Range Rover and The Athletic Link Stadium Design to Driving Performance

Range Rover is taking the game off the field and into the design studio with The Athletic.

The luxury automaker just launched its new "Designing Sport" ad, which draws a line between the Range Rover Sport SV’s precision engineering and the intricate work behind top-tier sports venues.

The short film centers on architect David Manica, whose firm MANICA Architecture has shaped some of the world’s most recognizable stadiums.

These include the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Chase Center in San Francisco, and Barcelona’s Camp Nou. 

Through the spot, the brand hopes to show the audience how Manica’s design philosophy mirrors the Sport SV’s own balance of performance and refinement.

Including off-the-field stories like this campaign, the Athletic notes that sports business content is among its fastest-growing categories, with 196% year-over-year growth since early 2024.

The brand partnership aims to tap into that trend, connecting design-minded sports fans with Range Rover’s high-performance SUV.

Bringing Stadium Design Into the Driver’s Seat

The nearly three-minute spot focuses on the intersection of architecture and athletics, framing stadiums and vehicles as purpose-built environments for human excitement.

In the film, Manica draws visual and conceptual parallels between the SUV’s dynamic proportions and the sweeping lines of modern stadiums, tying both to an elevated brand identity.

It starts with the architect explaining his beliefs, noting the common misconception that design is "creating something out of nothing."

"Really good design is just as much subtractive as it is additive," he explained. 

This juxtaposition is made evident through quick interchanging cuts between roaring crowds in a stadium and the sleek design of the car giant's innovation.

Additionally, product features are subtly woven into the narrative, calling out the Sport SV’s mild-hybrid Twin Turbo V8, 6D Dynamics suspension system, and optional Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brakes.

The campaign, which runs August 7 through October 31, launches as a paid video post on The Athletic’s site, supported by New York Times Advertising’s Flex Frames units.

Notably, a sponsored editorial series called "The Builders" will further explore leaders who have successfully shaped sports organizations and infrastructure.

Positioning the Sport SV alongside a creator whose work is globally known, Range Rover reinforces its brand message that true performance is as much about vision and detail as it is about raw power.

Our Take: Can Design Sell Performance?

Where else can you see a stadium architect’s craft be compared to the precision of automotive engineering?

The latest campaign from Range Rover and the Athletic avoids the cliché of showing cars tearing around a racetrack, and instead, leans into a cultural parallel that feels original.

To me, this initiative treats its audience as design-conscious thinkers rather than just thrill-seekers.

It wants to speak to those who pay attention and appreciate the finer details.

In other news, Nissan recently launched a campaign that dramatizes its vehicle testing process.