The Evolving City: Stadiums and the Urban Imagination
The Evolving City: Stadiums and the Urban Imagination
From the Architecture of Isolation to the Architecture of Belonging
By Stuart Forbes
Stadiums have long occupied an uneasy place in the urban landscape - capable of generating extraordinary collective emotion, yet standing dormant for most of the year. Today, however, a quiet transformation is reshaping how we design and understand these buildings. The real opportunity is not defined by scale, luxury, or spectacle, but by purpose: by how imaginatively we can use the resources available to create places that serve their communities every day, not just on matchdays.
This conviction - that architecture should foster belonging regardless of budget - sits at the heart of the projects explored here. Whether working at the expansive scale of Wembley Park or the more intimate, community-focused fabric of Fulham Pier, the ambition has been the same: to move stadiums from isolation to integration, from single-use venues to 365-day civic ecosystems.
What follows is a reflection on that evolution, and on an enduring belief that the true power of stadium architecture is not measured in the spectacle it contains, but in the everyday life it enables within the city.
These two key projects represent a personal journey for me as I share with you the origins and comparisons of both these seminal projects.
Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/6
Unilumin and Manchester City Renew Strategic Partnership
Unilumin, a world-leading provider of LED displays, lighting products, and integrated Metasight solutions, has recently officially renewed its strategic partnership with Premier League champions Manchester City. This renewal marks six years of in-depth collaboration and sets the stage for a continued global benchmark in the integration of technology and sports.
From Stadium to Entertainment Destination: A Fully Immersive Experience
At present, the Etihad Stadium is equipped with Unilumin’s full range of sports LED products, including the double-layer perimeter display UsportX 6, ribbon screen UsportR 6, and scoreboard UsurfaceIII 6. With a total installation area exceeding 1,000 square meters, these displays have created one of the most commercially valuable and visually impactful pitch-side digital media spaces in the Premier League.
In the future, the partnership will extend beyond the stadium into Manchester City’s new entertainment destination, where Unilumin will deploy large-scale, immersive LED solutions. This expansion will achieve full coverage from the pitch to the city’s cultural and sports complex, elevating the experience for fans and visitors alike.
Redefining the Integration of Display, Commerce, and Experience
This renewal is more than a continuation of collaboration—it is a landmark moment in global sports technology. It demonstrates the potential for long-term, deep cooperation between Chinese tech companies and top-tier international sports IPs, while offering a replicable model for the digital transformation of sports venues worldwide.
Unilumin: Strengthening Global Leadership Through Top-Tier Sports IP
This renewal is not only a continuation of mutual trust but also a key milestone for Unilumin in solidifying its position as a world-class sports LED solution provider. By leveraging Manchester City’s global influence, Unilumin will continue to enhance its brand recognition and industry influence worldwide.
Innovative Technology Empowers Sports: Both Sides Join Hands to Set New Industry Benchmarks
Jeremy Way, Vice President of Strategy and Creative Partnerships at City Football Group, said: “Unilumin’s world-leading technology has transformed our LED offering at the Etihad Stadium, delivering significant impact and value for both our partners and global fan base. Through this new partnership, we are extending that capability into our upcoming entertainment destination, where immersive, large-scale LED technology will provide an engaging and flexible high-impact digital platform.”
Tiger Lin, Chairman of Unilumin Group, commented: “This agreement reflects the strong trust between Unilumin and Manchester City. Over the years, our collaboration has delivered world-class visual experiences to fans worldwide. Now we are unlocking new levels of visual impact as we bring innovative display technology beyond the stadium and across the Club’s wider entertainment destination. We look forward to jointly creating unforgettable experiences that set new benchmarks for the sports and entertainment industry.”
About Unilumin
Unilumin is a global leader in LED displays, lighting products, and integrated Metasight solutions, ranked among the Top 500 Asian Brands for 3 consecutive years, operating in 160+ countries with R&D centers in China, Japan, and the U.S., and the world’s largest intelligent LED manufacturing base. With expertise in the sports area, it delivers integrated audiovisual solutions for venues and sports events worldwide, having supported six Olympic Games, FIBA tournaments, the Qatar World Cup, and numerous other top-tier global sporting events.
For more information, please visit https://www.unilumin.com
Millwall FC sign 999-year lease at The Den
Millwall Football Club have confirmed that all lease agreements with Lewisham Council have now been formally signed – providing a strong foundation for the Club’s continued future at The Den for generations to come.
Following extensive collaboration, the Club and Lewisham Council have finalised the signing of all legal documentation granting Millwall a new 999-year lease across The Den and surrounding land. This landmark agreement provides long-term certainty, protects the Club’s historic home and creates a platform for ambitious and sustainable growth.
With the legal framework now in place, Millwall can move forward with plans to enhance the matchday experience, expand year-round use of its facilities and play a leading role in the wider regeneration of Bermondsey. The agreement aligns with Lewisham’s vision for the borough and enables the Club to invest with clarity and confidence.
Importantly, the lease provides protective space for the Millwall Community Trust, enabling it to extend its reach even further into the local community with a brand-new, dedicated facility at The Den. This long-term stability will allow the Trust to broaden its programmes, deepen its impact and continue delivering life-changing work across Lewisham and the surrounding areas.
The Club extends its sincere thanks to Lewisham Council for its constructive partnership throughout the process and looks forward to continuing to work together to deliver lasting benefits for the local community.
Wider support shown throughout the contract negotiations between all parties over the past eighteen months has been critical, as well as over a decade of discussions and negotiations. That support has come from within the Club, from fan groups and from individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help facilitate today’s outcome, to which the Club owes a huge debt of gratitude for that support.
Speaking on this historic milestone, Chairman James Berylson said: “This is a defining moment for Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust. Securing a 999-year lease at The Den gives us the stability and certainty every club needs to build for the long term.
"So much hard work, time and dedication has gone into reaching this moment after announcing the agreement in principle back in May 2024. I would like to thank Mayor Brenda Dacres OBE, and all at Lewisham Council, for their positive and collaborative approach. Together, we have secured an outcome that safeguards our home while supporting the wider interests of the borough.
"I would also like to thank the staff of Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust, as well as many supporters and advisers, who have put their heart and soul into this. Their effort and commitment has been so important throughout this process, and I appreciate every single one of them.
"The Den and Millwall Community Trust is at the heart of who we are. This agreement ensures that future generations of supporters and wider community will continue to call it home. It allows us to move forward with meaningful regeneration and long-term investment – creating jobs, enhancing facilities and delivering tangible benefits for local residents.
"Collectively our ambition is clear: to build a strong, sustainable future for Millwall, on and off the pitch. But above all, to dream boldly, to turn vision into reality, and to unlock the full potential of this great football club.
"My family shares that belief with our incredible supporters. This agreement gives us the platform to make it happen.”
Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres OBE, said, “We’re delighted to have reached this agreement and I want to thank Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust for the constructive and collaborative way we have worked together to get here.
"This partnership has been central to enabling these once-in-a-generation improvements for our community, including much-needed affordable homes, new jobs, improved public spaces and better community facilities that local people can benefit from year-round.
“Importantly, it safeguards space for Millwall Community Trust, securing a purpose-built facility that will enable it to continue delivering vital programmes for young people and families in Lewisham and beyond for many years to come."
GETshow 2026: A spectacular show awaits
A "one-stop" feast for global performing arts professionals is finally here! Renowned as a global industry trendsetter, 2026 Guangzhou Entertainment Technology Show (2026GETshow) will be grandly held at Zone A & D, Canton Fair Complex from April 6 to 8.
This edition of GETshow will see a significant upgrade in scale, with a total exhibition area of 150,000 ㎡, 14 professional pavilions and more than 1,000 renowned global brand exhibitors.
It covers core sectors including professional lighting, professional audio, cultural tourism equipment, LED displays, conference systems, stage effects, lasers and stage accessories.
GETshow 2026 will serve as a high-end international exhibition platform for the entire industry chain.
In addition to the extensive display of new products, applications and technologies, the exhibition will also feature a wealth of wonderful concurrent events for you to experience! Let’s take a look at the highlights of this edition of GETshow!
G1: Intelligent Integration of Sound and Light, Empowering the Industry — 2026 Performing Arts Equipment Industry Summit Forum
Jointly organized by Industry Association of South China Entertainment Equipment(SCEE）, Chinese Society of Stage Art, and Panyu District Lighting & Audio Industry Chain, the forum "Intelligent Integration of Sound and Light, Empowering the Industry — 2026 Performing Arts Equipment Industry Summit" will be grandly held on April 5. It will offer insights into industry trends and analyze landmark cases. Bringing together renowned directors, top lighting designers, audio engineers, stage art experts and other industry leaders from across the country, the forum will decode outstanding cases of national cultural events and key cultural tourism projects. It will share on site how innovations in performing arts equipment help Chinese culture break through and achieve wider communication.
2: Come to GETshow for the Grand Shows!
A visit to GETshow is more than just an exhibition!Hundreds of phenomenal and immersive lighting shows await you!GETshow has partnered with outstanding industry teams and advanced technologies to present several large-scale original themed immersive lighting shows — Cshow — during the exhibition.By deeply integrating technology and art, these shows will allow you to experience the ultimate charm of sound, light and electricity in an all-round, multi-sensory way through dancing light and rhythmic music.
3: Authoritative Competitions — Witness the Rise of New Industry Stars!
Empowering the development of industry talents through an industrial platform, the 4th "GETshow Cup" National Young Stage Lighting Designers Competition and the 2nd "GETshow Cup" China Audio Engineers Competition are initiated by Industry Association of South China Entertainment Equipment(SCEE） and co-hosted by Chinese Society of Stage Art.They have attracted over 200 participants including students from major universities and colleges across the country as well as young professional lighting engineers and audio engineers from all over China. They tell stories with lights, illuminate the stage with creativity, and demonstrate the extraordinary charm and unlimited potential of sound through audio technology.
We look forward to witnessing the glorious moments of rising industry stars with you during GETshow 2026!
4: Precise Business Matching, Gathering of a Thousand-Member Expert Buyer Delegation!
Building an international communication platform for precise business matching!GETshow warmly invites global professional visitors and buyer groups to attend the exhibition and source products.Nearly 50 industry associations and chambers of commerce from across China have organized expert groups to visit the show.In collaboration with industry media including WORLDSHOW, HC Audio & Lighting Network, Fenyu Exhibition and other organizations, over 1,000 professional buyers will gather for procurement.There will also be overseas merchants and buyers from more than 100 countries and regions around the world!
5: Gathering of Elites – Achievement Exhibition of Guangdong Performing Arts Annual Conference
Gathering of Elites – Achievement Exhibition of Guangdong Performing Arts Annual Conference Hosted by Guangdong Performance Industry Association, the grand annual event of the performing arts industry – Guangdong Performance Industry Annual Conference & 2025 Performing Arts Guangdong Achievement Exhibition will be grandly held during GETshow! Having been striving and forging ahead with hard work, Guangdong’s performing arts practitioners will present a series of honors including Annual Top Performances, Annual Most Influential Theaters, Annual Most Popular New Performing Arts Spaces and more.
6: The First Guangdong Stage Art Education Joint Exhibition "Evolution · Creation"
With the continuous development of stage art, as an important part of performing arts, it has received increasing attention and recognition from the industry.Jointly hosted by Guangdong Society of Stage Art and Industry Association of South China Entertainment Equipment(SCEE）, the first Guangdong Stage Art Education Joint Exhibition "Evolution · Creation" will make a grand debut during GETshow!
7: Gathering of Industry Leaders to Discuss the Future Together!
If you are from the academic field, you must not miss the Dante System Design and Optimization Technical Forum and the Network Architecture Technical Forum held during the exhibition.Based on practical applications, the forums will share key points for designing different application scenarios using the Dante platform, discuss current development trends of networked architecture, as well as the impact of AI and cloud technologies on our industry.
8: Sound Waves On! Outdoor Line Array Tour Showcase!
Attention all outdoor sound effect enthusiasts! The annual large-scale outdoor line array tour showcase at GETshow 2026 will be staged spectacularly from April 6 to 8 at the South Square outside Halls 4.1 & 5.1, Zone A, Canton Fair Complex, Guangzhou!Thirty-four renowned audio brands from home and abroad will gather at GETshow, presenting their top products in the outdoor line array tour exhibition area. With high-quality sound and perfect timbre, they will bring you an immersive and shocking auditory experience!
Whether you are an exhibitor seeking cutting-edge technologies or a designer pursuing artistic inspiration, GETshow 2026 has everything you need! Scan the code now for pre-registration and secure your place at this unmissable industry event in Guangzhou this April!
SP Grid power fan experience at Honda Center & SAP Garden
As sporting experiences become increasingly geared towards audience entertainment, leagues, teams and venues are under pressure to deliver experiences that go beyond the game itself. Today’s fans expect real-time data, broadcast-quality visuals, interactive storytelling and equal experiences whether they are in-venue or at home. Across the industry, technology manufacturers are actively addressing this shift. From stadiums adopting broadcast-style production pipelines to sports courts transforming into interactive, digital canvases, fan engagement is no longer optional.
SP Grid sits at the centre of this evolution, enabling production teams to unify tracking, automation, data and media control into a single scalable platform, which helps turn arenas, stadiums and esports venues into fully connected experience engines. Unlike single-point solutions that address only graphics, tracking or automation in isolation, SP Grid acts as the connective tissue between systems. It aggregates real-time positional data, timing and control signals and distributes them across the users’ desired control workflow.
SP Grid is already deployed on projects and venues involved in some of the highest levels of professional sport and entertainment.
Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/52
SAP
Electro-Voice & Dynacord upgrade audio at Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit has undergone a digital evolution to replace the analog backbone of its audio system with a fully digital architecture. The project was delivered against a tight timeframe by PKE Gulf, which called on equipment from Electro-Voice and Dynacord to ensure the circuit would meet modern international sports venue standards.
Yas Marina Circuit is home to the season-ending Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The decision to upgrade its sound reinforcement system was confirmed a couple of months before the race with a phased approach agreed. The first phase would see the replacement of its analog backbone which was installed when the circuit opened in 2010 and an upgrade to the main grandstand’s audio system. Further phases will cover the remaining north, south and west grandstands.
“Our objective was to move away from a system that had reached the end of its lifecycle and toward a robust, fully digital platform that could support current operational demands and future expansion,” states Omar Naiem, Smart Venues Senior Manager at Ethara, the venue management company for Yas Marina Circuit. “The phased approach allowed us to upgrade critical areas ahead of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while maintaining full operational continuity across the venue.”
PKE Gulf was selected to handle the phased project based on its experience in the sector and opted for equipment from Electro-Voice and Dynacord to help it achieve the results that the circuit required. “Electro-Voice and Dynacord were selected for their outstanding professional design and proven performance,” explains Gerald Zak, Senior Technical Manager at PKE Gulf WLL. “The large portfolio and scalability of the Electro-Voice solutions allowed the entire project to be covered with a single, coherent audio platform, ensuring consistent sound quality, reliability, and visual integration across all areas of the main grandstand. Combined with Dynacord’s powerful processing and amplification technologies, the solution delivers a robust, future-ready system that meets the highest standards expected at a modern international motorsport venue.”
Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/46
Telekom Center, Athens
In a groundbreaking collaboration at the Telekom Center Athens, Panathinaikos BC, Uber, Fandom Factory, and ASB GlassFloor have transformed the traditional halftime break into a high-octane, interactive digital experience. By turning a world-class basketball court into a virtual racetrack, this partnership signals a definitive shift in how brands and sports properties engage with modern audiences.
For decades, sports sponsorship was a game of visibility. Logos were plastered on jerseys, static boards lined the perimeter, and activations rarely extended beyond a mascot tossing t-shirts into the crowd. However, as digital-native fans demand more immersion and brands require measurable ROI, the industry is undergoing a radical transformation.
At the heart of Athens, a city steeped in sporting history, a new standard has been set. During the halftime intervals of EuroLeague fixtures, Panathinaikos BC — one of Europe’s most decorated basketball clubs — has traded jump shots for gear shifts. Through the Uber City Race, the club’s home court at the Telekom Center Athens is no longer just a playing surface; it is a live, interactive gaming platform.
The foundation of this innovation is the ASB GlassFloor. Recently installed at the Telekom Center Athens, this revolutionary LED-mapped glass surface has replaced traditional hardwood, allowing the court to function as a giant, high-resolution screen. While its primary purpose is to provide a world-class playing surface with enhanced shock absorption and customisable line markings, its commercial potential is where the Uber City Race truly comes to life.
For Panathinaikos BC, the debut on the ASB GlassFloor marked a historic moment in the EuroLeague. It provided the canvas upon which Fandom Factory, a creative agency specialising in fan engagement, and REACH, a creative powerhouse, could paint a brand story for Uber Greece.
The Uber City Race is a high-energy activation inspired by the aesthetics of legendary gaming titles like Need for Speed. The premise is simple, yet technologically sophisticated: transforming the halftime break into a live virtual race that bridges the gap between the physical arena and the digital world.
Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/30
Super Bowl LX @ Levi's Stadium
Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area was a stunning display of how sports and technology can come together to create an epic spectacle for a worldwide audience.
Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium held 70,823 fans while approximately 128 million viewers tuned into broadcast coverage which saw the Seattle Seahawks crowned 2026 champions over the New England Patriots. The event included a variety of musical performances; Bay Area punks Green Day began opening ceremony proceedings with a medley of their greatest hits, followed by Brandi Carlile’s rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’, a National Anthem performance by Charlie Puth and a version of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ from rising star, Coco Jones.
However, it was one of the most talked-about halftime shows in recent memory, a 13.5-minute concert spectacular from six-time Grammy-winner, Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny, who made headlines as the first artist to sing entirely in Spanish throughout the Super Bowl’s 60-year history.
Game and entertainment audio was handled by veterans ATK Audiotek, overseen by Engineer in Charge, Kirk Powell, who has worked on the event for almost three decades. It’s a job that requires meticulous technical planning months before the musical acts are revealed.
Levi’s open-air construction called for total design flexibility this year; with no roof-hanging option, the audio team utilized both the stadium’s new JBL Professional house PA system - installed in 2025 by Clair Global Integration (CGI) - and a temporary L-Acoustics system. Both were crucial audio components.
Kirk comments: “The event is broken down into two parts: the game audio (commentary, sideline interviews, spoken word announcements), and the entertainment elements, including all musical performances. Essentially, we were working with two separate packages, the game audio used the house system, and the entertainment audio called for a bigger, portable, concert grade cart system that could be moved onto and removed from the field easily.”
Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/23
Philips Stadion upgraded with 4 giant PPDS screens
PSV Eindhoven are one of the most successful football clubs in Europe, boasting a trophy cabinet that contains over twenty-five domestic league titles, as well as several continental triumphs.
Founded in 1913 by employees of Philips, PSV has transformed into a giant of European football over the last one hundred years, helping to produce some of the world’s most iconic footballing stars along the way.
Despite the age of the club, PSV is not an institution that lives in the past, instead, thanks in part to its relationship with Philips, it strives to have to the most advanced and modern pieces of stadium technology at its home ground, providing a look into the future of what is possible for stadia across the globe.
For the latest technological upgrade at Philips Stadion, PSV has teamed up with PPDS, the provider of Philips Professional Displays, to install four new giant 8 metre Philips dvLED scoreboards.
Installation of the new displays was completed prior to the beginning of the 2025/26 Eredivisie season, with the stadium’s four existing P16 Philips LED walls being replaced with four new 8m x 4.5m Philips Urban LED 6000 Series displays.
Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/38
Quayclean secures Queensland Country Bank Stadium contract
Quayclean Australia has extended its services to a 10th National Rugby League (NRL) venue after awarded the cleaning services contract at the 25,000-seat capacity Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, the home ground of the North Queensland Cowboys.
Quayclean has commenced bump-in operations in preparation for the Cowboys’ first home NRL game of the new 2026 season on March 22 when it clashes with the Gold Coast Titans.
Other NRL venues managed by Quayclean are Accor Stadium, Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium and Jubilee Stadium in Sydney, Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, MacDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, WIN Stadium in Wollongong, GIO Stadium in Canberra, and AAMI Park in Melbourne.
In addition to NRL fixtures, Queensland Country Bank Stadium is also a major outdoor concert venue and has previously performances by P!nk, The Killers, Jelly Roll and Elton John.
This significant Queensland contract win comes after Quayclean was appointed by the University of Queensland last year to manage cleaning services at campus sites in Brisbane and across regional and remote locations.
With the successful mobilisation of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Quayclean is now responsible for cleaning services at 3 Stadiums Queensland venues including The Gabba and Cbus Super Stadium.
Quayclean Chief Executive, Mark Piwkowski, said the company is committed to being a first-class service partner and aims to deliver an exceptional fans-first venue experience while enhancing the stadium’s brand and appeal.
“We have a reputation as an industry leader in the provision of high-quality cleaning and waste management services for large-scale operations, and we understand the skills required to manage a stadium which hosts over 300,000 patrons every year,” said Piwkowski.
Piwkowski said sustainability solutions to reduce waste, increase diversion and lower carbon emissions will be a major focus.
“Quayclean is synonymous with sustainability and industry leading waste management strategies and we will collaborate with the Stadium operators and stakeholders to achieve a year-on-year reduction in total tonnes of waste generated on-site, ensure that more than 85% of total waste generated is sent for reuse, recycling, or repurposing, and maximise community engagement and knowledge,” he said.
“By providing tailored, detailed insights into waste generation and disposal patterns, we can identify specific areas for improvement and implement targeted strategies and ensure compliance with the stadium’s sustainability goals and regulations,” he added.