From tight deadlines to complex supply chains and evolving community expectations, building a stadium is no small feat.

In this article for Football & Stadium Management, Clare Gallagher, Project Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, draws on her experience building stadia, including the Olympic Stadium and the Emirates Stadium, to explore how close collaboration is essential to creating venues that stand the test of time.

Key highlights include:

Client engagement from the outset is essential to align expectations and manage inevitable changes
Shared spaces and proximity between client and project teams enable faster decision-making and smoother communication
Adaptability is crucial—as seen in the Emirates Stadium project, where sponsor-driven design changes were successfully integrated mid-build
Stadia are evolving into multi-use venues and community hubs, requiring broader operational considerations
Supply chain complexity demands that suppliers be as engaged and informed as the core project team
Unified project teams help mitigate recurring construction challenges and ensure satisfaction across stakeholders

Read the full article on Football & Stadium Management's website.

One thing that cannot be done is predicting and mapping every step in a stadium project, which is why close collaboration is essential to manage changes as they occur. Reacting quickly to changes requires engagement on all levels between contractor, client, stakeholders and wider stadia operators. It is this team mentality and united front that will ultimately ensure a stadium project can run smoothly.
Clare Gallagher, Project Director, Sir Robert McAlpine

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