These new stadiums are built to protect players—and fans—from extreme heat

Architects are designing sports stadiums to combat extreme heat, as the world gets hotter and it becomes more difficult for athletes to play and fans to watch safely. The Al-Ahly Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, features a sunken soccer field and seats to take advantage of natural cooling and meet local height restrictions. The stadium's perforated facade allows breezes to flow through, keeping the outdoor space comfortable even in sweltering summer weather. In Austin, Texas, the Q2 Stadium is oriented to provide shade for fans and features mesh seats to keep them cool. The Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar uses a white roof to reflect sunlight and a solar-powered cooling system to pump cool air to each seat. Materials such as ETFE roofs, black-and-silver coatings, and tinted glass are being used to keep stadiums cool. Traditional techniques, like circulating water under the field and using Islamic screens for shade and ventilation, are also being employed. These passive techniques reduce the need for energy-intensive air-conditioning and can help make outdoor stadiums more comfortable. However, even with these designs, outdoor stadiums may still need to adjust their scheduling to avoid extreme heat waves, which are becoming more common due to climate change.