Q & A
Where do you see the current trends of sports stadia in Asia?
If you look at Asia, there are some great stadiums being built or planned but more and more we’re seeing these projects as something beyond just standalone sports venues. They’re part of huge civic developments, which involve retail components or other pieces that are intended to be part of a city or region’s cultural life. That trend is making arenas a huge part of future planning, because unlike the United States or Europe, most of these venues don’t have sports teams or anchor tenants – with the result that entertainment becomes the critical element.
Obviously there have been plenty of facilities built or renovated in the USA, Europe and Australia. Do you also see this happening in Asia?
We can see that previously quiet markets in the Pacific Rim now have the traction – mostly through government funding, but also with some private investment – to make things happen. And these can be giant projects. The scale in China, for instance, is vast. You’re talking about cities or areas with 12 million people that want facilities that will make sport the hub of an entire social culture. Elsewhere, you have oil money being used for development in the Middle East. And India has the largest middle class in the world.
There seems to be an emphasis on environmental awareness in the UK and USA, but is that consistent around the world?
In Hong Kong mainland China and Asia, the environmental aspects of any project are being addressed.