A new sports and entertainment district in East Austin, the former site of the Travis County Exposition Center, has attracted starchitect design talent and is likely to run up a world-class price tag.
Kevin Lyttle reports: "A small local group with a big vision and political backing has unveiled plans for a wide-ranging project called the East Austin District, highlighted by a large arena and a multipurpose stadium."
The project would be built on the former site of the Travis County Exposition Center. The final product would include 5,000-seat arena adjacent to a 40,000-seat open-air facility, according to Lyttle. "The complex, designed to include office space, a convention area, medical facilities, retail and eight courtyards, could house a wide variety of sports events, concerts, trade shows and festivals."
The news of the new project also made the design headlines thanks to the designer of the proposed sports and entertainment district: Bjarke Ingels Group. Philip Stevens writes for designboom on the design of the project, including a full collection of snazzy renderings.
Kriston Capps picks up the news of the proposed project from a different angle—the stadium boondoggle. In an article that explores the idea that NFL stadium boondoggles have given way to MLS soccer stadium boondoggles, Capps cites the Austin project as a leading example.
FULL STORY: Group plans to replace Expo Center with arena, stadium
Austin’s Project Connect Funding Safe for 2025
The light rail project is moving ahead with plans to finalize its environmental impact review by late 2025.
New Rapid Bus Lines Begin “Introductory Service” in Austin
CapMetro officials say they wanted to start providing connectivity even though buses won’t run as frequently as planned.
Austin Outlaws Blocking Bike Lanes
Drivers who park in bike lanes will receive citations of up to $300.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research