STADIUM BUSINESS NEWS
Rogers agrees deal for full ownership of MLSE
Rogers Communications has agreed to acquire Kilmer Sports’ remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for C$4.35 billion, valuing the company at C$17.4 billion. The transaction, which remains subject to league approvals, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Read more here.
World Cup final set to deliver record business for New York region
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to generate Super Bowl-level business across the New York metropolitan area, driven by premium hospitality, sponsorship activations and exceptionally high ticket demand. MetLife Stadium will accommodate up to 15,000 premium guests, while concessionaire Delaware North expects the event to challenge the venue’s record $11 million in sales from Super Bowl XLVIII. Read more here.
STADIUM PROJECT NEWS
Rays unveil interior renderings of proposed Tampa ballpark
The Tampa Bay Rays have released the first interior renderings of their proposed $2.3 billion ballpark in Tampa, offering a closer look at a 30,000-seat venue designed around fan experience and modern stadium technology. Planned features include two of the industry’s largest video boards, a translucent roof, premium hospitality areas, expanded social spaces and a redesigned ray touch tank as the club continues work toward a targeted 2029 opening. Read more here.
Bears begin site work at proposed Hammond stadium development
The Chicago Bears have started geotechnical surveys at their proposed stadium site in Hammond, Indiana, marking the first on-the-ground work for the potential $5 billion development near Wolf Lake. The mixed-use project would include a domed stadium, hotel, retail and entertainment district, although its public funding package continues to face political opposition. Read more here.
Washington unveils master plan for Commanders’ RFK campus
Washington, D.C., has released a master plan for the 180-acre RFK Stadium site, where a new 65,000-seat home for the Commanders is scheduled to open in 2030. The wider redevelopment calls for thousands of homes, hotels, commercial space and more than 60 acres of parks, with construction planned in phases through 2040. Read more here.
Manchester United identifies site for new 100,000-seat stadium
Manchester United has confirmed the proposed location for its planned 100,000-seat stadium, selecting a site approximately 350 meters from Old Trafford after securing most of the required land. The £2 billion venue would anchor the wider Trafford Wharfside regeneration project, with public consultation and detailed design work expected to begin as the club advances plans for one of Europe’s largest football stadiums. Read more here.
STADIUM TECHNOLOGY NEWS
LA28 selects Warner Bros. Ranch for Olympic broadcast hub
LA28 has chosen the redeveloped Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank as the home of the International Broadcast Center for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The facility will serve as the technical nerve center for global rights holders, housing broadcast operations, studios and production infrastructure that will distribute live coverage from every Olympic venue to audiences worldwide. Read more here.
MLB All-Star Game adds ABS, new 5G camera angles
Major League Baseball and T-Mobile will debut new technology during All-Star Week in Philadelphia, including the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System and 5G-connected cameras mounted on the pitcher’s L-screen to deliver a pitcher’s-eye view during batting practice. Additional innovations include drone coverage, batting cage cameras and expanded fan experiences designed to bring viewers closer to the action on and off the field. Read more here.
Fox expands AR, XR production for World Cup broadcasts
Fox Sports has expanded its use of augmented and extended reality graphics during the FIFA World Cup, integrating virtual elements more deeply into its Studio B production environment. The broadcaster’s next-generation workflow combines real-time graphics, virtual set technology and automated production tools to create a more immersive presentation while streamlining live operations. Read more here.
