New national practice combines Suffolk’s deep sports expertise, local market knowledge, and technology-driven approach to deliver greater certainty for clients

Suffolk, one of the most innovative and successful builders in the country, has launched a Sports Center of Excellence to unite its deep sports expertise, local market knowledge, and technology-driven capabilities in a single national practice. Built on more than 40 years of experience in the sports sector, the new Center of Excellence brings together more than 260 Suffolk professionals with sports experience to give clients access to specialized expertise at every stage of a project while connecting Suffolk’s regional teams through shared resources, project playbooks, and best practices. Its work will span stadiums, training facilities, arenas, collegiate recreation centers, and other sports and entertainment venues across the country.

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Matt Swaim (L), Executive Vice President at Suffolk, will lead the Sports Center of Excellence along with Will Gamba (R) as Vice President of Preconstruction. Built on more than 40 years of experience in the sports sector, the new Center of Excellence brings together more than 260 Suffolk professionals with sports experience.

Sports and entertainment projects increasingly require more than the delivery of a single venue. Facilities must support diverse events, year-round activity, and evolving operational needs while integrating complex logistics, technology, security, and community connections. As event dates become more consequential and projects grow more sophisticated, owners need partners who can anticipate challenges early, coordinate across stakeholders, and plan for both opening day and long-term performance.

“Sports bring people together and strengthen entire communities. As our clients grow more ambitious and athletic facilities become more sophisticated, our experienced Sports Center of Excellence team, led by Matt and Will, will leverage data, advanced technologies like AI, and proven planning and construction processes to deliver projects as promised,” said John Fish, Chairman and CEO, Suffolk. “We are thrilled Matt and Will are leading our efforts to redefine how sports facilities are planned, built and delivered.”

Matt Swaim, Executive Vice President at Suffolk, will lead the Sports Center of Excellence and partner with clients and regional teams to deliver sports and entertainment venues and experiences that shape how fans, teams, and communities connect. His focus will include strengthening client partnerships, aligning national resources, and bringing a solutions-oriented approach to complex projects across the sports landscape.

With more than 25 years of experience delivering sports and entertainment projects, Mr. Swaim brings a deep understanding of the sector and a strong owner-operator perspective. Prior to joining Suffolk, he served as Vice President of Real Estate, Design, and Construction at Nike, where he led the master planning and delivery of the company’s 300-acre, four-million-square-foot campus expansion. At Suffolk, he will help strengthen preconstruction and planning practices, support project staffing, and advance consistent approaches to risk management, scheduling, and execution across the company’s national sports practice.

“Sports projects require a level of planning, coordination, and execution that matches the significance of the opening day deadline,” said Mr. Swaim. “But delivering a successful sports facility is about more than meeting a date. It is about understanding how a venue will operate, connect with its community, and perform long after opening day. Suffolk already has an exceptional foundation of talent and experience in this sector. The Center of Excellence will allow us to connect that expertise more intentionally, apply our technology and data capabilities earlier in the process, and provide clients with a coordinated national practice focused on sports and entertainment.”

That work begins in preconstruction, where early decisions about program, budget, planning, and procurement set the course for successful project delivery. To strengthen this critical phase, Suffolk recently appointed Will Gamba as Vice President of Preconstruction for Sports and Entertainment. Based at Suffolk’s Boston headquarters, Mr. Gamba will oversee preconstruction for the company’s major sports projects, guiding them from conceptual design through guaranteed maximum price.

“Preconstruction is essential to every successful project, but it is especially critical on sports projects, where opening dates are fixed, programs are highly specialized, and decisions must account for the needs of owners, teams, fans, and communities,” said Mr. Gamba. “Our dedicated sports team brings the experience needed to align program, budget, and schedule early, plan procurement, and secure the right resources. That gives clients greater clarity and confidence as their projects move from concept to construction.”

Sports projects often involve immovable opening dates, complex stakeholder environments, and highly specialized operational requirements. Suffolk’s approach combines advanced planning, digital engineering, and disciplined field execution to help clients manage risk, accelerate schedules, and deliver facilities that are ready for the moments they were built to host.

The Center will also build on Suffolk’s focus on developing talent. More than 100 Suffolk Career Starts in the past five years have been collegiate athletes, creating a strong pipeline of professionals who understand the teamwork, preparation, and accountability required to deliver at the highest level.

“The strongest sports teams understand that preparation creates performance,” said Mr. Swaim. “Our goal is to bring that same discipline to every phase of the work, from the earliest planning conversations through the final day in the field.”

Suffolk’s sports expertise is part of the company’s broader national platform, which combines local market knowledge with specialized expertise across sectors and regions. The company’s sports portfolio includes Gillette Stadium’s North End Zone Expansion, the New England Patriots Training Center, Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena, Boston College Field House the Hoag Pavilion in Conte Forum at Boston College, Bentley University Arena, University of New Hampshire Whittemore Center Renovation, Williams College’s Multipurpose Recreation Center, and Estero Sports Park.

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies), and innovation research and development.

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $10 billion in annual revenue, 3,500 employees, and offices in Boston (headquarters); New York City and Westchester County, New York; Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, and Estero in Florida; Dallas; Los Angeles, Milpitas, San Francisco and San Diego; Las Vegas; Portland, Maine; New Haven, Connecticut; Herndon, Virginia; and Salt Lake City.

Suffolk manages some of the most complex, sophisticated projects in the country, serving clients in every major industry sector, including healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, transportation/aviation, federal government and public work, mission critical, advanced technology, and commercial. Suffolk is privately held and led by Founder, Chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #7 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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The company’s sports portfolio includes Gillette Stadium’s North End Zone Expansion, the New England Patriots Training Center, Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena, Boston College Field House the Hoag Pavilion in Conte Forum at Boston College.