#TDA24 Awards: Meet the Finalists

After evaluating a record number of entries, TheStadiumBusiness is delighted to unveil the shortlisted finalists for the fifth annual Design & Development Awards (#TDA24).

Since 2017 these awards have recognised the best in venue design, development, construction and refurbishment across the global sports and entertainment sector.

 Congratulations to the finalists in each of this year’s Categories:

DESTINATION AWARD

– sponsored by SEREGH

This award recognises the ‘sense of place’ for a sports or entertainment venue. Where have landscaping, access, wayfinding, theming and branding been integrated to create a complete destination within a venue’s locality?

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• adidas arena (Paris)
• GMHBA Stadium (Geelong)
• Intuit Dome (Inglewood)
• Marvel Stadium (Melbourne)
• Sphere (Las Vegas)
• Thunder Ridge Nature Arena (Missouri)

FAÇADE & EXTERIOR AWARD

This award highlights the most visually striking element of any venue: the façade, cladding or exterior wrap. Alongside the visual impact and uniqueness of design, the judging will also take into consideration serviceability, sustainability, durability, and cost-efficiency.

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• Bramley-Moore Dock – Everton FC (Merseyside)
• Estadio Santiago Bernabéu – Real Madrid CF (Madrid)
• Gewiss Stadium – Atalanta FC (Bergamo)
• Intuit Dome (Inglewood)
• Kai Tak Sports Park (Hong Kong)
• SM Mall of Asia Arena (Manila)
• Suoyuwan Stadium (Dalian)

INDUSTRY PARTNER AWARD

Awarded to the architect, design, engineering, or professional services firm that has provided consistently outstanding service to venue design and delivery.

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• Anthony James Partners
• Dawnvale Group
• Cox Architecture
• Egis Group
• Machete Group
• RLB – Rider Levett Bucknall

AV FAN EXPERIENCE AWARD

Recognising the best use of integrated audio, video, display, digital sensor and/or control technology within or around a venue to engage fans and enhance their experience of an event or attraction.

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• Glass floor at BMW Park (FC Bayern Basketball/ASB GlassFloor)
• Las Vegas F1 / Smarter Navigation (PAM)
• LED wall at Adele World (Live Nation/Munich Messe/Solotech)
• LED walls at Asian Games (Hangzhou/Olympic Council of Asia)
• NOVA Armrest at Intuit Dome (PixMob)
• Sphere Las Vegas (MSG Sphere/7th Sense)

CONCOURSE ACTIVATION AWARD

For too long our General Admission (GA) spaces have been overlooked or underserved. This new award celebrates the project which has elevated the beating heart of any entertainment venue – its concourse – to a new level. Who’s put the ‘woohay’ into GA?

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• F1® Drive at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Caesars Superdome refurbishment (New Orleans Saints)
• Coke Studio Crypto.com Arena
• Cusack Stand refurbishment (Croke Park)
• EBar Beerwall at The Den (Millwall FC)
• Jimmy McIlroy Stand refurbishment (Burnley FC/RDA/Levy)

COMMUNITY PROJECT AWARD

Recognising the design and delivery of a community-focused facility project in sports and entertainment.

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• Accessible Facilities & Sensory Room at Breffni Park (Cavan GAA)
• Carbon-neutral Canon Medical Arena (Sheffield)
• Community legacy at Parque Estadio Nacional (Chile)
• Remembrance Garden at John Smith’s Stadium (Huddersfield Town FC)
• The Green Roof at adidas arena (Paris Entertainment Company)
• AELTC Community Tennis Centre (All England Club/Langstaff Day Architects)

INNOVATION AWARD

Awarded to an organisation or product that has demonstrated genuine, industry-changing innovation. Consideration is given to step-change improvements in the following areas: sustainability, materials utilisation, ease of application, speed of construction, and cost savings.

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• BIM + 5G smart stadium construction at Kai Tak Sports Park (Hip Hing Engineering/Populous)
• Cosm at Hollywood Park (SoFi Stadium/HKS)
• DreamSeat at W&S Open (Lindner Family Tennis Center, Cincinnati)
• Energy savings at Coca-Cola Arena (Dubai)
• Palasport Genoa revamp (Cds/CONI/Renzo Piano BW/Vespier Architects)
• Paris La Défense Arena / wooarchitects – Paris 2024 aquatic centre
• Vertical Turf Farm (Real Madrid FC/SENER/L35)
• Wi-Fi 6E at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (AMB Sports and Entertprises/HP Aruba)

HOSPITALITY & PREMIUM AWARD

Recognising the best in design for a hospitality, VIP, sponsor or premium space within a venue. Consideration is given to design innovation, function, sustainability, purpose, and overall ‘wow’ factor. 

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• Porsche Tunnel Club at MHPArena (Vfb Stuttgart)
• Roof Deck hospitality at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)
• The Mezz at AO ArenA
• The NinetyThird by Qatar Airways at The O2
• Tynecastle Park Hotel (Hearts FC)
• Yas Marina Paddock Club (Ethara/BDP)

SUSTAINABILITY DELIVERED AWARD

Our Sustainability Delivered Award recognises projects that aim to be future-proof, but which have also been designed and delivered to reduce a venue’s overall impact on the environment in an exceptional way. 

Our 2024 shortlisted finalists are:

• 100% renewable energy at Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders)
• All-(renewable)-electric arena (Co-op Live/OVG)
• ArenA super battery (Johan Cruijff Arena)
• Net Zero 2050 Carbon Pledge (P&J Live/Positive Planet)
• PreZero Arena: Bundesliga’s first Zero Waste venue (TSG Hoffenheim)
• ‘Road to Zero’ Italian Cup Final (Sport e Salute/Stadio Olimpico)

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

For a completed new-build – or expansion, modernisation or major capital enhancement project of an existing venue – that has delivered on all its goals and more.

Our 2024 shortlisted entries are:

• Caesars Superdome refurbishment (New Orleans)
• Co-op Live (Manchester)
• CPKC Stadium (Kansas City)
• Cusack Stand – Croke Park (Dublin)
• Euro 2024 makeover – MHPArena (Stuttgart)
• Estadio Santiago Bernabéu redevelopment (Madrid)
• Nassau County International Cricket Stadium (New York)
• Paris 2024 redevelopment – Stade Yves-du-Manoir (Paris)

What’s Next?

• The Press Kit will be sent to all shortlisters.
• Supporting evidence will be invited before the full Awards Briefing & Dossier is handed over to our 2024 Judging Panel.
• Representatives of all shortlisted entries will be invited as our guests to the TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards and Winners Party on the evening of 3 December during our 12th annual TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

More background on TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards here. If you’re on the shortlists, then we’ll be in touch very soon.

Congratulations to every project that made the shortlists – and good luck everyone!