How to turn a stadium into an urban and business engine
On November 20, IDOM participated in Estadios Summit, a leading event for professionals involved in the design, management, and operation of stadiums and arenas. The event was held at the Beatriz Auditorium in Madrid. The meeting brought together industry leaders to discuss ways to transform these venues into urban and business hubs.
César Azcárate, the Director of Sports and Events Architecture at IDOM, spoke at the roundtable, “Phase 1: Design. Icon, Functionality, and Profitability: How to Prioritize Without Compromising,” addressing key factors in aligning creative vision with strategic objectives, ensuring future profitability, and designing flexible, sustainable, technologically advanced spaces. Azcárate emphasized the importance of integrating architecture, technology, and artificial intelligence from the outset to improve the fan experience and optimize operations, saying, “Bringing the team together with all the stakeholders involved is vital.”
Borja Gómez, the director of architecture at the Bilbao office, and Juan Pablo Pareja, the general manager of Cruzados-Universidad Católica, presented the Claro Arena (Chile) case study in the Stadium Talks section. Developed by IDOM for Cruzados – Universidad Católica, this project has become a benchmark in Latin America due to its innovation and sustainability. With a capacity expansion from 12,000 to 20,000 spectators, the stadium improves the soccer experience and incorporates a year-round commercial exploitation strategy, ensuring its economic viability and role as an urban destination.
At IDOM, we believe that stadium design is more than just architecture; it’s about creating spaces that connect with the passion for sports, improve people’s lives, and contribute to the development of cities. Our participation in Estadios Summit reaffirms our commitment to projects that combine iconicity, functionality, and profitability.
