By PSD Architect Adam Gill

July 10, 2013

PSD was chosen to design improvements to historic Taft Stadium in order for the stadium to host professional soccer in Oklahoma City.

Built in 1934, iconic Taft Stadium, one of the Oklahoma City Public School's district stadiums, is planned to undergo a complete renovation over the course of 2014 in order to once again host high school sporting events. Starting in 2015, however, Taft Stadium will also be the home stadium to the new Oklahoma City Energy FC, the city’s new USL Pro soccer franchise. PSD was tasked to design enhancements to the stadium's features and atmosphere to provide an energizing professional soccer experience with professional sports venue seating options for fans.

The school district's initial stadium renovation plans, designed by a local Oklahoma City architecture group, were intended only for high school sporting events; therefore the renovated Taft Stadium would not be capable of hosting professional soccer matches as designed. PSD was challenged to incorporate new features, amenities and functions into the renovation design to allow it to host professional soccer while keeping the intended high school event functions preserved. The design enhancements to Taft Stadium include the capabilities of the facility to not only amplify the fan experience, but to also allow accommodations for sports media and for network broadcasting of soccer matches and other events.