BIG revises design for Oakland A’s ballpark

Danish architect firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) continues to meet with public officials, fans, and community members to gather more input and refine designs for the 34,000-seat Oakland Athletics ballpark stadium in California. One key update to the design is a more circular shape.

This geometry offers the following four key benefits over the initial concepts:

• better ability to capture fan energy inside the ballpark for a more exciting and intimate experience;
• a continuous rooftop park for use by fans and the community;
• better views of the water and Oakland from inside the ballpark; and
• a more seamless, efficient, and fluid access to the ballpark from the surrounding neighborhood.

The Oakland A’s new arena, located on the Howard Terminal waterfront, would form part of a new development including high-rise towers, offices, and retail space. The project also involves the transformation of the team’s current stadium, located nearly 7 km (6 mi) southeast of the new site, into a tech and housing hub.