seating bowl improvements
Diamond Stadium | lake elsinore, CALIFORNIA
After 18 years of use, the seating bowl at The Diamond was ready for renewal. At the same time, updated ADA requirements called for improved sightlines from wheelchair-accessible seating. Rather than simply replace the existing seats, Larimer Design partnered with the Lake Elsinore Storm to rethink the entire fan experience, transforming the seating bowl into a collection of distinct “ballpark neighborhoods.”
The new seating environment offers fans greater choice and flexibility, combining premium seating behind home plate with high-top tables, four-top group areas, flexible group boxes, accessible seating with improved sightlines, and casual gathering spaces along the concourse. Enhanced circulation and standing-room drink rails further activate the seating bowl, creating more opportunities for fans to socialize, dine, and experience the game in different ways.
2017 Seating Bowl Improvements Included:
380 premium padded seats behind home plate
158 high-top seats behind home plate
28 four-top group seating areas
6 flexible group seating boxes
50 wheelchair-accessible seats with improved sightlines
Standing-room drink rails along the Main Concourse
Enhanced seating bowl circulation
Complete replacement of seating throughout the bowl
The transformation delivered measurable results for the Storm, contributing to a 6% year-over-year increase in attendance, 12% increase in ticket revenue, 10% increase in group ticket sales, and 5% increase in sponsorship revenue. Just as importantly, the expanded variety of seating and gathering options created a more dynamic and engaging game-day experience for fans.
By turning a necessary seating replacement into a broader reimagining of the seating bowl, Larimer Design helped modernize The Diamond while giving the Lake Elsinore Storm new ways to engage fans, generate revenue, and maximize the value of the existing venue.
Client: City of Lake Elsinore
Architect of Record: Larimer Design
General Contractor: Maples and Associates
Structural Engineer: KPFF
MEP Engineer: ME Engineers
Branding Consultant: M3 | Messenger Corp
Venue Tenant: Lake Elsinore Storm
League: California League
Classification: Advanced-A
Major-League Affiliate: San Diego Padres
Project Completion: April 2017
Seating Capacity: 6,400
Project Cost: $1.9 million
