News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Balancing stakeholder priorities while bringing venues into a new era
Sports venue modernization is about a lot more than swapping in a new jumbotron. Venues are emotional landmarks—places where communities gather, teams build identity, and fans make lifelong memories.
In this month’s Ask the Expert, we spoke with Amanda Anderson, a project manager in B&D’s Northern California region whose work spans school district facilities and major sports venues. With 15 years of experience, she shared what it takes to modernize a sports venue while honoring its history, aligning stakeholders, and earning community trust.
B&D: Tell us a little about your background.
Amanda Anderson: I’ve spent 10 years in project management. At B&D, I started with the K–14 team and later began partnering with our Venues team. Recently, I’ve been focused on long-term capital needs assessments that help stadiums plan strategically as they move through their life cycle.
B&D: Fans love the iconic elements of their home stadium. How do you modernize without losing what makes a venue special?
AA: Communities notice—and push back—when a stadium loses its identity. The key is understanding what the community values most and protecting those elements. From there, we look for ways to add value: new revenue opportunities, fresh design updates, and improvements that show we’re investing in the team, the venue, and the fan experience.
B&D: What about aligning stakeholders who all have different priorities?
AA: Every group comes in with its own list of goals, and funding is always a major factor. My role is to help pinpoint the true needs versus the nice-to-haves. The best conversations bring clarity, transparency, and full-circle communication about what’s feasible within the budget.
B&D: Trust is a big part of our work at B&D. How do you build it?
AA: Soft skills matter. I tell people I mentor to bring the personal into the impersonal. Ask how someone’s day is going. Learn what they care about. When you understand a client’s values, you understand their goals. One of my favorite quotes is from Andrew Carnegie: “There’s little success where there’s little laughter.” Strong relationships and genuine connection make the work better—and more fun.
B&D: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a venue manager or team owner considering a modernization effort?
AA: Start by talking to experts (like B&D!). Meet with a firm that can guide you through planning, financial strategy, and prioritization. The right team will help you map a realistic, future-ready path forward.
Thank you to Amanda for joining us for Ask the Expert. Have a question you want our team to answer? Submit it here.
