The stadium was renovated to depict tarps of soccer players on its seats. The tarps stretch across sections bringing alive larger than life pictures of players.
Sounders, the graphics design manager for the Sounders and Seahawks, decided that covering the upper decks was the most feasible way to shrink the 67,000-seat stadium to an MLS size of about 30,000.
Technically, covering each individual section with tarps was decided as the best approach to the situation. The tarps appear as a single artist display when secured into the required area.
The canvas-like look of the tarps provided for an opportunity to depict images. Hence, soccer-oriented and action images provided by MLS were used. These images were made as generic as possible as other players in the league were also being depicted.
Made from nylon, the tarps can be removed and rolled to reveal the upper deck for seating arrangements. With the help of 10 workers, the tarp can be fixed or removed within a period of 16 hours.
Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad is one such player who has been depicted on the huge tarps at the stadium. The upper deck showcases Onstad’s image stretched across 10 sections on the west side diving for a ball.
