First Pitch
Architectural firm HKS released new renderings of the planned Washington Commanders stadium. The 180-acre urban site aims to be a year-round destination for sports, entertainment, housing, parks and recreation, and neighborhood amenities. The venue will accommodate more than 70,000 guests at over 200 events every year, including global sporting events, concerts, community festivals and major national celebrations. Sustainability, advanced technology, an enhanced fan experience and amplified sponsorship integration will be at the forefront of the stadium’s design.
Architectural firm Stanford Carr released renderings for a new Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The 31,000-seat stadium could eventually be expanded to 40,000 seats, and designers have also included club-level seating available at higher price points. The new stadium is expected to cost around $650 million with the full 30-year project to eventually include restaurants, a cultural center and 4,500 housing units.
Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group has submitted plans for a massive redevelopment of North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Ga. The central feature of the proposed project is a 20,000-seat NHL arena for what would be the league’s 33rd team. Also in the plan are additional entertainment and hospitality venues that will include a 4,000-seat music hall and performing arts center, a 2,000-seat community hockey rink and a 500-seat movie theater.
Breaking Ground
Rendering courtesy of Chicago Fire FC
Chicago Fire FC officially broke ground on its new $750 million privately funded soccer stadium in the city’s South Loop. Designed by Gensler, the open-air stadium will seat more than 22,000 fans and feature a natural grass playing surface, 360-degree viewing, a dedicated supporters’ section engineered for atmosphere, and premium hospitality offerings. The stadium is expected to open ahead of the 2028 MLS season, becoming the first major professional stadium built in Chicago in more than 30 years.
Miami FC, which currently plays at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium, has begun work on a new 10,000-seat soccer stadium in Homestead. The stadium is part of the Sports Performance Hub, a 92-acre, privately funded $280 million sports and education campus.
The City of West Memphis has broken ground on a new community aquatics and recreation center. The facility will include indoor basketball courts, volleyball courts, an indoor walking track and pickleball courts, as well as a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center. Mayor Marco McClendon said the $34 million project represents a significant investment in the city’s future, adding that the facility will provide a swimming and recreation center for children, adults and seniors, while also boosting tourism.
Grand Openings
Austin Peay State University Athletics completed renovations to the Governors’ indoor softball training facility. The project modernized the indoor training space used by the Austin Peay softball program, improving the facility’s functionality and creating an environment that supports year-round development and performance. Renovations enhanced the overall training layout and updated key areas of the facility to better support daily team operations.
Flour Bluff (Texas) Independent School District celebrated the opening of the district’s renovated baseball and softball facilities. The upgrades, made possible through a 2025 bond, include new synthetic turf, dugouts, scoreboards, batting cages and an extended softball backstop. The district says the improvements will also reduce water usage and lower long-term maintenance costs.
