Sports &
entertainment
construction
outlook – H2
2019
Key trends affecting the Sports & Entertainment sector
September 09, 2019
Futureproofing for new technology. Venues are at war to have the biggest, best and most immersive technology experience. From jumbotrons to Wi-Fi capacity, every aspect of the technology package within a venue is evolving quickly and taking up an increased share of project costs. To cope with the pace of change, firms are including a core backbone and capacity for tech in their initial designs but waiting until the last possible moment in the design process to spec the equipment; otherwise the final product will be outdated by the time the project delivers..
The pop-up concept comes to concessions. Customers who have grown accustomed to pop-ups and food halls might not be too excited to see the same pizza-by-the-slice stand next to their seats every year. Instead, venues can be designed with modular or easy-to-convert concession areas that can be cheaply swapped out year-to-year to keep up with trends and tastes.
Massive mixed-use development remains king. No longer on the forefront of venue design, large venues for major professional sports now practically come standard with a combination retail entertainment district, hotel and apartments or office space. Many of these massive projects are codeveloped by the team’s ownership group as they look to capitalize on their brand and foot traffic in additional ways.