Book Talk – The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play

Join us for a conversation between historian Frank Guridy and architect, Douglass Alligood, who will discuss Guridy’s new book, The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play (Basic Books, 2024) and engage in a larger discussion about the past, present, and future of stadiums and their uses for the sports industry and the broader American community. 

As the third decade of the 21st century unfolds, stadium construction projects continue seemingly unabated. New facilities are continually being proposed in cities across the United States. Sports franchises, college athletic programs, and their political supporters tout the benefits of stadiums, even as construction and maintenance costs continue to skyrocket and even as they are increasingly inaccessible to the vast majority of the Americans. The impact of stadiums on marginalized communities is also open to question. Yet, architects have responded to criticisms of contemporary stadiums that seek to address the many concerns raised by critics. Can stadiums be reimagined for a larger public good? How can the knowledge of architects, historians, and economists be harnessed to produce venues that provide a wide variety of community functions? 

Speakers:
Baye Adofo-Wilson, Co-Developer/Owner of Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson and Owner of NY Cosmos & NJ Jackals; Former Deputy Mayor/Director of Economic & Housing Development for the City of Newark 
Douglass Alligood, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, NOMA, Partner, Alligood Song Architecture PLLC, Former Partner, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group
Frank Andre Guridy, PhD, Author; Dr. Kenneth and Kareitha Forde Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies & Professor of History, Columbia University; Executive Director, Eric H. Holder Initiative for Civil and Political Rights
Peter Robinson, Board Chair, Center for Architecture; Founder, Work Urban; Assistant Professor, Cornell University Department of Architecture