Labinski was a key contributor to the development of Chiefs' Arrowhead StadiumPopulous
RON LABINSKI, credited almost universally in the stadium business as being the world’s first sports venue architect, passed away on Sunday at 86. Labinski’s sports career began in 1970 as a project architect on Arrowhead Stadium for a small K.C. firm called Kivett & Myers. In 1973, Labinski and three friends from the firm formed Devine, James, Labinski & Myers. In 1983, after three years at HNTB, he co-founded HOK Sport (now Populous) as the world’s first architecture firm focused solely on sport venue design. He retired in 2000 and in 2010 was named to SBJ’s inaugural class of industry Champions of Sports Business. The Stadium Managers Association’s annual scholarship bears his name (David Broughton, SBJ Unpacks). VENUES NOW’s Don Muret noted Labinski is considered the “godfather of sports venue design and a savvy architect with the vision to launch a practice tied exclusively to arena and stadium development.” Longtime sports designer TOM WAGGONER said that outside of Populous, “most sports architects at other firms point to Labinski as having the greatest impact on the business” (VENUES NOW, 1/3). Longtime NFL exec JIM STEEG noted Labinski “truly was the most important individual involved in the design of modern sports facilities,” beginning with the design of Arrowhead Stadium. His legacy is “felt by every fan, athlete, coach, member of the media who attend sports events worldwide” (FACEBOOK.com, 1/2). Labinski honored as part of SBJ Champions class of 2010 (SBJ).
