Inside $5 Billion SoFi Stadium and Other Stadiums of the Future with Neil deGrasse Tyson

What will stadiums look like in the future? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly investigate stadium technology and “future-proofing” in Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium with Chief Infrastructure Architect at IBM Sports, Benjamin Brillat.
How do you future-proof a large building project? You’ll learn how IBM approaches technology in today’s rapidly evolving climate. How do you build to predict what technologies are yet to come? Are some recent stadiums already obsolete? We explore Los Angeles Rams SoFi Stadium. Discover more about the transparent roof that covers the field and how the builders earthquake-proofed the stadium. You’ll hear about the record-breaking jumbotron that wraps around the entire stadium and more incredible engineering.
What sort of advancements in technology would eliminate the need for stadiums? How close are we to having an augmented display to watch your team in your home stadium when they’re playing an away game? Could you ever have an artificially intelligent football game that people watch? Benjamin tells us about the technology that’s happening behind the scenes that the fans don’t see.
Lastly, we turn our attention to the bigger picture. You’ll hear why user experience is the first and foremost thing on Benjamin’s mind when developing ideas for new stadium experiences. We also explore the rise of gambling in the United States and its possible impact on stadium experience. All that, plus, we discuss the trend of developing a stadium “campus” that encompasses many assets of entertainment to keep fans coming during off-days.
Thanks to our Patrons Kyle Odren, Eileen Aldrin, Francis, Ashvin Lakshmikantha, Tarun, Olivia Chang, Blaine Torkelson, ANKreutzberg, and GibbousLife for supporting us this week.
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
#StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson
0:00 - Preface and Preparing for The Future
9:47 - Introduction
11:43 - IBM's involvement in the sports industry
16:48 - SoFi Stadium's high-tech roof
18:20 - The future of stadium roofs
19:36 - New challenges that come with new construction materials
23:00 - Can you earthquake-proof a stadium?
24:46 - Mercedes-Benz stadium's disaster proofing
26:22 - Who are stadiums designed for?
29:14 - The world's largest scoreboard
31:39 - How AR and VR will enable the future of sport's entertainment
35:58 - The hidden tech of futuristic stadiums
41:26 - Sports from the player's POV
44:04 - Does the pace of technological evolution bring with it the threat of obsolescence?
45:11 - Do we actually need stadiums?
47:03 - How do we enhance the fan experience?
48:30 - What's the business model for stadiums of the future?
54:55 - Why it takes longer to charge the last bit of the battery and Smart Parking
58:21 - Final Thoughts

[@Awesome0ken]

Loved this episode. Please include more building design episodes like this. Maybe how a telescope facility is designed, the most advanced mall, things like that.

[@StarTalk]

Thanks for the suggestions! They've been noted.

[@ezramantini8078]

I second that

[@anthonylicalzi8771]

for sure, that would b a great show

[@Hilariumosis]

Imagine a future where you'll be sent to the hospital because you got augmentally bulldozed in a game you weren't even physically at xD

[@V1N_574]

The mind makes it real, a body can survive with the mind.

[@Bigfaddytv]

@@V1N_574 779u

[@misterx168]

When will Startalk episodes at Neil's office return?

[@jessehernandez841]

I love Gary he's the best! Very intelligent with asking questions in my opinion

[@allknowingfreddybear9291]

I love Gary, definitely someone I would consider a necessary staple for StarTalk.

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

46:20 If you played a sport, and understood the intricacies of how difficult it is to be great, that gives you a deeper appreciation for those who rise to dominate that sport. Watching anyone be amazing at anything is only a matter of appreciation and perspective... Watch the WR for NES Tetris. 🤯

[@russellszabadosaka5-pindin849]

Chuck is the best! Referencing Kandinski paintings with a bunch of engineers, lol.

[@STST]

Loving Garys Blooming.

[@anthonyarmstrong1460]

Man, Neil puts smart people on the tube. Never a dull moment.

[@kraizyace2612]

Fun fact - SoFi Stadium used to be a horse race track known as Hollywood Park before closing due to not many people throwing their money away on losing horses. If it fell out of favor due to the times changing, maybe eventually we can put all the land that makes up golf courses to better use.

[@ec1628]

Used to host concerts there too. Saw a few in the ‘80’s

[@josephsouthwell4295]

Golf isn’t going anywhere

[@StarTalk]

Thanks for the fun fact!

[@ec1628]

@TransitNerd Absolutely nothing. Tax money for stadiums do not happen here. Last stadium built with tax money was Anaheim Stadium in the mid ‘60’s. The Forum, Dodger, Rams, speedway, Laker Arena; all were built without tax money.

[@ec1628]

@TransitNerd The people of San Diego refused to give any tax money for a new stadium. There was a initiative, but it failed. The league set a relocation fee of $550,000,000 for any team to move. Spanish would not pay for a new stadium, yet was willing to fork over that sum of money.

[@fishstix4209]

8:20 just imagine referee cam or referee vision...get to see a game from their point of view.

[@RealCyclops]

You miscalculated the number of weeks. Yes, it’s 16 weeks of games, but half are away games so the stadium is used 8 weeks of the year. 16 now because of the two teams (15 If the two teams play one another

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

I couldn't put my finger on what was different... But then it hit me 44 minutes in. You are together in the same place. That was nice, even if it was an older episode.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Amazing episode. Thank you all.

[@CaliforniaBushman]

Remember the multiple LCD screens in Total Recall. Released June 1st 1990. The Schwarzenegger/Sharon Stone scene? Those screens were smaller, and way crappier than an 85", 4K, 120hz, Ultra HD display.

[@TheRabbitRonin]

Y'all hit another grand slam out of the park with this sports video!

[@Nifuruc]

Brit says "football" and "we don't say the s-word" I'm like: "yeah... we don't say soccer... what big game tho!?"

[@ec1628]

The NFL will come looking for money if they use the term Super Bowl. So they will not speak that term.

[@carultch]

This kind of football has nothing to do with soccer. The s-word refers to the Superbowl, which is a trademarked name for the ultimate game of American Football at the end of each season. Without permission from the NFL, you can't call it the Superbowl on a broadcast, even though that's how everyone knows it, so you often have to indirectly talk about it instead, and call it "the big game".

[@thegreatgambino5079]

That was a lot of fun. Good stuff. I honestly didn't expect it to keep my attention for the full time.

[@MostlyHarmless68]

I had to giggle when they were talking about the communications infrastructure they were creating, because I was there for a concert a couple months ago and cell towers were so overloaded that people couldn't get a signal most of the time. Also, the area around the stadium became a gridlocked nightmare after the event, it took people hours to get out of there with all the street closures. Hopefully they've worked out that part since then. It's largely a residential area though, so I imagine the people who live there have feelings about all that traffic.

[@charlidog2]

Our stadium is at the intersection of 6 lane I-435 and 6 lane I-70. It fills and empties fairly efficiently. They wanted to move it downtown. Dumbest thing I've heard. We have a great airport too. Three terminals. From curb to any gate in less than 5 minutes. I've been around the world, and this is the best airport bar none. They want to change that too now, of course. Kansas City, home of the CHIEFS, and good civil planning; for now.

[@thejoshbtv]

I feel that all of the new technology that supposedly enhances the user experience just takes people even farther away from the moment. I will go to a concert today and I will be the only person not holding a phone up and actually watching the show. I'm living in the wrong time.

[@duncanengel5146]

First time actually watching the video version and gotta say I love Garys rock collection on the shelf behind him!

[@user-cf2pl9uy5k]

Great episode, whenever I see Neil, Chuck and Gary on the same episode I already know it is going to be great!

[@anothermouth7077]

Hello Mr Neil! Are we back to recording in your office room? Or or was this pre covid recording. It would be nice to see people meeting in person again!

[@life_of_i_]

The Brooklyn nets are using infield augmented reality they call it “the netaverse” you’re literally on the court

[@mattdclarkson]

26:30 great question! Obviously they built AT&T Stadium for Jerry Jones and not for the players or fans. Otherwise they would have had that giant window facing N/S instead of E/W 🤦‍♂️

[@hornjames]

Flashbacks within flashback's. Great episode.

[@JurisKankalis]

One thing I know for sure - whether we extrapolate 5,10 or 15 years - concrete will still be there (maybe with CO2 removal from atmosphere, maybe with advanced rebars or fibre additives, or 3D printed) - but it will be there. Because it's been there for more than 2000 years. Great talk - pleasure to listen to. Greetings from Latvia.

[@CoachMikeD]

Brilliant convo

[@betsydonato6817]

Can't wait to hear about the built in stadium seat ergonomic OSHA standard Steel Workers safety harness bungee cord ejection method built into the new stadium fire code..too...complete with mass half time fire drill fun !

[@koreyhelms6857]

My favorite show

[@Bob0sModelFabWorx]

So, how do we "future proof" our selves against feetball and baseballing?

[@booqueefious2230]

I concur

[@alejandroangellopez921]

Haven't seen it and already love it, thank you guys!

[@nathanperaza373]

Lord Chuck was on a good one this episode lol. Great episode, thanks fellas

[@InfiniteBeautyOfficial]

Awe 😔 you should have done this Love 😔

[@resonant_theories]

Nice Neil the "electrons" example.. it is great! More "resistance" builds up.. You need more "force/energy" to charge further.. Now please think of the atmosphere.. this happens rapidly.. so what is sound?

[@bill8064]

Hi all luv this podcast.always watching Startalk.takes me 7 days continuous downloading this episode.Watching here in Siberia.Can take over 14days downloading if it buffers .7 days I considered fast.That’s why I start downloading as soon Startlk Ping my home Pentium 486 computer.I just need to upgrade my pentium486 motherboard and Dial internet to fiber optic broadband internet soon

[@MorningStarChrist]

Wait, People exist outside of computers?

[@galactic413]

Can someone tell me if chuck isnt here anymore i miss him

[@RayRay-zt7bj]

You mean Chuck Nice? He's there. He is stting all the way to the right, and he spoke a few times throughout at least the first half of the video.

[@SparkyWrench]

Somebody has a squeaky nose, I kept thinking it was me!

[@bicbangmusicrecordsllc]

I DONT NEED TV THE LONGEST YOU GUYS KEEP MAKING THIS DOPE VIDEOS

[@ozzynomicon2817]

Transparent aluminum. Problem Solved

[@Legendary-zh9hd]

After hearing them talk about watching from the 50-yard line from your own home (which i think is dumb). Putting on a VR headset and get the feed from the quarterback's (rb wr linebacker who ever) camera would be kind of cool.

[@h7opolo]

niel's exceptionally lucid in this vid.

[@SAJe_53]

I'm pretty certain they are referring to the Superb Owl, favorite bird of Stephen Colbert.

[@ngnatural]

What a fascinating facts about parking! (Among other things) I had no idea!

[@dandrebailey452]

Im 2 yrs late watching this an it still was a great episode lol... Gotta do a show on mega structure buildings an bridges etc 👀

[@davidevans3227]

definitely

[@linda1lee2]

This last season the NFL started having 17, not 16, regular season games.

[@abstract_duck]

the casuality Neil brings makes the science less intimidating and seem more human almost

[@roguegoldza8305]

What an absolutely mind grabbing episode.

[@CaliforniaBushman]

Just had a doctors appointment in West Hollywood. But came from South Bay (SW) L.A. County. So I happened to take a bus right by SoFi this evening. It was dark out, though.

[@resonant_theories]

you know how that goes.. then come the marketing people.. they make the product packages.. subscription levels. As in certain sports somehow players are traded/sold to other teams for "income". All those are great. But the love of "research" always exist in a "jog-geek-scientist"! Marketing is great, web marketing is also great, lots of things are great, but research is a personal "best"! As you said Neil information is "valuable" and research provides that! Adds extra value to everything.

[@ThirdEyeFish]

NDT: The stars are wrong in a movie. Also NDT: Inglewood= Downtown Los Angeles.

[@Chemy.]

amazing info even when it's from an "old" project

[@khushboosurana6229]

Hello sir! request you to come with a follow up video on James Webb Space telescope

[@samogufonianrockstar7510]

To the entire StarTalk Team ..Take a Bow👏👏👏❤👉

[@ekojar3047]

SoFi stadium is crazy! That screen on the roof is insane

[@Russia-bullies]

Sport stadiums should have medical facilities,training grounds,museums,vendors & transport hubs in built/nearby.

[@jarniwoop]

Great show!

[@resonant_theories]

There is a system created (can't remember company).. it involves sensors in basketball for collecting the data. It was my proposal for usage in professional basketball league in my country.. anyway, a lot of things can be done using technology if ones uses it properly and "efficiently". Wireless technology is not for "everything", but there are surely sectors in which it may have been inserted years ago (we missed for not doing so).. for example video assistance on referees?? how about that? why did this never happened years ago both in football (soccer for some) and other sports..? what wasn't technology good then? What is your opinion on that?

[@docholliday9382]

It would be great if you would share your content on Rumble as I don't use YT much and miss watching your content, thanks

[@AkimboChory]

I was hearing it as a podcast. The construction guy sounds just like Bill Nye, doesn't he?

[@chacdogful]

53:38 😂😂😂😂 “Not an American among them” -Tyson 😂😂😂

[@StareBlankly]

I know we are discussing the future here but @Chuck & Neil, any thoughts on the Silurian Hypothesis? Often my brain tantalizes itself with thoughts of how present day leftovers might present hundreds of thousands, if not millions of years from now; what THAT future, the inhabitants/structures & flora look like👀 I picture biological structures😅

[@deborahdelp5581]

I still have the Elephant key too! All the animals in the zoo are jumping up and down for you!

[@roberthutchison8197]

One thing they didn't mention is how much will it take for a family of 4 to afford to attend one of these games? Another thing they did not mention is the traffic problem. But there is a way to ease the traffic is for the customer to have a system where all he has to do is sit as home and wait for transportation to pick him up and take him home to and from the game.

[@phil1657]

Suite level mylar film reflection Garden super cool !

[@andromydous]

The thing that no one is talking about is the price that the fans will have to pay. Sure, there are die hard fans that will pay the price. However, thanks to Covid affecting more than just health, a lot of people's wallets are lighter and leaner. For example, name brand sodas that costed $3-4 a 12pk are now costing closer to $5-6 in my area. A few extra cents here. A dollar extra there. Things start to add up. A $100 budget, for anything, now costs $200. I can't imagine what the game ticket prices will be, or having the motivation anymore to pay for it when I have more pressing things to pay for.

[@edwinknoblauch8618]

I just have to know. To ND Tyson., What do you think of the TV series Eureka?

[@steve-o6413]

Finally something on You Tube that brings back a sense of a missing Reality, thank you for a brief look into the future of Sports. Even if it didn't get into the nitty gritty of the Technology. It's not all doom and gloom...

[@douglasburford8452]

Did they put a sensory grid under the turf so that the ball could be chipped, thus ending confusion on first down?

[@KenToney]

We want Lord Nice!!!!!!!

[@keinaanabdi6821]

Don’t touch Wrigley Field Neil. I like you but wrigley is not to mess with lol.

[@donnydread7631]

It’s strange seeing people all in the same room....

[@elliottgussow9555]

In my day: Uphill - both ways!

[@johnchornyTheOnly]

It isn't Economics or Comp-sci, it'll fly #TheGoodDoctorate

[@riparianlife97701]

Oh, is there a sportsball game coming up? Lots of people are talking about sportsball.

[@sophiaangelini4368]

NOT A SPORTS FAN BUT DR NEIL IS SACRED

[@ec1628]

Rose Bowl and The Coliseum playing fields are both below ground level. When you see the stadiums, ground level is the level of the tunnels. Been to the new stadium. It is very nice but it’s too sterile and perfect. It’s great but not as grandiose as people say.

[@amonk93]

Energy economics is good for learning how to plan

[@FaderSkate]

Fun fact the sofi stadium is right in between two deadly gangs having a feud despite gentrification

[@carldawson5069]

Virtual reality suits, you can instantly call "penetaly flag" because you felt the pass interference, you known to the millimeter out of bounds or instant the ball crosses the goal line, ... Referees will be second guessed and fan fights break-out over a call or no call. Instant replay with single step and views between / through players etc.

[@marksusskind1260]

'tis the Owl Superb

[@rustywater3219]

What do you think? If someone like liebnitz could come forward in time and ask you all the questions he could come up with and go back... would get lazy and just tell everything he learned or would he continue inventing on top of his newly found knowledge?

[@DixieChris-ow6zi]

Hey im higgs boson hi on beer and abracadannabis and i love you guys more than i love verizon‘s warm service (minus global)

[@eddieg.9568]

Real life technology seems to be catching up with video games as far as views. Very cool.

[@codyadkins3061]

Woohoo!!

[@ThePixelExpedition]

(Maybe it exists, but) I'm surprised players, at least those with helmets, don't have go pros mounted with a live feed so we can see the game from a players perspective.

[@josephsouthwell4295]

The technology doesn’t exist yet to do that functionally in real time.

[@ThePixelExpedition]

@Joseph Southwell I guess not, haha :)

[@jpdemer5]

Not sure I want to "experience" being sacked by a pro linebacker - but everything else sounds pretty cool.

[@realrayza7171]

46:00 Esports same as normal sports really. You can play any sport at home just not at that high level. That is what the kids are watching with Esports

[@moniquecca]

is this an old episode?

[@rjvalle8094]

You are the best defense against the movie don't look up Keep looking up!

[@Legendary-zh9hd]

what is a technology that a stadium built in 2000 can't handle?

[@CaliforniaBushman]

Having a B.S. in G.I.S. from a SUNY College. Looking at the SoFi Complex on Googlemaps Satellite. It takes up 35% of One square mile. Which is positivily ginormous.

[@detroitsly]

Isn't "future-proofing" stadium technology just another way of invoking the law of suppression of radical potential? Could IBM be slow-playing technological advances in order to provide it's own corporate "job security"?

[@daggerstreetwear]

a book called mega trends 2000... talks about virtual football

[@eranchazan4225]

Neil was wrong. It’s actually on 8 home football games a year not 16! Half of all games are AWAY!

[@khamel45]

If the Rams and Chargers do play at Sofi, who is the home team? Do they have an extra coin flip to figure that out.

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

Question.....will the Universe eventually become like a donut as the oldest area surrounding the big bang go dark. Is this possible?

[@davidbritnn]

Why can't they say 'Super Bowl?'

[@johnwoelfel7326]

I don't like this trend of needing a new stadium every few years. There's gotta be a better, cheaper way!