Side Line Benches

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

While watching the Brewers this past season, the subject came up:
"Why doesn't football stadiums, (especially outdoor), offer sheltered or coved sideline benches for their players,
similar to dugouts?"

In open stadiums like Lambeau it could partially heated.
From the Southern teams in the heat, they could infiltrate cool air.
Instead of whole examining tents, they could just drop down a couple sides.

Just a Thought

 

[gopkrs]

If you did that. You would only do it on the
Packer side.

 

[El Guapo]

"Why doesn't football stadiums, (especially outdoor), offer sheltered or coved sideline benches for their players,
similar to dugouts?"

Apparently they've been waiting for a genius like you to come along!

I have no clue why they don't provide protected dugouts at football stadiums. I decided to ask our good friend AI. I am not sure that I buy the reasoning, but below is the response. Interestingly it included a specific reference to Lambeau Field:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
why don't football stadiums have dugouts for the players?

ChatGPT said:​

Good question — and it’s one a lot of people wonder about, especially if they’re used to sports like baseball or soccer.
Here’s why football stadiums don’t have dugouts (the kind sunk below field level):

1. Field-level visibility and safety​

Football fields need to maintain a clear line of sight for players, officials, and fans. A dugout or recessed area near the sideline would create a tripping hazard and could interfere with play — players often get tackled or pushed out of bounds at full speed, so having a drop-off next to the field would be dangerous.

2. Sideline activity​

Football sidelines are busy — you’ve got:

• Dozens of players rotating in and out
• Coaches, trainers, and staff
• Equipment like benches, cooling fans, and tablets

That kind of constant movement requires flat, open space, not a confined pit like a baseball dugout.

3. Communication and visibility​

Coaches and players need to see the field clearly to make quick decisions. Being in a recessed area would obstruct their view. Football’s fast pace means everyone on the sideline has to be visually engaged in real time.

4. Different needs from baseball​

Baseball dugouts exist mainly for:

• Shade and shelter during long games
• Safety from foul balls and bats
• Keeping the field clear visually for fans

In football, none of those apply — the game is more continuous and there’s no danger from projectiles like bats or balls flying into the bench area.

5. Weather and comfort​

Modern football stadiums handle player comfort with heated benches, fans, misters, and covered sideline areas, rather than underground spaces. For example, Lambeau Field has heated benches and overhead heaters for winter games.
So in short: football sidelines are designed for access and safety, not shelter — which makes dugouts impractical.
Would you like me to include how soccer handles dugouts differently (since they do have “technical areas” that look like smaller dugouts)?

 

[gopkrs]

Apparently they've been waiting for a genius like you to come along!

I have no clue why they don't provide protected dugouts at football stadiums. I decided to ask our good friend AI. I am not sure that I buy the reasoning, but below is the response. Interestingly it included a specific reference to Lambeau Field:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
why don't football stadiums have dugouts for the players?

ChatGPT said:​

Good question — and it’s one a lot of people wonder about, especially if they’re used to sports like baseball or soccer.
Here’s why football stadiums don’t have dugouts (the kind sunk below field level):

1. Field-level visibility and safety​

Football fields need to maintain a clear line of sight for players, officials, and fans. A dugout or recessed area near the sideline would create a tripping hazard and could interfere with play — players often get tackled or pushed out of bounds at full speed, so having a drop-off next to the field would be dangerous.

2. Sideline activity​

Football sidelines are busy — you’ve got:

• Dozens of players rotating in and out
• Coaches, trainers, and staff
• Equipment like benches, cooling fans, and tablets

That kind of constant movement requires flat, open space, not a confined pit like a baseball dugout.

3. Communication and visibility​

Coaches and players need to see the field clearly to make quick decisions. Being in a recessed area would obstruct their view. Football’s fast pace means everyone on the sideline has to be visually engaged in real time.

4. Different needs from baseball​

Baseball dugouts exist mainly for:

• Shade and shelter during long games
• Safety from foul balls and bats
• Keeping the field clear visually for fans

In football, none of those apply — the game is more continuous and there’s no danger from projectiles like bats or balls flying into the bench area.

5. Weather and comfort​

Modern football stadiums handle player comfort with heated benches, fans, misters, and covered sideline areas, rather than underground spaces. For example, Lambeau Field has heated benches and overhead heaters for winter games.
So in short: football sidelines are designed for access and safety, not shelter — which makes dugouts impractical.
Would you like me to include how soccer handles dugouts differently (since they do have “technical areas” that look like smaller dugouts)?

Good answers. Way to go AI. Bringing someone into the game isn't like calling in a pinch hitter. Football needs more room and open space.