly heated by an atmospheric burner. The spotlights are attached to the roof structure. The warm infrared rays are generated on the underside of the device through the visible combustion of a gas-air mixture. The perforated ceramic plates glow and heat up to around 950 ° C. The hot ceramic plate surface then emits the infrared radiation. Reflectors direct the radiation downwards into the seating area of the audience.
costs
In addition to the basic investment, i.e. the infrared heater itself, the gas pipe must be included in the calculation. The running costs are comparatively low with an average of 3 cents per heated seat and match day.
commitment
The number of stadiums with stadium heating is increasing steadily. In 2004 there were around 10 stadiums in Europe; today there are over 30 stadiums. While some consciously heat their entire stadium, others only use the heating for certain areas or their VIP seats.
Examples of stadiums with grandstand heating
Web links
- FAZ publication of February 4, 2010 [1]
- Stadionwelt.de
- Schwank GmbH
- tga.de
- IHKS specialist journal
- gogas.de