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My Black Space
My Black Space — hosted by Paul Bauknight Jr., urbanist, designer, educator, spatial justice activist, and founder and president of the Center for Transformative Urban Design— features candid conversations about spatial justice, community empowerment, and the lived experiences of people in urban spaces. We'll delve into how design and policy intersect with race, culture, and equity.
My Black Space
Stadiums and the City: Architecture, Equity, and the Culture of Sports
When stadiums rise, who gets left behind?
In this episode of My Black Space, Paul Bauknight is joined by architect Nicole Bauknight and communications strategist Stan Alleyne to unpack the deeper story behind America’s stadiums—those gleaming arenas we cheer in, but rarely question. From Allianz Field in St. Paul to SoFi Stadium in LA, this conversation explores how stadiums reshape cities, displace communities, and often leave behind the very people they promise to uplift.
Through local and national examples, the trio dives into the political trade-offs behind stadium construction, the broken promises of economic benefit, and the cultural disconnect between pro venues and the communities that surround them. They also confront the inequities between HBCU stadiums and high school arenas in wealthier districts—offering a powerful lens on race, representation, and what equity in design really means.
This episode isn’t just about sports—it’s about space, power, and the stories our cities choose to tell.