Skip to content
Toggle menu
SportsTravel SportsTravel

Breaking News, Podcasts and Analysis Serving People who Organize, Manage and Host Sports Events

Primary Menu
  • News
    • Hosts & Suppliers
    • Recently Awarded
    • Sports Organizations
    • Sports Venues
    • Sponsors & Media
  • IN DEPTH
    • Editor’s Picks
    • On Assignment
    • Perspectives
    • Technology in Sports
  • Podcasts
  • Sports
    • CATEGORY
      • Amateur Sports
      • Youth Sports
      • Collegiate Sports
      • Professional Sports
      • Olympic Sports
      • Paralympic Sports
      • National Governing Body
      • Adaptive Sports
      • Sustainability
      • Water Sports
      • Winter Sports
      • Women’s Sports
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Bowling
      • Cycling
      • Football
      • Golf
      • Gymnastics
      • Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Motorsports
      • Pickleball
      • Rugby
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Swimming
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
      • Volleyball
      • Wrestling
  • Esports
    • Esports News
    • Esports Guide
    • EsportsTravel Summit
  • Resources
    • Bid Bowl
    • Submission Form
      • About Bid Bowl
    • Destination Spotlight
    • Destination Guides
    • Downloadable Guides
    • Venue Guides
    • Media Kit
      • Media Kit
      • 2023 Editorial Calendar
    • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • EVENTS
    • TEAMS CONFERENCE & EXPO
    • TEAMS Europe
    • EsportsTravel Summit
    • SportsTravel Road Trip
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram


Home > Perspectives > Future of Sports Venues: Where Hospitality Meets the Fan Experience

Future of Sports Venues: Where Hospitality Meets the Fan Experience

Here is a look at home some new venues have incorporated the feel of their home city

Posted On : May 27, 2021 By Edith Ponciano
Gensler_Banc of California Stadium_01

The sports industry has undergone a major transformation and with the increased desire and development of sports venues in the United States, there is a strong need for owners and operators to diversify and elevate offerings. A key differentiator in venue design has been to integrate hospitality design strategies that attract new audiences and enable venues to be activated beyond game day.

New sporting venues are designed to optimize an immersive fan and guest experience through unexpected premium and lifestyle spaces. This take on venue design seeks to personalize the guest experience and becomes the driver for financially and socially sustainable venues. Three trends include enhanced seating options, food and beverage programming, and the storytelling and branding of venues. The most successful examples are rooted in the local culture and integrate the community.

Every venue needs a story and every space is a chapter that brings guests along for a journey, which can be unique depending on the experience they’d like to enjoy. Here are four venues that exemplify these trends.

Banc of California Stadium: Setting a New Benchmark for the Premium MLS Experience

Completed in 2018, Banc of California Stadium became more than a home for Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Football Club. The stadium encompasses 37,000 square feet of new development, including a restaurant, merchandise store, lounge and bar areas, suites and a private party terrace — creating social hubs for attendees to celebrate the team and connect with fans. The stadium offers a variety of exterior and interior spaces that take design inspiration from a California aesthetic, with each level offering a distinct look and feel.

Photos courtesy Gensler/Ryan Gobuty

Inspired by the Art Deco movement, the Field Club (left) uses a darker palette and brass accents to create a posh atmosphere. The space provides fans an exclusive experience with premium seats that are steps from the field and centrally located for breathtaking views of the game. Chef’s tables serve seasonal menus that change game to game. As guests make their way up the stadium, the Sunset Terrace (right) provides panoramic views of the Hollywood sign and skyline views of downtown Los Angeles. Spacious suites reflect light, summer‐ready colors throughout with a water feature, grass lawn and table tennis tables suggesting a breezy California retreat.

Chase Center: Bringing an Unprecedented Level of Luxury to Venue Design

Chase Center is a new 18,000‐seat professional sports arena in San Francisco completed in September 2019 as the new home for the Golden State Warriors. Chase Center creates a true hospitality feel reminiscent of high‐end hotels and lounges. The arena showcases elevated hospitality through public and VIP spaces that supports Chase Center’s multifunctionality to host events from concerts and galas to executive gatherings and team celebrations. An elevated experience in club suites, lounges and spaces throughout is created by materials and textures of warm woods, natural stone and brass metal accents; while cool gray tones and brass reflect a sophisticated take on the home team’s colors.

Courtesy Gensler/Jason O’Rear

The Theater Boxes (left) provide in‐seat service and a perfect vantage point for games and concerts. Mini-boxes that face the court include a full buffet and bar, as well as restaurant‐style seating. These spaces are lined with an exclusive dining area, along with plush and private balcony seats, making the perfect perch to take in all the action. The Courtside Lounge (left) displays design and palette elements that reflect the luxury and comfort of wine country. Inspired by the interior of a wine barrel, guests are greeted by a dramatic vaulted ceiling barrel and an oversized media wall. The suites also feature a private bar, harvest table and shared wine vault.

San Diego State Aztec Stadium: Offering a New Way of Experiencing Collegiate Sports

The new 35,000‐seat stadium will be the home of San Diego State University’s football team. Aztec Stadium represents the first project on the university’s Mission Valley Campus expansion, converting the old Qualcomm Stadium site into an entertainment and education district that is anchored by the stadium. The design is deeply tied to the distinct and local culture of San Diego.

Courtesy of Gensler

A key feature of the stadium is the Craft Gardens (left), which is inspired by iconic San Diego outdoor venues such as Balboa Park and Petco Park, and will offer authentic, well‐crafted food and beverage experiences. The design takes cues from informal beer gardens that will become social destinations on non‐game days. Another signature element of the new stadium will be The Piers (right). Inspired by the San Diego coastline and the city’s shore and surf culture, The Piers will offer a standing room to view the field, with easy flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as private spaces for social gatherings and events.

Q2 Stadium: Providing Top‐Tier Indoor/Outdoor Hospitality Amenities

Opening in June, Q2 Stadium is the home of Austin’s Major League Soccer team, Austin FC. “Austin is an outdoor city, and Q2 Stadium reflects the ethos of Austin in numerous design aspects,” said Andy Loughnane, Austin FC president. “Q2 Stadium is designed to create a world‐class experience that accounts for the climate of our region, and the combination of comfortable outdoor spaces blended alongside a variety of conditioned spaces helps to achieve that core objective.”

Hosting 20,500 fans on game day, the stadium offers multiple, landscaped outdoor spaces, including an amphitheater and stage for live music where fans come together. Other amenities include a beer hall featuring local food and beverages, as well as spaces equipped with large video screens for pre‐ and post‐game entertainment.

Courtesy of Gensler

The Captain Morgan Club (left) is a premium space with an outdoor patio area overlooking a terraced amphitheater and providing a multipurpose community space, reflecting a uniquely Austin backyard vibe. A raw industrial concept is integrated into the club interior, with rough finishes and roll‐up doors providing a true indoor/outdoor vibe to the space. This brand‐new, state‐of-the‐art bar and club will provide members with a top‐flight food and beverage experience during Austin FC home matches and events hosted at Q2 Stadium.

The Loge Terrace (right) provides panoramic views of the stadium. The design concept, from furniture and lighting touches, was inspired by the front porches seen locally in Texas. The space provides outdoor loge seats and a variety of lounge seating that have the colorful backdrop of assorted “Verde” sunshade louvers and an iconic façade on the exterior, creating an intimate experience for patrons. The Loge Terrace takes advantage of Austin’s sunny climate and fresh air while providing plenty of shade — perfect for social gatherings.

The shift in the sports industry and fan preferences have taught us the value of a people‐first design approach to create fresh, new experiences that reflect the destination by elevating the hospitality experience. This year‐round activated model is an opportunity to design resilient sporting venues that go beyond game day to revitalize their communities.


Edith Ponciano is an Associate and Interiors Design Director at Gensler and has been with the firm for more than a decade. Edith’s work includes The Star, Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and Training Facility, Banc of California Stadium, BMO Field Expansion, as well as the LAFC Performance Center. She recently completed the interior design effort for all premium club and VIP entertainment areas for the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. She recently led the interior design effort for Q2 Stadium and SDSU Aztec Stadium.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
Posted in: Basketball, Collegiate Sports, Football, Perspectives, Professional Sports, Soccer, Sports VenuesTagged : Banc of California Stadium,Gensler,Golden State Warriors

Post navigation

Medical Journal Questions COVID-19 Countermeasures Ahead of Tokyo Olympics
Cleveland Cavaliers Choose Esports Entertainment Group for Tournament Platform

Follow us on Twitter

SportsTravel Follow

Breaking News, Podcasts and Analysis Serving People who Organize, Manage and Host Sports Events. Producers of the TEAMS Conference & Expo.

SportsTravel
sportstravel SportsTravel @sportstravel ·
3 Feb

The @usta has announced that Coco Gauff and the United States @BJKCup Team will play at the Delray Beach Tennis Center April 14–15 in a 2023 match against Austria. @pbsportsfl
https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/billie-jean-king-cup-tie-heading-to-palm-beaches/

Reply on Twitter 1621651227879825408 Retweet on Twitter 1621651227879825408 Like on Twitter 1621651227879825408 1 Twitter 1621651227879825408
sportstravel SportsTravel @sportstravel ·
3 Feb

The @PGA has announced that Dancing Rabbit Golf Club at @PRRofficial in Philadelphia, Mississippi, will host the 2023 PGA University Championship, set for November 13–15.
https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/2023-pga-university-championship-headed-to-mississippi/

Reply on Twitter 1621627267234529280 Retweet on Twitter 1621627267234529280 Like on Twitter 1621627267234529280 2 Twitter 1621627267234529280
sportstravel SportsTravel @sportstravel ·
3 Feb

.@GSOB_Sports is exploring the possibility of a $6 million, 38,000-square-foot building at the city’s Sportsplex for sports and community events. The venue would accommodate several courts for volleyball, basketball or pickleball.
https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/gulf-shores-explores-new-6-million-building/

Reply on Twitter 1621606559905353728 Retweet on Twitter 1621606559905353728 Like on Twitter 1621606559905353728 Twitter 1621606559905353728
sportstravel SportsTravel @sportstravel ·
3 Feb

The Danish capital of Copenhagen will host the 2024 @FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Qualifier and @FIBA3x3 Europe Cup in 2025, complete with an urban festival with street activities.
https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/copenhagen-to-host-two-fiba-europe-cup-events/

Reply on Twitter 1621595821182705667 Retweet on Twitter 1621595821182705667 Like on Twitter 1621595821182705667 Twitter 1621595821182705667
Load More

sportstravel

Pro Bowl Games 2023 #probowl #football #flagfootb Pro Bowl Games 2023

#probowl #football #flagfootball #lasvegas @allegiantstadium @vegas @nfl #fans
There's so much to discover at the new Virginia Be There's so much to discover at the new Virginia Beach Sports Center! 285,000 square feet of convertible space can accommodate 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, nine field hockey courts, and a 200-meter hydraulically banked track—and it can hold up to 5,000 spectators to watch the action.
SportsTravel is on location in Philadelphia for th SportsTravel is on location in Philadelphia for the @unitedsoccercoaches Convention that starts tomorrow and lasts throughout the week. We’re looking forward to the next few days of connecting with friends old and new on location.
CES 2023 is going strong in Las Vegas. CES 2023 is going strong in Las Vegas.
Virginia Beach may be famous for its gorgeous outd Virginia Beach may be famous for its gorgeous outdoor spaces, but the city’s newest sports facility makes it a pleasure to be indoors. The @vbsportscenter is your premier sports facility in Virginia Beach, offering high-quality basketball, volleyball, field hockey, track & field facilities, and plenty of room for your team to shine. Find out more at https://vbsportscenter.com
Michigan won’t go away. What an instant classic. Michigan won’t go away. What an instant classic.
The TCU faithful have had a lot to cheer about in The TCU faithful have had a lot to cheer about in the first half.
The College Football Playoff kicks off with the fi The College Football Playoff kicks off with the first semifinal between TCU and Michigan at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
Some sights and sounds from the Rivalry Series gam Some sights and sounds from the Rivalry Series game between Team USA and Team Canada on December 15.
Hilary Knight tied the game for Team USA in the th Hilary Knight tied the game for Team USA in the third period of a Rivalry Series game with Team Canada on December 15.
Michelle Lupo, the business development manager fo Michelle Lupo, the business development manager for the @northstarmeets Sports Division, moderated a session today at the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism, featuring Kara Bachman from the Chicago Sports Commission, Curtis Francois from World Wide Technology Raceway and John Groh from the Rockford Area CVB. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about sports-related travel!

@chisportscomm @wwtraceway @gorockford #travel #tourism #sportstravel #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness
The Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok kicks off wi The Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok kicks off with a 2 a.m. start Sunday to give runners the best conditions possible across the city. The Expo is taking place at Royal Paragon Hall, where runners can pick up their bibs and prepare for the race.

#marathon #running #sportsevents #sportstourism #sportstravel @tourismthailand
Thank you to @worldathletics and Mass Participatio Thank you to @worldathletics and Mass Participation World for the chance for SportsTravel Executive Editor and Publisher Jason Gewirtz to present the latest data on sports-related travel to delegates at the World Athletics Global Running Conference in Bangkok. Friday’s schedule also included remarks from the prime minister of Thailand and the country’s sports and tourism minister, who emphasized the importance of sports events to the nation’s economy and quality of life.

#athletics #thailand #bangkok #running #sportstravel #sportstourim @tourismthailand
Love high speed sports? We are at the @ibsfsliding Love high speed sports? We are at the @ibsfsliding World Cup event in Park City at @utaholympicpark this weekend. Friday morning’s action was the women’s monobob event, won by American Kaillie Humphries. Scroll through to see the #bobsled in action at full speed, then slow motion, and hear from Humphries after her win.
SportsTravel is in Bangkok, Thailand, this week mo SportsTravel is in Bangkok, Thailand, this week moderating sessions and presenting on sports-related travel at the @worldathletics Global Running Conference, including an opening day session on government relations in sports events featuring @sport_singapore, Portas Consulting, @laliga and @houstonsports_janis from the @hc_hsa who appeared virtually from Doha where she is attending the World Cup.
#sportstourism #sportstravel #mpw22 #wagrc
Winner buys dinner! When you bring your sports eve Winner buys dinner! When you bring your sports event to World Equestrian Center – Ocala, you can refuel with something heavenly from seven different on-site restaurants. From pub burgers and #taco salads to fine dining, WEC has a #winning option for everyone.
Twickenham Stadium in London is the largest rugby Twickenham Stadium in London is the largest rugby union stadium in the world, seating 82,000. The home of England Rugby, it is owned and operated by the Rugby Football Union and hosts events year round. 

#rugby #rugbyunion #twickenham @twickenhamstadium
Black in a sea of orange: the courage of the oppos Black in a sea of orange: the courage of the opposing fans.

@raiders @broncos @nfl #fans #raiderfans #broncofans @empowerfieldatmilehigh
One of the NFL’s best traditions is the @broncos One of the NFL’s best traditions is the @broncosthunderstorm skydivers who jump into Empower Field at Mile High before every @broncos game.
Beer and alcohol sales may be banned at the World Beer and alcohol sales may be banned at the World Cup, but in the @nfl, there are more than enough in-stadium options, including the many available at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the @broncos. 

#worldcup #2022worldcup #broncos #beer #drinks #sportsevents
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Toronto Maple Leafs to Host 2024 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend
  • Billie Jean King Cup Heading to Palm Beaches
  • 2023 PGA University Championship Headed to Mississippi
  • Gulf Shores Explores New $6 Million Building at Sportsplex
  • Copenhagen to Host Two FIBA Europe Cup Events
  • Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay to Begin in Marseille
  • Australia, New Zealand ‘Disappointed’ by Women’s World Cup Saudi Sponsorship
  • IOC Details Russia Stance for Olympics as Ukraine Threatens Boycott
Sports Travel Magazine

About Us

Since 1997, SportsTravel magazine has served the sports‐related travel and event industry. It is the only publication written and designed to serve the people who organize, manage and host sporting events of all types at all levels.

  • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • SportsTravel Foundation
  • Supplied Content
  • Privacy
  • Terms

NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA SITES

  • Northstar Meetings Group
  • Meetings & Conventions
  • Meetings & Conventions Asia
  • Meetings & Conventions China
  • Successful Meetings
  • Incentive
  • Meeting News
  • Retail Travel
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • See All Northstar Brands

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Sports ETA

Destinations International
Northstar Travel Media LLC Copyright © 2023 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
scroll to top