Phil Kolbo

Populous Soccer Market Lead, Phil Kolbo is a soccer stadium expert, computational innovator and principal in the Kansas City office. For more than years he has worked closely with the MLS to evaluate, interpret and modernize their Venue Design Standards to create facilities that challenge convention both inside and out.  As the lead for the parametric modeling and computational design group for Populous’ North America Region, his passion is creating and streamlining BIM tools unique to sport and façade design.  

Phil has served as design lead for more than $1 billion of soccer specific stadiums and understands the business of sport–pushing innovations that have revolutionized soccer facility design. His expertise has also made him a leader in extending the sports stadium into surrounding entertainment districts to create cohesive destinations where sports, entertainment and community mix in meaningful and economically productive ways.   

He also served as the Design Lead at Geodis Park, which opened in May of 2022 and is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States. At Exploria Inter&Co Stadium, he set a new standard when he crafted The Wall, the league’s first safe-standing supporter’s section. On Allianz Field, Phil championed the first long-span PTFE membrane stadium façade in North America.