Architects description
Edited by Ron Bernthal
Global sports and event architecture firm Populous will lead the redesign of Belmont Park — the Nassau County home of the Belmont Stakes — bringing to life the vision of both Belmont and the New York Racing Association. As the first location to host horse racing in the U.S., Belmont Park has a storied history of leadership and innovation in American equestrian culture.
Image Courtesy Populous
Inspired by Belmont’s long history of “firsts,” Populous has leveraged its global expertise in horse racing and experiential sports design to ensure that the new Belmont Park will maintain its place among iconic global racetracks.
This project represents a new day in American racing, integrating 21st century technology into racetrack operations while retaining the traditions and pageantry of thoroughbred racing.
The design for the new Belmont Park draws inspiration from the flowing, mutable shape of a ribbon — the traditional symbol of victory — and marks an intentional departure from the current Belmont style.
The new design will introduce greater transparency and reduce the scale of the building to be properly sized for changing needs and trends.
In the structure itself, over 275,000 square feet of elegant, state-of-the-art infrastructure will seat approximately 7,500 guests and feature a variety of club and dining spaces, food and beverage outlets, private suites and indoor/outdoor experiences.
There will be additional capacity in the ground-level “Mercado” to support back yard general admissions and temporary overlay facilities that can be used to support additional capacity — up to 50,000 guests — for special events.
The new building is five levels above ground with an outdoor terrace at the top level, providing sweeping views of the site under the graceful canopy that tops the building.
From food and beverage outlets for general admission attendees to a variety of club and dining spaces, event spaces and private suites, the design team was intentional about creating a building that can fulfill a wide range of needs.
