Arizona State Hires Design Team for Reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium

TEMPE, Ariz. — Taking an important first step toward defining the revitalized appearance and function of a new Sun Devil Stadium, Arizona State University announced it has hired the design professionals who will bring the vision into sharper focus—Gould Evans and HNTB Corporation.

“We have reached an important milestone in the reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium,” said Ray Anderson, vice president for University Athletics. “While preliminary conceptual work has been done for purposes of planning and programming considerations, today's announcement means we are shifting gears and that the vision starts being transformed into concrete plans.”

While plans are proceeding, the project still requires the approval of the Arizona Board of Regents. That process will occur later this fall.

Edmundo Soltero, ASU University architect, said the combination of familiarity and experience made for a good match. “Gould Evans has a wealth of experience working with ASU, and HNTB is simply one of the best firms in the country at stadium design,” said Soltero. “We believe we have the team in place to do something extraordinary.”

Arizona State University planners went through a public request for qualifications process to solicit proposals and then conducted interviews with finalists before making its selection. Soltero said the university was looking for a blend of creativity and talent with a proven track record of success in sports facility design.

Earlier this year, the university initiated its “momentum” fundraising campaign committed to raise private money to help rebuild the aging stadium. The university will not use taxpayer dollars toward the project, since it will be self-funded through private donations and new revenue streams.

While final design is just beginning, the project will feature elements that reflect the mission of the university, including its focus on sustainability, technology and innovation. Enhancements in the stadium are expected to include an expanded student section, a new concourse experience, better seating, more restrooms with enhanced quality, improved concessions, a premiere video board and sound system, in-stadium technology for fan enjoyment and education, extensive accessibility improvements, an air-conditioned club, along with other amenities.

Sun Devil Stadium, which was originally constructed in 1958, has played host to the Super Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, NFL games and has appeared in several movies. The last major renovation to Sun Devil Stadium came in 1988 when 1,700 seats were added to bring the facility to a capacity of 71,706.

This spring, approximately 5,700 seats were removed from the upper north end zone as a preliminary step toward transforming the stadium. The project will be conducted in phases while the Sun Devil football team continues to play its regular seasons in the stadium, with construction being completed in 2017.