Image: Coliseum GSVA / Michael Rennschmied

Introduction of Coliseum’s Chair & master of ceremony

Fulham FC cutting-edge Riverside Stand meet heritage

Glenn Sutton will tell Declan Sharkey in his key-note address in this meet how the Premier League team Fulham F.C.’s Riverside Stand set against the picturesque backdrop of London’s River Thames is more than simply a new stand at an iconic ground, it’s a bold reimagination of what modern football architecture can be.

Sutton will further share with Sharkey that the new Riverside Stand merges cutting-edge design with deep respect for Fulham F.C.’s home ground – the 25,700-capacity Craven Cottage’s (Fulham, UK) historic charm transforming the famed ground into a 365-day-a-year destination that offers much more than matchday magic.

Multihundred-million-dollar Bridgestone Arena expansion

Jacob Lutz will tell Rob Hunden in a one-to-one interaction in this conference how the 20,000-capacity Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee (US) is preparing for a major multiyear renovation aimed at modernizing the venue and ensuring it remains a centerpiece of downtown Nashville for decades to come.

He will also tell Hunden that the Bridgestone Arena centers on a massive, multiyear, multihundred-million-dollar expansion and renovation project to modernize the venue including a huge rooftop bar, expanded concourses, new retail/dining, and improved tech (5G) with phased closures for construction through 2030.

Venice Stadium immersed in the lap of nature

Andrea Rogg will share with the audience how work is progressing on the 18,500-capacity Venice Stadium in the Bosco dello Sport area, a new 116-hectare multifunctional sports hub North of the Italian City.

Rogg will further share that the new stadium will create the sports infrastructure that the City deserves: An innovative venue immersed in the natural landscape of Bosco dello Sport capable of offering a unique fan experience and becoming a new point of reference for the athletes and for both the local and the international community.

El Campín reborn: A new stadium and civic heart for Bogotá

Jon-Scott Kohli will tell the distinguished audience that the El Campín project has been developed in collaboration with Sencia Colombia and engineering partner WSP and the ambitious project will transform the site of the historic existing 39,000-capacity El Campín Stadium in Bogotá, Colombia into a world-class, mixed-use destination for sport, music, culture, and leisure – a new civic heart for Bogotá and a cultural hub for Colombia.

At the core of the development is a new 50,000-capacity stadium, a bold and modern replacement for the 39,000-capacity El Campín Stadium in Bogotá, Colombia, the historic home of the Colombian professional football teams Millonarios F.C. and the Club Independiente Santa Fe.

Embedding sustainability into club strategy and stadium operations

Henrique Conceição in a conversation with Sander van Stiphout will outline how one of Europe’s leading clubs – the Primeira Liga team S.L. Benfica (Lisbon, Portugal) – is embedding sustainability across governance, operations and infrastructure. Anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Union of European Football Association’s (UEFA’s) Strength Through Unity strategy and the evolving requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), Benfica has approached sustainability not as an obligation but as a strategic opportunity.

Conceição will present the club’s structured roadmap covering mobility, waste, water, accessibility, and Scope 3 emissions alongside the development of Benfica’s first Sustainability Report and a comprehensive review of the ongoing initiatives. From board-level sponsorship to the measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the long-term value creation this session will explore how sustainability can strengthen the brand credibility, the stakeholder trust and the competitive advantage both on and off the pitch.

Nou Mestalla: Restarting a 20-year stadium vision

Mark Fenwick, the original architect of the under-construction 70,044-capacity Nou Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain, returns to tell the remarkable 20-year journey of the LaLiga team Valencia CF’s long-awaited new home. First conceived more than two decades ago the project endured prolonged construction stoppages, financial disruption and multiple redesigns becoming one of European football’s most complex stadium stories.

In this session, Fenwick will share first-hand insights into how the original vision was revived and re-engineered for today’s realities transforming Nou Mestalla into a future-ready, 70,000+ seat stadium meeting modern LaLiga and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) standards. From architectural evolution and fan experience to sustainability and restart strategy this is a rare, honest case study in resilience, adaptation and long-term stadium development.

Operating abroad while rebuilding at home: Jacksonville Jaguars and NFL London Games

In a one-to-one conversation with Neil Levett, Mackenzie Cadman will share the unique transatlantic reality of a National Football League (NFL) club operating far beyond its home market. Under the ownership of Shahid Khan, the NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars’ close link with the Premier League team Fulham F.C. (UK) creates a rare bridge between American and English sport.

Cadman will offer first-hand insights into the operational realities behind delivering regular-season NFL London Games while also reflecting on how the Jaguars are balancing international growth with the delivery of their new ‘Stadium of the Future’ currently under construction in Jacksonville (Florida, US).

Al Ahly and Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium: Humanizing and digitizing venues

Rob May and Jack Treble will present two case studies illustrating how the modern venues can balance digitization with human-centered design through engineering and strategic thinking. At the 42,000-seat Al Ahly Stadium near Cairo, Egypt, the focus is on design approach and innovative structural engineering demonstrating how a highly constrained and complex site was unlocked through creative technical solutions. In contrast, the 52,769-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool (UK), the Premier League team Everton F.C.’s new home, showcases how a forward-looking digital strategy has been developed to support a seamless, intuitive and people-focused stadium environment.

UEFA stadium infrastructure regulations: What’s changing and what’s next

Pietro Chiabrera will present an overview of the Union of European Football Association’s (UEFA’s) updated Stadium Infrastructure Regulations and what they mean in practice for the clubs, the leagues and the stadium owners across Europe.

This session will provide an insight into the evolving compliance requirements, the emerging design and construction standards and how the regulatory frameworks are shaping the future pipeline of stadium developments, from new builds to renovations and upgrades.

From World Cup stadium to FIBA arena: Fast-track roof conversion at Al Janoub

Thomas Hermeking will present a rare case study on the rapid transformation of the 44,325-capacity Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar. Originally delivered as a 44,000-seat venue for the FIFA World Cup™ the stadium is now being converted into an 8,200-seat basketball arena and the main venue for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup 2027.

This session will focus on the structural and construction challenges of adapting a retractable, shading-focused roof designed for football into a fully enclosed, opaque and watertight system suitable for elite indoor basketball. Hermeking will share how fast-track engineering, precision planning and close collaboration enable the client’s highly specific performance and timeline requirements to be met.

From race track to global stage: Reinventing Circuit Zandvoort through Formula 1

Jeroen van Iersel will share how the return of Formula 1 became a defining turning point in the venue’s evolution. Once a traditional race circuit the 1,05,000-capacity Circuit Zandvoort in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, has been transformed into a contemporary, multifunctional event destination operating on a global stage.

This session reflects on a period of rapid change, bold ambition and reinvention exploring how purpose, relevance and identity were redefined in one of the most complex and high-visibility environments in international motorsport.

Using payment data to understand and reward fan loyalty

Image: Global Payments

Steve McArdle will share that as the world’s leading card processing provider Global Payments is enabling the venues and the sports organizations to turn everyday transactions into strategic insight. With credit and debit cards now the dominant payment method Global Payments brings together data across ticketing, food and beverage (F&B) and retail merchandise to create a unified view of fan spend.

In this session McArdle will explore how this integrated data stack helps venues better understand fan behavior, reward loyalty, personalize offers, and ultimately drive higher lifetime value transforming payments from a back-office function into a powerful commercial and fan engagement tool.

Driving revenue through premium and suite space optimization

Marie Smyth will share how the 82,300-capacity Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, has evolved its premium and suite portfolio to unlock stronger and more consistent revenue streams from corporate and event audiences.

Using the Cusack Stand as a case study Smyth will highlight in this session how flexible design, aligned operations and a sharp focus on utilization have increased the commercial performance of stadium spaces beyond matchday maximizing yield across meetings, events and hospitality.

Inside the next-generation venue: From US best practice to European delivery

Image: VITEC

Myriam Calaber will explore how lessons from the leading US stadiums are being translated into successful European venue strategies.

This session examines how technology, design integration and operational innovation are shaping next-generation venues highlighting practical examples of how the US best practices can be adapted to European regulatory, commercial and cultural contexts.

Calaber will provide insight into how smart deployment of video and content distribution platforms can enhance communication, efficiency and revenue generation inside the modern stadium environments.

Stadium technology in practice: Digital operations in a challenging venue

Mate Naletilić will share how the Croatian professional football club GNK Dinamo Zagreb operating under highly challenging stadium conditions is using digital tools to improve day-to-day venue operations and fan engagement.

His case study will demonstrate how Dinamo’s mobile app acts as an operational layer connecting attendance, in-venue behavior and spending into a single fan view despite limited infrastructure and capacity constraints.

This session will also show how building these digital foundations in an aging stadium enables a smooth transition to a new, smaller capacity venue where modern infrastructure immediately unlocks operational efficiencies and enhanced fan experiences.

From screens to stories inside the modern sports venue

Image: Uniguest

Jordan Pattison will explore how the Internal Protocol Television (IPTV) and the digital signage systems have become a core layer of venue technology. The modern sports facilities are no longer defined by individual screens but by how the entire audio-visual (AV) ecosystems work together to shape the atmosphere, timing and communication across the building.

This session examines why standardization, control and content orchestration often matter more than screen resolution or brightness and how well-designed IPTV and digital signage infrastructures function as the nervous system of the modern venue enabling consistency, flexibility and impact at scale.

(Open to everyone with a Coliseum badge in our dedicated main networking area)

Network and collaborate with the stadium business experts and enjoy great food!

Technology as foundation of the multipurpose venue

In conversation with Michael Johnston, Adam Douglas will share how technology is enabling the venues to evolve into flexible, multipurpose destinations.

This session will explore how a strong digital and networking foundation supports the integration of sports, concerts, conferences, and hospitality unlocking new, year-round revenue streams.

Drawing on the real-world experience, Douglas will explain how the data-driven infrastructure helps optimize the operations, enhance the visitor journeys and maximize the commercial return across a complex and diverse venue environment.

The stadium that thinks

Tapio Rosenius will explore how the stadiums can evolve from static infrastructure into intelligent, responsive systems. By sensing the crowd movement, density and atmosphere in real time the venues can use light, media and sound to actively shape flow and behavior – rather than reacting once the issues arise.

This session will demonstrate how this operational intelligence delivers both experience and efficiency: Reducing congestion, improving safety, optimizing energy use, and increasing dwell time.

Rosenius will also outline how the software-led approaches allow the venues to evolve continuously deploying new scenarios, behaviors and revenue opportunities without physical rebuilding keeping the stadiums adaptive, future-ready and commercially competitive.

Sustainability at the ‘Home of Cricket’

Stuart Dunlop will outline how sustainability at the ‘Home of Cricket’ – the 31,100-capacity Lord’s Cricket Ground in London (UK) – is embedded into everyday venue operations.

This session focuses on managing energy, water, waste, and carbon to support long-term environmental responsibility while maintaining the demands of a world-class sporting venue.

Dunlop will also share how eco-conscious catering, fan engagement and community initiatives are integrated into matchday delivery demonstrating how collaboration and continuous improvement can drive positive environmental and social impact at scale.

From insight to action: Planning decarbonization through circularity

Image: Fatzer AG

Dr. Martin Bechtold continues the sustainability journey by shifting the focus from understanding impact to effective decarbonization planning. Building on principles of durability, quality and efficient material use, this session explores how circular economy thinking can be embedded into long-term strategies.

Dr. Bechtold will highlight why decarbonization is not an overnight transformation but a structured, step-by-step process requiring coordination across design, construction, operation, and supply chains to deliver lasting environmental impact.

Practical pathways to venue decarbonization

Tom Yearley from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) will share practical and financially viable pathways to decarbonizing major sports venues.

Drawing on real-world experience from Wimbledon, this session will explore how sustainability goals can be aligned with investment planning, cost control and long-term operational performance turning decarbonization into a deliverable business strategy.

Delivering broadcast-grade lighting during live stadium reconstruction

Image: Signify

Niels Geven will present a technical deep dive into delivering the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)- and LaLiga-compliant broadcast-grade lighting at the 99,354-capacity Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, while major reconstruction works were still underway.

This session explores how one of the world’s most iconic stadiums was brought back into operation without compromising on the performance standards.

Geven will outline the strategic planning, the engineering solutions and the coordination required to integrate high-performance lighting within an active construction environment demonstrating how the complex renovation projects can meet the elite competition and the broadcast requirements under demanding timelines.

Operating a multievent stadium in a complex public context

In conversation with Neil Levett, Graham Gilmore will reflect on the 68,013-capacity London Stadium (UK) journey from its 2012 opening through its transformation for club tenancy and into today’s business-as-usual operations.

The discussion will focus on how leadership, operational discipline and strategic programming can drive performance in a high-profile public venue.

This session will highlight the realities of managing a truly multiuse stadium from hosting football, athletics, baseball, and large-scale entertainment within tight timeframes to developing the fan zones and the flexible event spaces. Gilmore will also share perspectives on the future plans and the ongoing improvements aimed at strengthening the value for the promoters, the athletes, the artistes, and the spectators alike.

Powering the NFL in Europe: Delivering temporary electrical ecosystems at scale

Image: ME Engineers

John McDermott will examine what it truly takes to host a National Football League (NFL) game in a European football stadium.

Far beyond adapting field markings this session will explore how a temporary but highly resilient electrical ecosystem must be designed and delivered to support one of the world’s most demanding live sports productions.

McDermott will outline the challenges of providing reliable, high-capacity power within tight timeframes, aligning the NFL operational standards with the European regulations, the local authority requirements, and the constraints of the existing venues. When executed successfully the overlay remains invisible: Uninterrupted broadcast, the seamless fan experience and a stadium that returns to normal as if nothing extraordinary had occurred.

State of the industry: Who’s building?

Rob Hunden will narrate in this conference about Hunden Partners, a firm which has provided market and feasibility, impact and planning expertise for more than 1,000 projects over 30 years.

He will also talk about the 2026 state of the industry detailing venue and district developments, the industry growth and the performance data from around the world.

Overcoming structural constraints in stadium sound design

Ian White will share how collaboration between the consultants, the integrators and the technology partners can overcome the structural and architectural limitations in the complex sports venues.

This session will look at how the modern public address (PA) systems are being designed with flexibility and operational simplicity in mind.

White will outline how the open platforms and the third-party integration including Q-SYS (a cloud-manageable audio, video and control [AV&C] platform) support more efficient venue management while the networked audio solutions such as AES67 (an open, high-performance Audio-over-IP [AoIP] standard) enable scalable deployment over standard information technology (IT) infrastructure.

White will outline how the open platforms and the third-party integration including Q-SYS (a cloud-manageable audio, video and control [AV&C] platform) support more efficient venue management while the networked audio solutions such as AES67 (an open, high-performance Audio-over-IP [AoIP] standard) enable scalable deployment over standard information technology (IT) infrastructure.

Designing stadiums for the Women’s game

Image: WSL

Hannah Buckley will present the Women’s Super League (WSL – the highest level of women’s football in England [UK]) new stadium design guidance, a world-first framework developed specifically for elite Women’s football.

This session explores how the rapid growth of the Women’s game is challenging the long-established stadium design assumptions and why the venues historically designed for Men must evolve to better serve the female athletes, the supporters and the families.

Buckley will outline how the guidance supports the clubs and the local authorities in upgrading the existing venues, unlocking the main stadiums and planning new facilities that are inclusive, accessible, safe, and future-ready placing the needs of the women at the heart of stadium design.

Protecting the pitch while maximizing event calendars

Image: Terraplas

In a conversation with Neil Levett, Alex Goldsack will address one of the defining challenges of the modern stadium operations: How to host a growing number of non-sporting events without compromising on the quality and performance of the playing surface.

Drawing on the real-world experience at the Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur F.C.’s home stadium – the 62,850-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (UK) – Goldsack will share how the advanced pitch protection strategies have enabled a diverse, year-round event program since 2019.

The discussion will cover the practical considerations such as the installation and removal times, the manpower requirements, the surface health, and the key decision criteria for the venues looking to increase utilization while safeguarding their most valuable asset.

Advancing operational excellence in a high-complexity stadium environment

Image: 24/7 Software

Rebekah Murphy will share how the 62,850-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (UK) has strengthened its operational performance within one of the world’s most complex live event environments.

This session will explore how the integrating multidisciplinary operational functions spanning safety, facilities and the guest operations has improved the coordination, responsiveness and decision-making during high-pressure events.

Drawing on the real-world experience, Murphy will highlight the key challenges, the practical solutions and the transferable lessons for the large venues seeking greater resilience, efficiency and operational control.

Redeveloping the City Ground: Nottingham Forest’s next chapter

Image: @NFFC Nottingham Forest on X

Lina Souloukou and Konstantinos Chatzimanolis will present the Premier League team Nottingham Forest F.C.’s vision for the major redevelopment of their residence – the 31,042-capacity The City Ground in England (UK) – the club’s historic home for more than 120 years.

This session will provide an insight into the newly submitted planning proposals outlining how a phased expansion to over 50,000 seats is being shaped around sustainability, urban integration and the long-term economic impact.

Set on the banks of the River Trent, the project illustrates how a heritage stadium can be transformed into a future-ready venue while strengthening its role within the City and the wider region.

Be our guest at the networking evening on the opening day of the summit. Your delegate pass will give you open access to the gathering from 6:30 pm to 8 pm where you can enjoy drinks and network with the other fellow delegates.

Image: Coliseum GSVA / Michael Rennschmied