Cristian Petschen

About Cristian Petschen

I’m a lifelong learner with a passion for collaboration, innovation, and building. Over the past 30 years, I’ve dedicated my career to designing and delivering sports and entertainment venues that elevate communities, enhance fan and athlete experiences, and support long-term economic growth.I’ve been fortunate to contribute to projects such as the Shea Stadium Redevelopment, Citi Field, Jones Beach Amphitheater, American Airlines Arena (now Kaseya Center), Bern Stadium, the Miami Pan-American Games Masterplan, Centreville Bank Stadium, Bank of America Stadium, Bridgeport Stadium, New Mexico United Stadium, Farrington Grounds Stadium, Atwood Stadium, SPH Stadium, Granite State FC Stadium, Silver Lakes Stadium, Riverside Stadium, Ft. Myers Stadium, Toledo Stadium, Buffalo Pro Soccer Stadium, Port St. Lucie Stadium, and many more. Each has been an opportunity to collaborate with talented, multidisciplinary teams and to push the boundaries of what modern venues can achieve.My work spans conventional and modular stadium design, mixed-use districts, sports academies, training centers, racquet sports facilities, and technology-driven venues that integrate digital experiences, AI, digital twins, smart operations, AR/VR, and advanced fan-experience strategies. I’ve founded and led multiple startups focused on technologies relevant to venues, such as AI and extended reality, bringing a tech-forward mindset to the future of venue design.I regularly speak at global conferences, including SoccerEx, USL Summit, and the Athens Women’s Football Summit, as well as industry events across the U.S. and Europe, and I serve as a guest lecturer for universities training the next generation of sports business and architecture leaders. My thought leadership has been featured in Stadia Magazine, Coliseum, Athletic Business, and other publications, where I write about stadium innovation, sports-anchored mixed-use development, modular construction, and the growth of women’s sports facilities.At my core, I believe sports venues are far more than buildings—they’re engines for culture, community, economic development, and human connection. My mission is to create forward-thinking, future-ready environments that reflect that purpose.

Experience

1. Global Practice Leader & AVP Sports, Entertainment & Public Venues

   LaBella Associates

   Jul 2023 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   LaBella Associates is a full-service Architecture and Engineering firm providing Buildings, Energy, Infrastructure, and Environmental Services. With talented architects, engineers, planners, and construction managers working in more than 40 offices from New York to Madrid, LaBella Associates consistently create structures, plans, ideas, and ultimately outstanding results across industries and geographies.As the Global Practice Leader – Sports, Entertainment & Public Venues, my responsibilities include growth, client, design, project, and team leadership for Stadiums and Arenas, Theaters and Performing Arts Centers, Museums and Art Galleries, Libraries, Amphitheaters, Convention Centers, Public Halls, Community Centers, and Religious Facilities.

Education

• IDEO U

  Certificate, Leading For Creativity

  2018 — 2018

• Rhode Island School of Design

  BARCH & BFA, Architecture and fine Arts

  1990 — 1995

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Certificate, Artificial Intelligence

  2017 — 2017

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

  MBA, Concentration on Marketing and Business Strategy

  2003 — 2004

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Certificate, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

  2022 — 2022

Skills

• Project Planning
• Customer Service
• Strategic Planning
• Architecture
• Interior Architecture
• Leadership
• Retail Design
• Negotiation
• Business Planning
• Industrial Design
• Design Direction
• Strategy
• New Business Development
• Sales Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Project Management
• Graphic Design
• Branding & Identity
• Product Management
• Management
• Team Leadership
• Product Development