Design for $335-Mil Stadium Hits Snags

PHOENIX-Design difficulties with the new $335-million stadium for the Arizona Cardinals have slowed some of the preliminary work and could put even greater pressure on an already tight construction schedule.

Architects and engineers working on the design of the 73,000-seat stadium are having difficulties with a number of issues, among them the retractable roof and roll-out field.

On the roof, the designers are challenged on how to get the giant steel supports in place without obstructing air traffic. The stadium itself will rise more than 220 feet from ground level, and much taller cranes would be needed to put them in place. But because the stadium is in the flight path of Sky Harbor International Airport, any object taller than 200 feet must be reviewed by the FAA.