BOC Stadium Tour

Banc of California Stadium Tour

Banc of California sets a new benchmark for the premium soccer experience through its dynamic and engaging design, giving way to elevated experiences for fans, guests and players from game day to special events. This 22,000-seat venue is the first open-air professional stadium to be built in Los Angeles in over 30 years and has become a catalyst for future improvements to South Los Angeles and Exposition Park as a year-round cultural destination.

Los Angeles Football Club’s (LAFC) goal was to create an authentic fan experience. The stadium’s contemporary design is open and dynamic, with an ETFE canopy that flies above the bowl like angel wings in the “City of Angels.” Embracing Tinseltown, the stadium was designed cinematically to stage moments to engage fans and build memories. Framed views of the Los Angeles skyline create a symbolic connection to the city by drawing on its cultural diversity.

Gensler Sports placed an emphasis on the game day experience by creating an intimate European-style character in a state-of-the-art facility. Diverse club offerings are available for every level of fan, embodying the “grit and glamour” of Los Angeles—from supporters to celebrity owners. The restaurant, food hall, merchandise store, lounge and bar areas, and a private party terrace create social hubs for visitors to celebrate the team. The stadium’s exterior and interior spaces take design cues from the California aesthetic and Art Deco movement, with each level offering a distinct look and feel.

In addition, ancillary programmatic elements offer entertainment, retail and dining opportunities to stadium goers and visitors of the neighborhood to reflect on the culture of Los Angeles while providing a more social and layered fan and visitor experience. The collaboration between the project teams, the community, and LAFC resulted in a best-in-class venue for Major League Soccer in Los Angeles.

ARCHITECT Gensler Sports
INTERIOR ARCHITECT/DESIGNER Gensler
ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS Gensler
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Studio-MLA
GENERAL CONTRACTOR PCL Construction Services, Inc.
OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE Legends Project Development
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Thornton Tomasetti, Nous Engineering, Inc., Workpoint Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEER KPFF Consulting Engineers
M/E/P ENGINEER M-E Engineers, Inc., Glumac
LIGHTING DESIGNER First Circle Design
ACOUSTICAL/AUDIO-VISUAL CONSULTANT Idibri
FIRE/LIFE SAFETY Jensen Hughes
FOOD SERVICE S2O Consultants
VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION Edgett Williams Consulting Group, Inc.
OWNER Los Angeles Football Club

Tour Led By:

• Ron Turner – FAIA, LEED® AP, Sports & Convention Centers Leader, Principal, Gensler Sports
• Demetra Thornton – Senior Associate, Project Manager, Gensler Sports

Ron Turner – FAIA, LEED® AP, Sports & Convention Centers Leader, Principal, Gensler Sports

As a Sports Leader, Ron is one of the industry’s most recognized sports facility designers. His portfolio includes three retractable-roof ballparks, 12 NBA and NHL multipurpose arenas, the award-winning NFL Paul Brown Stadium, STAPLES Center, and Banc of California Stadium. Ron also consults for professional leagues on facility evaluation, design guidelines, and broadcast and security requirements. He is a member of the Stadium Managers Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Urban Land Institute, and the International Association of Venue Managers. Ron serves on the board of Dignity Health’s California Hospital Medical Center, the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Kansas School of Architecture, and is a board member and Southern California Olympic Games Committee Vice Chair for the Los Angeles Sports Council. He received a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design.

Demetra Thornton – Senior Associate, Project Manager, Gensler Sports

As a designer with a background in business, Demetra is interested in the intersection of business and creativity. She
is always looking to improve efficiencies and elevate design, while balancing the time and budget constraints of a project. Demetra is focused on client satisfaction, technologies in construction, and relationship building. With more than 12 years of architectural experience, she leads projects large and small from concept through construction, and brings great experience and thoughtful decision-making to each task.  Demetra has quickly established an impressive repertoire of sports facility projects. As Project Manager, Demetra’s priority
is structuring a design team to provide clients with maximized project success, tapping into Gensler’s vast network of expertise, and continuing with full project involvement and coordination with programmers, designers, architects, and consultants. Her outstanding technical, managerial, and communication skills enable her to anticipate and quickly resolve any project-related issues.  Demetra has worked as Project Manager on various projects including the Banc of California Stadium, Supderdome Master Planning, and the new stadium for San Diego State University. She was critical in the construction administration on FirstEnergy Stadium renovation.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ryan Gobuty/Gensler; Jared Shier/Gensler (aerial shot)