Charlotte City Council approved $650 million to modernize Bank of America Stadium in 2024. Rendering: Courtesy of Tepper Sports & Entertainment
It's not just Bank of America Stadium. Fans at sports arenas nationwide are cheering on renovations that prioritize fan experiences.
Why it matters: Fans want not just a seat at a game but an immersive experience, designers believe.
"If done right, [the sports experience] can be a whole ecosystem that attracts fans and event-goers — from hotels to restaurants and bars, retail and cultural attractions," Gensler CEO Jordan Goldstein tells Axios.
Driving the news: Last year, Charlotte City Council approved $650 million for Bank of America Stadium's $800 million upgrades.
The renovations will cover new seats, scoreboards, video signage and sound system, exterior video boards for watch parties, a new 500-level patio with skyline views, and a "reimagined" lawn pavilion.
Spectrum Center is also undergoing a major facelift, with redesigned fan sections and improved traffic flow. The city contributed $245 million to the project.
Zoom out: Older venues have to keep up with the fan-forward innovations from the new kids on the block.
The roughly $2 billion basketball-specific Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., opened in August. It features The Wall, a section of seating reserved for Los Angeles Clippers fans directly behind one of the baskets, allowing fans to intimidate the opposing team.
