The world of stadium design has undergone a seismic transformation in recent decades. Barely a week passes without the announcement of a new mega-project, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. At the heart of this boom lies an arms race among the world’s biggest sports clubs, each vying to create not only higher capacities and increased revenues but also an iconic and intimidating stage on which to sell their brand. The days of purely functional, local grounds are long gone – at least at the top tier of the game.

The sheer scale of new stadium development has given rise to a growing number of specialist consultancies, from Populous to BDP Pattern, while some of the most prestigious names in architecture – Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Foster + Partners – have joined the fray.

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