CITYPARK, home to Major League Soccer’s St. Louis CITY SC, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Prix Versailles World Title in the sports venues category. The Prix Versailles, established by UNESCO, honors the world’s finest contemporary architecture and design across various sectors, including sports venues, hotels, airports, and museums. CITYPARK earned the top honor in this category on Dec. 2, 2024, at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, having previously been shortlisted for the awards as one of the world’s most beautiful sports venues.
Lee Broughton, Chief Brand Architect of St. Louis CITY SC, expressed pride in the recognition, emphasizing the club’s mission to elevate St. Louis on the global stage. The stadium’s design is a collaboration between HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects, focusing on connection, mobility, sport, training, and fan experience. With a seating capacity of 22,500, CITYPARK anchors the largest urban professional sports campus in the U.S. and serves as a model for Major League Soccer development. The stadium’s transparent and inclusive design invites the entire city to engage with the soccer experience, while a flat portico, elegant canopy, and slender columns maximize the connection with the surrounding city.
Julie Snow, Founding Principal of Snow Kreilich Architects, described the stadium’s design as “porous to the street,” aiming to create a vibrant urban environment where the sport feels embedded in the community. Chris DeVolder, Director of Sports + Recreation + Entertainment at HOK, highlighted the seamless integration of CITYPARK with the surrounding district, making it a catalyst for downtown development and setting a new precedent for stadium design.
In its inaugural year, CITYPARK generated over $168 million in economic impact, attracting visitors from outside the region and helping reenergize downtown St. Louis. Its pedestrian-centric design features active, accessible corners and offers a best-in-class fan experience, with every seat located within 120 feet of the pitch. The stadium’s design reflects St. Louis’s Gateway Arch and integrates impactful public art, such as Pillars of the Valley.
Additional awards in the sports category were given to təməsew̓txʷ in New Westminster, Canada (Special Prize for an Interior) and the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis, France (Special Prize for an Exterior).
