Since 1997, Chapman Sisson Architects has played a part in shaping the look and feel of Huntsville, and being a part of the revitalization of a local landmark like Joe Davis Stadium is no different.

“The Joe Davis project is especially rewarding and a bucket list project for me. In 1985 my college thesis project was on a new stadium for Huntsville. 37 years later I have the honor of being a part of ‘The Joe’ project, which was built the same year I did my thesis and has brought my career full circle,” said Mike Chapman, Co-Founder and Prin cipal of Chapman Sission Architects.

For 30 years “The Joe” was a hub for entertainment in Huntsville. Baseball, Football, Monster Trucks and Concerts all happened there. Big name athletes and entertainers such as Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Beach Boys all visited Huntsville and played at “The Joe”. In the 30 plus years since Joe Davis Stadium opened its doors Huntsville has evolved and now it is time for “The Joe” to evolve so it can be a part of Huntsville’s future as well as its storied past.

Rob Mercer, Chapman Sisson Architect and Project Manager, is honored to be a part of this exciting project.

“When I come on the job site, occasionally I will ﬁnd an old seat back or a page out of a past baseball program. It makes me think back to a time when this building played a signiﬁcant role in the growth of this city, and the impact it had on the community (me included) for over 30 years,” said Mercer.

Artisit rendering that provides a glimpse into Chapman Sission’s plans for “The Joe”

“It is really an honor being able to now play a role in this project and making it a place for future generations to enjoy. But it’s not just me. The general contractor, the local suppliers, and City leaders have all sat in these seats in years past and are now working together to bring Joe Davis Stadium back to life.”

As the Stadium prepares for its next act as a multi-use facility, which will host soccer, football, lacrosse and more, a search is underway to possibly bring a professional minor league soccer team to Huntsville.

According to a recent Gallup poll, Soccer is the 4th largest sport in the U.S. behind mainstreams like football, basketball, and baseball. The recent announcement of a deal between Apple TV and Major League Soccer (MLS) to stream all MLS games starting in 2023 further highlights the sports growing popularity in the U.S., so having a professional presence in Huntsville makes sense.

Plans for the stadium extend beyond soccer and will provide another venue for area High School Football teams to play home games.

Currently, The Joe Davis project is through the demolition phase and construction has started with steel beams being added to the top of the original seating along what was the 1st and 3rd base lines for what will be the new terrace seating. This L-shaped section of seating will become the south and west seating for a synthetic turf playing surface with infill for cooling and player safety.

The design and material for the playing surface complies with FIFA’s (Soccer’s World Governing Body) Performance Requirements. Meeting these requirements is an important step to attracting a professional soccer team and hosting tournaments as well as championship games both on the high school and collegiate level.

Joe Davis Stadium, now past the demolition phase, is now being prepared to be yet another stunning venue in the heart of Huntsville, Alabama

The design for Joe Davis also includes over 5,000 sq ft of locker room area for both home and visiting teams. Along with 1,200 sq ft dedicated for referees and game officials. Tunnel access for home and away teams will provide professional access to the field.

The fan experience includes over 4,600 square feet of concession space including a beer garden, and gourmet kitchen facility. There will be seating for over 6,000 people with 7 field level private boxes, terraced turf seating in the north end and over 8,000 sq feet of open space on the upper terrace allowing for table seating. The experience will be enhanced with a 1,600 sq foot zero edge video scoreboard, engineered sound system and a LED field lighting system with full color animation capability.

The design also includes the infrastructure needed for broadcast. “The Joe” will contain multiple TV camera platforms with power and video connectivity. Those cameras platforms are supported by dedicated resources for television broadcast teams and trucks. This backbone infrastructure is capped off with a 3,000 sq foot press box space that includes VIP Room and broadcast capabilities for tv and radio.

And, it’s not just Joe Davis that is getting attention. The facilities at John Hunt Park and Merrimack have been improved as well. These sports facilities are near Joe Davis Stadium creating a central sports zone.

“Over the past few years, the city has really put a lot of resources into making John Hunt Park a comprehensive venue for several different sports and in doing so, creating a real asset for our community,” said Rob Mercer.

“Revitalizing Joe Davis Stadium makes Huntsville even more attractive to those considering relocating to this area. It is really rewarding to be a part of something that will create memories for so many people.”

For more information, please visit Chapman Sission Architects website here.

Editor’s note: The above article is a contributing piece from Scott Harbour, Business Director at Chapman Sission Architects.