Independent Sports Venue, Stadium & Arena Design Consultant

David Hines Sports Consulting is an architect-led design consultancy providing independent specialist advice for stadiums, arenas, training facilities, major sporting events and venues created for all forms of sport, music, entertainment and immersive experience. Combining architectural design expertise with strategic, technical and operational consultancy, DHSC helps clients shape clear project briefs, test design proposals, coordinate specialist requirements and improve the long-term performance of complex venues. With more than 20 years’ experience as a sports architect across over 100 international projects, we support clients, developers, architects and public authorities from feasibility and briefing through concept development, design review, construction, venue operation and post-occupancy assessment.

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Aerial view of Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with Populous
Concert audience inside a live music and entertainment venue
Aerial view of JCDC stadium and mixed-use sports district FIFA 2034 Jeddah, with gmp
Interior concept of a football stadium, competition with Foster + Partners
Roshn Stadium FIFA 2034 Saudi Arabia
Three-dimensional stadium seating bowl and football pitch model
Aerial concept of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation training centre SAFF for the Ministry of Sports MOS KSA
indoor-multipurpose-arena
Exterior view of Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, with Populous
Sports athlete facility designed with BIG
Fisht Olympic Stadium designed for the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, FIFA world cup 2018 and other major international events, with Populous
stadium-bowl-detailed-model
Tottenham Hotspur aerial render, with Populous
Barnet Copthall Sports Centre masterplan designed with Heatherwick
Exterior concept for Bristol YTL Arena, a new multipurpose arena and entertainment venue, with AECOM
Interior seating bowl at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah
Live-event audience with stage lighting
Interior seating bowl and roof at Fisht Olympic Stadium 2018 FIFA world Cup, with Populous
Silverstone Wing pit and paddock building beside the racing circuit, with Populous
Stadia magazine cover marking 20 years of sports venue design featuring several venues with input by David Hines
arena-seating-tier
Entrance plaza concept for Hail Stadium in Saudi Arabia, with Populous and Saudi Aramco
Aerial concept for Barcelona football stadium in Spain competition, with Populous
Aerial concept for the proposed MSG Sphere London, with Populous
Sports precinct masterplan model for Moscow world cup final venue for FIFA 2018, with Populous
Aarhus Stadium public realm and community sports courts concept, with SCAU
modular-stadia-model
Audience watching a live music performance
Aerial concept for a stadium and sports park in Florence, with John McAslan
golf-simulation-bay
Aerial concept for a stadium and sports park in Florence, with ZHA
Concept for a stadium and sports park in Florence, with ZHA
cricket-temporary-venue
Aerial view of Aviva Stadium and the surrounding Dublin neighbourhood, with Populous
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Aerial concept of Al Wasl Stadium and its landscaped public realm, with P+T
Interior concept of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during a football match, with Populous
Exterior concept of Rostov-on-Don stadium with a tensile roof and illuminated concourse for FIFA 2018 World Cup, with Populous
stadium-mixed-use-development
Interior view of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seating bowl and roof, with Populous
Public plaza and entrance concept for Al Wasl Stadium in Dubai, with P+T
Sports analytics ESO design
Aviva Stadium illuminated above the surrounding Dublin neighbourhood, with Populous
golf-indoor-practice-space
stadium-viewing-angle-study
Aerial concept of Jaber Al Ahmad Olympic Village in Kuwait, with Populous
Bristol Arena entrance and illuminated media façade concept, with Populous
Aerial view of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, with Populous
Aerial concept of Shabab Al Ahli Stadium and entrance plaza in Dubai, with P+T
Structural stadium section model showing seating tiers and roof framing
Three-dimensional stadium seating bowl with spectator 3D viewing analysis
Interior of the London Olympic Stadium following its post-Games conversion, with Populous
Athletics running track with marked competition lanes
wall-ball-event-setup
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seating, roof structure and video screen, with Populous
Aviva Stadium exterior beside the River Dodder in Dublin, with Populous

Stadium, Arena & Sports Venue Project Experience

David Hines brings more than 20 years’ international experience across over 100 stadium, arena, training-facility, sports-masterplanning and major-event projects.

This experience includes appointments delivered through David Hines Sports Consulting and projects undertaken during previous roles with leading international architectural and multidisciplinary design practices. Including Populous, AECOM and Buro Happold.

Stadiums

  • Aviva Stadium, Ireland 2005-2011

  • Marseille Stadium, France 2008

  • Plymouth Stadium & Masterplan, UK 2009-2011

  • Fisht Winter 2014 Olympic Stadium, Russia 2011-2013

  • Sport City Stadium and Masterplan, Singapore 2012

  • Jaber El Ahmad Olympic Village, Kuwait 2012

  • Luzhniki Stadium 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia 2013-2015

  • Rostov-on-Don Stadium 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia 2013-2014

  • Lusail Stadium with Foster + Partners, 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2013-2014

  • King Abdullah Stadium Programme (KASP), KSA 2014-2015

  • KASP - Hail Stadium, KSA 2014-2015

  • KASP - Baha Stadium, KSA 2014-2015

  • KASP - Dammam Stadium, KSA 2014-2015

  • Camp Nou Stadium, Spain 2015

  • Jeddah Stadium remediation works, KSA 2015-2017

  • Birmingham Commonwealth Games, UK 2018

  • Chengdu Stadium and Olympic park, China 2018

  • Parma Stadium with Zoppini Architects, Italy 2021

  • JCDC Stadium client adviser 2034 FIFA World Cup, KSA 2021

  • PAOK Stadium with BIG Architects, Greece 2021

  • Fiorentina Stadium with ZHA Architects, Italy 2021-2022

  • Qiddiya Sports City Masterplan, KSA 2021

  • Hangzhou Sports Complex with Foster + Partners Architects, China 2021-2022

  • JCDC Stadium with gmp Architects, 2034 FIFA World Cup, KSA 2021-2022

  • Aarhus Stadium with SCAU Architects, Denmark 2022

  • Tsirio Stadium with BIG Architects, Cyprus 2022

  • Twickenham Stadium client adviser, UK 2022

  • Real Betis Stadium with Lamela Architects, Spain 2023

  • Qiddiya Stadium with Storyland Studios + Gensler Architects, KSA 2023

  • NEOM Stadium with OMA Architects, KSA 2023

  • Murabba Stadium with Gensler Architects, KSA 2023

  • Roshn Stadium client adviser, 2034 FIFA World Cup, KSA 2023

  • Al Wasl Stadium with P&T Architects, UAE 2023-2024

  • Shabab Al Ahli Stadium with P&T Architects, UAE 2023-2024

  • Cardiff Stadium with Holder Mathias Architects, UK 2024

  • Undisclosed Premier League Stadium renovation, UK 2024

  • Oman national athletics stadium and masterplan, Oman 2024

  • Tirana Stadium with ZHA Architects, Albania 2025

  • Murrayfield Stadium and Masterplan with Austin Smith Lord Architects, UK 2025

  • Essex County Cricket Club, UK 2025

  • Undisclosed stadium renovation and expansion, Spain 2025

  • Undisclosed new stadium, Portugal 2025-2026

  • Client adviser undisclosed new national athletics stadium, 2026

  • Private client concept stadium, KSA 2026

  • Maksimir Stadium competition jury expert adviser, Croatia 2026

Elite Sports & Training Centres

  • Queens Park Rangers Training Centre, UK 2011

  • ECL Conference Centre, UK 2012

  • AS Monaco FC Training Centre, Monaco 2013

  • Barnet Copthall Sports Centre with Heatherwick Architects, UK 2021-2022

  • Saudi Arabia Football Federation National Training Centre, KSA 2022

  • EPIC Campus Lecture Hall with Stride Treglown Architects, UK 2022-2023

  • AlUla Elite Training Centre, KSA 2023

  • Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, KSA 2024

  • Diriyah Gate Development Authority Sports Community Centre, KSA 2024

  • Undisclosed Football Training Centre, KSA 2024

  • UK WallBall, UK 2024

  • Feldspar Running Track, UK 2024

  • KSA FIFA 2034 World Cup Training Venues, KSA 2025

Games & Event Design Master Planning

  • Sri Lanka Commonwealth Games Bid, Sri Lanka 2011-2012

  • Qatar Sports Venue Masterplan, Qatar 2010-2012

  • Qatar Olympic 2020 Masterplan, Qatar 2012

  • Rostov on Don Stadium 2018 FIFA World Cup overlay design, Russia 2013

  • Lusail Stadium 2022 FIFA World Cup overlay design, Qatar 2013-14

  • BAKU European Games 2015 overlay design, Azerbaijan 2014

  • Qatar 22 FIFA World Cup overlay strategy, Qatar 2020

  • SEVEN Entertainment Centres with Gensler Architects, KSA 2021-2022

  • Sports Boulevard Project, KSA 2022

  • Diriyah Gate Event Strategy, KSA 2022

  • Royal Commission of Riyadh City Sports Strategy, KSA 2023

  • Brisbane 2032 Olympic Legacy Strategy, Australia 2023

  • Abu Dhabi Sports Strategy, UAE 2024

  • Georgian National Stadium and Masterplan, Georgia 2025

  • Riyadh temporary event cricket stadium, KSA 2025

  • Riyadh Golf Club, KSA 2025

  • Nigeria National Stadium and sports park masterplan, Nigeria 2025

Arenas, Music & Immersive Venues

  • Bristol Arena, UK 2015-2016

  • MSG Sphere London, UK 2015-2018

  • MSG Sphere Las Vegas, USA 2016-2018

  • Bristol YTL Arena, UK 2018

  • Riyadh Arena with Foster + Partners Architects, KSA 2021-2022

  • Berlin Temporary Arena, Germany 2024

  • Undisclosed multipurpose indoor arena / womens football venue, UK 2025

  • Undisclosed NBA/NHL Arena with SHoP Architects, USA 2025

  • Aviva Arena - YTL, UK 2025-2026

  • Undisclosed new London immersive theatre, UK 2026

Integrated Sports Strategy & Business Development

  • Sports Strategy for Journey: Leveraging Journey in the sports industry, a global impact and business strategy, 2025

  • Merson Digital: Industry wide business development and strategic business approach, 2025-2026

  • Undisclosed client: Global marketing support and industry wide business development, 2026