Imarat Stadium construction set to begin after £26 million contract agreed
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan has signed a contract with PMD Project LLC in connection with the construction of the Imarat stadium in Agdam.
According to azerisport.com, the contract provides for the purchase of the first stage of construction work at the Imarat stadium, with it being worth over £26 million.
Plans to rebuild the ruined stadium were first announced in 2023, with the first foundation stone being laid the following year.
The capacity of the newly rebuilt stadium will be 11,700, with the plans being designed with the aim to meet all the necessary requirements in order to become a UEFA Category 4 stadium.
Facilities will include VVIP and VIP lounges, a conference hall, meeting rooms, referee rooms, dressing rooms, media rooms, a museum, and broadcast facilities. Additional amenities will include an extra training field, a running track, car parks, security checkpoints, and technical buildings.
Live Nation acquires Paris La Défense Arena
Live Nation has signed an agreement to acquire Paris La Défense Arena – Europe’s largest indoor venue – from Ovalto. This landmark deal will bring more shows, upgraded facilities and major benefits to Paris, Île-de-France and the wider French live entertainment industry.
Live Nation will launch a major upgrade programme, once the deal completes, that will enable the Arena to host significantly more productions year-round; attracting leading French and international artists and reinforcing Paris’ position as a global live entertainment destination.
“In just ten years, we have made Paris La Défense Arena a unique venue in Europe with a solid business model. Today, a new chapter begins for the arena and its employees. Paris La Défense Arena will be able to leverage the full expertise of Live Nation, the global leader in entertainment, to continue its development,” said Jacky Lorenzetti, President of Ovalto
“Our ambition is simple: to make Paris La Défense Arena a venue that welcomes more productions, with the finest facilities for artists, all event producers and promoters and, above all, the audience. This ambition is rooted in a strong commitment to local inclusion, education and cultural access – ensuring major live experiences drive local development and inspire younger generations," said Angelo Gopee, Managing Director, Live Nation France
Since opening in 2017, Paris La Défense Arena has hosted some of the world’s biggest events – from the Olympic Games and the Tour de France to the Rolex Paris Masters – as well as performances by global superstars including Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Hans Zimmer and Dua Lipa.
With Paris La Défense Arena, Live Nation joins the existing network of major French venue operators alongside LDLC Arena, Accor Arena and Stade de France. Live Nation will continue to promote shows across all venues and welcome all promoters to Paris La Défense Arena. The increased capacity will create more opportunities for event producers, artists and fans, enriching the region’s cultural landscape. Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the French Competition Authority.
Wrexham AFC to begin rail seating installation at STōK Cae Ras
Wrexham AFC will begin the installation of rail seating at its stadium, STōK Cae Ras, following the EFL Championship fixture against Leicester City on Tuesday January 20.
The development, initially announced in May 2025, will see rail seating installed in the Upper Tier of the STōK Cold Brew Coffee Stand, allowing for supporters to stand safely in line with current stadium regulations.
The project has been developed in consultation with the Club’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which includes representatives from the local authority, emergency services and other key stakeholders.
STōK Cae Ras is currently undergoing a wider renovation project, with a complete rebuild of the Kop Stand being on track for completion by the 2026/27 season.
This will increase capacity to just over 18,000 and enable the STōK Cae Ras to achieve UEFA Category 4 compliance.
"We have designed the new Kop Stand to be both authentic and unique in its approach to hosting Wrexham’s passionate fans. The groundbreaking is a key moment for this landmark project and we are proud to be working with the club and with McLaren and the wider project team to bring this iconic design to life," said Populous Global Director and Senior Partner, Declan Sharkey.
COX and Hassell Appointed as Design Team for Brisbane Stadium
COX Architecture and Hassell have been appointed by the Queensland Government as the design team for the new Brisbane Stadium.
Located within the Victoria Park precinct, it will become Brisbane’s public home for AFL, Cricket, major entertainment events and global touring acts — a defining piece of generational infrastructure for Queensland. The stadium will also host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as Athletics for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympic games.
COX and Hassell bring a wealth of experience in major venues, including the multi-award-winning Optus Stadium in Perth, the Adelaide Cricket Ground Redevelopment, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG – as part of a larger consortia). As Australian-owned and Queensland-based architecture and design practices with a long history of delivering nationally significant civic projects, we are committed to creating places that serve communities well beyond major events.
The design team includes Japanese Architectural practice Azusa Sekkei bringing experience from the Tokyo National Stadium. The team is supported by two of the world’s leading engineering firms Arup and sbp who bring significant stadium experience to the design of the important roof solution.
Blaklash – an Indigenous-owned consultancy will guide meaningful and ongoing First Nations engagement throughout the project.
"We are humbled and delighted to have been awarded the project which will be a Stadium for all of Queensland. The Stadium will be of the Park and be a catalyst for increasing the connectivity, useability and amenity of Victoria Park. It will have a critical role in 2032 but its life after the Games will be its most important legacy for the community," said COX Chair of the Board of Directors, Richard Coulson.
"The design for Brisbane Stadium will provide enduring cultural value and enjoyment for the community all year-round. It goes beyond just meeting the needs of major international events by ensuring the venue can be adapted for a wide variety of sporting and cultural uses, making it a genuine asset for the whole community. It will not only deliver a world-class experience for athletes and fans but provide Brisbane with a vital piece of sporting infrastructure of true global calibre – a place all Queenslanders will be proud of," said Hassell Managing Principal, Lucy O’Driscoll.
ECS Commissions Upgraded State-of-the-Art LED Controls System for Stoke City FC
Nottingham Forest submit planning application for City Ground redevelopment
Nottingham Forest has confirmed that planning applications for redevelopment of the City Ground have been submitted, which will see the capacity of the ground rise to over 50,000.
The stadium, built in 1898, will receive a significant amount of investment from the clubs owner, Evangelos Marinakis, with an additional 20,000 seats being added to the home of the Nottingham based club.
An announcement by Forest stated: "The Club is grateful for the positive public engagement and overwhelming support shown for our proposals ahead of the planning submission. We would also like to thank to our key partners, Gleeds, KSS Design Group, Buro Happold, and Savills for their support to date.
We look forward to working with the Mayor of the East Midlands, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, as well as our supporters and the wider community, to achieve a successful outcome in the near future."
AS ROMA: TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE NEW STADIUM DELIVERED
The submitted project, which precedes the final design phase, represents the result of in-depth work carried out with technical precision, attention to sustainability, and a clear vision: to offer the city of Rome and its fans a facility worthy of their history, passion, and future.
The new stadium will feature:
- A monumental Curva Sud, the largest in Europe, designed as the beating heart of the stadium and a symbol of Romanista passion.
- Iconic architecture inspired by Roman tradition, with contemporary lines and a strong connection to the local territory.
- Modern, multifunctional spaces designed to experience AS Roma beyond matchdays.
- Targeted initiatives to improve mobility, services, environmental sustainability, and urban integration, with the goal of creating a sports and social hub of reference for the Capital.
"[The Club] wishes to extend a special and personal thanks to Mayor Roberto Gualtieri for his support, availability, and constant collaboration, which have made this crucial step possible," said AS Roma in a statement.
The delivery of the definitive project represents a concrete step toward the start of construction and confirms the Club’s determination to provide Rome with a modern, environmentally sustainable, and economically sound facility that can become a source of pride for the city and all its fans.
The importance of the project, in terms of its scale, the modernity of the stadium, its potential urban impact and the planned timeline has allowed the Pietralata stadium to be included among the potential venues designated to host UEFA Euro 2032.
The project to construct a new stadium for the Italian club was announced by Populous in July 2024, with Roma set to move away from the iconic Stadio Olimpico once construction is completed on its new home.
Populous awarded Birmingham City training ground project
Populous has been awarded responsibility for the development of the Birmingham City Football Club training centre at the Sports Quarter, by Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, on behalf of certain of its affiliates (“Knighthead”).
The training centre will bring all the necessary facilities for the Men’s, Women’s and Academy teams onto a single site, in a one campus model, adjacent to the main stadium.
This is a unique opportunity to create a beacon of sporting excellence that is also rooted in the community.
True to an ethos of allowing individuals to flourish from “street to elite”, the intention is to ensure that Birmingham City team members enjoy the same uncompromising level of support whether they are fresh into the academy or performing at the highest levels of the game.
Populous will be responsible for designing all necessary elements from the training centres that house state of the art gyms, treatment and recuperation areas, office and administration spaces through to a full range of training pitches and the groundskeeping facilities.
Nick Smith, Head of Infrastructure at Birmingham City Football Club said, “This is another important step as we press ahead with the delivery of the Sports Quarter. We are convinced that Populous will help us set new standards in sports infrastructure. Together we can create a beacon of excellence that will inspire and support our local communities as well as setting the club up for success on the pitch.”
Declan Sharkey, Senior Principal and Global Director at Populous, adds: “We are extremely proud to be designing the new training centre for Birmingham City FC. Our aim is to combine our global expertise in elite training facility design with a bespoke approach, providing the Club with an innovative, sustainable performance training environment and holistic environment for all of its teams and the staff who will use it.”
Daktronics installs Video Display at Pioneer Field, University of Denver
Daktronics of Brookings, South Dakota, has partnered with the University of Denver (DU) to design, manufacture and install two LED video displays in Denver, Colorado, one at Pioneer Field for soccer and another at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium for lacrosse.
The installation of these displays was completed over the summer and each is currently lighting up Pioneer soccer, lacrosse and other university events.
“I’d like to thank Daktronics for their continued partnership. Their industry-leading digital assets have been an enhancement to the game-day experience at the University of Denver,” Denver Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations Josh Berlo, said.
