The world’s largest timber-roofed stadium is in doubt after Cricket Australia wrote to the Tasmanian government urging the Macquarie Point stadium architects to redesign the roof or remove it entirely over concerns about sight lines across the centre wicket.
In a letter obtained by ABC, Cricket Tasmania and Cricket Australia raised “significant concerns” about the effects of shadows cast by the roof’s supporting structure—which combines translucent ETFE pillows, 20mm timber laminate and glulam with metal cladding and steel bracing—which they said will severely impair the stadium’s capacity to stage cricket matches at the venue.
“We are of the view that the current roof design will mean the stadium is unlikely to be conducive to hosting test matches and could also be challenged in hosting One Day (50 over) and T20 (20 over) fixtures,” the letter reads. “This is not an outcome that either CA (Cricket Australia) or CT (Cricket Tasmania) wants, and CT will be strongly challenged by its members to advocate for an alternate solution.”
“For this reason, we would like to discuss with you what opportunity there is to consider a stadium design option that does not have a roof or that has an operable roof.”
A new letter co-signed by Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania which was presented to the Tasmanian govenrment earlier this month.
At the time of its release back in July, the 265-page Macquarie Point Stadium summary report claimed that “the cricket ball trajectory was a consideration in establishing the clear height required under the roof…(with) the Design Team reviewing data available from Hawk-Eye camera systems that visually track and map the trajectory of a ball.”
However, in the letter co-signed by outgoing Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley and Cricket Tasmania’s Dominic Baker, both challenged the viability of the new roof design, listing the stadium orientation, “premium product provision,” drop-in pitches, and turf growth among cricket’s priority design-related concerns. It also reiterated that whilst “CA and CT remain committed to and supportive of the stadium project and wish to see it progress,” the fixed roof and its potential effect on player and spectator conditions have proved a hurdle.
Whilst Cricket Tasmania had initially endorsed stadium designs unveiled by Cox Architecture — new shadow modelling presented to it earlier this year revealed problems: “This includes the impact of the shadows cast from the roof structure on the field of play, particularly on the cricket pitch block throughout the day, and ultimately the implications for what forms of cricket the stadium could and could not support,” they said.
The stadium’s lead design team, Cox Architecture, and the German firm Schlaich Bergermann Partner—a specialist in ETFE roof design—have been working on mitigation options, including temporary measures. A Macquarie Point Development Corporation spokesperson, who is behind the project, told the ABC that the design process was “ongoing and includes user engagement and workshops.”
“A range of options are being explored, including structural, materials used in the roof covering and adaptive measures to provide consistency in light and shadows cast,” they said. However, cricket authorities have not been far from convinced by the solutions the design team has offered so far:
“While we appreciate the recent efforts of the project team to explore mitigation options for shadows, we are of the view that they are either unworkable, in that they do not eliminate the shadows, or they are temporary in nature, introducing significant potential problems relating to playing conditions, venue operations and broadcast quality,” the letter said.
In September, Wood Central revealed that the hybrid timber-domed roof would cost $160m (out of more than $775 million now allocated for the 23,000 indoor stadium). Standing about 51 metres above ground level at its centre, with the roof falling in every direction, the dome – which uses translucent ETFE pillows on the outside – will fully showcase the Tasmanian-sourced glulam – a non-negotiable for the stadium – inside the roof: “The timber in the structure is expressed on the underside, and the volume created underneath will promote an awe-inspiring experience,” the 265-page Macquarie Point summary report said.
- To learn more about the Macquarie Point Stadium, click here for Wood Central’s special feature.
