Sports

We help clients deliver the best experience for guests and teams, activate communities, and create a return on investment by designing sports and entertainment venues with enhanced technology, service, and amenities.
A building with a curved roof.
University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center, Cincinnati
We will soon see sports and entertainment venues designed to be seamlessly integrated into mixed-use urban districts.
—Jonathan Emmett, Sports leader
INSIGHTS
SPORTS DESIGN TRENDS TO WATCH

The barriers between arenas and cities will become more porous and multiuse as sports districts redefine city living.

As sports venues become integrated into urban cores, the perimeters separating arenas, stadiums, and cities will dissipate. By activating real estate and experiences surrounding the sports venue, owners, partners, and developers can create 24/7, walkable districts that increase foot traffic, decrease the need for parking, and enhance value for their overall franchise.

 

Public-private partnerships will bring new funding — and new sports developments — to colleges and universities.

For universities and colleges facing a shrinking donor pool, public-private partnerships (P3s) offer an alternative financing source for new sports developments or renovations. Whether to fund capital improvements or address deferred maintenance on aging assets, these partnerships can benefit schools and drive revenue for developers.

 

Dedicated facilities for women’s sports will continue to gain traction around the world.

With the rising success of programs like the Women’s World Cup and the WNBA, development for dedicated facilities and programs for women’s sports is accelerating. In addition to dedicated stadiums and arenas for women’s sports, training and performance facilities that cater to the specific needs of female athletes, from training regimens to rehabilitation, will be highly sought after.

A group of people standing in a room with a stage and lights.
Design Forecast 2024
Design Forecast identifies the trends and design strategies that are shaping the future of the human experience and the built environment. We provide strategic advice, research, and projects from all 33 of Gensler’s practices to help clients prepare for transformational times.
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SPORTS LEADERSHIP
NEWS