Stadium talk … lots of stadium talk

Two things on today’s agenda:

Thing No. 1, an explainer on some stadium rakings that caused a stir.

Thing No. 2, A few words about what makes Livestrong Sporting Park such a great place – and it may not be what you think.

A few folks got their undies in a bunch over my Power Rankings of MLS stadiums (they are at the bottom of my weekly Five Things to Know about the MLS piece at SI.com.)

Here’s the thing some people didn’t understand: This wasn’t just about the facility, per se. It was about the “stadium situation,” if you will. Here’s what I said, “So all variables considered (facility itself, surface, economics, location, transportation, etc.) here is where everyone ranks:”

If it was just about the facility, it would have been a different list. Livestrong Park would be No. 1, and not just because it’s the flavor the moment. (More on that later).

But it’s not just a ranking of concrete, steel and amenities. Surface counts. Sorry all you good folks in the Northwest – it just does. Atmosphere counts. Sorry all you good folks in four or five different markets. Location counts. Economics count. That’s why the list was all about stadium situations.

Now you know. If you still disagree, that’s OK. Let’s just be sure we’re arguing about the same thing.

As for Livestrong, please read on to see where they really nailed it.

Yes, the place is just cool. The look and the feel are spot-on. The roof not only keeps fans dry in the nasty stuff, it holds the noise in. Super-wide concourses with views of the field are de rigueur, and Livestrong’s got ‘em.

But if you look a little deeper than pretty scenery and things we like in our soccer parks (roofs rock!), there’s plenty more here to be in love with.

I really, really hope Sporting Kansas City is on a path to profitability, although I know it will be well down the road. See, they invested serious money to do this thing right.

The final price tag came in at $200 million. Consider that PPL Park in Philly, a nice place by all accounts, finished at $120 million. That’s a hefty sum, and yet local ownership in K.C. outspent it by $80 million. Some grounds around MLS didn’t even get to $80 million on finals costs.

What did SKC get for that money? Well, they didn’t scrimp on any details, something I really appreciate. Little things, like the cool “mens” and “womens” bathroom indicators. There are little elements throughout the grounds that designers thought through similarly, and then didn’t look for ways to do the deal on the cheap.

Generally speaking, they designed the ground to create the best possible fan experience. I know that sounds obvious. But the fact is, plenty of stadiums now are designed to balance “fan experience” with “maximum revenue generation opportunities” and “frugal construction costs.”

So, Livestrong includes fan-friendly elements like UR codes on seats, so fans can “check in” on social media sites. The roofs cover all the seats, but some stadiums have had issues with grass growth where sunlight is obstructed. So, at significant expense, SKC officials located materials that would stand up to the weather but still allow enough sunlight to filter through.

The angle of the seating is different on all four sides. In one end zone, the seats at the very top are great because, as it’s so steep, you’re still pretty close to the field. At the other end, the first row of fans is ridiculously close to the field. (I mean that in a good way.)

The locker rooms are plush, which should help SKC attract talent that might otherwise wish their way to New York or L.A.

I could go on, but I’ll leave you with this as the perfect example of how they got this thing right:

You know how every stadium these days has a stadium club? Well, Livestrong has five.

One of them is for the lowest priced season ticket holders. And it’s a damn nice place, just off a corner of the ground, with a great view of the field. Inside they have a supporters’ scarf wall; you just donate your other favorite team’s scarf, and there it is for all to see. What a boffo idea! Most fans have their other favorites from other lands, right? This is a great way to connect, to put the pieces together. I expect this idea to be swiped liberally; it should be.

Inside this place (which has a separate liquor license, so it remains open well into the night on game days, and will be open for other sporting events on non-game days), fans can get a burger, a bag of chips and a drink for $6. How about them apples? Most stadium clubs wouldn’t fill a cup more than two-thirds full of beer for 6 bucks. Again, it’s a way to connect with this level season ticket holder.

If it all works, look for the next MLS ground to include a lot of the same elements. That’s a good thing. Sporting KC just set the new standard for what an MLS ground ought to be.