VenuesNow 2025 All-Star Honoree: Adam Stover

ADAM STOVER
Senior Principal
Populous

WNBA FEVER
Working on $78M Indiana Fever performance center.

Venues and content go hand in hand, with new innovative, purpose-built venues allowing artists, touring productions, sports franchises and other content creators the ability to dream big and raise the bar to heighten the experience for all in attendance.

Helping bring those visions to life are people like Adam Stover, senior principal at premier design firm Populous, who has been instrumental in projects for clients including the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, New England Patriots and many others.

Eager to work with clients from the design phase to well beyond opening night, Stover says current trends are particularly exciting.

“It’s been incredible to work alongside our designers and clients in the women’s professional sports market this past year, collaborating with top franchises to set the standard for venue excellence across the league,” says Stover, a 20-year veteran with the company and based in its Kansas City global headquarters. “Women’s sports is a big focus of ours. The talent, grit and determination of our combined teams is inspiring.”

Some of those partners are longtime clients, such as the Indiana Pacers, which has led to further business with the team’s WNBA affiliate, the Indiana Fever, which counts basketball powerhouse and women’s sports game changer Caitlyn Clark among its roster.

“For me, the project is just beginning when the venue opens,” says Stover. “It is about investing in the long-term partnership that is bigger than the design of one venue. The work I have done with the team at Pacers Sports + Entertainment over the last decade has allowed me to see the impact of that approach.”

Stover is excited about the rapid growth at Populous and says to expect more at the company that is involved in major projects like the new Buffalo Bills NFL stadium, new Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers arena, and new Oklahoma City entertainment district.

“We’re hiring, acquiring, partnering and always listening for what’s next,” he says. “With this growth means more opportunity to innovate, learn and deliver the best for our clients and for the industry at large.”