Tag: sports facility design

In June 2021, Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com and USA Today Sports wrote, “Architect Cole has broken the code for creating 5,000-seat ballparks for half the budget of other such facilities.” As the 2026 class of MiLB facilities continues to emerge, Mock’s observation has only become more validated.

During a recent visit to WiSE Park (click the link to see the in-depth review), as we watched an evening game unfold, Joe posed a direct question: “how is it possible to deliver ballparks of comparable scope at a fraction of the cost? Many in the industry speak with pride about nine-figure budgets. Yet your projects consistently come in significantly below that threshold without feeling diminished. What is being removed, and where is the tradeoff?”

The answer begins with a reframing of the premise

Consider Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, completed in 2017 at approximately $67 million. WiSE Park, delivered nearly a decade later, came in at roughly $64 million, plus an additional $15 million for an adjacent hotel. These projects exist in very different contexts. Dunkin’ Park is embedded within a complex urban brownfield, shaped by challenging topography and dense infrastructure. WiSE Park sits on a former industrial site in a less dense suburban environment. Conventional thinking would suggest that the latter, built years later, would carry a significantly higher cost. Instead, the opposite occurred.

The distinction lies in right-sizing. There is no universal template for a successful ballpark. Each market demands a tailored response. What works in Hartford does not necessarily translate to Wilson. Dunkin’ Park includes twenty suites. WiSE Park has eight. That is not a compromise; it is alignment with demand.

The more consequential factor, however, is how the design anticipates change

Every project is conceived with room for organic growth. At Dunkin’ Park, ownership and leadership embraced an iterative approach from the outset. Rather than viewing the ballpark as a finished product on opening day, it was treated as a platform that would evolve alongside its fans. Over time, Pendulum has continued to engage in periodic design charrettes with the team to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and respond to real behavioral data.

From the beginning, the ballpark was organized into distinct experiential zones. A local restaurant, Bear’s BBQ, was integrated along the third base line, complete with an on-site smoker that introduced aroma as part of the atmosphere. A family-focused area behind the batter’s eye included a playground and live animal elements tied to the team’s identity. A social bar in right-center field was designed with minimal fixed seating to attract a younger, more mobile crowd.

Not all of these elements remained static, nor were they intended to

Over time, these spaces adapted. Bear’s BBQ expanded and relocated, evolving into a larger, more dynamic destination that functions as much as a social venue as it does a concession. The original location transitioned into a branded bar concept that now draws a different demographic and sponsorship profile. The picnic and group areas shifted toward more flexible, casual configurations aligned with broader trends in food and beverage service, including grab-and-go options and communal seating.

None of these changes required wholesale reconstruction. They were enabled by a design strategy that anticipated evolution rather than resisting it

This approach requires restraint. It means leaving part of the canvas intentionally unfinished. Infrastructure is embedded early to support future expansion and reconfiguration, but not every idea is built on day one. Overbuilding can limit adaptability. It assumes that the initial concept fully captures future demand, which is rarely the case.

WiSE Park follows this same philosophy. The current build represents approximately seventy percent of the long-term vision. Critical infrastructure is already in place below grade and in the superstructure above to support future enhancements, but certain features have been intentionally deferred. The priority was to establish a strong, functional foundation for opening day while preserving the flexibility to respond to how the community uses the space.

All core systems are complete. Safety, operations, and compliance with MLB Player Development League standards have been fully addressed. What remains are opportunities, not omissions. These future layers will be informed by real data, fan behavior, and evolving partnerships within the local business community.

This measured rollout also creates space for sponsorship growth. As demonstrated in Hartford, new partners often emerge once a venue proves its value and audience. Designing for adaptability allows these relationships to be integrated meaningfully over time rather than forced into a fixed framework.

So how can ballparks be delivered at significantly lower cost without sacrificing quality?  The answer is not about subtraction, it is about stewardship

It is a commitment to thoughtful, market-driven design that avoids overreach and remains responsive to its community. It recognizes that a ballpark is not a static object but a living environment. By allowing fans and local partners to shape its evolution, the facility becomes more relevant, more flexible, and ultimately more successful.

The architect’s role in this process is not simply to deliver a finished artifact. It is to create a framework for experience. The building must first and foremost be safe and operationally sound. Beyond that, it should invite participation, encourage return visits, and sustain energy well beyond the game itself, this is the essence of Jonathan O’Neil Cole’s S.C.O.R.E. methodology.

A successful ballpark is one that people want to return to 66 times a year, and even on days when no game is scheduled. Achieving that does not require excess. It requires clarity, discipline, and a willingness to let the story unfold over time.

The result…a ballpark that is “right-sized for intimacy without feeling small” = economic sustainability, the other green $$$