HKS designer Alex Thomas picks his top 10 sports venues worldwide

Key facts

• Alex Thomas is regional design director for sports and entertainment at HKS London.
• SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is ranked #1 and described as the best stadium in the world.
• SoFi Stadium features a Samsung-designed Oculus screen and a sunken bowl.
• SoFi Stadium has hosted the Super Bowl, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, FIFA World Cup, and will host LA28 Olympic Games.
• Lord's Cricket Ground in London is #2, praised for its atmosphere and historic Pavilion.
• Carrow Road in Norwich is #3, chosen for personal emotional connection as a Norwich City fan.
• St James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne is #4, noted for dominating the city's culture.
• Cosm Venues in Los Angeles and Dallas are #5, designed with HKS to replicate stadium experience through technology.
• US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is #6, inspired by Viking longhouses and ice floes, with a roof that handles snow and reduces energy demand.
• Optus Stadium in Perth is #7, designed with Cox Architecture and Hassell Studio, connected to Indigenous heritage and the Swan River.
• Royal Arena in Copenhagen is #8, designed by 3XN with HKS, engaging with the public and catalyzing growth in Ørestad.
• Munich Olympic Stadium is #9, featuring Frei Otto's revolutionary tensile roof structure.
• Camp Nou in Barcelona is #10, praised for its mid-century design by Francesc Mitjans i Miró and its civic role.
• Thomas worked on Camp Nou in 2016 studying its evolution from the 1950s original.
• Thomas believes stadiums must be tied to their context: climate, city, and culture.
• HKS collaborated on Cosm Venues and Royal Arena.
• Thomas was involved in early stages of Optus Stadium with Cox Architecture and Hassell Studio.