Some of the smartest gamesmanship is taking place off the field, as professional and collegiate sports organizations aim to expand the fan experience.
Little Caesars Arena, a multipurpose venue shared by the NHLâs Detroit Red Wings and NBAâs Detroit Pistons, anchors The District Detroit, a 50-block mixed-use development in the heart of the city. The arenaâs lower main concourse is positioned at street level, and many of its amenities extend to an outdoor concourse that generates year-round activity.
âAs designers, we have unprecedented opportunities to help revitalize our urban cores through the development of these venues and their surrounding districts,â says Nate Appleman, AIA, LEED AP, Director of Sports + Recreation + Entertainment at HOK.
SunTrust Park, the new suburban home of the MLBâs Atlanta Braves, was designed simultaneously with the Battery Atlanta mixed-use development.Â
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SunTrust Park, the new suburban home of the MLBâs Atlanta Braves. Photo courtesy Mortensen ConstructionÂ
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âThe unique nature of this project allowed us to blur the lines between ballpark and development, creating multiple shared experiences between the two,â says Zach Allee, Associate Principal, LEED AP, at Populous.Â
On college campuses, the fusion of athletics, academics, healthcare, and research is yielding innovative hybrid facilities.
âThe sports and healthcare markets are being merged in collegiate training facilities, athletics operations buildings, and campus health and nutrition centers,â says Bart Miller, PE, Principal and Sports Market Leader, Walter P Moore. âMany of these facilities have a medical or research component, providing athletes access to state-of-the-art medical care and medical researchers access to world-class athletes.â Â
Notre Dame Stadium was the centerpiece of the universityâs $400 million Campus Crossroads Project, which added about 800,000 sf of classroom, research, student life, fitness, digital media, performance, meeting, event, and hospitality space.
âFunding challenges are a driving factor behind these intersecting program types,â says HOKâs Appleman. âWe often can use the power of athletics to help with fundraising for buildings that include healthcare, research, and recreation components.â
Sports venues are also extending to the virtual realm, with the first eSports-specific stadium under development in Arlington, Texas. Designed by Populous, the 100,000-sf venue will occupy underutilized space in the cityâs convention center.
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Little Caesars Arena. Photo Michael Robinson, courtesy HOK
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