Sports Arena Family Center

Recognizing that professional sports venues are valued by their communities and vital tools for player recruitment, this confidential client sought to create a luxurious private lounge within its arena for the exclusive use of players’ families during home games. Not only did the multi-purpose space need to be of exceptional quality in comfort and function, but the client also specified a schedule of less than three months from the initial meeting to completion.  

Through unparalleled collaboration among the owner, general contractor and design team, SmithGroup achieved this ambitious goal with a transformation that feels almost magical. Behind a single elegant door, the arena’s family lounge provides a peaceful, refined oasis tucked unobtrusively within a cavernous sports venue. It blends high-end hospitality and multi-functionality, offering social gathering areas, quiet spaces, children and teen hangouts, and catered kitchen facilities. In its first season, it has already been enthusiastically received by its users and exceeded the client’s expectations. 

The space designated for the family lounge had previously served as a press room, a largely unadorned area in the interior of the arena. To create an environment of comfortable elegance, the team first addressed the challenges of acoustics and lighting. Acoustic drywall noticeably reduced sound transmission from the arena as well as reverberation from within the large open areas making the space feel audibly comfortable when large groups of people share the space. Because the space lacks windows and ceiling height is limited due to existing infrastructure, liberal use of uplighting adds warmth of ambient light and a sense of spaciousness. Smoked mirrors and lighting layered behind display niches subtly contribute more radiance. A blend of light and dark wood tones provides a sophisticated backdrop, accented with colorful wall and floor coverings, decorative accents and commissioned artwork.    

The family lounge employs archways rather than walls to establish several activity zones while maintaining an open flow. From the entry portal and concierge desk, guests flow into a central seating area with a large TV for watching the live game or other entertainment. Teens and younger children are each provided with their own spaces, equipped with video consoles, activity tables and age-appropriate furnishings. A large kitchen area features neutral large-format tile floors and 10-foot-long marble islands where guests can socialize, enjoy refreshments or grab snacks to bring on to the arena floor. A secluded nursing/nap room provides a space for those seeking privacy.  

In just weeks, an ordinary space became an extraordinary retreat. An inviting, high-end sanctuary where players’ families can gather, relax, and connect. Thoughtfully designed for comfort and function, this lounge is more than an amenity; it’s a lasting enhancement to the arena, ensuring a warm, welcoming experience for years to come.