HOK has announced a multi-year partnership with the United Soccer League (USL). HOK will lead a stadium development, design, and standards initiative supporting the league’s strategic initiative to house all USL clubs in soccer-specific stadiums across North America by the end of the decade.
“The groundbreaking partnership with HOK provides the league and its clubs a tremendous partner with extensive stadium design and development experience at the highest level,” said USL President Jake Edwards in a statement. “A critical part of our strategic growth plan is to have all USL clubs as owners or primary tenants of soccer-specific stadiums by 2020. Not only will these new and upgraded stadiums add value to the league and each club ownership group, they will establish a permanent base for the clubs within their local communities. These venues will serve as cultural hubs and bring fans together in support of the clubs while offering state-of-the-art amenities and an unparalleled game-day experience.”
HOK is the league’s official stadium design partner and will apply its venue design expertise to guide soccer-specific stadium development for expansion clubs and the renovation of current USL stadiums to increase capacities and amenities. HOK will also consult to the league and its clubs on maximizing venue revenue, developing ancillary programming, and creating operational efficiencies.
“This partnership reflects the USL’s commitment to expanding the soccer community across the country and providing fans a high-quality event experience that captures the energy and excitement of the game,” said Brad Schrock, HOK’s director of Sports + Recreation + Entertainment, in a statement. “We are passionate about soccer and excited to be a partner to the USL as the league continues to grow. This initiative will provide the framework to ensure that venues are successful for the team, the players, the fans and their communities.”
HOK’s portfolio of work includes the recently opened Avaya Stadium for Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes; a newly designed multipurpose stadium in Atlanta, which will be home to a MLS expansion franchise and the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons; the renovation of Sun Life Stadium for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins; the proposed St. Louis NFL Stadium on the North Riverfront area of downtown St. Louis, which is designed to accommodate FIFA and MLS matches; and the renovation of the AT&T Center for the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs.
To learn more about soccer’s increasing popularity in the U.S., please read our FM feature, “Major League Soccer’s Resurgence.”
(Image: Christy Radecic)
