We’re evolving sports districts into anchors for economic and community benefit.
Sports & Entertainment
Sports-anchored mixed-use development leverages the presence and identity of teams to drive broader district- and city-building activity, creating lasting value beyond game day. We guide professional teams, municipalities, public agencies, and developers through the complex public-private partnerships required to bring sports-anchored development to life. Our team oversees pre-development processes, analyzes market dynamics and development feasibility, assesses economic and community benefits, and delivers funding and implementation strategies to transform the land around sports venues into year-round economic engines. Our approach focuses on helping ensure these significant public-private investments generate sustainable economic impact while strengthening the fabric of surrounding communities.
HR&A conducted comprehensive economic impact analysis for the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, demonstrating that the city's 382 parks and 145 miles of trails generate a seven-to-one return on public investment. Our analysis of community benefits including job growth, health impacts, and resiliency, along with development of a visitor count methodology, provided the foundation for a successful $262 million bond proposal that gained overwhelming voter approval in 2017.
HR&A conducted a comprehensive economic and fiscal impact analysis for Cornell Tech, quantifying the institution's contributions to New York City's economy through campus construction, operations, student spending, and startup activity. The analysis showed that Cornell Tech generated $768 million in total economic impact and supported 2,800 jobs in FY 2022-2023, with projections showing growth to $1.5 billion in economic impact and 7,000 jobs by 2030, establishing the institution as one of the city's most effective economic development investments.
We Work with
Services
Projects
HR&A Advisors serves as the retained executive team for the Rowen Foundation, orchestrating the creation of a 2,000-acre innovation community in the Atlanta Metro Region that will connect research, education, and industry across agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. As the operational leadership for this transformative project, HR&A directs all aspects of development including real estate strategy, foundation operations, tenant attraction, board governance, and public-private partnerships spanning Georgia's higher education institutions and government entities.
HR&A guided the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in developing and implementing a comprehensive innovation district strategy that bridges research capabilities with industry collaboration. We delivered a strategic roadmap with clear governance structures, partnership frameworks, and phased real estate development priorities that position MUSC to accelerate healthcare innovation while generating significant economic impact for the Charleston region.
HR&A worked with Centro San Antonio and the City of San Antonio in 2011 to create a Strategic Framework Plan to transformed Downtown San Antonio from a convention-focused district into a thriving residential community. The plan was officially adopted by both organizations and has generated over 8,000 new housing. Following the successful “Decade of Downtown”, HR&A was re-engaged in 2024 to update the plan for the next decade of growth and investment.
HR&A worked with Buffalo Bayou Partnership to develop a comprehensive investment framework and master plan for Buffalo Bayou East, a 260-acre waterfront transformation extending Houston's celebrated greenway network four miles east of Downtown. Our strategic planning work created the foundation for securing a historic $100 million catalyst gift from the Kinder Foundation, which will leverage an additional $210 million in public and philanthropic funding to support the first decade of development and operations.
