Avaya Stadium: Breaking down Earthquakes' new digs

The pitch

The Earthquakes don't expect to suffer the embarrassment of Levi's Stadium and its shoddy sod. They had a big advantage after successfully building grass fields at Buck Shaw Stadium and their practice facility adjacent to Avaya Stadium.

The team has used West Coast Turf's Bandera Bermuda grass that also is installed at AT&T Park, O.co Coliseum and Stanford Stadium.

The team conducted sun studies to figure out which areas of the field would be most affected by shadows during growing season. Builders changed the stadium's roof design based on the studies to allow for more sun during winter months.

"Bermuda fields only germinate at a certain temperature," team president Dave Kaval said. "If it is too cold, they lie dormant."

Layout

Designers shifted the stadium's configuration to take into account effects of the sun during games. Avaya Stadium faces northeast by southwest to ensure goalkeepers aren't blinded by glare like they were at Buck Shaw Stadium during sunset. The canopy and stadium walls also protect fans from sun exposure.

Seats and sightlines

The Quakes tested almost a dozen varieties of seats before settling on the Quantum from Camatic Seating. The seats are coordinated with team colors to enhance the home aura inside the stadium. The steep bowl-shaped seating structure and canopy have given Avaya intimacy. The top row is much closer to the field than almost any other stadium of its size. "If you sit in the 'nosebleed,' you're only 50 feet above the ground," Kaval said.

Parking and transportation

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Avaya Stadium: Breaking down Earthquakes' new digs