# Columbus Crew Stadium (is it heated?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954 "2009-01-25T20:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/1 "2009-01-25T20:57:38Z")
I’ve been searching for the dang answer to this all morning. Anyone ever been to the Columbus Crew Stadium? Is it heated? You know, those big infrared heaters that professional sports stadiums usually have? Or something else? Considering attending a game there, and trying to plan on how to dress. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/2 "2009-01-25T21:59:53Z")
I’ve only been there for marching band competitions in September, and there was no heat of any kind that I know of. (though I’m not sure I’ve ever been in ANY professional sports stadium that’s had heat like you speak of.) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/3 "2009-01-25T22:03:52Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Is it heated? You know, those big infrared heaters that professional sports stadiums usually have? IME, heaters for the fans are not common (no doubt because they are expensive to install & operate). The stadium website makes no mention of them (as you’d imagine they’d do had they gone to the trouble of installing them). So my guess is that you should dress for the expected weather. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/4 "2009-01-25T22:04:17Z")
They do have solar heating, but only on sunny days. Really, there is no heating in the stands, which are for the most part backless bleachers. It is a nice stadium, but it was one of the first soccer specific stadiums and is a little spare. One real warning, the parking lot is shared with the state fairgrounds and is unpaved. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/5 "2009-01-26T16:17:14Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Is it heated? You know, those big infrared heaters that professional sports stadiums usually have? Usually? I’m not aware of any outdoor stadiums that are heated. If I’m wrong, I’d love to learn something new today. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/6 "2009-01-26T17:15:53Z")
Oh, I live in the cold where most of our stadiums are covered, except for the baseball stadium. I guess I erred in assuming that it was quite natural that any “big money” sport (soccer isn’t one of them) with open stadiums would be heated, based on my experience at Comerica Park, which is heated. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/7 "2009-01-27T05:31:22Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I guess I erred in assuming that it was quite natural that any “big money” sport (soccer isn’t one of them) with open stadiums would be heated, based on my experience at Comerica Park, which is heated. I guess I’m confused. How is Comerica Park heated? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/8 "2009-01-27T15:26:31Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > I guess I’m confused. How is Comerica Park heated? There are big infrared heaters in lights that make you hot. They don’t heat the field; they heat the stands. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/9 "2009-01-28T15:27:24Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > There are big infrared heaters in lights that make you hot. They don’t heat the field; they heat the stands. I hate to belabor this point, but I’m pretty sure that’s incorrect. I’m a sportswriter. I’ve been to Comerica (and dozens of other ballparks) and have never seen what you described. I just asked one of the Tigers’ writers about this and he said: > [@](#): > > “Comerica is not heated. They may have some overhead infrared heaters in a few areas (similar to those used outside the entrances of hotels and other buildings to keep the doormen warm), but they don’t have heating throughout the ballpark.” So I’ll restate what I said before… I don’t believe that there are any outdoor stadiums in the US that are heated. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/10 "2009-01-28T15:47:28Z")
You should go to the game, regardless. Everyone who went to the last one had a blast. _Dos a cero_, baby! ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/11 "2009-01-28T18:02:43Z")
I’d heard that Candlestick attempted to heat the stands but never got it working. -Troy McClure SF, owner of several Croix de Candlesticks. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/12 "2009-01-28T19:32:44Z")
I would think heating a big ballpark would be a nightmare cost wise. Some northern teams built domed stadiums and now the latest trend is a dome that opens in good weather. A few teams have heated fields, the Redskins are one example at FedEx field. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/13 "2009-01-28T20:36:24Z")
The Patriots’ and Bills’ football stadiums do have electrically-heated seats in the most expensive outdoor sections. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/14 "2009-01-29T00:00:49Z")
Screw it. F\*\*\*ing scalpers beat me to it. No way I’m paying for bleacher seats at the cartel prices, let alone the seats I was willing to spring for. Thanks everyone, anyway! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/15 "2009-01-29T00:57:00Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > So I’ll restate what I said before… I don’t believe that there are any outdoor stadiums in the US that are heated. Real Madrid’s stadium, the Santiago Bernabeu, has both underground heating for the pitch and infrared heating coming off the underside of the roof which covers all seats. On a quick search couldn’t find you a cite in English, but here’s [a bunch of data and info](http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/1193045388209/1193040475269/Historia/Santiago_Bernabeu.htm) from the club’s own site – surely you can e-mail and/or call to get the info you want. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-crew-stadium-is-it-heated/482954/16 "2009-01-29T01:06:47Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Some northern teams built domed stadiums and now the latest trend is a dome that opens in good weather. FWIW, I think about half of the domed stadiums used by MLB and the NFL are in the south… Atlanta, New Orleans, St. Pete, and two each in Houston and Phoenix.