Facility projects across the U.S. and abroad are bringing new opportunities for competition, training, recreation and community engagement
Stay ahead of the game and discover cutting-edge innovations in the latest sports facility news
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre revamp approved in South London
Starting off this week with international news, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in South London is set for a $177 million transformation after Bromley Council approved plans to regenerate the Grade II-listed facility. Opened in 1964, the 16,000-seat complex has seen key amenities decline in recent years, including the closure of its 50-meter pool and diving facilities. The overhaul is targeting completion in 2028.
The project will provide upgraded swimming, diving and indoor sports facilities, improved accessibility, community spaces and new outdoor sports areas. The redevelopment is being led by the Greater London Authority, with additional funding being pursued for a potential 25,000-seat athletics stadium. Supporters also hope the venue can host major international track and field events, including the Diamond League.
The revitalization could restore Crystal Palace’s role as a major hub for athletics while expanding opportunities for para-sport and local youth programs. The site has a storied sporting legacy, including 28 world records, but the plans have drawn mixed local reaction, with concerns including the loss of an artificial hockey and football pitch.
Large expansion at Sunseeker Resort set to drive tourism boom in Charlotte County, Florida
Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte County, Florida, is advancing plans for a major expansion that will add 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The project is expected to include a 38,000-square-foot grand ballroom, outdoor terrace, event lawn and connecting sky bridge, positioning the resort to pursue more conferences, meetings and sports events throughout the year.
The expansion could help Sunseeker strengthen its position as a year-round tourism and sports events destination, particularly during traditionally slower travel periods. By attracting larger groups and keeping conference attendees on property, the additional space could support hotel occupancy while generating business for restaurants, retailers and other tourism-related businesses throughout the region.
For Charlotte County, the project also represents an opportunity to expand the economic impact of group travel and events. Resort officials anticipate breaking ground in late spring or early summer, with completion targeted for late 2027.
RAJ Sports unveils landmark Kaiser Permanente Performance Center in Oregon
Portland’s professional women’s sports scene has a new centerpiece with the opening of the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, a 100,000-square-foot training facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, serving the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire. Developed by RAJ Sports, the dual-sport complex brings soccer and basketball together while emphasizing athlete performance, health and long-term development.
The facility includes two full-sized soccer pitches, a 17,000-square-foot practice gym with two basketball courts, a 5,000-square-foot strength and performance center, sports science and medical spaces, hydrotherapy pools, an underwater treadmill and performance-focused dining. Team meeting rooms, content studios, family spaces and dedicated player entrances further support the daily needs of professional athletes.
Kaiser Permanente will provide integrated sports medicine, rehabilitation, injury prevention and mental health services, while dedicated mother’s rooms reinforce the facility’s athlete-first approach. Designed by Populous and built by Hoffman Construction, the center represents a significant investment in women’s professional sports and provides both Portland teams with a shared home built around performance, recovery and player wellbeing.
New 100,000-square-foot domed sports complex coming to South New Jersey
A proposed indoor sports complex in Lower Township, New Jersey, has cleared a key regulatory hurdle, moving the long-planned Aviation Sports Complex closer to construction. The Planning Board unanimously granted conditional site plan approval for the 100,000-square-foot domed facility, which was authorized by the Delaware River and Bay Authority in 2024. Developers expect work to begin in the coming months.
Designed to address a growing need for year-round athletic space in South Jersey, the complex will feature turf fields for soccer and lacrosse, along with 60,000 square feet for basketball, volleyball and up to 22 pickleball courts. Additional amenities include golf simulators, jiu-jitsu and wellness areas, dining, and multipurpose space.
A 15,000-square-foot welcome center will add locker rooms, food service, retail and event space for teams and families. The dome will measure roughly 250 by 400 feet and stand 75 feet high, with engineering designed for severe weather conditions. Developers are targeting an opening next winter, creating a new tournament and recreation destination near Cape May Airport.
New youth sports complex opens in McCook, Nebraska
Upgrade your planning process by exploring fresh insights and best practices with SPG InSite.
New National Aquatic Centre designs themed around Queensland’s relationship with water and nature
In Australia, design concepts for Brisbane’s new National Aquatic Centre have been unveiled, setting the stage for a world-class venue designed for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a lasting community legacy. ARM Architecture and NH Architecture, in partnership with Brisbane-based Arkhefield, were selected following a six-month process to develop the 25,000-seat facility at Victoria Park.
The design draws heavily from Queensland’s relationship with water and its subtropical environment. A rippled roofline evokes wind and water, while the multilevel building follows the site’s natural slope to preserve parkland, light and greenery. Three covered competition pools, a gym, high-performance spaces and administration areas will complement the existing outdoor pools at the heritage-listed Centenary Pool complex.
The Centre will host swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming during Brisbane 2032 before transitioning into a high-performance and community aquatic hub. Early work is expected later this year, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027. As one of 17 venues included in the $7.1 billion Games Venues Infrastructure Program, the project is positioned as a long-term investment in Queensland’s athletes, families and community sport.
Seattle’s largest indoor pickleball facility opens in Interbay neighborhood
Seattle Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder is expanding her vision for sports as a community connector with Pickle at the Palms, a new indoor pickleball facility in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood. Developed with her daughter, Sierra Keeler, and son-in-law, Kyle Schraeder, the venue features 20 competition-level courts across two levels and opened to the public August 24.
Designed as both a sports destination and social gathering place, Pickle at the Palms includes a loft-style lounge for events and relaxation, a pro shop and Mainstay Provisions cafe serving coffee, food and alcoholic beverages. The facility welcomes experienced players and newcomers alike with coaching, leagues and flexible participation options.
Gilder sees the facility as a potential “third space” for the Interbay community, reflecting pickleball’s growing appeal as an accessible, social sport. Core membership starts at $250 annually, while pay-as-you-play options provide additional flexibility.
A’s Las Vegas stadium takes shape as a second steel truss arch rises on the Strip
Construction on the Athletics’ $2 billion, 33,000-seat ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip is taking shape, with a second steel truss arch now installed. The design’s sweeping arches are expected to create a distinctive skyline presence reminiscent of Australia’s Sydney Opera House. Project officials say the stadium remains on schedule to open for the 2028 season.
The ballpark is also progressing alongside Bally’s planned $1.19 billion mixed-use development, which will include restaurants, retail, entertainment, a hotel/casino and a 2,500-seat theater. Bally’s expects to secure financing for its first phase soon, eliminating concerns that the Athletics would need to build a temporary plaza for the stadium’s opening.
Interest in the new venue is already strong, with nearly all Athletic Club premium seats sold and roughly half of club-level inventory claimed. About 75% of buyers are from the Las Vegas area, reinforcing the local market’s enthusiasm. While construction continues, the Athletics are playing in West Sacramento before their planned move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.
SPG Take
The Athletics’ move to Las Vegas may be one of the most consequential sports relocation stories in recent years, and the new ballpark is only part of the equation.
There is plenty to applaud in the vision. The City of Las Vegas has undeniably built an impressive sports ecosystem. The $2 billion stadium is becoming a major development anchor, and strong early demand for premium seating suggests genuine local interest.
However, the criticism cannot be separated from the project’s promise. Oakland loses a franchise with 57 years of history, while questions remain about public funding, the handling of the Coliseum and whether Las Vegas can sustain attendance across 81 home games. This makes it less about a spectacular new venue and more about a test of whether a destination known for attracting visitors, yet experiencing a notable downturn, can turn that tourism momentum into a durable home-market sports business.
If it works, Las Vegas strengthens its case as a major league sports city. If it does not, the price of the experiment will be closely scrutinized.
— Sports Planning Guide
