Executive Summary

The AT&T Stadium Clubs & Suites Renovation represents a transformative rethinking of premium hospitality—shifting from a static luxury model to a performance-driven experience ecosystem that directly impacts fan behavior, dwell time, spending, and long-term loyalty.

Rather than a cosmetic refresh, the project strategically repositions 360 suites and over 160,000 square feet of club environments to function as integrated social and economic engines. Design decisions were grounded in behavioral insight: bars were relocated and reoriented to reduce friction and increase visibility, evolving into social anchors that drive interaction. As a result, food and beverage capture rates exceeded 65%, demonstrating a measurable increase in revenue performance.

Suite environments were reimagined to open sightlines and foster communal energy, transforming passive viewing into shared rituals. This shift increased in-suite engagement and per-capita spend, reinforcing the connection between spatial design and financial outcomes.

Central to the transformation is the use of light as a primary material, shaping perception, enhancing comfort, and amplifying social energy. A cohesive lighting strategy elevated the environment while directly influencing behavior, resulting in a more than 50% increase in dwell time, a critical driver of overspend and fan loyalty.

This renovation demonstrates that experience design is not an amenity, it is infrastructure for revenue. By aligning spatial, sensory, and operational strategies, AT&T Stadium sets a new benchmark for renovation in the sports industry—where design is measured not only by how it looks, but by how it performs.


Media Coverage:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAtQJ0nttRh/?img_index=5&igsh=MTVyazdzaThkYjRjNA==

https://www.localprofile.com/news/renovations-att-stadium-world-cup-7507119

https://frontofficesports.com/att-stadiums-180m-upgrade-a-refresh-for-house-that-jerry-built/

https://www.athleticbusiness.com/facilities/stadium-arena/article/15545814/cowboys-prep-for-world-cup-with-180m-in-luxury-suite-renovations-at-att-stadium

Submitting Organization: HKS
Photo Credits: HKS + ME Engineering

Detailed Nomination

The renovation of AT&T Stadium redefines the performance of one of the world’s most iconic venues through a strategic transformation of its premium environments—elevating experience, operational efficiency, and emotional resonance without altering its architectural identity.

Spanning 360 suites across five stadium levels—Event, Hall of Fame, Silver, Ring of Honor, and Main—the project encompasses more than 160,000 square feet of club environments, including two Main/ Founders clubs at 50,000 square feet each, two Silver Clubs at 20,000 square feet, and two Event Clubs at 10,000 square feet. Complementary interventions include the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop and Main Entry, the introduction of new hospitality destinations such as the Silver Level Bubble Bar and Tequila Bar, and a comprehensive reimagining of all adjacent concourses through new finishes, flooring, and lighting systems. Together, these elements establish a cohesive and elevated experience across the stadium.

At its core, the renovation shifts the paradigm of premium hospitality—from static luxury to dynamic, experience-driven environments designed to support human behavior and drive measurable outcomes. Game-day pain points informed every decision: bars and concessions were repositioned to improve flow and visibility, transforming them into social anchors rather than service points. The result was a significant increase in engagement, with food and beverage capture rates exceeding 65%.

Suite environments were reimagined to open sightlines to the bowl and introduce communal food and gathering moments, reinforcing a shared ritual around the game. This spatial recalibration directly contributed to increase in-suite purchases and higher per-capita spend. Visual clarity, intuitive circulation, and integrated digital displays further enhanced the connection between hospitality and spectacle—ensuring a seamless, high-performance environment on game day.

Central to this transformation is the elevation of light as a primary design material. Light became the unifying medium through which space, material, and emotion converge. Hue. Shimmer. Reflection. Iridescence. Matte. Warmth. A layered dialogue of light spectrums was developed to animate surfaces and create depth, allowing materials to shift in expression throughout the day and across event conditions. Rather than serving as a backdrop, light actively shapes perception—guiding movement, highlighting moments of social energy, and reinforcing a sense of arrival.

A calibrated 4000K color temperature was deployed to unlock the full potential of materiality and art, balancing warmth and clarity to enhance both human comfort and visual acuity. This approach draws from research into how light and color influence human physiology—supporting alertness, social engagement, and overall well-being within high-energy environments. Every glow was intentional; every reflection designed to evoke a specific emotional response.

Critically, lighting was not only experiential—it was performative. Clubs were brightened and layered with a cohesive lighting narrative aligned with brand and sponsorship moments, transforming the environment itself into a revenue-generating platform. As a result, dwell time increased by more than 50%, directly influencing overspend and overall revenue performance.

Signature elements, such as 30-foot backlit glass columns, transform light into architectural spectacle—vertical beacons that anchor the suites in a sense of grandeur while reinforcing identity and place. Across clubs and bars, integrated lighting within millwork, custom metal finishes, and stone surfaces introduces a dynamic interplay of reflection and texture, amplifying the richness of globally sourced materials.

Equally important is the continuity of experience. All adjacent concourses were re-envisioned through upgraded lighting and finishes, ensuring a seamless transition between circulation and destination. The result is a cohesive experiential framework where movement, gathering, and spectacle are unified through consistent visual and sensory language.
This renovation is not defined by a single gesture, but by the orchestration of many—where light, material, and human behavior are aligned to create environments that perform at every level. It is a recalibration of how a stadium feels, functions, and connects with its audience.

Timed ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the transformation ensures AT&T Stadium remains a global benchmark—not by redefining its form, but by redefining its experience.

Light as experience.
Light as emotion.
Light as the new material.

Share

AT&T Stadium Club & Suite Renovation
Topics
When
Sunday to Wednesday
December 23 to 26, 2022
Where
467 Davidson ave
Los Angeles CA 95716