Our site uses cookies. But don’t worry, they’re low carb – baked perfectly to give you the best Aurecon website experience and to collect statistics without all the calories. To learn more, please read our cookie policy.
Change your location to view content tailored for you.
Sports & EntertainmentConnecting people with memory-making, city-shaping infrastructure
Creating legacies through city-shaping sports and entertainment facilities
Great cities and towns need great sports and entertainment facilities. These developments are not just places to host sporting, business, entertainment, and cultural events. They have the power to connect people and communities – both virtually and ‘in real life’ – through memory-making experiences, while driving economic growth through job creation and investment.
They have the potential to create legacy by transforming communities. It’s time to re-think how we plan, design and deliver these city and region-shaping developments to create value beyond the stadium or arena.
In this video, in celebration of Allianz Stadium one year anniversary, Aurecon’s eminent stadia team in Sydney reflect on their most memorable stadia moments.
Entertainment precincts that create value beyond the venue
Re-thinking how sports and entertainment venues and their surrounding precincts are planned, designed and delivered can create optimum social, environmental and economic value.
We should be asking:
How can we create equity, inclusivity and accessibility for everyone?
What kinds of transport and transit are required so that mobility is seamless and safe?
How can we activate the sports and entertainment precinct 24/7 with attractions, open spaces, retail, business, education and hospitality services to encourage gathering beyond major activities such as Olympic and Paralympic Games, concerts and conventions?
The ‘fan experience’ is essential for a successful sports and entertainment venue – what other facilities need to be incorporated to ensure the ultimate experience as well as revenue potential and adaptability for multi-sports and many events?
How can we ensure the sports and entertainment precinct respects local and Indigenous history and culture?
How do we enable biodiversity, circularity and sustainability to co-exist with development?
How can we integrate the precinct into the wider city and region?
What technologies need to be incorporated now and for tomorrow? Beyond current digital enablement what will AI bring to the ‘fan experience’?
What are the best structures for governance, procurement, financing, and delivery?
Strategic planning, exemplary design and cost-effective delivery
With so much at stake, these prominent developments are characterised by complexity and uncertainty. Understanding the challenges and risks and taking the time to carefully plan the governance, procurement, design, delivery and on-going enhancements are crucial.
Strategic planning identifies risks and opportunities
Strategic planning sets up developments for success, engaging all stakeholders in considering and prioritising needs and wants. It identifies risks, best practice benchmarks, goals, business case parameters, ROI, financing and procurement models, sustainability options and legacy outcomes. A decision-making framework is essential for navigating these complexities.
Exemplary design creates legacy
Exemplary design creates legacy through forward-thinking approaches that consider both human and environmental factors, while also being economically sustainable. Iconic designs create potential for tourism, local pride and long-term economic value. You only have to look at buildings such the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and Wembley Stadium in London, and sports and entertainment precincts such as Melbourne Park, host to the Australian Open, and Barangaroo Reserve in Sydney, to understand the role good design plays in elevating ‘ordinary’ to ‘extraordinary’.
Successful delivery is a win-win for all stakeholders
Successful project delivery can be challenging under normal conditions. In an environment of supply chain uncertainties, resourcing constraints, escalating material costs, interest rate fluctuations and increasing environmental scrutiny, the stakes are high. Early engagement with delivery partners, creating an environment of trust, transparency, and communication, alleviates some of the risks. Using digital tools to enable information sharing and collaboration across project team members is essential. Being open to innovative procurement, financing, and construction models is necessary to achieve the best outcomes.
Ultimately, together, good planning, design and delivery creates sports and entertainment facilities and precincts that have the power to transform communities.
Aurecon takes pride in our integrated, innovative, and holistic approach – from planning, through to design and delivery – of major projects. We connect our strategic advisory capabilities and technical design and delivery expertise with an international track record in sports and entertainment and other complex developments to give our clients confidence that their assets will be world-class.
This approach, together with collaboration with our clients and project partners, is the path to innovation and success, and is why we have received multiple awards for our projects and have been named one of Australasia's Most Innovative Companies by the Australian Financial Review nine years in a row.
Integrated advisory, design and delivery key to success
Achieving world-class sports and entertainment facilities requires a mix of advisory and technical expertise and experience. At Aurecon, we collaborate and partner with a wide range of clients and project professionals including governments, developers, contractors, architects, transport agencies, water utilities, waste management providers, energy companies and specialist organisations to deliver leading-edge, complex infrastructure assets. We engage with communities and stakeholders to ensure needs and wants are considered and prioritised.
We are in the unique position of integrating each of the elements that impact the successful development of sports and entertainment facilities across advisory and engineering design. Explore our full expertise here.
Aurecon can be a trusted partner from planning through to design and delivery, drawing on our advisory and technical expertise across our international team of professionals, with local presence and experience. Contact one of our team below to find out how.
Stadia design – busting the myths for better decision-making
Aurecon debunks myths about stadium design to help stadia owners, operators and designers design high-performing event and sport venues for the future.
Featured series
Brisbane 2032: Creating lasting impact through transformative infrastructure
Aurecon shares insights on how the 2032 Brisbane Games can deliver legacy infrastructure and lasting economic, environmental and community value.
Timber unlocks circularity for city structures
Exploring sustainable timber and how integrating circular economy principles throughout the lifecycle of a structure can unlock long-term value for infrastructure.
News, blogs & podcasts
New CommBank Stadium heats up with live sports and events
Aurecon delivered structural, civil, building, security and wind engineering services for CommBank Stadium, bringing Western Sydney fans closer to the action than ever before.
Ep.61 An Olympian and Minerva Network Chair discuss female inclusion
Water polo Olympian Taryn Woods sits down with Minerva Network Chair Christine McLoughlin to talk women's representations in the sporting field and in the workplace.
