Industry News

‘Amazon Stadium’ concept proposed for Chicago

A state-of-the-art sports and entertainment stadium could form part of e-commerce company Amazon’s new headquarters in the US city of Chicago under plans proposed by property developer Sterling Bay.

Sterling Bay is hoping to make Chicago the site for Amazon’s second headquarters, and has composed ambitious designs as part of its submission to the company.

In materials obtained by the Chicago Tribune newspaper, Sterling Bay outlines plans for a “world-class sports and entertainment stadium” on the site of the complex.

Such a concept is still some way from becoming a reality, with the Tribune noting that Amazon, which is currently based in Seattle, has received bids from 238 cities and regions across North America hoping to be the site for a second campus. A decision for the new headquarters, which is set to create up to 50,000 jobs, is due next year.

The Tribune reported that Sterling Bay’s proposal said: “Sterling Bay is currently engaged in active discussions with the city of Chicago, professional sports leagues and international entertainment production companies to partner on the development and operations of this venue.”

Chicago’s bid for the headquarters was submitted earlier this month. The Tribune said it includes 10 potential sites, including Sterling Bay’s proposed project which would be based along the Chicago River.

Andy Gloor, Sterling Bay’s managing principal, told the Tribune: “The city asked us for our boldest ideas on Amazon’s HQ2 and that’s what we did at Lincoln Yards. These are conceptual designs for the Amazon proposal, and we hope they see what we already know: Chicago and Lincoln Yards provide unmatched possibilities for HQ2.”

Image: Balajimuthazhagan