[CQ-Contest] Stadiums as venues for Contest Stations

[Pat Barthelow]

Hello Folks,

Pat Barthelow, AA6EG here, back after a long absence.  I have been 
investigating large ( or even smaller Stadiums  as venues,  for contesting 
and EOC-Ham Raido operations locations.

I introuduced the idea on Tower Talk, and come here now to further 
brainstorm.  For background information on the topic, go to the TT archives 
and search "Stadiums"  I researched Stadiums on the internet, and as 
expected found them to be  HUGE industry undergoing a lot of change.   There 
have been 21 new stadiums built in the last 10 years, and many more are on 
the drawing boards.  You see regularly now,  the speacacular demolitions of 
older stadiums, in favor of building newer designs, serving a number of new 
communities, with more efficient cash flow generation.  There are relatively 
few "Players" in the world, who design market and manage Stadiums.

There are a number of related organizations and associations that work with 
and around the Stadium Industry, includng a number "Think Tanks" who 
carefully plan and inprove new stadium desgn, and upgrades of existing 
stadiums.

After making a half dozen or so phone calls, I think that a well planned, 
coordinated approacch to the movers and shakers in the Stadium Community by 
the right people, could result in Stadium planners possibly accomodating Ham 
radio communications (Both Contesting and Emergency Communications 
oeprations when necessary) as part of stadium activities.  If the emergency 
comms utility of a ham radio comm center were played up, perhaps a 
relatively wide open door could be pushed, to make it happen.   Some of the 
stadiums already have impressive structures on their premesis that could 
easily do extra duty as antenna supports.  Some, a lot, of the light 
standards, and flag poles are WELL over 100 ft tall.

Is thre by any chance anyone on CQ-Contest with direct knowledge or 
connections with pro sports, or other users of Stadium Venues that are 
interested in looking further with me into how to make the Stadiums a 
mutually beneficial resource between them, and the Amateur Radio Community?
By the way, heck out my website below about the new re use of a Big Antenna.

Sincerely, Pat Barthelow     aa6eg at hotmail.com

http://www.jamesburgdish.org

Jamesburg Earth Station  Moon Bounce Team
http://www.cq-vhf.com