Global architecture and design firm Gensler has appointed Elliott Pears as its new Regional Sports Leader for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, strengthening its leadership bench amid rising demand for world‑class sports and entertainment venues. Based in the region, Pears will spearhead the firm’s sports practice across key growth markets, guiding strategy, design innovation, and client engagement as cities invest heavily in stadiums, arenas, and mixed‑use sports precincts. The move underscores Gensler’s ambition to expand its footprint in the global sports sector and respond to a pipeline of major events reshaping the built environment across both regions.
Elliott Pears to steer Gensler sports strategy across Asia Pacific and the Middle East
Tasked with shaping a unified vision for stadiums, arenas, training facilities, and community sports hubs from Dubai to Sydney, Elliott Pears will coordinate cross-office teams to respond to the region’s accelerating investment in major events and grassroots infrastructure. His remit spans both mature and emerging markets, aligning design excellence with commercial performance and long-term operational resilience. Under his leadership, Gensler will prioritise data-led planning and experience-driven design, focusing on crowd management, digital integration, and flexible venues that can switch seamlessly between elite sport, entertainment, and community use.
Central to this expanded role is a mandate to deepen collaboration with developers, city authorities, and event organisers, ensuring projects meet escalating expectations around fan experience, sustainability, and legacy value. Pears is expected to champion:
- Net-zero ready venues that minimise embodied and operational carbon
- Technology-rich environments with integrated broadcast, AR/VR, and smart ticketing
- Multi-use precincts that activate districts beyond event days
- Inclusive design strategies improving accessibility and community engagement
| Focus Area | Regional Priority |
|---|---|
| Major Event Venues | Middle East |
| Community Sports Hubs | Asia Pacific |
| Sustainability & Legacy | Cross-region |
New regional sports leadership to accelerate venue innovation sustainability and fan experience
With Elliott Pears stepping into the regional role, Gensler is sharpening its focus on next-generation venues that balance commercial performance with environmental responsibility across Asia Pacific and the Middle East. His mandate spans the integration of data-led design, low‑carbon materials, and adaptable bowl configurations to respond to fluctuating event calendars and diverse fan demographics. Early priorities include aligning project pipelines with emerging regulatory frameworks on carbon disclosure and fan safety, while accelerating collaboration with operators, teams, and municipalities to pilot new revenue models anchored in flexible, multi-use facilities.
- Climate‑responsive stadium envelopes designed for extreme heat and humidity
- Smart operations using real-time analytics for crowd flow, concessions, and maintenance
- Immersive fan journeys that merge physical seating bowls with digital engagement layers
- Legacy-first planning to ensure venues function as civic anchors beyond major tournaments
| Focus Area | Key Outcome |
|---|---|
| Energy & Water | Reduced utility demand on match and non-match days |
| Fan Experience | Personalised services from arrival to post-game |
| Digital Infrastructure | Venue-ready for esports, AR content, and 5G |
| Urban Integration | Better links to transit, public realm, and retail |
Under Pears’ leadership, Gensler is expected to pursue region-specific innovation tracks, drawing on lessons from mega-events in the Gulf, emerging leagues in Southeast Asia, and mature markets such as Japan and Australia. This includes testing modular seating systems for rapidly growing urban centres, deploying circular-economy strategies for fit-outs, and refining premium hospitality concepts that reflect local cultures. The approach positions the practice to influence how future tournaments, club facilities, and mixed-use sports districts are conceived, financed, and operated across some of the world’s fastest-evolving sports economies.
Insights and Conclusions
Pears’ appointment underscores Gensler’s ambitions to deepen its foothold in the high‑growth sports markets of Asia Pacific and the Middle East, where demand for multi-purpose, technology-enabled venues continues to rise. As regional stakeholders look to sport as a driver of tourism, community engagement, and economic diversification, his leadership is expected to play a key role in shaping the next generation of stadiums and sports destinations across both regions.
With a growing pipeline of major events and long-term investment in sports infrastructure, Gensler’s strategic move positions the firm to capitalise on emerging opportunities, while supporting clients in delivering venues that meet evolving global standards in fan experience, sustainability, and urban integration.