STADIUM PROJECT NEWS
Rays secure approval for $2.36B Tampa ballpark
Tampa and Hillsborough County have approved financing agreements for the Rays’ planned $2.36 billion ballpark on the Hillsborough College campus. The team will contribute approximately $1.37 billion and cover cost overruns, with construction expected to begin in September ahead of a planned 2029 opening. Read more here.
Spurs appoint construction team for $1.3B arena
Spurs Sports & Entertainment has selected Mortenson and San Antonio-based Bartlett Cocke General Contractors to lead construction management for its planned downtown arena and surrounding district. Local firm MP Studio will advise on landscape architecture for the wider development, with the arena targeted to open for the 2030-31 NBA season. Read more here.
A’s ballpark reaches $600M construction milestone
The Athletics have spent $600 million on their $2 billion Las Vegas ballpark, with two of six roof trusses installed and work progressing on seating risers and interior spaces. Bally’s has also secured financing for the adjacent plaza and plans to proceed with its resort and mixed-use development after revising elements of the original plan. Read more here.
Penn State unveils latest Beaver Stadium upgrades
Penn State has installed new stadium lighting, a directional sound system and a higher-definition north end-zone videoboard ahead of the 2026 football season. The work also includes new west-side seating, wider concourses and accessibility improvements as part of the ongoing $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation. Read more here.
Gas South Arena begins $175M renovation
Atlanta-area’s Gas South Arena will break ground Sept. 3 on a multiyear renovation featuring new premium spaces, loge seating, private suites and upgraded digital displays and concession technology. The project also includes a 1,000-space parking deck and is scheduled for completion in early 2028. Read more here.
STADIUM TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Microsoft brings cloud and AI technology to Blue Jays
Microsoft has become an official Blue Jays partner under a multiyear agreement focused on developing connected fan experiences and AI tools for the organization. The team’s data ecosystem already runs on Microsoft Azure, while the partners will explore applications that support decision-making across baseball and business operations. Read more here.
The O2 Belfast completes major LED upgrade
Merson Digital has installed more than 5,380 square feet of 3.9 mm Yaham LED at The O2 Belfast, including a 656-foot ribbon display and four large-format corner scoreboards. A Navori content management system and multisport scoring platform will manage game information, event content, advertising and fan-engagement features across the displays. Read more here.
CBS Los Angeles produces dual Rams-Chargers broadcasts
CBS Los Angeles used two production trucks, control rooms and crews to create simultaneous team-specific broadcasts of the Rams-Chargers preseason game at SoFi Stadium. KCBS produced the Chargers telecast while KCAL handled the Rams production, with each featuring separate announcers, halftime coverage and postgame programming. Read more here.
STADIUM BUSINESS NEWS
Caterpillar lands field-logo deal with Illinois
Caterpillar’s logo will appear on both 25-yard lines at Gies Memorial Stadium under a multiyear agreement facilitated by Learfield, marking the venue’s first long-term on-field corporate branding. The deal also includes presenting sponsorship of game-day statistics on the stadium’s videoboard, TV-visible signage and digital advertising across Illinois Athletics platforms. Read more here.
Mizzou sponsorship revenue jumps 130% with Learfield
Missouri Athletics has increased sponsorship revenue by more than 130% in less than three years through its work with Learfield, while its average deal size has risen nearly 140% since 2025. Growth has come from naming rights, jersey patches, on-field branding, and new agreements with Missouri-based companies and national brands. Read more here.
EU approves US$87M in aid for Oldenburg stadium
The European Commission has approved approximately $87 million in German public funding for the construction and operation of a new stadium in Oldenburg, removing a major regulatory obstacle. The city has allocated about $66.4 million for the venue, which will initially accommodate 10,604 spectators and can be expanded to 15,000. Read more here.
