The competition to develop the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District has narrowed down to one group.
Waiola Development Partners has decided to withdraw from the Request for Proposals process leaving Aloha Halawa District Partners as the contender on the priority list. Even though this development occurred the remaining group will still need to navigate through the proposal and review stages as outlined in the RFP.
If the State accepts their proposal, they will become the designated offeror. Brennon Morioka, chair of the Stadium Authority, reassured that this change will not affect the RFP process, as designers created it to accommodate various scenarios. The process will reach its next significant milestone in fall 2024, when the State will select a master developer.
The New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Project aims to create an exciting and vibrant new Aloha Stadium and surrounding district. This ambitious endeavor involves designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the new stadium while also demolishing the existing one and revitalizing that area of the site. To make this project possible, the State of Hawai’i will collaborate with a private developer to develop and deliver both the new Aloha Stadium and surrounding site as one integrated public-private-partnership (P3) project. The developer selection process will involve three stages: a Qualifications Phase followed by a Proposals Phase and ending with a Due Diligence and Discussion Phase.
One of the key advantages of the P3 arrangement is that the chosen developer will maintain the facility and the surrounding district. This proactive approach ensures that the stadium and district will remain well-maintained and avoid the deferred maintenance issues experienced in the past. At the end of the stadium’s 30-year maintenance term, the developer will return the stadium to the State in good working condition.
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What is in the new New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District?
The new Aloha Stadium will have a reduced seating capacity of a minimum of 25,000, compared to the current 50,000 seats. Designers will create the stadium to accommodate various sports and entertainment events, such as football, soccer, rugby, and others played on a rectangular field. The multipurpose stadium will enhance the fan experience with a comprehensive array of amenities and support spaces to market new events, including various seating options, extensive concessions, and efficient facility circulation.
In addition to the new stadium, New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District will include an integrated, mixed-use, live-work-play-thrive district anchored by the new Aloha Stadium. Developers expect to complete the surrounding district over 20+ years and include residential market and housing options, hotels, office, retail, commercial, and entertainment uses in a manner that supports the NASED vision and objectives. This development will generate annual revenue for the State to help offset the cost of the new Aloha Stadium.
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The State announced Waiola Development Partners (WDP) and AHDP as the two finalist teams for the restarted edition of NASED in late March.
AHDP is comprised of:
Lead equity members: Development Ventures Group, Inc., Stanford Carr Development, LLC, Ameresco, Inc., and Aloha Stadium Community Development, LLC (The Cordish Company)
Design team: RMA Architects, Populous, SB Architects, Henning Larsen, Alakea Design Group, and WCIT Architects
Construction team: Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. and AECOM Hunt
Other team members: Castle & Cooke Hawaii and Wilson Okamoto Corp
Additionally, If things go well talks will happen between the government and the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District developer aiming for a contract to be signed by summer 2025.
WDP was comprised of:
Lead equity members: EllisDon Capital, Inc., BSC Acquisitions II, LLC, and Kobayashi Group LLC
Design team: Design Partners Incorporated, MANICA Architecture, PA, and Stantec Architecture, Inc.
Construction team: Nan, Inc.
Other team members: Machete Group, ES CON Sports & Entertainment, Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, SSFM International, Inc., Rider Levett Bucknall Ltd., SHADE Group LLC, and PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc. Read also: Oklahoma City, Thunder Agree to $950M New Arena Development Deal
