Reconfigurable seating system for multi-purpose stadium

A multi-purpose stadium, which includes:

• (a) a first playing field having a generally rectangular configuration with first and second sides and first and second ends;
• (b) a second playing field having a generally five-sided configuration with first, second, third, fourth and fifth sides, an intersection of said first and fifth sides, and an axis extending from said intersection to said third side;
• and
• c) a seating system including:
• (1) a first configuration corresponding to said first playing field;
• (2) a second configuration corresponding to said second playing field;
• (3) a horizontally-movable band comprising a plurality of seating sections each having multiple seating rows, said horizontally-movable band having a first position corresponding to said first playing field and a second position corresponding to said second playing field;
• (4) a vertically-movable band comprising a plurality of seating sections each having multiple seating rows, said vertically-movable band having a first, raised use position corresponding to said first playing field outside of and in proximity to said horizontally-movable band and a second, lowered storage position corresponding to said second playing field at least partly under said horizontally-movable section;
• (5) means for moving said horizontally-movable seating band between its first and second positions;
• and
• (6) lift means for raising and lowering said vertically-movable seating section band between its raised and lowered positions.

A multi-purpose stadium, which comprises:

• (a) a first, football playing field having first and second sidelines and first and second end zones;
• (b) a second, baseball playing field having:
• (1) a generally 5-sided configuration with first, second, third, fourth and fifth sides;
• an intersection of said first and fifth sides;
• a home plate in proximity to said intersection;
• and an axis extending from said intersection to said third, center field side;
• (c) a seating system including:
• (1) a first, football configuration corresponding to said football playing field;
• (2) a second, baseball configuration corresponding to said baseball playing field;
• (3) a horizontally-movable band comprising a plurality of seating sections each having multiple seating rows, said horizontally-movable band having a first position corresponding to said football playing field and a second position corresponding to said baseball playing field;
• said sections being adjoined in said first position and positioned in spaced relation with gaps formed therebetween in said second position;
• (4) translation means for horizontally moving said horizontally-movable band between its first and second positions, said translation means expanding said horizontally-movable band radially outwardly from its first position to its second position and contracting said horizontally-movable band radially inwardly from its second position to it first position;
• (5) a vertically-movable band of seating sections each having multiple seating rows, said vertically-movable band having a first raised, use position corresponding to said football configuration and a second, lowered, storage position corresponding to said baseball configuration;
• said vertically-movable band being located at least partly under said horizontally-movable band in said baseball configuration;
• (6) lift means for raising and lowering said vertically-movable band between its raised and lowered positions and including a base located generally at a level of said playing fields, vertically extensible means connected to said base and a seating deck mounted on said vertically extensible means;
• (7) a removable/relocatable band comprising a plurality of seating sections having multiple seating rows and having a base located adjacent one of said end zones and a wing located adjacent one of said sidelines of said football playing field and being removed for a baseball configuration;
• (8) a plurality of infill seating sections each having multiple seating rows and being located in a respective horizontally-movable seating section gap in said baseball configuration, said infill seating section being removable from said seating system for said football configuration;
• (9) an outer seating section band comprising a plurality of seating sections each having multiple seating rows, said outer seating section band being located generally radially outwardly from said vertically-movable seating section band;
• (10) a seating bowl formed by said seating section bands and having a base located adjacent a respective football field end zone and along one of said baseball field first and fifth sides, a pair of seating bowl wings each located adjacent a respective football field side line and adjacent a respective baseball field side, one of said seating bowl wings having a rotatable extension generally aligned with said wing in a football configuration and rotated inwardly in a range of about thirty degrees to fifty degrees in a baseball configuration for location adjacent said baseball field third side, said other seating section wing having a rotatable extension generally aligned with said wing in said football configuration and rotated inwardly in the range of about ten degrees to twenty degrees in said baseball configuration;
• and
• (d) a circulation system including:
• (1) a main concourse level with a main concourse providing access to said horizontally and vertically movable seating section bands and including ingress and egress means to said stadium;
• (2) a club level including a club level concourse providing access to a portion of said outer seating band;
• (3) a lower suite level including a lower suite concourse providing access to a portion of said outer seating band;
• (4) an upper suite level including an upper suite concourse providing access to a portion of said outer seating band;
• (5) an upper concourse level including an upper concourse providing access to a portion of said outer seating section band;
• (6) a plurality of ramp/stair towers each including stairs and a ramp;
• (7) a plurality of elevator means located on said stadium perimeter;
• and
• (8) a support system including a plurality of concessions, locker facilities, rest room facilities, mechanical support and electrical support means.