Here Is The $30 Million Personal Stadium You’ve Dreamed About

Image via Populous

If you’ve got a big budget for the holidays this year, you might want to consider giving that special someone a personalized stadium for the backyard. The unique gift comes with all sorts of features, including state-of-the-art video screens and enough seating for about 100 spectators, according to the Robb Report.

This big idea comes from a company accustomed to big stadiums. Populous has designed the new Yankee Stadium, London’s Olympic Stadium and dozens of other world-famous sports venues. And now the company has its sight set on your backyard.

Image via Populous

Image via Populous

Ryan Sickman, an engineer and associate principal at Populous, told the Robb Report about the completely customizable venue, which starts at $30 million:

  • Wraparound video screens set the scene by creating a backdrop depicting almost any professional sports stadium, complete with crowds of cheering fans. The screens can be anywhere from 12 to 20 feet tall.
  • A 40- to 50-yard field gives ample room to play. For comparison, a standard football field is 100 yards long.
  • FieldTurf with fiber-optic lighting makes the field versatile. Users can choose what game they’re playing and, with the flip of a switch, choose what kind of field they want to play on. The FieldTurf can lay out a baseball diamond, for example, or a football field complete with logos in the end zones.
  • A luxury box completes the experience. The box will have two or three rows of seating, enough for about 100 people, and can include a concession stand. The area can also have a broadcast booth for live commentary.

Other optional features include: a retractable roof to protect against the elements; wind, snow and rain machines to mimic any conditions; and locker rooms with showers.

Sickman said Populous has a specific clientele in mind for its luxury product. “One thing we did think about was the client having his buddies over for touch football in the fall,” Sickman said. “He could be surrounded by every big game going on in the country while playing touch football with his buddies. That’s pretty cool.” For a starting price tag of $30 million, it better be pretty cool.

Sickman added, “Is it doable? Yes. It just hasn’t been done before.”