STADIUM PROJECT NEWS
Beaver Stadium set to become nation’s largest stadium during renovation
Penn State expects Beaver Stadium to temporarily surpass Michigan Stadium in capacity this season as its $700 million renovation continues. The project, scheduled for completion in 2027, is adding new premium spaces, upgraded fan amenities and modern technology while keeping one of college football’s busiest venues fully operational. Read more here.
DLR Group finalizes Camping World Stadium redesign
DLR Group has unveiled the final design for the $400 million redevelopment of Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, introducing a new North Endzone Tower, expanded premium seating, wider concourses and a programmable exterior façade. The modernization is designed to increase capacity to more than 65,000 and prepare the venue to host the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2027 NFL season while positioning the stadium for future major sporting events and concerts. Read more here.
Arena Bowl takes shape at Kalamazoo Event Center
Construction has entered a new phase at the $300 million Kalamazoo Event Center as crews install precast seating risers that are beginning to define the arena bowl. Scheduled to open in fall 2027, the 430,000-square-foot venue will become the home of the Kalamazoo Wings and Western Michigan University’s men’s and women’s basketball and men’s hockey programs while hosting concerts and community events. Read more here.
STADIUM TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Chicago Fire selects Boldyn for McDonald’s Park network
Chicago Fire FC has selected Boldyn Networks to design and deploy the converged digital infrastructure for McDonald’s Park, the club’s new $750 million soccer-specific stadium scheduled to open in 2028. The deployment will include a neutral-host 5G distributed antenna system, high-density Wi-Fi, a fiber backbone supporting broadcast and venue operations, and a network architecture designed to accommodate future fan engagement technologies and commercial services. Read more here.
Bank of America Stadium opens high-tech Experience Center
Tepper Sports & Entertainment has opened a 16,000-square-foot Experience Center showcasing the future of Bank of America Stadium through holograms, immersive projection, interactive displays and full-scale premium seating mockups. Developed by Advent, the facility uses advanced visualization technology to help prospective suite holders and partners experience the $1.3 billion stadium renovation before construction is complete. Read more here.
STADIUM BUSINESS NEWS
Ohio State lands landmark JPMorgan Chase partnership
Ohio State Athletics has signed a landmark partnership with JPMorgan Chase, making the financial institution the Buckeyes’ official banking partner and the first jersey patch sponsor across all 36 varsity sports. Reportedly worth nearly $17 million annually, the agreement includes jersey branding, NIL resources, financial education and fan engagement initiatives, making it one of the richest sponsorship deals in college athletics. Read more here.
Tampa Council vote creates new hurdle for Rays ballpark
The Tampa City Council voted 4-3 against advancing a required land-use amendment for the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed $2.3 billion stadium and mixed-use development, creating a new obstacle for the project. While the vote does not kill the proposal, it delays the approval process and adds uncertainty as the Rays continue negotiations on financing and development for the planned 2029 ballpark. Read more here.
Women’s Pro Baseball League opens inaugural season
The Women’s Professional Baseball League begins play this weekend with a four-team, 30-game inaugural season, marking the return of professional women’s baseball in the U.S. All games will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill., with a shift to a traveling model possible as soon as next season. The startup league has secured national distribution through ESPN and Scripps Sports Network, giving its debut season a major media platform as it looks to establish a long-term presence in the sports marketplace. Read more here.
Mets become first MLB team with prediction market partner
The New York Mets have signed a multi-year agreement with Novig, becoming the first Major League Baseball club to partner with a federally regulated sports prediction market. The deal gives Novig branding across Citi Field, team broadcasts and digital platforms, showing the growing role of prediction markets as a new category of sports sponsorship and fan engagement. Read more here.
Chiefs target Super Bowl, Final Four for new domed stadium
The Kansas City Chiefs have begun discussions with the NFL about bringing a Super Bowl to their planned $3 billion domed stadium, while also pursuing the NCAA Men’s Final Four as part of the venue’s long-term event strategy. Team president Mark Donovan said the franchise is targeting a Super Bowl in 2033, 2034 or 2035, highlighting the stadium’s role as a year-round destination for major sporting events beyond the NFL. Read more here.
