The Empty Stadium

 This is part of the Poetry Project for my Creative Writing Class this semester.

            American architecture seems to differ from its European counterparts in many ways. But one seems to be most obvious: a grand, American structure derives its greatness from the people it can hold. The Pantheon, the Parthenon or Notre Dame would probably seem even more majestic if one could be entirely alone inside them. But Americans build structures for people. Just as the European continent is sprinkled with Cathedrals big and small, the American Heartland boasts a football field in almost every town.

            And the greatest of the fields—the stadium—can be a wondrous structure that can house tens of thousands of spectators. When the game is being played the air is rife with the smell of hot dogs and roasted peanuts. 40 thousand strong cheer and scream with every ebb and flow of the game. Their voices come together to form a whisper, a buzz that dominates the mood in the stadium. All wearing the same colors, such a mob is certainly a sight to see.

            But Football is only played once a week. For the other six days the stadium is empty. When winter truly falls and there is nothing left to be decided on the field the stadium enters months of silence. Though some of my fondest memories took place inside the walls of this stadium, when I enter alone I discover a foreign land.

            The green lake of grass is still there, but it seems less natural at this time of year. Like football, AstroTurf is a creature of the fall. The seats are all the same color, like those who sit in them during the season. But whereas the sea of red seems amazing and comforting when worn by people, when worn by seats it just seems corporate. There is no distinct smell, but that winter smell that permeates the entire valley: of melting snow and growing grass. The silence would seem ideal for the funeral of a dignitary. The seats mournfully gaze upon the empty field.

            In a few months, the hibernation of the stadium will cease. The fans will enter and the place will become whole. But for now it is just a sad, empty stadium.