HOK ROSSETTI acquisition creates sports design giant with billion-dollar reach

James Okafor | GlobalBeat

HOK bought Detroit-based ROSSETTI to combine their architecture practices focused on stadiums, arenas and entertainment venues.

The deal closed Monday, bringing together two firms that designed NBA arenas for the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

HOK ranks among the world’s largest architecture companies and sought ROSSETTI’s four decades of sports venue expertise. The combined practice will chase more international projects as nations invest billions in World Cup and Olympic facilities.

Sports architecture generated $417 billion globally in 2024, according to industry data. Design firms compete for mega-projects like the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and 2030 FIFA World Cup sites.

“HOK adds ROSSETTI’s proven track record in sports to our global platform,” HOK CEO Eliot Lees told reporters after announcing the acquisition.

The Detroit firm has completed 50 professional sports venues across 8 leagues including NBA, NHL and MLB teams. HOK designed 14 NFL stadiums and 8 NBA arenas over the past three decades.

The two firms have collaborated on recent projects including Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum and Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Both arenas opened within the past 7 years and host playoff games this season.

“This partnership lets us compete for bigger projects than either firm could alone,” said ROSSETTI president Matt Rossetti, who will remain with the combined company.

The acquisition price remains undisclosed but industry analysts value the deal north of $150 million based on ROSSETTI’s annual revenue and project pipeline.

Background

ROSSETTI designed its first sports venue in 1978 with the Pontiac Silverdome renovation for the Detroit Lions. The firm later created The Palace of Auburn Hills in 1988, setting new standards for NBA arena design.

HOK founded its sports practice in Kansas City during the 1980s and designed Baltimore’s Camden Yards in 1992. The baseball stadium revolutionized sports architecture by incorporating retro design elements now standard across North America.

The two firms have designed 62 combined venues where sports teams currently play, representing 40 percent of major league facilities in the United States and Canada.

What’s Next

Officials said the unified firm will announce their first joint project within 60 days, with bids pending for soccer stadiums in Brazil and basketball arenas in China for the 2027 World Cup.