A’s fixed-roof ballpark sense-of-Strip design

Image: Athletics

The lead designer of the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Athletics Las Vegas (US) ballpark took part in an event from April 26^th-27^th where he gave the attendees a look inside how the idea of the $1.75 billion facility came to life.

The design idea is all about letting the people know once they are inside the ballpark – that they are in one of the most famous corners of the world – the Las Vegas Strip (US).

‘LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL’ stated that Frankie Sharpe, Director of Sports Architecture at the Bjarke Ingels Group, has been leading the design work of the ‘A’s’ 33,000-fan capacity domed stadium.

The Athletics (often referred to as the ‘A’s’) are an American professional baseball team based in West Sacramento, California (US). The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. The team is playing its home games at the Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the 2025-2027 seasons before its planned relocation to the Las Vegas Metropolitan area.

The 14,014-capacity Sutter Health Park is a ballpark in West Sacramento, California (US). It is the temporary home of the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB).

The 33,000-capacity New Las Vegas Stadium is a future fixed-roof ballpark to be built on the site of the former Tropicana Las Vegas (casino hotel) on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada (US). It is planned as the new home stadium of the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) after they complete their planned relocation from Oakland, California, to the Las Vegas Metropolitan area.

The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada (US) that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos.

Brooklyn (US)-based the Bjarke Ingels Group is a global architecture firm operating within the fields of architecture, urbanism, interior design, landscape design, product design, and research and development (R&D).

‘LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL’ further stated that Sharpe broke down the project, being built on nine acres of the 35-acre site on the Southeast corner of the intersections of the Las Vegas Boulevard and the Tropicana Avenue.

Sharpe gave his presentation on April 26^th at the Binion’s (a casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas). Several other speakers discussed architecture, design and culture tied to Las Vegas.

Sharpe explained how the stadium was designed to withstand the desert elements while still allowing an outdoor feel and having the Strip as the backdrop of the facility’s outfield.

One of the main elements that will create that feel is the massive 36,000-square-foot glass curtain wall in the outfield. It will allow natural light into the ballpark, offer views of the Strip all while allowing for a temperature-controlled environment.

Stated Sharpe, “We’re on one of the most famous corners, or let’s call it intersections, in the world. So for us it was about letting people that are inside the ballpark know where they are and giving them a sense of place. And really making sure that you know when you’re sitting inside a structure that needs to be protected from the elements. It’s still very much connected to that setting.”

The ‘A’s’ and the design team have been working with the Neon Museum (a non-profit museum in Las Vegas that collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits iconic Las Vegas neon signs offering a glimpse into the City’s history and culture) to discuss how they can incorporate some of the non-profit organization’s historic Las Vegas resort signs within the stadium. A lot of what will be included inside the stadium will likely be tied to partnership deals the ‘A’s’ sign with the groups in Southern Nevada.

Added Sharpe, “We want it to feel local and contextual. You want the fans to see things that they recognize and make them feel like it’s a part of their urban fabric. Lights and Las Vegas are kind of synonymous with each other. And so, making sure that the inside of the ballpark had some nods to the history of the City and its lights and giving it a think, a flare that will make it stand apart from the other facilities is really an important piece of the design process for us.”

With the ‘A’s’ glitzy stadium set to be built where the historic Tropicana hotel once stood, Sharpe said it’s a sure bet that there will be some nods to the property’s past within the facility.

Although the crews have already begun excavating the site a formal groundbreaking ceremony which will mark the start of construction is set for June.

Concluded Sharpe, “The design of the ballpark, for all intents, is complete. It’s not just about detailing it, it’s about getting those kind of finishing touches into it so that it checks all the boxes in terms of user experience, storytelling and all of those types of things.”

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