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Foster + Partners to design Old Trafford Stadium District World-renowned global architecture studio, Foster + Partners, is set to be appointed by Manchester United to develop a masterplan for the Old Trafford Stadium District, covering the Club-owned land that surrounds the existing stadium. The focus will be to design a world-class football destination and home for Manchester United fans, coupled with a wider masterplan comprising mixed-use developments which will benefit the local community, attract new residents, increase job provision, and make it a vibrant destination for visitors from Manchester, the UK and all around the world. The exercise will include substantial engagement with fans, community members, local authorities and the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, whose feedback and insights will be incorporated into the masterplan design. The stadium itself will not form part of this exercise – its design will begin once the club has decided on the development options. However, a world-class stadium will ultimately sit at the heart of this ambitious new masterplan, acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration. Foster + Partners will also provide best-in-class recommendations on how the Stadium District masterplan can best complement and align with the existing Trafford Wharfside masterplan and the objectives of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for the city region. Collette Roche, Manchester United Chief Operating Officer, said: "We have a clear vision to transform and revitalise the club-owned land around Old Trafford and we know that Foster + Partners is the best partner to help us develop the plans. This is an area of Greater Manchester ready for major new investment so that it can thrive once more, and we are determined to help deliver those outcomes. "We want this area to become a true destination, that not only provides an unbeatable matchday experience for our fans, but also supports other forms of entertainment, leisure, business and residential facilities surrounding a world-class stadium. Lord Foster has unrivalled experience in delivering projects of this scale and ambition." For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/eJC2Bj2G Next month’s SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition focuses on elevating the live experience through architecture & design, customer journey, fan experience, hospitality, premium sales & service, technology, sustainability and venue commercialisation. #ManUtd #StadiumDesign #StadiumBusiness #Manchester #SportsBiz #sportsindustry #stadia #SportsVenueBusiness #SVBLIVE Sports Venue Business John Sheehan Cassandra Calleja The Sports Networker

Luton Town Football Club’s Power Court plans successfully validated Following Luton Town Football Club’s recent announcement that a detailed planning application for Power Court had been submitted to Luton Borough Council, the process has now been formally and successfully validated. This means all of the documents submitted by the Club and 2020 DEVELOPMENTS (LUTON) LIMITED are now in the public domain and available to peruse on the council’s website. Luton Town Chief Executive, Gary Sweet, said of this week's validation of the plans: "We wish to place on record our gratitude to the Council’s officers and planning team for their promptness in validating these extensive set of plans." On 13 September 2024, Luton Town Football Club’s development company, 2020 Developments, formally submitted a detailed application for a new 25,000-capacity stadium at its Power Court site in the heart of Luton town centre. The submission of detailed plans to Luton Borough Council marked a defining milestone in the delivery of a sustainable long-term home for Luton Town Football Club, the increasing ambitions the Club has for its football team, and as a vital catalyst in marking a regenerative era for the town. The hybrid application provided full detail on the stadium and included an updated outline submission for the hotel and music venue. This pack, which includes a core Design and Access Statement supported by a variety of technical reports, was delivered to the Council’s Planning Office on 13th September and has now been formally validated by officers. For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/eTrbeA8S The project team includes AECOM SISA Klaska ltd Trivandi Max Fordham LLP WSP Buro Happold Next month’s SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition focuses on elevating the live experience at stadia & arenas through architecture & design, customer journey, fan experience, hospitality, premium sales & service, technology, sustainability and venue commercialisation, with New Builds, Renovations and Major Refurbishments front and centre. #PremierLeague #footballbusiness #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #stadia #StadiumDesign #SportsVenueBusiness #SVBLIVE Sports Venue Business

🏟️ The CHICAGO bears New stadium 🏟️ In a significant move for Chicago’s urban development and sports culture, as a lot of you know, the Bears have announced their plans for a new fixed-roof stadium along the city’s scenic lakefront. This initiative is part of the ambitious Burnham Park project aimed at transforming the area into a vibrant year-round hub for culture and recreation. Key Highlights of the Project: •The stadium will serve as a multi-purpose venue, boasting an architectural design that harmonizes with Chicago’s iconic skyline. •Plans include a three-acre promenade and plaza that pays homage to sports and the storied history of Soldier Field. •The project promises to enhance community engagement with 14 acres dedicated to athletic fields and parks accessible to the public and youth programs. •Potential development of a publicly-owned hotel on the site, enriching its status as a cultural and recreational epicenter. A Commitment to Chicago’s Legacy: Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren expressed his enthusiasm about the project, highlighting it as a milestone of progress and innovation for Chicago. “This is about moving forward, showcasing our city’s capacity to dream big and execute grand visions,” he remarked. Mayor Brandon Johnson also noted, “This development isn’t just a win for sports fans but a rejuvenation for the entire city, promising to be a new crown jewel for Chicago.” How do you see this project influencing Chicago’s future? Chicago Bears City Club of Chicago City of Chicago Bisnow Phillip L Beckham III Clark Construction Group JB Pritzker Michael Fassnacht Fritz Kaegi, CFA World Business Chicago #ChicagoBears #BurnhamParkProject #UrbanDevelopment #ChicagoSports #StadiumDesign #CommunityBuilding #InnovationInConstruction #ChicagoSkyline

Exciting Development for NYC FC Since its inception in 2015, New York City FC has experienced the challenges of not having a permanent home, often alternating between Yankee Stadium and various other locations across the five boroughs. In 2027, that's all set to change with the construction of its very own stadium next to Citi Field in Willets Point. This isn't just about soccer; it's a monumental project that integrates sports with urban development. Here’s what’s coming: 🏟️ A state-of-the-art stadium 🏡 The largest all-affordable housing initiative in the area 🏫 A new public school 🏨 A modern hotel Soccer, or football as it's known to the rest of the world, is the most popular sport globally, with over 4 billion enthusiasts. Despite soccer’s vast American fan base, the U.S. leagues are often seen as underdogs compared to European giants in England, Spain, Germany and Italy. With these developments, is the U.S. on the brink of changing this narrative? https://loom.ly/XjB4J88 #architecture #stadiumdesign #urbanplanning #soccer Sterling Equities Related Companies HOK

Urban sports districts add to the vibrancy of cities by generating activity and revenue on more than just game days. At HOK, we are proud to have played a pivotal role in planning and designing St. Louis CITY SC's new stadium and adjacent training facility. The award-winning CITYPARK Stadium creates a connected, vibrant district in downtown St. Louis. What can other cities learn from this urban design? HOK co-CEO Eli Hoisington recently shared 4 lessons from the project with the St. Louis Business Journal. These strategies shaped the design of the stadium district and helped energize the surrounding neighborhood. Here's how: 1. Community Connections: The stadium’s open design maximizes engagement with the city, offering views of iconic landmarks and ensuring all sides are active and accessible. 2. Found Opportunities: Located on a 25-acre site that once consisted of highway interchanges, the $667-million soccer complex has helped spur $1.4 billion in new neighborhood development. 3. Civic Space: Thoughtfully designed public plazas and monuments, like Damon Davis’s “Pillars of the Valley,” honor the neighborhood's history and foster community. 4. Home-Field Advantage: A sunken pitch and steep seating bowl create an energetic atmosphere, with no seat more than 120 feet from the action. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dnA5KuPg #hoksport #mls #stadiumdesign #stlouis

As both a sports infrastructure architect and an athlete, I believe stadiums must transcend their traditional event-only function. The issue of underutilized "white elephant" stadiums is a missed opportunity for community and economic value. Instead, stadiums should be designed as "unicorns"—multi-functional spaces that remain active year-round, integrating community uses like markets, services, and social spaces. In my thesis design of an integrated sports hub, I employed similar strategies and concepts, focusing on creating flexible, community-centric venues. By prioritizing adaptability and local integration, these spaces can deliver long-term social and financial benefits, justifying their higher initial costs. My goal is to design stadiums that are vibrant, inclusive, and valuable to their communities every day of the year. https://lnkd.in/eZ9J5eMG

The stadium is perhaps the most likely type of civic infrastructure to attract public scrutiny. Home to a vast range of experiences, the typology hosts the highs of public life – providing the stage for performances and grounds for sporting matches. Events are formative in every city’s public psyche, so their setting – the stadium – must meet the highest of standards. But what happens when the event is over? Across the world, stadiums are only used for events approximately 10 to 20 percent of the year and are left to languish the other 80 to 90 percent. Expensive and deeply antisocial, these buildings are a lost opportunity for social and financial contribution to their communities, owners and operators. Stadiums should, and can, be useful every day of the week. Knowing this, how can we design stadiums to be better neighbours? Featured on Australian Design Review, Senior Associate Matt Reynolds' latest Insight explores this question. Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3WdHXd2 #peoplearchitecture #woodsbagot #thoughtleadership #stadiums #majorvenues #stadiumdesign

We are walking into a new era of design for sport arenas and stadiums. There's a shift to a more fan focused design, with venues catering to the "fan experience." The "fan experience" speaks to how fans interact and engage within the space outside of sports game itself. A fan focused design tailors the environment to encourage human socialization and a group-watching experience. Larger screens, charging stations (phone and car), and more social spaces will get fans to come early and stay late which increases profits and desirability. People, generally, want to be surrounded by "good vibes", designing for the "fan experience" will keep sports fans and non-sport fans engaged. Check out these new stadium projects under construction in North America that are incorporating a fan focused design, a practice we will utilize for future projects. https://lnkd.in/e-ZwkQ8p

The architectural beauty of sports stadiums through three Populous projects Major sports projects, such as stadiums, can – and should – be more than just beautiful and functional architectural works. Their power to attract numerous people serves as a driving force for urban regeneration and a socio-economic system around them. Examples of this are these three stadiums designed by Populous, a firm specializing in sports architecture.

Terrific write up in Bloomberg CityLab recapping first year successes' associated with the still fresh integration of St. Louis CITY SC's downtown Major League Soccer campus into St Louis' downtown west neighborhood! Key excerpts from the article: "The new professional soccer stadium that opened last year on the western edge of downtown St. Louis stands apart from most sports venues being built in the US today. The 22,423-seat facility, known as Citypark, was built with relatively modest public subsidies. And instead of looming as a massive megastructure surrounded by parking lots, the home of the Major League Soccer team St. Louis City SC goes out of its way to be a good neighbor to the city around it. Completed for the team’s inaugural season in 2023 and designed by HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects, CityPark’s 32-acre soccer campus consists of a repurposed manufacturing plant hosting the team’s headquarters, 3 soccer training pitches and a standalone team store, in addition to the main venue itself. So far, every home match has been filled to capacity. Its lively pregame plaza festivities, abundant public spaces and stylish architectural details have already proven to be an asset to the city’s Downtown West neighborhood. Indeed, the facility was pitched as a means of restoring a patch of downtown fabric that mid-20th-century urban renewal policies had all but destroyed. Each MLS team typically hosts 17 home games per season. While pro venues rarely generate enough economic benefits to pay back the public assistance they receive, there’s some evidence that CityPark is a modest boost for nearby restaurants, bars and hotels. According to Missouri Department of Revenue, the area surrounding the stadium took in an extra $73 million during STL City SC’s first season compared to a soccerless 2022. “We’re having success in getting fans to come down early and stick around late, and a lot of that’s to do with the way that we’ve programmed the East Plaza and the vendors we have serving the food and beverages,” says Broughton, noting the team’s focus on local vendors. “We want to figure out how to extend those visits into a full weekend.” A minor wave of new MLS stadiums has swept the US since the 2010s, but St. Louis’ is uniquely urban in its location and design. With limited local appetite for public assistance already expressed before its construction, CityPark has turned into a decent deal for a city with far more significant matters to address than the prosperity of its sports teams. Meanwhile, in Nashville, a sale of $225 million in revenue bonds for the city’s new soccer stadium will add up to $424 million in total debt service by 2051. And TQL Stadium in Cincinnati’s West End is projected to generate public borrowing costs of more than $80 million, plus property tax exemptions worth more than $100 million over 20 years, according to a 2019 WCPO investigation." #stl #stlouis #urbanrenewal #investment #downtowns #mls #soccer #realestate #data