Sports stadium and method for converting a sports stadium into a multi-space, multifunctional infrastructure

Abstract

A stadium including a first level with a pitch divided into a plurality of self-supporting units, a second level under the first level which houses the plurality of self-supporting units, both levels being arranged in communication through a pit, horizontal movement means of each self-supporting unit, and vertical movement means of each self-supporting unit in the pit including a first platform which can be moved in the pit between an initial position aligned with the first level, closing the pit, and an end position, and a second platform which can be moved in the pit between an initial position aligned with the first platform when said first platform is located in the end position and an end position, with the second platform aligned with the second level.

1 . A sports stadium comprising:
 a first level on which, in a playing position, a pitch is arranged, the pitch including a plurality of self-supporting units;   a second level arranged under the first level which houses, in a storage position, the plurality of self-supporting units, the second level being arranged in communication with the first level through a pit;   a horizontal movement means associated with one or more of the plurality of self-supporting units that is configured to horizontally move the one or more of the plurality of self-supporting units along the first level and along the second level; and   a vertical movement means that is configured to move each of the one or more of the plurality of self-supporting members between the first and second levels, the vertical movement means including a first platform movable in the pit between a first position in which it is aligned with the first level, closing the pit, and an end position, and a second platform which is movable in the pit between an initial position in which it is vertically aligned with the first platform when the first platform is located in the end position, and an end position in which the second platform is vertically aligned with the second level.   
     
     
         2 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein the pit comprises a first chamber where the first platform is housed and a second chamber where the second platform is housed, the first and second chambers being arranged adjacent to and in communication with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The sports stadium according to  claim 2 , wherein the first chamber is arranged adjacent to one side of the pitch and the second chamber extends at least partially under stands of the sports stadium. 
     
     
         4 . The sports stadium according to  claim 2 , wherein the first chamber is arranged adjacent to one side of the pitch and the second chamber extends at least partially under the pitch. 
     
     
         5 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein when the first platform is aligned with the first level it is aligned with the horizontal movement means, and when the second platform is aligned with the second level it is aligned with the horizontal movement means. 
     
     
         6 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical movement means comprises a first one or more lifting devices that support the first platform, and second one or more lifting devices that support the second platform. 
     
     
         7 . The sports stadium according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second one or more lifting devices are hydraulic lifting devices. 
     
     
         8 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first retaining means at least partially embedded in the pit for retaining the first platform, the first retaining means being configured to be moved between a retracted position in which the first platform can move vertically along the pit, and an extended position in which the first retaining means blocks the first platform in its first position and/or end position. 
     
     
         9 . The sports stadium according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second retaining means at least partially embedded in the pit for retaining the second platform, the second retaining means being configured to be moved between a retracted position in which the second platform can move vertically along the pit, and an extended position in which the second retaining means blocks the second platform in its initial position and/or end position. 
     
     
         10 . The sports stadium according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second retaining means is hydraulically operated. 
     
     
         11 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first guide in the pit and a second guide in the first platform, the first and second guides collaborating with one another to facilitate guided vertical movement of the first platform along the pit. 
     
     
         12 . The sports stadium according to  claim 11 , further comprising a third guide in the pit and a fourth guide in the second platform, the third and fourth guides collaborating with one another to facilitate guided vertical movement of the second platform along the pit. 
     
     
         13 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein the second level has a surface equal to or larger than a surface of the pitch. 
     
     
         14 . The sports stadium according to  claim 13 , wherein the second level has a surface larger than a surface of the pitch that it enables the plurality of the self-supporting units to be stored separated from one another for maintenance thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the horizontal movement means comprises a trolley in each of the one or more of the plurality of self-supporting units, the sports stadium further comprising first guides embedded on the first level and the first platform and second guides embedded on the second level and the second platform, the trolley collaborating with the first and second guides for the horizontal movement of the corresponding self-supporting unit. 
     
     
         16 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , comprising a support structure having a span that is greater than the length of the pitch, the support structure including a plurality of intermediate columns each of which comprises a fixed part fixed to the first level and a mobile part fixed to the second level, the mobile part being arranged retracted in a non-working position, and being deployable from the non-working position to a working position in which it is connected to the corresponding fixed part forming an intermediate column to reinforce the first level. 
     
     
         17 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein he pitch has a first side having a first length and a second side having a second length shorter than the first length, each of the plurality of self-supporting units having a length at least equal to the second length. 
     
     
         18 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of self-supporting units comprises natural turf and irrigation means. 
     
     
         19 . The sports stadium according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of self-supporting units comprises artificial turf. 
     
     
         20 . A method for converting the sports stadium according to  claim 1  into a multi-space, multifunctional infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:
 horizontally moving each of the plurality of self-supporting units through the use of the horizontal movement means along the first level until being arranged on the first platform of the vertical movement means; 
 vertically moving the first platform downwards along a first path to the end position of the first platform; 
 horizontally moving the self-supporting unit from the first platform to the second platform; 
 vertically moving the second platform downwards along a second path different than the first path to the end position of the second platform; and 
 horizontally moving the self-supporting unit from the second platform to a storage position on the second level using the horizontal movement means.