AECOM is a multinational infrastructure consulting firm, currently headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that ranks among the most prolific players in modern stadium and arena development. Formed in 1990, the company grew into a Fortune 500 engineering giant with roughly 51,000 employees worldwide, offering architecture, engineering, program management, and construction services across transportation, water, environmental, and sports infrastructure markets.
AECOM’s sports and venues practice expanded dramatically in 2014 when it acquired Hunt Construction Group, a firm founded in Indianapolis in 1944 that had built a reputation as one of the country’s premier stadium and arena builders. Operating today as AECOM Hunt, the combined practice has contributed design or construction management services to some of the most recognizable venues in American sports, including SoFi Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Intuit Dome, and Barclays Center.
Stats at a Glance
- Founded: 1990 (Hunt Construction Group predecessor founded 1944)
- Headquarters: Dallas, Texas, U.S.
- Type: Infrastructure, engineering, and construction management firm
- Employees: About 51,000 (2025)
- Notable projects: SoFi Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Intuit Dome, Barclays Center, T-Mobile Arena
- Famous for: Over 90 stadiums and arenas built or designed since 1980
From Design Firm to Full-Service Builder
AECOM built its early reputation on large-scale infrastructure and design work, but its role in sports venues took a leap forward with the 2014 acquisition of Hunt Construction Group for roughly $100 million. Hunt had spent decades specializing in stadium and arena construction, and folding that expertise into AECOM created a firm capable of handling everything from early planning and architecture through construction sequencing and systems integration on a single project.
That combined capability shows up in some of the highest-profile venues built in the last decade. AECOM Hunt served in the Turner-AECOM Hunt joint venture that built SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it managed construction on Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, home to the NFL’s Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United.
A Portfolio Spanning Every Major League
According to AECOM’s own project tallies, the firm has been involved in more than 90 stadiums and arenas since 1980, touching nearly every major North American sports league along the way, including numerous NBA and NHL arenas. Recent additions include the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, the first purpose-built home of the LA Clippers, and international work such as Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar, developed with Zaha Hadid Architects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Because AECOM operates across the full project lifecycle, its stadium work varies by assignment, sometimes serving as lead designer, sometimes as construction manager, and often both. That flexibility has made it one of the most frequently hired firms whenever a city or franchise sets out to build a new sports venue.
Explore more: Explore more stadium design firms and venues.
AECOM FAQs
Is AECOM an architecture firm or a construction company?
Both. AECOM is a diversified infrastructure firm offering architecture, engineering, and construction management services, and its sports practice, AECOM Hunt, can serve as lead designer, construction manager, or both depending on the project.
What stadiums has AECOM worked on?
AECOM or AECOM Hunt has been involved in venues including SoFi Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Intuit Dome, Barclays Center, T-Mobile Arena, and Al Janoub Stadium, among more than 90 stadiums and arenas since 1980.
How did AECOM become a major stadium builder?
AECOM significantly expanded its sports venue capabilities in 2014 by acquiring Hunt Construction Group, a firm founded in 1944 that had specialized in stadium and arena construction for decades.
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Photo: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.