Resilient Stadiums Offer Touchdown for Safety and Revenue

Structural flexibility and comfort are key to creating a unique, memorable in-person experience that draws attendees time and again.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:00am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the various elements of a sports stadium - seating, playing field, rigging, and more - in a dynamic, overlapping cubist style, conveying the venue's adaptability and resilience.A cubist interpretation of the structural flexibility and multipurpose functionality that define resilient modern sports stadiums.Inglewood Today

The latest trend in stadium design is to create multipurpose event spaces that are structurally flexible and focused on occupant comfort. This allows stadiums to serve as hubs for a variety of year-round events and activities, enhancing safety, resilience, and revenue potential. Structural engineers employ advanced methods like performance-based design to ensure stadiums can withstand expected and unexpected events, while also accommodating a wide range of uses and equipment.

Why it matters

As sports and entertainment venues become more central to the overall experience and economic development of a community, designing for resilience and flexibility is crucial. Stadiums that can adapt to changing needs, weather, and events will be better positioned to provide a unique in-person experience, drive consistent revenue, and serve as reliable community assets.

The details

The goal of modern stadium design is to create a space that offers attendees a memorable experience they can't replicate at home, even with high-end home entertainment setups. This requires careful consideration of structural elements, loading capacity, rigging capabilities, and overall functionality to accommodate a wide variety of events and activities beyond just the home team's games. Structural engineers employ advanced modeling techniques like performance-based design to ensure stadiums can withstand expected and unexpected stresses, while also remaining adaptable to evolving needs.

  • In 2028, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will host events for the Summer Olympics.
  • The new Nissan Stadium in Nashville opened recently and can accommodate both Tennessee Titans football games and large-scale arena shows.

The players

Ryan Anderson

A sports and entertainment structural engineer who explains that the goal of modern stadiums is to provide a unique in-person experience that attendees can't replicate at home.

Bart Miller

A senior principal of structures at Walter P Moore, a firm that designs stadiums and other unique venues focused on resilience and flexibility.

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What they’re saying

“The stadiums and arenas that we design are very unique compared to traditional buildings, and therefore some of those general rules of thumb don't always apply to sports venues.”

— Ryan Anderson, Sports and entertainment structural engineer

“The show floor itself is often expected to hold dirt for motocross at one time, multiple concert stages another, or even a temporary swimming pool when SoFi Stadium will be a host during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.”

— Ryan Anderson, Sports and entertainment structural engineer

What’s next

As the sports and entertainment industry continues to evolve, stadium designers and operators will need to stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies to ensure their venues remain flexible, resilient, and able to deliver unique experiences that drive consistent revenue.

The takeaway

By designing stadiums with a focus on structural flexibility, comfort, and multipurpose functionality, facility managers can create resilient venues that not only withstand expected and unexpected events, but also adapt to changing fan preferences and event needs, ultimately driving long-term revenue and serving as reliable community assets.