When the first concept drawings and details of Dan Snyder’s new football stadium for the Washington Redskins were released, many fans were confused why a moat was included. Today, the Washington Business Journal drew some conclusions and reported some new information about why exactly the moat was included.
Bjarke Ingels Group, a Copenhagen and New York based architecture firm, released new renderings and details about the stadium on its website today. Here’s what they said about the moat:
“Instead of typical entrance gates along the stadium’s perimeter, a would-be fence is transformed into a moat – providing separation without physical barriers. With a series of bridges as new gates to the stadium, access becomes a gentle transition between tailgating and game. The moat doubles as a wave pool during the summer months and an ice rink in the winter.”
Because, you know, who needs cheap fences, gates, or low brick walls separating tailgating areas (also known as the parking lot of fields) from the actual stadium? On top of that, who wouldn’t want to go ice skating outside in the D.C. winter next to a giant football stadium?
Of course it’s important to keep in mind these are just renderings and conceptual plans. Every team goes through tons of renderings and plans for new stadiums before settling on one that makes sense and is reasonable.
The new Los Angeles Rams stadium seems pretty modest compared to this. The 300-acre complex has a $2.6 estimated price tag, which is $1 billion more than MetLife Stadium, the league’s most expensive venue, cost to build.
The new plans from the Bjarke Ingels Group also include details on how the stadium will be built, the design of the seating bowls, parking lots, and much more.
Both luckily and unluckily for Redskins’ fans, Snyder’s lease at FedEx Field doesn’t expire until 2027 and a site for the new stadium hasn’t been chosen yet, so it could be a while until people are actually ice skating or surfing right outside of a Redskins game.
