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.
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Teams are now influencing the experience of where and how fans live, play, and eat. This is comprehensive human experience design, not just sports architecture.
—Ryan Sickman, Sports leader
27 Items
Al-Ahly Stadium
Cairo, Egypt
Gensler has developed a concept design for a world-class, ground-up stadium for the Al-Ahly football club that redefines the fan experience, drives economic growth, and sets a new benchmark in sports architecture globally.
Capital One Arena
Washington, D.C.
Downtown Washington, D.C.’s premier sports and entertainment venue has entered a new chapter that solidifies the structure’s enduring legacy as the central hub of the city’s vibrant urban core.
Grand Sierra Resort Reno Arena
Reno, Nevada
Gensler collaborated with Meruelo Group to transform the Grand Sierra Resort into a destination where community, sports, and entertainment come together.
Cincinnati Open
Mason, Ohio
The renovation of the Lindner Family Tennis Center — featuring lush green spaces, a shaded fan pavilion, sunken court, and two-story player clubhouse — ushers the nation’s second-oldest tennis tournament into a new era.
Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Training Facility
El Segundo, California
The Los Angeles Sparks’ training facility redefines the athlete experience, blending elite training facilities with wellness amenities.
Player 15 Group HQ & Phoenix Mercury Training Facility
Phoenix, Arizona
The new Player 15 Group headquarters and Phoenix Mercury practice facility signals a new standard for the next generation of athletic and organizational excellence.
M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore, Maryland
Gensler is partnering with the Baltimore Ravens to design a series of projects that will enhance the gameday and year-round fan experience at M&T Stadium.
Rams Village at Warner Center
Woodland Hills, California
With the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams training facility as an anchor, this mixed-use development offers a modern lifestyle where athletes, residents, and visitors can live, work, and play.
University of Texas at Austin, Moody Center
Austin, Texas
Gensler helped the University of Texas consolidate its campus sports venues and create a LEED Gold Certified basketball arena and live music venue.
Los Angeles Chargers Headquarters and Training Facility
El Segundo, California
The Los Angeles Chargers’ headquarters and training facility promotes physical fitness and mental well-being to support well-rounded achievement.
Lenovo Center
Raleigh, North Carolina
Gensler is leading a dramatic transformation of the Lenovo Center (formerly PNC Arena), elevating it to a premier destination for sports and entertainment.
LA Galaxy Dignity Health Sports Park Renovations
Carson, California
The LA Galaxy is refreshing its home soccer stadium to offer enhanced seating options for season ticket holders, attract a growing fan base, and elevate the matchday experience.
Rose Bowl Stadium Upgrades
Pasadena, California
The Rose Bowl is undergoing an $80 million renovation to modernize the venue and preserve its historic legacy, while ensuring lasting impact and future success.
The University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
The University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center is designed with a focus on innovation and enhancing the student-athlete experience
Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center
Fayetteville, Georgia
The training center will create a central hub for the entire soccer community to promote successful and sustainable playing environments throughout the country.
Arizona Coyotes Arena and Entertainment District
Phoenix, Arizona
Gensler’s recent master plan for a lifestyle and entertainment epicenter in Phoenix proposed anchoring the development with a sports and entertainment arena.
San Diego State University,
Snapdragon Stadium
San Diego, California
Snapdragon Stadium is a 35,000-seat Division 1 stadium, designed by Gensler, for SDSU Football.
New York Mets Citi Field
Queens, New York
To enhance visitors’ game day experience, Gensler worked to upgrade several key club and suite spaces at the New York Mets’ Citi Field.
Chase Center
San Francisco, California
Gensler led the guest experience and interior design for Chase Center, an 8,000-seat arena that is home of the 2022 NBA Champions, Golden State Warriors.
BMO Stadium
Los Angeles, California
Gensler designed the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium in L.A.’s Exposition Park, anchoring the Figueroa corridor and capitalizing on great views of the downtown skyline.
University of South Carolina Football Operations Building
Columbia, South Carolina
Quackenbush Architects and Gensler Sports partnered to design the 110,000-square-foot Football Operations Building at the University of South Carolina. This...
Crypto.com Arena
Los Angeles, California
Crypto.com Arena (formerly STAPLES Center) is the largest indoor sports and entertainment venue in Los Angeles, and the only arena in the United States that’s home to four major professional sports franchises.
Irvine Amphitheater
Irvine, California
Gensler is designing a new, 14,000 capacity amphitheater and extending the legacy of live outdoor music in Irvine, starting with Irvine Meadows.
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Cleveland, Ohio
The new Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse expands the arena’s event space, boosts its functionality, and provides a substantially improved visitor experience for sports fans and concert-goers alike.
LAFC Performance Center
Los Angeles, California
The LAFC Performance Center embodies the culture of the club and the city, both aesthetically and functionally. Coinciding with the inaugural season of the...
The Star
Frisco, Texas
The Star is a multi-use development that includes the new Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters and The Ford Center, an events center and sports training facility.
St. David’s Performance Center
Austin, Texas
The training facility for the MLS franchise, Austin FC, is designed to leverage the power of soccer to make a positive impact in community and youth wellness.
INSIGHTS
Blog
How Journey Mapping Shapes Design Opportunities for the User
Journey mapping is more than a tool. It helps teams visualize how users move through systems, spaces, and services over time, capturing not just what users do, but how they feel, what they expect, and where they encounter friction or delight.
Blog
The New Economics of Sports Venue Design
From NIL-driven college athletics to multi-tiered VIP lounges and mixed-use districts, sports venues are evolving into dynamic business ecosystems.
Blog
Where Champions Train
For the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the Las Vegas Aces, world-class training and practice facilities helped propel them to the top of their game — and the league.
Blog
Designing a 24/7 Entertainment Hub in Reno
The Grand Sierra Resort Reno Arena is more than a sports venue; it’s a fully integrated destination built around seamless entertainment.
Blog
The Power of Clean Air in Sports-Centered Design
In arenas, training centers, and stadiums, air quality is not just a comfort factor — it’s a competitive edge, affecting athletes’ ability to train, compete, and recover.
Blog
Al-Ahly Stadium Brings Fans Closer to the Action
Facing height and capacity restrictions, an innovative design solution turned these challenges into an opportunity to design a year-round, landmark sports venue.
Blog
What Do Consumers Want? Gensler’s U.S. Consumer Experience Report Uncovers Key Insights
Gensler’s latest consumer research delves into how design can impact human experiences for the better.
Blog
How Repositioning Houston’s Astrodome Can Serve as a Model for Aging Sports and Entertainment Venues
A proposal to redevelop and repurpose the iconic stadium into a multi-use venue would preserve the building’s historic integrity while giving it new life.
Blog
The Secret to Paris 2024’s Olympic Success? Reuse, Temporality, and Legacy
How an innovative, sustainable, and cleverly timed approach helped Paris avert the pitfalls many cities face when hosting the Olympic Games.
Blog
The Evolution of Sports Venue Brand Integration: From Simple to Sophisticated
The new landscape of brand in sports is more sophisticated than ever.
Blog
The “Mental Load” and Its Effect on Athlete Performance
We can help reduce athletes’ mental load by including specific amenities in training facilities and giving them the space and time to focus on being at the top of their game.
Blog
Reflecting on the Paris 2024 Olympics: A Catalyst for Urban Transformation and Sustainability
A look at how the key trends emerging from the 2024 Summer Olympics are creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for sports and urban development.
Blog
How Modern Training Centers Can Shape Tomorrow’s Champions
Helping athletes achieve their best, training centers and human performance labs (HPLs) are playing more important roles than ever to support competitors.
Blog
How the Olympics and Paralympics Can Shape Cities in New Ways
A look at the legacy, equity, and sustainability shaping the Games, and how this event can unlock a city’s future potential while showcasing it in novels ways.
Blog
How Technology Is Redefining the Fan Experience at Sports and Music Venues
In this Q&A, our Digital Experience Design and Sports leaders discuss how technology is currently being used to streamline venue operations and enhance the fan experience.
Trends in Sports
Teams are city developers with fans as citizens.
Sports-anchored districts are fully immersive micro-cities as sports brands have become urban placemakers where lifestyle, brand, commerce, and identity converge around a shared allegiance.
The athlete-as-client era begins.
Athletes are more than competitors — they’re brand creators, studio executives, cultural influencers, owners of teams in other sports, and active collaborators in shaping physical spaces. This new wave of athlete-entrepreneurs seek designers who grasp brand identity, community-building, commerce, and diverse revenue ecosystems.
Women’s sports inspire a new set of experiences.
The growth of women’s sports creates new ecosystems with a deeper focus on player storylines, new sponsor categories, and fan demographics. New, world-class training facilities for women’s sports are built differently, doubling down on design for the human experience and player-first priorities.
Colleges compete in the sports business, not just the scoreboard.
Colleges are powerhouse brands with professional paid athletes and pro-grade stadiums, performance centers, and media reach. University athletics is a strategic business unit, not just a campus tradition.
SPORTS LEADERSHIP
Ron Turner
Sports Leader, Studio Director, Principal
As a global Sports Leader at Gensler, Ron Turner is one of the industry’s most recognized sports facility designers.
Ryan Sickman
Sports Leader, Principal
Ryan Sickman is a global leader of Gensler’s Sports practice based in the Washington, D.C. office.
Steve Chung
Sports Leader, Design Director, Principal
Steve Chung is a Global Sports Leader and Design Director based in Gensler’s Los Angeles office who has led designs for sporting, training, recreation, and eSports facilities that leverage inclusivity, accessibility, and performance to create personal growth and community wellness.
Alex Phi
Studio Director
Alex Phi is a Design Director in Gensler’s Sports practice, based in Los Angeles, with diverse expertise in multimedia backgrounds and sports.
Andrew Jacobs
Design Director
Andrew is an accomplished designer of sports facilities of various types and sizes and is based in Gensler‘s D.C. office.
Demetra Thornton
Co-Managing Director, Principal
Demetra Thornton is Co-Managing Director in Gensler’s Raleigh office, focused on projects that push the boundaries of impact, resilience, and experience.
Elizabeth Pritchett
Studio Director
Elizabeth is an interior architectural designer based in Gensler’s Los Angeles office. Her wide range of experience includes large-scale projects across sports, hospitality, rec...
Jon Niemuth
Director of Sports, Principal
Jon is a veteran sports designer at Gensler, invested in delivering sports and entertainment venues that are integrated into the fabric of their urban context.
Jonathan Emmett
Design Director, Principal
Jonathan Emmett is Principal and Design Director at Gensler who has dedicated his career to the design of sports venues and training facilities.
Kristin Byrd
Sports Leader, Design Director
Kristin Byrd is a Sports Leader and a Design Director for Gensler’s Sports practice, based in Austin.
Omar Quesada
Design Director, Principal
Omar Quesada is a regional leader in Gensler’s Sports practice who brings passion and experience in designing both learning environments and sports facilities.
Tayomara Gama
Sports Leader
Tayo Gama is a Sports Leader for Gensler Europe who is passionate about the transformative power of sport architecture to create an experience-focused future
NEWS
In The Media
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Sports Business Journal
Sports Business Journal Unveiled the Los Angeles Sparks’ Plans To Build a 55,000-Square-Foot Training Facility
The facility will feature the WNBA’s first-ever indoor-outdoor player sanctuary, including an outdoor spa pool, hydrotherapy and spa suites, two regulation basketball courts, a state-of-the-art weight room, and more.
September 24, 2025
In The Media
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Sports Business Journal
Sports Business Journal Spotlights Gensler’s Three New Leadership Additions To Help Advance Sports Practice
Gensler’s addition of Trevor Bechtold, Chris DeVolder, and Edward Mills brings over 65 years of combined sports design experience, which will help advance the design of stadiums and training facilities worldwide.
September 09, 2025
Press Release
Gensler Strengthens Global Sports Vision With High-Impact Leadership Additions
The new leaders are based in San Francisco and Kansas City — bringing in a new generation of expertise to deepen its investment in sports design.
September 09, 2025
In The Media
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The Second Serve
The Second Serve Spotlights the Updated Cincinnati Open, Inspired by Roman Stadiums
The Cincinnati Open underwent a $260 million renovation led by Gensler. Design Director Kristin Byrd explained that the design was inspired by the sunken courts of 20th-century Roman stadiums.
August 11, 2025
In The Media
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Yahoo Sports
The Reimagined Cincinnati Open Is “Grander Than Ever” Following a $260 Million Upgrade
Yahoo Sports featured the transformed Cincinnati Open, which Gensler’s Kristin Byrd says will make “an enormous impact for many generations to come.” The upgrade includes a six-court facility and a new clubhouse.
August 03, 2025
In The Media
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Fast Company
Fast Company Explores How New Stadiums Are Designed to Beat Extreme Heat
Gensler Sports Leader Ryan Sickman discussed Gensler’s designs at Austin’s Q2 Stadium and at Cairo’s Al-Ahly Football Club, which features sunken seating and a perforated facade to support ventilation.
July 25, 2025
In The Media
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Tradeline Inc.
Tradeline Inc. Highlighted Athletic Facilities Designed To Support Women at All Levels
Gensler’s Demetra Thornton, Kristin Byrd, Marine Maroukian, and Elizabeth Pritchett, noted the need to design spaces that “support the many hats that a lot of these female athletes are wearing.”
July 23, 2025
In The Media
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The New York Times
The New York Times Spotlights Centennial Yards as a Prime Example of Sports-Anchored Developments
The forthcoming Centennial Yards Entertainment District in Atlanta, designed by Gensler and SHAPE, is spotlighted as an example of the rise of real estate developments led by professional sports teams.
July 20, 2025
In The Media
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Forbes
Gensler Is Leading the Master Plan and Stadium Design for Related Midwest’s The 78 Mixed-Use Development
Chicago Fire FC’s new home will create a mix of housing, parks, public spaces, and year-round activation. Gensler’s Kirk Funkhouser discussed how the stadium design respects Chicago’s architectural past.
June 16, 2025
In The Media
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Audacy
How Cities Can Build Thriving Entertainment Districts
Audacy interviewed Scott Sayers from Gensler Kansas City about how cities can build thriving entertainment districts by approaching a stadium and its surrounding areas as “one cohesive community.”
June 01, 2025
In The Media
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Yahoo! News
Gensler is Designing Three Luxury Suites at D.C.’s Capital One Arena to Elevate the Guest Experience
Design Director Andrew Jacobs explained, “We’re bringing a new level to Capital One Arena — rethinking everything from the overall ambiance to the smallest touchpoints.”
May 19, 2025
In The Media
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Los Angeles Times
Hollywood Park Studios Will Serve As the 2028 Olympic Games International Broadcast Center
Built by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and designed by Gensler, the space will house hundreds of broadcasters during the Summer Games and will later be used to make movies, television shows, and more.
May 13, 2025
In The Media
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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times Shared Plans for the Rams’ New Headquarters as Part of a Mixed-Use Development at Warner Center
Gensler Principal Eric Stultz was interviewed, along with Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, and other partners, about Rams Village, which will anchor the $10 billion mixed-use development in the San Fernando Valley.
April 06, 2025
In The Media
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TheStreet
How Innovations in Architecture Are Transforming How We Experience Sports
Gensler Co-CEO Jordan Goldstein discussed the firm’s work to reshape sports and entertainment facilities in 2025 across projects including Phoenix Mercury’s Training Facility and HQ and Capital One Arena.
March 17, 2025
In The Media
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Dezeen
Dezeen Revealed Gensler’s Design for Al-Ahly Football Club’s First Home Stadium in Cairo
Gensler Sports Leader Tayomara Gama says the design “aims to create a landmark venue that embodies the spirit of the club and acts as a cultural and economic catalyst for the region.”
February 17, 2025
Press Release
Gensler Unveils Visionary Concept for Al-Ahly Football Club’s First Home in Cairo
Gensler’s design aims to create a landmark venue that embodies the spirit of the Al-Ahly Football Club and acts as a cultural and economic catalyst for the region.
February 17, 2025