{{Short description|Mixed-use retail and entertainment development}} {{for|the neighborhood|Stadium District, Tacoma, Washington}} [[File:SunTrust Park battery, May 2017 2.jpg|thumb|right|The Battery Atlanta is a mixed-use development adjacent to Truist Park]]
A '''stadium district''' is a mixed-use retail and entertainment district centered around a large collegiate or professional sports stadium. It may also refer to a legal special district that is constituted for the financing and maintenance of a professional stadium.
== History == In the 2000s and 2010s, as more cities started to balk at the idea of using large amounts of public tax revenue to build stadiums for rich owners,{{r|ab}} developers started to offer incentives to convince cities to chip in with the promise of revitalizing downtown neighborhoods or creating new ones by building shops, entertainment venues, offices, and residences on or near the stadium site; these sites would also generate tax revenues to pay for the sports facility<ref name="bdc">{{Cite news |last=Caulfield |first=John |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Sports teams get in the game: Mixed-use developments are using sports stadiums as their anchors |language=en |work=Building Design + Construction |url=https://www.bdcnetwork.com/sports-teams-get-game-mixed-use-developments-are-using-sports-stadiums-their-anchors |access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref> and entice customers to stay longer in the area.<ref name="ab">{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Jason |date=June 2019 |title=Mixed-Use Districts Become a Trend in Stadium Development |work=Athletic Business |url=https://www.athleticbusiness.com/stadium-arena/mixed-use-districts-become-a-trend-in-stadium-development.html |access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Ariens Hill (summer).jpg|left|200px|Ariens Hill, a seasonal skiing hill, at the Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin|thumb ]] The area around Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, completed in 2000, was considered the first sports-anchored stadium district.<ref name="globe">{{Cite news |last=Kryhul |first=Angela |date=March 13, 2017 |title=Sports stadiums shoulder big development schemes |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/property-report/sports-stadiums-shoulder-big-development-schemes/article34291736/ |access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref> That same year, the St. Louis Cardinals proposed a new stadium to anchor a larger "ballpark village" which would occupy the site of the previous Busch Stadium;<ref>{{cite news|first=Charlene|last=Prost|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|title=Ambitious plan for downtown centers around a new version of Chouteau's Pond|date=May 21, 2000|page=B1}}</ref> it in turn was inspired by the residential rooftops around Wrigley Field.<ref name="bpv">{{Cite news |last=Gose |first=Joe |date=May 14, 2013 |title=St. Louis Development Makes a Play for a Home Team Advantage |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/realestate/commercial/st-louis-development-plays-off-busch-stadium.html |url-access=limited |access-date=August 5, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> While a similar project was proposed around what became Petco Park, it took 17 years to break ground due to financing issues and environmental concerns.<ref name="sd">{{Cite news |last=Showley |first=Roger |date=April 17, 2015 |title=Ballpark Village: Downtown's next big thing |language=en-US |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/sdut-ballpark-village-jmi-greystar-downtown-2015apr17-story.html |access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref> The Cordish Companies, which developed Ballpark Village in St. Louis, has gone on to similar developments around other stadiums;<ref name="sunnucks">{{cite news|via=Buffalo Business First|work=Sports Business Journal|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2019/02/26/mixed-use-sports-developments-position-themselves.html|first=Mike|last=Sunnucks|title=Mixed-use sports developments position themselves as truly year-round destinations|date=February 26, 2019|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> one, the Kansas City Power & Light District, was credited with leading to the development of a streetcar line to the site.{{r|nyt}}
In the 2020s, several universities began pursuing mixed-use districts in order to generate funding for their athletic departments, such as CyTown at Iowa State University and the Gateway District at the University of Kansas.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Matt |last2=Ubben |first2=David |date=2026-05-12 |title=How mixed-use stadium districts — for work, play and football — became college sports’ latest craze |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7271577/2026/05/12/college-football-mixed-use-stadium-districts-revenue/ |access-date=2026-05-14 |work=The Athletic |language=en-US }}</ref>
==Characteristics== Stadium districts often include a variety of uses, so as to provide year-round, all-day activation of the area with uses beyond the sports facility itself. These typically include public squares and gathering places, an amenity now considered "absolutely critical";{{r|globe}} offices, including corporate headquarters;{{r|ab|sunnucks}} hotels and residential units that can support the retail businesses;{{r|sunnucks}} and other event spaces that can support additional types of events.{{r|sunnucks|bdc}} In the Milwaukee Bucks' experience with the Deer District, the team has been able to charge higher rates for square footage because of the unique positioning of the property.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naczek |first=Margaret |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Milwaukee Bucks plan to develop 10-story commercial building in Deer District |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2021/04/22/deer-district-plans-to-develop-a-25-000-square-foo.html |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref>
Districts often host watch parties for major events, especially playoff games of the associated teams. During the Bucks' run to the 2021 NBA Finals, the Deer District plaza, which holds 8,000, was augmented with space for another 20,000 on the former Bradley Center site.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wagner |first=Ben |date=June 29, 2021 |title='Beyond our wildest dreams': Milwaukee's Deer District rises to national prominence |language=en |work=WISN |url=https://www.wisn.com/article/beyond-our-wildest-dreams-milwaukees-deer-district-rises-to-national-prominence/36869480 |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> For the clinching Game 6 of the Finals, further space was designated to expand capacity to 65,000 fans; even then, crowds were turned back before halftime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cullerton |first=Brendan |date=July 20, 2021 |title=Deer District starts turning away fans before halftime, crowd projected at 65,000 |language=en |work=WDJT |url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/deer-district-starts-turning-away-fans-before-halftime-crowd-projected-at-65-000 |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref>
== Examples == === United States === * Patriot Place near Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts<ref name="atlantic">{{Cite news |last=Semuels |first=Alana |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Is There a Better Way to Build a Stadium? |language=en |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/a-better-kind-of-stadium-deal/486596/ |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> * L.A. Live near Staples Center, Los Angeles{{r|globe}} * Downtown Commons near Golden 1 Center, Sacramento<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Keith |date=January 19, 2018 |title=Welcome to the Neighborhood: America’s Sports Stadiums Are Moving Downtown |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/business/sports-arena-development.html |url-access=limited |access-date=August 5, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * Deer District near Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee{{r|ab}} * Texas Live! near Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas{{r|bdc}} * Stateside Live! near Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kostelni |first=Natalie |date=February 7, 2019 |title=New office building to rise next to stadiums |work=Philadelphia Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2019/02/07/new-office-building-to-rise-next-to-stadiums.html |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> * St. Louis Ballpark Village near Busch Stadium{{r|sunnucks}} * The Battery Atlanta near Truist Park, Cobb County, Georgia{{r|ab}} * Titletown District near Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin{{r|sunnucks}} * The District Detroit near Little Caesars Arena, Detroit{{r|globe}}
===Canada=== * Ice District near Rogers Place, Edmonton{{r|globe}} * Maple Leaf Square near Scotiabank Arena, Toronto{{r|globe}} * True North Square near MTS Centre, Winnipeg{{r|globe}}
===Outside of North America=== *Northumberland Development Project near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conn |first=David |date=November 1, 2018 |title=In the shadow of Spurs’ new stadium local residents fear for future |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/01/tottenham-hotspur-stadium-redevelopment-haringey-neighbours |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref>
==Legal stadium districts== Stadium districts may also be created as the result of a legal action, to raise funds for and then maintain a professional sports stadium. In 1989, the Colorado General Assembly created the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District, which was empowered to levy a tax in seven metropolitan Denver counties for the construction of Coors Field.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Lassiter|title=Airport supporters hit homer for Denver baseball|work=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph|date=May 18, 1989|page=C1}}</ref> Seven years later, the Metropolitan Football Stadium District was chartered, leading to the construction of Empower Field at Mile High.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80110085/|accessdate=June 23, 2021|work=The Daily Sentinel|date=July 21, 1996|agency=Associated Press|page=7B|title=Some critics upset no women are on football stadium board}}</ref> The Maricopa County Stadium District, created in 1991, provided funding for seven new spring training stadiums in the Cactus League and then financed a portion of the construction costs of Chase Field.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maricopa.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/2469|pages=1, 2|title=Maricopa County Stadium District (A Component Unit of Maricopa County) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Year Ended June 30, 2011|date=2011|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref> Wisconsin also has a stadium district, the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, which developed American Family Field.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naczek |first=Margaret |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball District on track to meet 2021 budget with new leadership |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2021/03/31/southeast-wisconsin-professional-baseball-district.html |access-date=June 23, 2021}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zczyEkkjvZk The Rise of the Stadium District - YouTube]
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Category:Shopping districts and streets Category:Sports venues