HOK and ROSSETTI Launch Expanded Global Sports Design Partnership
HOK has announced the acquisition of ROSSETTI, a Detroit-based architecture and design firm widely recognized for its work in sports venue design, entertainment facilities, and large-scale renovations. The move significantly expands HOK’s global Sports, Recreation and Entertainment practice and strengthens the company’s presence in one of the most active sports architecture sectors in North America.
Following the merger, the combined organization will operate under the name HOK + ROSSETTI during the integration process. ROSSETTI’s leadership team and staff will continue to work from Detroit, maintaining the firm’s longstanding connection to the city while gaining access to HOK’s global resources, multidisciplinary expertise, and international network.
The acquisition marks a major strategic step for HOK as the company continues to expand its influence in sports and entertainment architecture worldwide. By combining ROSSETTI’s specialized expertise in venue design with HOK’s broad international platform, the firms aim to create one of the industry’s most comprehensive design practices focused on sports, recreation, and entertainment environments.
ROSSETTI has been a prominent name in sports architecture for more than five decades and has built a reputation for delivering high-profile stadiums, arenas, training facilities, and mixed-use developments. Founded 57 years ago in Detroit, the firm has contributed to several landmark projects across the United States and internationally.
Among ROSSETTI’s notable projects are the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and Ford Field in Detroit, home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The company is also currently involved in major redevelopment and modernization projects, including a significant transformation of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the Cosm Detroit entertainment venue.
The acquisition adds substantial expertise to HOK’s existing sports architecture portfolio, particularly in areas such as professional training and performance facilities, sports-anchored mixed-use developments, and large-scale venue modernization projects. These specialties complement HOK’s existing work in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, entertainment districts, and civic developments around the world.
HOK Co-CEO Eli Hoisington said the partnership aligns closely with the company’s long-term growth strategy within the sports and entertainment sector. According to Hoisington, ROSSETTI’s design philosophy, client relationships, and organizational culture closely match HOK’s approach to architecture and project delivery.
He noted that HOK has spent years building a strong international sports design practice and sees the acquisition as an opportunity to accelerate that momentum. The addition of ROSSETTI expands HOK’s capabilities while also giving the firm a permanent physical presence in Detroit, a market where it has already completed several high-profile projects and sees continued long-term potential.
Hoisington emphasized that the merger strengthens every aspect of HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment division, from venue design and urban planning to mixed-use development and fan experience innovation. He also highlighted the importance of welcoming ROSSETTI’s team into a global platform that can support larger and more complex international opportunities.
For ROSSETTI, the merger provides access to broader global resources while allowing the firm to maintain its established identity and relationships. Matt Rossetti, who will become a director within HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice, said the partnership creates new opportunities for growth without changing the firm’s core values or client-focused approach.
Rossetti explained that the company has always prioritized design excellence and strong personal relationships with clients, values he believes are fully shared by HOK. He added that clients will continue working with the same teams and professionals they have relied on in the past, but those teams will now be supported by HOK’s extensive global infrastructure and multidisciplinary capabilities.
The combined organization is expected to compete more aggressively for large-scale international sports and entertainment projects, where integrated expertise across architecture, planning, engineering, urban design, and sustainability has become increasingly important. Modern sports developments now frequently involve mixed-use districts, hospitality components, entertainment spaces, and community-focused infrastructure in addition to traditional stadium and arena design.
As sports and entertainment venues evolve into year-round destinations, architectural firms are being asked to create more immersive and multifunctional environments that support retail, residential, hospitality, office, and public gathering spaces. The merger positions HOK + ROSSETTI to address these broader market demands with expanded technical and creative resources.
The newly combined Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice will be led by a team of directors that includes Nate Appleman, Shannon Bartch, Amy Chase, John Rhodes, Matt Rossetti, and Rashed Singaby. Together, the leadership team brings extensive experience across venue architecture, urban development, sports planning, and entertainment-focused design projects.
Detroit will serve as a key operational hub for the expanded practice. The city has become increasingly important within the sports and entertainment design industry, supported by ongoing downtown redevelopment, investment in professional sports facilities, and large-scale mixed-use projects. Maintaining ROSSETTI’s Detroit office allows HOK to deepen its regional presence while strengthening relationships throughout the Upper Midwest.
The acquisition also builds on HOK’s existing history in Detroit. The firm previously designed Little Caesars Arena, a major sports and entertainment venue that anchors The District Detroit development. HOK is also involved in the design of the future home stadium for Detroit City Football Club, further reinforcing its commitment to the region.
Industry observers view the merger as part of a broader trend of consolidation within architecture and design, where firms are combining specialized expertise and geographic reach to compete for increasingly large and complex projects. Sports and entertainment architecture has become one of the most competitive sectors within the design industry, driven by rising global investment in professional sports, live entertainment, esports, and mixed-use urban destinations.
The integration of HOK and ROSSETTI creates a larger platform capable of handling projects ranging from stadium renovations and international sporting events to training facilities, entertainment districts, and destination developments. The firms also expect to benefit from shared innovation in areas such as sustainability, digital design technology, fan engagement, and experiential architecture.
As the integration process moves forward, both firms have indicated that preserving relationships and maintaining continuity for clients will remain a top priority. Existing projects and client teams are expected to continue operating with minimal disruption while gaining access to expanded global capabilities and collaborative resources.
The formation of HOK + ROSSETTI represents a significant development in the global sports and entertainment design market. By combining HOK’s international reach with ROSSETTI’s specialized sports expertise and longstanding industry reputation, the partnership aims to create a stronger, more versatile design organization positioned to shape the future of sports, recreation, and entertainment environments worldwide.
HOK has announced the acquisition of ROSSETTI, a Detroit-based architecture and design firm widely recognized for its work in sports venue design, entertainment facilities, and large-scale renovations. The move significantly expands HOK’s global Sports, Recreation and Entertainment practice and strengthens the company’s presence in one of the most active sports architecture sectors in North America.
Following the merger, the combined organization will operate under the name HOK + ROSSETTI during the integration process. ROSSETTI’s leadership team and staff will continue to work from Detroit, maintaining the firm’s longstanding connection to the city while gaining access to HOK’s global resources, multidisciplinary expertise, and international network.
The acquisition marks a major strategic step for HOK as the company continues to expand its influence in sports and entertainment architecture worldwide. By combining ROSSETTI’s specialized expertise in venue design with HOK’s broad international platform, the firms aim to create one of the industry’s most comprehensive design practices focused on sports, recreation, and entertainment environments.
ROSSETTI has been a prominent name in sports architecture for more than five decades and has built a reputation for delivering high-profile stadiums, arenas, training facilities, and mixed-use developments. Founded 57 years ago in Detroit, the firm has contributed to several landmark projects across the United States and internationally.
Among ROSSETTI’s notable projects are the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and Ford Field in Detroit, home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The company is also currently involved in major redevelopment and modernization projects, including a significant transformation of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the Cosm Detroit entertainment venue.
The acquisition adds substantial expertise to HOK’s existing sports architecture portfolio, particularly in areas such as professional training and performance facilities, sports-anchored mixed-use developments, and large-scale venue modernization projects. These specialties complement HOK’s existing work in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, entertainment districts, and civic developments around the world.
HOK Co-CEO Eli Hoisington said the partnership aligns closely with the company’s long-term growth strategy within the sports and entertainment sector. According to Hoisington, ROSSETTI’s design philosophy, client relationships, and organizational culture closely match HOK’s approach to architecture and project delivery.
He noted that HOK has spent years building a strong international sports design practice and sees the acquisition as an opportunity to accelerate that momentum. The addition of ROSSETTI expands HOK’s capabilities while also giving the firm a permanent physical presence in Detroit, a market where it has already completed several high-profile projects and sees continued long-term potential.
Hoisington emphasized that the merger strengthens every aspect of HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment division, from venue design and urban planning to mixed-use development and fan experience innovation. He also highlighted the importance of welcoming ROSSETTI’s team into a global platform that can support larger and more complex international opportunities.
For ROSSETTI, the merger provides access to broader global resources while allowing the firm to maintain its established identity and relationships. Matt Rossetti, who will become a director within HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice, said the partnership creates new opportunities for growth without changing the firm’s core values or client-focused approach.
Rossetti explained that the company has always prioritized design excellence and strong personal relationships with clients, values he believes are fully shared by HOK. He added that clients will continue working with the same teams and professionals they have relied on in the past, but those teams will now be supported by HOK’s extensive global infrastructure and multidisciplinary capabilities.
The combined organization is expected to compete more aggressively for large-scale international sports and entertainment projects, where integrated expertise across architecture, planning, engineering, urban design, and sustainability has become increasingly important. Modern sports developments now frequently involve mixed-use districts, hospitality components, entertainment spaces, and community-focused infrastructure in addition to traditional stadium and arena design.
As sports and entertainment venues evolve into year-round destinations, architectural firms are being asked to create more immersive and multifunctional environments that support retail, residential, hospitality, office, and public gathering spaces. The merger positions HOK + ROSSETTI to address these broader market demands with expanded technical and creative resources.
The newly combined Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice will be led by a team of directors that includes Nate Appleman, Shannon Bartch, Amy Chase, John Rhodes, Matt Rossetti, and Rashed Singaby. Together, the leadership team brings extensive experience across venue architecture, urban development, sports planning, and entertainment-focused design projects.
Detroit will serve as a key operational hub for the expanded practice. The city has become increasingly important within the sports and entertainment design industry, supported by ongoing downtown redevelopment, investment in professional sports facilities, and large-scale mixed-use projects. Maintaining ROSSETTI’s Detroit office allows HOK to deepen its regional presence while strengthening relationships throughout the Upper Midwest.
The acquisition also builds on HOK’s existing history in Detroit. The firm previously designed Little Caesars Arena, a major sports and entertainment venue that anchors The District Detroit development. HOK is also involved in the design of the future home stadium for Detroit City Football Club, further reinforcing its commitment to the region.
Industry observers view the merger as part of a broader trend of consolidation within architecture and design, where firms are combining specialized expertise and geographic reach to compete for increasingly large and complex projects. Sports and entertainment architecture has become one of the most competitive sectors within the design industry, driven by rising global investment in professional sports, live entertainment, esports, and mixed-use urban destinations.
The integration of HOK and ROSSETTI creates a larger platform capable of handling projects ranging from stadium renovations and international sporting events to training facilities, entertainment districts, and destination developments. The firms also expect to benefit from shared innovation in areas such as sustainability, digital design technology, fan engagement, and experiential architecture.
As the integration process moves forward, both firms have indicated that preserving relationships and maintaining continuity for clients will remain a top priority. Existing projects and client teams are expected to continue operating with minimal disruption while gaining access to expanded global capabilities and collaborative resources.
The formation of HOK + ROSSETTI represents a significant development in the global sports and entertainment design market. By combining HOK’s international reach with ROSSETTI’s specialized sports expertise and longstanding industry reputation, the partnership aims to create a stronger, more versatile design organization positioned to shape the future of sports, recreation, and entertainment environments worldwide.
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