The forthcoming Athletics Major League Baseball (MLB) team’s new domed ballpark in Las Vegas, Nevada, a collaboration between Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and HNTB, is set to become a vibrant symbol on the iconic strip.
Anticipated to open in spring 2028, the 33,000-capacity stadium will span 3.6 ha (9 acres) and feature a distinctive roof with five overlapping shells resembling baseball pennants. The design pays homage to the sport and athletes while strategically reducing sunlight glare for players.
The ballpark’s exterior will be enhanced with shimmering metal cladding, interacting with natural daylight and reflecting the Las Vegas lights at night.
“The resultant architecture is like a spherical armadillo—shaped by the local climate—while opening and inviting the life of The Strip to enter and explore. In the city of spectacle, the A’s ‘armadillo’ is designed for passive shading and natural light, the architectural response to the Nevada climate generating a new kind of vernacular icon in Vegas,” says Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director, BIG.
An elevated outdoor plaza will connect to bridges over Las Vegas and Tropicana Boulevards, guiding fans to the main concourse with a large glass atrium that provides a view of the city upon entry. This immersive fan experience is prioritized through a tiered design inspired by historic ballparks such as Fenway and Wrigley, bringing fans closer to the action with clear sightlines from every seat.
The venue, designed to accommodate diverse events, will feature a 1,672-m2 (18,000-sf) jumbotron, potentially the largest in MLB. Incorporating an efficient air-conditioning system and a climate-controlled environment, the Athletics Ballpark will be designed for sustainability and energy consciousness. The venue’s potential for hosting concerts, conferences, and other events further aligns with its future development plans, including an onsite hotel and casino.
Other collaborators on this project are Thornton Tomasetti, Henderson Engineers, CAA ICON, Mortenson, McCarthy, Atelier Ten, RWDI, Kimley-Horn, Systematica, WJHW, Jensen Hughes, HKA, WSP, FP&C, Chicago Flyhouse, Duray Duncan, Ed Roether Consulting, Morean, Negativ, and Mir.
Why no mention of the obvious similarity to the Sydney Opera House?
Bjarke is Danish, just like Utzon! As a resident of Vegas, was more interested in the orientation of home plate, and setting sun angles in the batter’s eye and 1st base line stands.