USA – ILLINOIS Trends and Developments Contributed by: Jason R. Gorczynski, Katten
the team is evaluating potential new locations in Missouri and in neighbouring Kansas. New NBA Venues Whether through significant renovations to existing home arenas or the construction of new home are - nas, teams in the NBA desire modern arenas that aim to maximise crowd noise, promote fan engagement, incorporate “smart” technologies such as enormous video boards and frictionless food and beverage ser - vice, and include player-focused locker rooms, train - ing areas and other facilities. NBA teams that are currently pursuing new arenas include the following. • In 2026, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be break - ing ground on a new arena scheduled to open in 2028. The downtown Oklahoma City arena will have a 360-degree glass curtain wall offering pano - ramic views from all interior concourses. • The Philadelphia 76ers are developing a new arena in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, targeting com - pletion in 2030. The 76ers will share the arena with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and a WNBA expan - sion team that will debut in 2030. • The San Antonio Spurs are developing a new arena in downtown San Antonio, Texas, within Project Marvel, a proposed sports and entertainment dis - trict of more than 25 acres seeking to revitalise the downtown area. Sports-Anchored Mixed-Use Developments Each team’s pursuit of its new home venue, discussed earlier in this article, involves integration into a larger mixed-use development. Sports venues are now serv - ing as the catalyst for the creation of whole neighbour - hoods. Chicago Fire FC’s new stadium will serve to anchor development of The 78, the 62 acres of currently undeveloped riverfront land in downtown Chicago pegged to become the city’s 78th neighbourhood. The private investments by Chicago Fire FC and the developer of The 78 will contribute to the acceleration of infrastructure investments needed to attract new developments, including additional housing.
Stadiums provide economically resilient energy and vitality to the surrounding mixed-use development, and such a development provides year-round acti - vation beyond game day. This symbiotic relationship is evidenced by the success of Gallagher Way, com - prising a boutique hotel and 14 restaurants and retail establishments, adjacent to the Cubs’ Wrigley Field. The 1901 Project is another transformative develop - ment on Chicago’s West Side. Owners of the Bulls and the Blackhawks are spearheading the USD7 bil - lion private investment into over 55 acres around the United Center. The land to be developed largely con - sists of surface parking lots. The long-term multiphase project is planned to include over 1,000 transit-oriented affordable housing units, five acres of park and open space and a 6,000-person capacity venue for entertainment. Additional examples of current sports-anchored mixed-use developments in underutilised areas include the following: • Inter Miami CF’s Nu Stadium serves as an anchor in the 131-acre Miami Freedom Park development, which will include a 5,000-person performance venue along with 200,000 square feet of additional entertainment outlets, over ten restaurants and bars, and a 58-acre public park; • NYCFC’s Etihad Park serves as a component of the 3.3-million-square-foot Willets Point Project, which will include 2,500 units of 100% affordable housing, a 650-seat public school, 115,000 square feet of open space and 250 hotel keys; and • State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, serve as entertainment draws adjacent to Centennial Yards Atlanta, a USD5 billion urban revitalisation project with more than 50 acres that includes a 5,300-seat venue, a 70,000-square-foot three-level immersive enter - tainment venue, a 292-key hotel and a 304-unit apartment tower. Facilities Specific to Women’s Teams The rise of women’s sports revenue, attendance, investment and broadcast viewership have increased
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