Miami Freedom Park: Evolv to provide spectator screening services
Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc., a leading security technology company pioneering AI-based solutions designed to create safer experiences, today announced that Evolv Express® has been selected for use stadium-wide at Inter Miami CF's new home located at Miami Freedom Park.
Evolv Express Gen2 systems will be installed at the new 25,000-seat Florida stadium, which is slated to open on April 4, 2026. Evolv Express was designed to allow people to move through screening at their natural walking pace, aiming to provide a welcoming security screening experience for fans.
The stadium will also utilise the Evolv eXpedite™ autonomous x-ray bag scanner for additional screenings.
Concurrent with the deployment, Evolv has been designated as the “Official Fan Screening Provider of Miami Freedom Park.” The company will have a brand presence inside the new stadium on match days and year-round on the venue’s digital media.
“It’s especially gratifying to add Miami Freedom Park to our professional sports customer roster, which now stands at over 60 teams and venues in the U.S. and Canada,” said John Baier, Evolv’s Vice President of Sports & Entertainment. “Just as the Stadium is cutting edge in design, Express and eXpedite are cutting edge in security screening technology. It’s an ideal combination, and we’re excited to help deliver on the team’s vision to build a first-class destination for Miami and the world.”
Evolv Express has been used at all match venues and select training sites during prominent global soccer competitions. Worldwide, Evolv counts nearly 100 customers on its sports and entertainment roster, and more than 1,100 across all verticals. The deployment also expands Evolv’s substantial existing footprint in the Sunshine State, joining Benchmark International Arena (formally Amalie Arena) in Tampa, among others.
Designs for a world-class sports enclave in Amdavad revealed
Designs for an ambitious, 350-acre masterplan for the new Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave at the heart of Amdavad have been unveiled.
A design consortium of BDP, Cox Architecture and Collage Design is shaping a vibrant new district where world-class sport meets community life, blending international expertise with the cultural richness of Gujarat.
Situated beside the Sabarmati River, the enclave will become India’s newest city park offering recreation and social amenities to the people of Amdavad.
Like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn’s seminal works in Amdavad that inspired B. V. Doshi and Charles Correa, the new enclave weaves tradition and modernity into a world-class precinct that reflects India’s growing ambition to combine global sports with community-focused development, bringing socio-economic growth to its cities. With the Commonwealth Games Federation naming Amdavad as the host city for the Commonwealth Games centenary event in 2030 and Gujarat confirmed to host the 2029 World Police & Fire Games, the design signals the city’s emergence as India’s premier sports capital.
These events will help to enhance infrastructure development, generate significant investment and business opportunities and create more than 20,000 jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors in the city.
The masterplan is guided by four guiding principles: climate responsiveness, integration with nature, architecture that is modern yet authentic, and a sustainable legacy for the city. Centred on a green boulevard and anchored by the iconic, 132,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium, the plan integrates Commonwealth Games-ready facilities with plazas, gardens, and climate-responsive streetscapes.
Three major venues - the International Tennis Centre, an Indoor Arena, and an Aquatic Centre - together with a National Institute of Sports Excellence, are framed by stepped landscaped podiums that balance security, scale, and Gujarati architecture traditions. A mandala grid and lush greenery provide year-round comfort and highlight the entrances to each venue.
At the centre of the enclave, a new Tennis Centre, the first of its scale in India, will feature a 10,000-seat centre court, 5,000- and 3,000-seat show courts, and eight match courts. A floating fabric roof and suspended soffit provide shade while allowing natural ventilation, and shaded balconies with planted edges offer views of the river and surrounding matches. A fan plaza will connect all courts, creating an energetic focal point for spectators. The tennis centre will also transform into a tennis club with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, hospitality venues and other ancillary uses.
Nestled between the new International Tennis Centre and the Narenda Modi Stadium is the new National Institute of Sports Excellence. This new sporting ashram will become the centre of training for India’s next generation of sports stars. The complex includes training halls, gymnasiums, recovery equipment and bio-medical facilities to be used by the athletes and coaches.
At the eastern end of the SVP Enclave is the new 18,000 seat international indoor arena, making it the largest indoor arena of this scale in India. Designed to international standards for gymnastics and basketball finals, this venue will also go on to host concerts, family entertainment as well as kabaddi and other sports. Facades clad in bronze anodised aluminium jali screens reference traditional jharokhas and chhajjas, providing both cultural depth and environmental protection.
“Our vision for the Sports Enclave is to create an inclusive, sustainable and distinctly Indian destination for world sport. By drawing on Amdavad’s architectural traditions and blending them with cutting-edge design and technology, we are designing-out single use, sporting venues that decay over time. We are shaping new, visually beautiful places that will host the world’s greatest sporting moments, but also remain an active, vibrant part of the city’s everyday life for decades to come,” said Manisha Bhartia, Urbanism Director and Head of BDP India.
To the west of the SVP Enclave next to Modi Stadium is the new Aquatic Centre seating 12,000 spectators during major tournaments and reducing to 4,000 post-event. Following consultation with international sporting federations, the centre will be designed to meet international event hosting standards for world-class swimming, diving and synchronised swimming and will also serve the community as a learning and leisure pool.
An exposed exoskeleton, double-glazed curtain wall, overhanging roof and coloured glass louvres ensure the centre has both visual impact and passive climate control. The lantern-like form recall the floating sky lanterns of Diwali on the Sabarmati River.
The riverfront itself will be transformed into a central Games Plaza, envisioned to host ceremonial spaces for mega sporting events and later evolving into a vibrant public destination with dining, community sports courts and an urban park for year-round use by Amdavad’s citizens. The biodiverse park will act as a “green lung” for Amdavad, hosting national and international events while remaining open to all year-round.
“The rich architectural response, building on Indian modernity and tradition, has created a truly unique design full of meaning and context that will make a lasting experience for global sporting events as well as a legacy that goes beyond such events. This new public park and associated architecture will place Amdavad on the world stage for many years to come,” added Alastair Richardson, Director, Cox Architecture.
The consortium’s vision offers a bold new model for how major sporting events can elevate a city, creating a destination for the world while leaving a lasting legacy for its citizens.
Hill Dickinson Stadium to host top Nations Championship fixture
Everton Football Club has confirmed that Hill Dickinson Stadium will host an international rugby union fixture this summer, as Fiji take on England in the Nations Championship on Saturday 11 July 2026.
The match will see Mick Byrne’s Flying Fijians face England in what promises to be a spectacular occasion at Everton’s world-class waterfront home. The fixture forms part of Fiji’s inaugural Nations Championship campaign, with the Pacific nation choosing to stage its designated home fixtures in the Northern Hemisphere.
Kick-off for the historic fixture is scheduled for 2:10pm (BST), with the match to be broadcast live on ITV1 in the UK.
The Nations Championship will begin in July 2026, with Fiji facing Wales in Cardiff before travelling to Merseyside to meet England, ahead of a third fixture against Scotland at Murrayfield.
The event will transform Hill Dickinson Stadium into a celebration of Fijian culture and heritage. As a designated home fixture for Fiji, supporters can expect vibrant fan zones featuring traditional music, food, dance and cultural performances, creating an authentic atmosphere and a unique matchday experience for fans in Liverpool and beyond.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome Fiji and England to Hill Dickinson Stadium for what will be a landmark international occasion. Our new stadium was built to host world-class sport and entertainment, and this fixture is another powerful statement of its status as a global events venue. To see an international rugby match of this calibre staged here so soon after opening reflects our ambition and the confidence event organisers have in our facilities and the city region,” said Angus Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer at Everton Football Club.
“We are pleased to be taking the England men’s team to the North West to play Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium; a fantastic new venue that is fitting for the inaugural year of the Nations Championship. The Nations Championship delivers more meaningful, high-stakes fixtures that will energise existing fans and attract new audiences. Hosting this fixture in a new stadium will only add to this,” added Bill Sweeney, Rugby Football Union CEO.
Since opening in August 2025, Hill Dickinson Stadium has already hosted the Rugby League Ashes and will welcome Rugby League’s Magic Weekend in the summer, while also preparing to stage international football fixtures including Scotland v Ivory Coast in March as part of their respective World Cup preparations.
Everton's home has also been confirmed as a host stadium for UEFA EURO 2028 and is currently shortlisted as part of the UK bid process for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup - underlining its status as a global sporting destination.
Nou Mestalla: First piece of roof compression ring installed
The first piece of the compression ring of the roof at the Nou Mestalla, which will be the club's new stadium from the summer of 2027, has now been installed.
Horta Coslada, a leading company in design, manufacturing, engineering and assembly, is responsible for producing these elements, under the instructions of FCC Construcción.
In recent weeks, significant progress has been made in the assembly and installation of the columns, stair towers and the boxes of the structural compression ring, in addition to the arrival of cables for the traction rings (the inner part of the roof’s cable structure) and radial cables (which connect the traction ring with the outer compression ring).
The roof of the Nou Mestalla will weigh 4,800 tonnes and will be supported by 50 S355 steel pillars. In addition, Octopus Energy -the club's Sustainable Founding Partner- will implement a photovoltaic installation on this roof, made up of solar panels with intelligent system management. As a result, the roof will serve as a 'lung' for green energy.
Dignity Health Sports Park partner with Dakrontics for LED display
Dignity Health Sports Park (DHSP), a multi-use sports complex in Carson, California, and Daktronics have partnered to bring an upgraded main LED video display and control system featuring Show Control with Camino to the venue, its tenants and their fans. This includes the six-time Champion LA Galaxy and the more than 70 other events held at the multi-use venue.
The display being installed at the north end of the field replaces the previous Daktronics display and represents a 158% increase in resolution. Reusing the existing display and cabinet structure saves up to 5.82 pounds of aluminum per square foot on the project.
Video Display Details
·The LED video display uses existing cabinets and infrastructure to save on the carbon footprint of the removal of previous materials, waste disposal, and the fabrication and shipping of new materials.
·It will use all new technology, components, wiring and cabling in the existing structure.
·It brings increased resolution through an 8-millimeter pixel spacing, an improvement on the previously existing 13-millimeter pixel spacing.
·It measures 36 feet high by 128.5 feet wide, matching the previous display’s footprint.
·Its capabilities include variable content zoning, allowing it to show one large image or multiple zones of content to bring each event to life in its own unique way.
“Working with Dignity Health Sports Park over the years has been an incredible journey and we’re excited to see the energy this next project brings to the stadium and fans,” said Robin Hall, Daktronics regional manager. “Seeing our technology evolve alongside the DHSP team’s vision for their venue has been amazing. Delivering this new north end video display, combined with the Show Control and Camino upgrade, is sure to elevate the fan experience to the next level.”
Control System Details
As part of the display upgrade, Daktronics will also be providing a complete Show Control solution with Camino for all new and existing displays at DHSP. Featuring updated players and processors, the DHSP production team will be able to leverage Daktronics' continued advancements in production technology, including real-time render solution Camino, to assist the LA Galaxy in bringing advanced data visualizations to life.
The control system includes Data Studio and All Sport Pro Soccer. Data Studio with MLS integration will allow Dignity Health Sports Park to maximise data visuals featuring MLS's Sportec data, bringing fans closer to the action than ever with real-time player and match statistics, brought to life by the power of Data Studio's API Integration and using Camino's powerful graphic visualisation suite. All Sport Pro Soccer brings video display and scoring control to a single device and integrates with Daktronics Show Control for a flexible game-day production.
Lincoln City to improve fan experience at LNER Stadium
Lincoln City will further enhance the supporter experience at the LNER Stadium with a series of improvements implemented ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Matchdays will be transformed from the moment supporters arrive at the stadium - with two brand new areas created to make the most of the pre-match build up.
A new event and hospitality space will be built behind the existing Rilmac Stand. On matchdays this will create a huge covered area for supporters, with a large bar to increase service options and speed.
The first floor will provide corporate, conference and banqueting hospitality options, with the existing executive boxes replaced with new outdoor seating. This will also increase the capacity of the stadium.
The Fan Village concessions will move to the south-east corner, alongside a new interactive activity area.
There will be two large permanent big screens in the new Fan Village, as well as a big screen inside the stadium itself. The public address system is being replaced to make the most of this.
A new community space will be created alongside the club shop and ticket office in the Greenlinc Renewables Stand. This will provide a community space which will be open throughout the week as well as matchdays.
Seats in the Greenlinc Renewables Stand and the Stacey West Stand will be replaced, with changes to the safety barriers to improve access and remove obstacles to line of sight.
The new event space can hold up to 350 people and will be designed to host conferences and events - providing further options to the our partners and the entire city.
Submission of planning permission is imminent, with supporters likely to see preparatory work getting underway quickly so the works can be completed ahead of the new campaign.
HAMMOND BECOMES FOCUS OF NEW BEARS STADIUM
The Indiana House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, in a 24-0 vote, amended Senate Bill 27 and named Hammond as the location for a new Chicago Bears stadium.
“This is a very important step in the effort the State of Indiana has made to bring the Chicago Bears to Indiana. It confirms that if the Bears move to Indiana, it’s going to be to Hammond,” said Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. “I want to thank Governor Braun, Speaker Huston, Senator Mishler, Representative Harris, and the Indiana Finance Authority for their unwavering leadership and continued work to bring the Bears to Northwest Indiana.”
The Indiana House of Representatives, led by Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) who personally sponsored Senate Bill 27 in the House filed an amendment early today laying out the details of how the State of Indiana will construct, finance, and manage the new stadium. The amendment also officially named Hammond as the stadium location. The amendment to SB27 was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee where testimony was given by numerous elected officials from Northwest Indiana including Mayor McDermott.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity. Hammond is ready to partner with the State of Indiana, the Chicago Bears, and will do whatever it takes to make this project a success and to welcome the Bears to their new home. This move by the State of Indiana and the Bears tells the rest of the country that Indiana is not just keeping up—it’s leading,” Mayor McDermott told the House Ways and Means committee members.
The amendment details the creation of a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, Northwest Indiana Stadium Board as well as allowing the enactment of a Northwest Indiana Stadium Development District and Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Area to be located in Hammond. “This legislation sets the solid framework to get a stadium built. Hammond is ready and situated well to become the Bears new home, and I can’t wait to get to work to make this happen. This is a big win for Northwest Indiana—not a bad way to celebrate 219 Day,” said Mayor McDermott.
LA Galaxy launch smart tech partnership with Della
The six-time MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy have launched a new partnership with Della, a Southern California – based smart home comfort technology company. The multi-year agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, makes Della an Official Partner of the club and brings together two Southern California – rooted organizations with a shared focus on performance, reliability and community connection.
The new relationship will introduce Della’s home comfort technology to LA Galaxy fans across the region and marks the company’s first official partnership with a Major League Soccer team.
“We are thrilled to join forces with the LA Galaxy, a club that embodies the same spirit of performance, community, and Southern California pride that drives Della. Together, we aim to engage fans, inspire the community, and bring innovative comfort solutions to homes across Los Angeles,” said Raymond P., CEO of Align Inc., the parent company of Della.
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in the City of Industry, California, Della is a home comfort technology company specializing in mini split heat pumps, smart HVAC solutions and modern home appliances. Designed with energy efficiency, personalized climate control and long-term reliability in mind, Della serves residential and commercial customers nationwide through major retailers, direct-to-consumer channels and strategic partnerships. Los Angeles is central to Della’s identity, serving as both its home base and a key source of inspiration for product innovation.
Della’s mission to transform how people experience indoor comfort through smarter, simpler and more sustainable solutions resonates with the LA Galaxy fan base, many of whom are homeowners navigating Southern California’s challenging climate. The partnership creates natural touchpoints for engagement while addressing real, everyday needs within the local community.
As an Official Partner of the LA Galaxy, Della will benefit from an integrated presence across the club, connecting with fans both on matchdays and beyond. The collaboration will come to life through curated in-stadium activations, branded storytelling across the club’s digital and social platforms, and fan-facing experiences designed to highlight how Della’s smart home technology can enhance comfort, efficiency and everyday living.
“This partnership with Della reflects our continued focus on aligning with brands that strive to understand both our market and our fans,” said Tom Braun, President and Chief Operating Officer, LA Galaxy. “Della’s Southern California roots, commitment to innovation and emphasis on community make them a strong fit for our club, and we’re excited to work together to create meaningful connections with our fans.”
Beyond matchdays, Della and the LA Galaxy will collaborate on a range of co-branded fan merchandise and experiences designed to bring the community closer together. Available through select activations and digital moments throughout the season, these initiatives extend Della’s comfort-first philosophy beyond the home and into everyday fan life, strengthening its connection with Southern California families.
As part of the agreement, Della will also receive added visibility through branded signage and activation opportunities at the LA Galaxy Soccer Center — a 73,000-square-foot facility in Torrance, California dedicated to futsal and recreational sports. Della’s partnership will support year-round youth and adult programming at the center, helping preserve a vital community hub that serves thousands of local families and athletes of all ages.
Together, these touchpoints will serve as a platform for Della to introduce fans to its expanding range of home comfort solutions – from its popular mini split systems to its growing central air conditioning offerings – all designed to support everyday living across Southern California.
“This collaboration is a great example of how thoughtful brand alignment and local relevance can create long-term value,” said Rashid Dadashi, Senior Director, AEG Global Partnerships. “Della saw an opportunity to connect authentically with a passionate fan base in its home market, and the LA Galaxy provide a powerful platform to bring that vision to life in a way that benefits fans, the community and both organisations.”
Stoke City move into new elite training facility at Clayton Wood
Tuesday, February 17, marked the first day of a new era at Stoke City as the Potters moved into their new elite training facility at Clayton Wood.
A process years in the making, with initial designs drawn up in 2023, the £10m development has now become the home of City’s first team following 15 months of construction led by contractors Speller Metcalfe.
The new building includes new and improved performance, recovery, rehabilitation, gymnasium, nutrition and sports science facilities, including a cryotherapy chamber and hydrotherapy pool.
The second phase of the Clayton Wood development, a refurbishment of the existing building which will exclusively serve the Club’s Category One Academy and women’s team, will now commence.
The work will take the total investment in the Club’s training base since its acquisition above the £25m mark. The new first team facility alone already represents Stoke City’s biggest financial outlay on a single project since the building of the bet365 Stadium in 1997.
“This is a significant step for the football club and it fills me with great pride to see our new first team training facility in operation for the first time,” Chair John Coates said.
“Stoke City is my passion and I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure our players and staff have the best environment possible to make us successful.
“Clearly the facilities need to be matched by a culture of relentless hard work, which Jon Walters and Mark Robins continue to drive every day, in our long-term pursuit of being better than we have ever been before.”
Potters’ Vice-Chairman Richard Smith added: “It was a great feeling to see the excitement of players and staff as they moved into the new building this week.
“A lot of dedication has been required by many people to move this project forward at pace and I would like to thank our staff for their significant contribution to the development.
“As always seems to be the case here at Stoke City, thanks to John’s continued investment, our next projects start in earnest with the renovation of the existing pavilion and continued works at the bet365 Stadium.”
Daktronics partner with Phillies for new displays
Daktronics has partnered with the Philadelphia Phillies to design, manufacture and install a new outfield video display and ribbon board at BayCare Ballpark, the club’s spring training home in Clearwater, Florida. Installed in late 2025, the new video board includes a custom control system and digital content package. The new enhancements will make their official debut at the Phillies’ Grapefruit League Home Opener on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
“The Phillies spring training experience has received a major upgrade, thanks to Daktronics,” said John Timberlake, Director, Florida Operations, Phillies. “Our new video board and the incredible technology behind it are significant enhancements to BayCare Ballpark, bringing our fans even closer to the action.”
Video Display Details
The main video display measures 42 feet high by 75.5 feet wide and features a 10-millimeter pixel spacing to deliver excellent image clarity and contrast to fans throughout the ballpark. Its variable content zoning allows the board to show one large image or multiple windows of live video, stats, graphics and more, keeping fans immersed in the action.
"We are thrilled to be part of the BayCare Ballpark renovations and can't wait to see how their new video system transforms their fan experience,” said Mike Kempany, Daktronics sales representative. “It was a pleasure working with the team as they carefully considered the best technologies. After thorough evaluation, the fans may look forward to the brightest display Daktronics offers combined with HDR capabilities, all driven via Daktronics Show Control with Camino."
A new ribbon board was also installed along the seating fascia, measuring approximately 5 feet high by 25 feet wide. It also features the same 10-millimeter pixel spacing and provides the opportunity to highlight partners throughout events while providing additional game statistics and information.
Control System & Content Package
To power the LED displays, a custom Daktronics control system featuring Show Control was included with the installation. This control system provides a combination of display control software, world-class video processing, data integration and playback hardware. Together, these features deliver a powerful, user-friendly production solution for operators.
BayCare Ballpark will also receive a custom content package to be produced and delivered by Daktronics Creative Services, an award-winning, in-house creative team.
Daktronics has grown with the sports industry since its founding in 1968. Today, the company has integrated LED super systems in more than 50% of all professional sports facilities in the United States and Canada.