Video: Could the UK have an esports 'stadium of the future'?

Dom Sacco, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 17/03/2017

A new esports ‘stadium of the future’ concept design has emerged, with a demonstration video showing off what it’s capable of.
Design firm Populous showed off the stadium idea at SXSW Austin. It features a transforming stadium that can adapt depending on the number of visitors, with huge screens and interactive media sections.
The design features a ‘gaming village’ outside the arena, and an interactive media plaza with bars, social areas and outdoor screens.
Inside, there’s a tunnel that displays imagery and video on it, giving visitors a close-up look at game moments and their favourite teams.
 

“Only a handful of esports-specific venues currently exist and none currently have the live event hosting capability of a full-size arena.”

 
The main area has a flat screen in the middle with various projections protruding from it.
There’s also a training facility and other sophisticated-looking bars and food areas inside.
Then there’s premium seating with haptic feedback and a tablet screen, which displays match stats and info live to the spectator.
“Only a handful of esports-specific venues currently exist and none currently have the live event hosting capability of a full-size arena,” said Brian Mirakian, principal and director of Populous Activate.
You can check out the esports future stadium concept video here:

Dom Sacco, Senior Editor

Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He has almost two decades of experience in journalism, and left Esports News UK in June 2025. As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late '80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He also previously worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation.

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