Sports venues are anchoring a growing wave of mixed-use development across North America, with 107 projects open, under construction or planned representing an estimated $262 billion in combined development costs, according to new research released by Visit Anaheim. The findings highlight a national shift in how cities are leveraging sports and entertainment to drive economic development, with Anaheim's $5 billion OCVIBE project emerging as a leading example of this transformation.
Commissioned by Visit Anaheim and authored by journalist Peter Keating, From Arenas to Neighborhoods: How Sports Is Driving a New Generation of Mixed-Use Development examines how sports-anchored districts are evolving beyond traditional arenas and stadiums into vibrant neighborhoods that integrate housing, hospitality, dining, entertainment and public spaces. The research documents a sharp increase in projects under construction, greater involvement by team owners and a declining share of public funding.