The Washington Redskins don't plan on moving stadiums for another decade or so, but they recently partnered with a Danish design firm (who has never designed a sports stadium before) to explore their stadium design options. The latest one, surrounded by some wave-like film, that leaked yesterday is rather interesting.
Based on very preliminary concepts from the Bjarke Ingels Group, the new stadium will have a very futuristic look to it, and it will also include a moat surrounding the building. Bjarke Ingles Group is the same firm that was selected to design Google's futuristic greenhouse-style headquarters in California, and the company has been trending ever since.
The addition of a moat may seem a bit perplexing at first, but designers apparently see it in a different light.
According to the Redskins website, the moat is aimed at drawing kayakers, and surrounding it will be parks and bridges where tailgaters and fans can gather. In one tweet that the franchise shot off yesterday, someone is even shown surfing in the moat, while a people chill on the beach are outside the stadium and two people rappel off the stadium structure itself.
As one of the designers shared with 60 Minutes, the stadium is meant to embody "this idea that the stadium is designed as much for the tailgating and the pregame as it is for the game itself so tailgating literally becomes a picnic in the park. It will make the stadium a more lively destination throughout the year without ruining the turf."
I can't see hardcore Redskins fans falling in love with this idea, but plans are still about 10 years out, so a lot can change.