Beyond the game: Sports stadium design for world-class events
December 18, 2024
Sports stadium design improves fan experiences, boosts local economies, and reduces environmental impact while hosting world-class events
Sixty thousand fans from all over the world erupt in a cheer as their teams step out onto the pitch. Fans don the colors of their country and are ready to watch as the excitement of the game begins to unfold. So many people in one stadium. How do you design for a crowd that massive? How do you transform existing facilities to be adaptable to host large and varied events like the Olympics, All-Star games, the World Cup, or World Series?
You need to understand everything from seating capacity to field dimensions and changes. What are the sightlines? And what type of amenities are required to accommodate the expected audience and event types.
Stadiums host large-scale public events, but these gatherings can have a major impact on the environment. Modern sports stadium design focuses on creating flexible, multiuse spaces that can manage large crowds while being sustainable. By using features like natural lighting, airflow, and water-harvesting systems, stadiums can reduce operating costs and their impact on the environment. These designs also allow the stadium to host a variety of high-profile events, bringing tourism and revenue to the city. Overall, smart sports stadium design helps make the venue adaptable and eco-friendly for long-term use.
BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, showcases its vibrant roof design and sports stadium digital screens, providing a state-of-the-art experience for fans while reflecting the stadium’s dynamic design.
I have been lucky enough to have been involved in a handful of transformative sports stadium design projects. One of those is BC Place’s stadium renovation in Vancouver, British Columbia. This stadium will see the 2026 FIFA World Cup games, serving as one of the event’s host cities. It’s Canda’s first time hosting the event.
This journey began with Vancouver’s successful bid for the 2010 Olympic Games. We helped guide the stadium on its journey of renewal, creating a dynamic design to serve the needs of athletes and the community for years to come.
Our sports stadium design team has been involved in historic transformations such as Wrigley Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs. We’re also working on the upcoming White Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts. It will soon be home to the city’s new National Women’s Soccer League team. Transforming stadiums into world-class venues needs a well-rounded approach. We must look at everything from improving the structure for safety and comfort to adding modern audiovisual systems that enhance the fan experience.
Sports stadium design for athletes and the fans’ experience
From recreation to professional competition, sports have the power to break barriers, unite nations, foster community spirit, enhance health, and enrich lives. The places where we play and practice should make the experience better by inspiring passion, creating opportunities, and building character. In sports, teamwork is essential. For our team, it’s the same. We create teams of architects, engineers, and landscape architects who work together to deliver world-class sports stadium design.
Our team works to completely transform stadiums. They start as tired, outdated facilities and at the end, they are vibrant centers for the community. For example, at BC Place, we revamped the stadium to include the world’s largest cable-supported retractable roof, a unique LED exterior lighting system, and the second-largest center-hung scoreboard in North America. An updated sound system, upgraded concessions, and improved seating provide fans with an enhanced experience.
In the past, sports stadium design was primarily driven by athletes and the sport itself. Now it is driven by the spectators and community. Sports stadium design that centers on the spectator experience creates exciting opportunities for fans, local businesses, and donors.
Sports stadium digital screens
Digital screens are integral to sports stadium design. But they do more than display scores and entertain fans. They are vital tools for communicating important messages like emergency alerts, directions, and enhancing security and crowd management.
Fans gather at Gallagher Way outside Wrigley Field, in Chicago, Illinois, enjoying an outdoor screening in the heart of Wrigleyville, with the iconic ballpark as a backdrop.
Sports stadium digital screens are dynamic eye-catching displays. They are often used during halftime or a break in the action showing fans real-time statistics and athlete profiles or highlighting the crowd. This helps create a sense of community and pride during the match through interactive experiences. These screens can even create a sense of community and pride even when the team is not playing at home, like hosting a viewing party for fans to experience their team’s playoff run. Near Wrigley Field, for example, a 1,200-square-foot (111-square-metre) video screen in The Park at Gallagher Way shows movies in the park throughout the summer, drawing the community together even when the Cubs are not at home.
Sports stadium digital screens attract attention. This technology can create an electrifying atmosphere in the stadium. And they provide sponsors and advertisers with prime opportunities to reach a wide audience. The vivid visuals and real-time content delivered through this multimedia technology energize the crowd. They help create an immersive experience that goes beyond the game itself. By using graphics, video highlights, live updates, and interactive features, digital screens help keep fans engaged during the event.
Operable glass wall design
Dancing around to get an unobstructed view of the field is a thing of the past due to the flexibility that operable glass wall design offers. Those sitting in the press box or a suite can now experience the ambiance by opening or shutting the glass walls. At Wrigley Field, each suite features a glass wall. When retracted, it exposes the entire suite to the sights and sounds of the ballpark; when closed, it protects viewers from the natural elements, if necessary, without impacting their view of the game.
Operable glass wall design provides so many options. Wide-open connections. Flexible space management. And natural daylight to all types and sizes of space. When used around suites, restaurants, or press boxes, an operable glass wall creates spaces that add a dynamic element.
Green goals: Water harvesting in stadium design
From construction to game day, large stadiums use huge amounts of water. Water scarcity is a global concern, and sports venues must do their part to address it. Implementing water-efficient technologies, such as rainwater-harvesting systems and low-flow fixtures, can help to create a more sustainable facility.
In sports, teamwork is essential. For our team, it’s the same. We create teams of architects, engineers, and landscape architects who work together to deliver world-class sports stadium design.
In 2019, BC Place initiated a rainwater-harvesting pilot project. In early 2021, it started operating full time. The project includes a custom-built system to capture and repurpose rainwater from the 11-acre retractable BC Place roof. Rainwater collected through the system—which would otherwise pass through the city’s stormwater system—is used for field irrigation, toilet facilities, concourse cleaning, and wash down of equipment. The project can collect 21,000 gallons of water—with the potential to expand water conservation in the future.
Collecting rainwater helps conserve a valuable natural resource. And it lowers the demand on municipal water supplies. This supports a more sustainable water strategy. By lowering water usage, the system cuts utility costs for facilities.
Transforming fan experiences with food, fun, and community
Today’s sports fans want more than just seeing the game. They want a full-day event, including pregame excitement, in-game enjoyment, and postgame celebrations. Facilities that offer a variety of amenities—from dining to live music, shopping, and interactive fan zones—enhance the experience.
Mixed-use spaces around sports venues add to the fan experience. Restaurants, sports bars, food trucks, and breweries give fans a reason to arrive early and stay late. They help increase engagement with the venue and local businesses.
The sun sets over McGregor Square in Denver, Colorado, as fans gather for another thrilling event, enjoying the plaza’s electric atmosphere.
For example, McGregor Square has been transformed into a vibrant new urban space adjacent to Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. It’s filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. The plaza has become a pre- and postgame gathering place for Rockies fans. The “outdoor room” at the square is a year-round destination where fans gather for concerts, festivals, and other public activities. This allows fans to come early and soak in the game-day atmosphere well before entering the stadium.
Entertainment and food venues boost revenue streams for teams and local economies. Fans who spend more time in the area tend to support more local businesses and strengthen the relationship between the venue and the community.
Modern stadium design shapes culture, community, and sustainability
The evolution of sports stadium design is more than just renovations. It combines creativity, inclusivity, and excellence. These renewed spaces transcend their original purpose as mere sports arenas. They truly become symbols of community pride and culture. With meticulous planning and innovative design, these venues not only enhance the fan experience but also leave a legacy. Standing as beacons of progress and potential, these world-class stadiums inspire awe, promote unity, and set the stage for unforgettable moments.
So, the next time you find yourself cheering for your team on their home turf, take a moment to appreciate the remarkable efforts made to enhance both your experience and the health of the planet.