Image: Coliseum GSVA

Introduction of Coliseum’s Chair & master of ceremony

Ruminations on EURO 2024-2028

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Andreas Schaer will tell Andy Simons in his key-note presentation that the EURO 2024 which was held in Germany from June 14^th-July 14^th will remain embedded in the fans’ memories for a long time to come. Of course, the English fans will prefer not to remember it as a gripping EURO 2024 finals ended with Spain’s 2-1 win over England. However, Chris Bryant will join Schaer in adding that irrespective of the outcome England made it to the finals. The duo will dish out details to Simons as to what lessons learnt from EURO 2024 will they be taking forward for EURO 2028 which is scheduled to be hosted by the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Schaer and Bryant will also inform Simons as regards the structure of the EURO 2028 organizing team and how they are set to deliver the soccer extravaganza. However, they will point out that things don’t always go as planned and will also point out incidents of pitch invasions, cups thrown and lasers targeting the Greek players by few unruly fans during EURO 2024.

Simons will also point out to the duo that like Germany the United Kingdom and Ireland also boast spiffy stadia and the upgrades required will be minimal for EURO 2028. Schaer and Bryant will share that the planning meetings are taking place on a regular basis vis-à-vis are the Cities getting ready? Are the City fan zones already mapped out and in design? The duo kept fingers crossed as regards it will be an event sans fan ruckus.

The other topics to be covered in the key-note – will the 31,500-Casement Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, be part of the venue planning as the UK Government is in no mood to fund the redevelopment of the derelict facility which has been closed since June 2013? Going by the England fan disorder at the EURO 2020 Final held at the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium in Wembley (UK) what stewarding and policing approaches outside the venues and the perimeter zones are being developed to prevent the recurrence of such an incident in EURO 2028? Will alcohol be allowed in the stands? Will safe standing be formally adopted?

The key-note presentation will also discuss – from April 2^nd the European Union (EU) residents will need a £10 Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. This is a frustrating bureaucratic and cost addition for the fans. Will EURO 2028 be operating a Qatar-style visa waiver system? Legacy which is a key aspect will also come up for discussion and both Schaer and Bryant are keeping hopes high that each and every venue will be sold out for every game.

Keeping heritage-rich-aging Cledara Abbey Stadium operational

Image: Cambridge United

Alex Tunbridge will dish out details to Neil Levett in this conclave on how the English Football League (EFL) League One club Cambridge United F.C. home ground – the 7,937-capacity Cledara Abbey Stadium in Cambridge, England (UK) – holds a lot of nostalgic value and is one of the last of its kind venue to boast a traditional terrace. However, it is aging fast and as a result can throw up some interesting challenges to keep it operational, compliant and also adaptable to the requirements of the modern game.

Tunbridge will discuss with Levett how to keep an old traditional stadium operational and relevant. He will also inform that the attendances have grown by 51 percent post-COVID and the same has been achieved via improving the matchday experience (food, bars, fan zones, etc.,) whilst also aggressively targeting the new supporters, what has underpinned the growth in the attendances and what do the modern fans want from the stadiums.

The other key points to be discussed are – the Cledara Abbey Stadium is not operated on a non-matchday create & buy (C&B) business and instead the Cambridge United F.C. allot the rooms to their Foundation – the charitable arm of the club. The stadium development topic will also come up for discussion.

Stadium 2.0: Breathing new life into an old stadium

Image: Fulham FC & Populous

In his presentation in this conference Tom Jones will look at the challenges and opportunities for the redevelopment of the existing stadiums and will present case studies of the English Football League (EFL) League One Club Wrexham A.F.C. new Kop Stand at their home field – the 13,341-capacity STōK Cae Ras in Wrexham, Wales (UK) and the new Riverside Stand at the Premier League team Fulham F.C. home pitch – the 28,800-capacity Craven Cottage in Fulham, West London, England (UK).

Jones will explore the ways in which good design can respond to the culture and heritage of the existing stadiums and introduce new and innovative design concepts that can reimagine the spectator experience and provide a long-term legacy for the venue.

Paris 2024 positive impacts galore

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Tania Braga will speak in this meet that the Paris 2024 (France) Olympics and Paralympics held last year had a lasting effect on the community – Euro 47 million had been distributed to support the grassroots projects directly benefiting 4.5 million people by funding initiatives that use sport to improve lives.

Braga will also talk about the sustainable effect of the Games – Paris 2024 significantly reduced the carbon footprint by using 100 percent renewable energy to power all the Olympic venues and 100 percent of the equipment purchased was recovered and given a second life through reconditioning or reuse.

She will also point out the Paris 2024 great concept of the non-permanent venues where in addition to the permanent venues key temporary sites were also set up like the Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower and the Champ-de-Mars, to name a few. Paris 2024 also set new benchmarks for the positive impact and legacy the Games created for the local people and the community and their environment. She will also bridge the legacy effect to the next Games to be held in Los Angeles (US) in 2028.

Delivering Everton Stadium: For fans and the City

Image: Everton FC & BDP Pattern

Jon-Scott Kohli will inform the distinguished gathering in this assembly that now hosting test events the 52,888-capacity Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Vauxhall, Liverpool, England (UK) has come alive after years of planning, design and construction.

He will further share how the innovative delivery of Everton’s new home on the Merseyside is changing the way the stadia are designed and built to be spectacular places for the fans and the Cities alike.

Edgbaston Stadium rejig quintessence haute hotel

Image: Warwickshire CCC

Craig Flindall will inform the esteemed audience in this colloquium on how the Warwickshire County Cricket Club is proposing the creation of a new hotel and stand at their home field – the 25,000-capacity Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, England (UK) – representing the next stage in the ongoing redevelopment of the site.

Flindall will further inform that the hotel is the centerpiece of a project that includes the redevelopment of the stadium’s Raglan and Family Stands incorporating a new concourse with enhanced food and drink options and improved facilities for the disabled spectators.

How advanced technology is driving design of sports facilities across Middle East

Image: ME Engineers

In their presentation in this assembly Abdul Tabbara and Chris Grundy will explore the transformative impact of technology on stadia design in the Middle East. Through a retrospective and forward-looking perspective the duo will chart how technology has grown in scale and is now critical to achieving the next generation of Middle East stadiums.

Tabbara and Grundy will discuss the lessons learned from the impact of innovative technologies, how it influences engineering services design and the need for an integrated approach through design, build and operation.

The connected future of stadiums: Innovation and fan experience at Anfield

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Leighton Griffiths will engage in an exclusive conversation with Drew Crisp in this meet and will explore how Extreme Networks is helping to transform the matchday experience at one of the world’s most iconic football clubs residence – the Premier League team Liverpool F.C. home venue – the 61,276-capacity Anfield in Liverpool, England (UK).

From balancing heritage with innovation at Anfield to leveraging next-generation Wi-Fi and data analytics, Crisp will share with Griffiths how the Liverpool F.C. is enhancing fan engagement, driving new revenue streams and optimizing stadium operations.

The duo will dive into the impact of connectivity on sponsorships, digital offerings and operational efficiencies. Whether one is a venue operator, information technology (IT) leader, or sports industry professional, this session will provide actionable insights into the future of connected stadiums – with a touch of football banter to close it out!

Estructura prescription to keep venue structural health robust

Image: Estructura

Fernando A. Neris will point out in this conference how the natural wear and tear in the buildings, the sports venues and in the critical infrastructure over time creates damages that not only affect daily use if they go unrepaired but more importantly make the structures more vulnerable to calamities like earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, accidents, acts of terrorism, and floods. The repair work then becomes far more costly, business interruptions worsen and lives are often lost.

To improve on the routine and incomplete human inspections which are often merely visual, Neris will present a case study before the august audience on how the Estructura team partnered with the Swiss technology company GeoSIG to install a Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS) consisting of a set of sensors that provide early detection of changes and damages which can then be repaired immediately by the Facilities Managers.

Neris will further demonstrate how the GeoSIG SHMS installation in the 20,000-seat Puerto Rico Coliseum in San Juan (the island’s [Puerto Rico] capital and largest City) tracks potential damages from the sports events and the concerts pinpointing the exact area suffering any damage. In this era of increasing climate-related challenges and always-on seismic activity this targeted, precise, realtime, 24/7 monitoring data – at a minimum rate of 50 samples and calculations per second – on the property’s structural integrity provides proactive maintenance, protects lives and assets, reduces risk for the insurance carriers, slashes post-disaster recovery spending, and also enhances the safety outcomes.

PFEIFER Structures storied sustainability stadia

Image: PFEIFER

Thomas Hermeking will inform the gathering in this conclave that PFEIFER Structures (Germany-based company who are experts in light structures and lightweight architecture) has quite a history when it comes to the refurbishment works for the existing buildings.

Hermeking will further inform the gathering that to contribute to the sustainability of the stadia and the arena PFEIFER Structures is doing even more: Providing the concepts and works to upgrade these buildings for using them more efficiently and adapting them to the upcoming events. He will present project examples to provide an insight into the expertise of PFEIFER Structures.

Emirates Stadium stand test of time

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Richard Gregg and Tom McCann will tell Neil Levett in this assembly the role the duo play in providing an enabling service to different parts of the business in context with the Premier League team Arsenal F.C.

The duo will also narrate to Levett how the Arsenal F.C. home ground – the 60,704-capacity Emirates Stadium in London, England (UK) has stood the test of time since it first got off the ground in 2006.

Gregg and McCann will also talk about the financial performance of the Emirates Stadium as well as how the business is growing with the explosion of women’s football at Arsenal F.C. and how the team is galvanized.

Visitor engagement-operational efficiency VITEC nub

Image: VITEC

Myriam Calaber will narrate in this conference how the 10,000- capacity CO’Met Arena in Orléans, France, collaborated with the leading worldwide end-to-end video streaming solutions provider VITEC to deploy an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and digital signage system to enhance visitor engagement.

Calaber will further narrate that this venue featuring multiple event spaces required efficient content distribution across nearly 200 screens. VITEC’s technology allows live event streaming and dynamic displays optimizing both the visitor experience and the operational efficiency.

(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!

Democratization of premium experiences

Image: The O2 Arena, Simon, CC BY 2.0

Nathan Kosky in a discourse with Tomasz Zahorski will talk in this summit about the trends and future of premium seating with premium spaces moving closer to the field and the locker rooms as well as democratization of the premium experiences.

Kosky will also explain to Zahorski how the sponsorship product at the 20,000-capacity The O2 Arena in London (UK) is exceptional and has evolved significantly but has still remained the same!

Further continuing their discussions, Kosky will talk with Zahorski on topics like ‘What Brands Need from Venues’ and ‘Technology and Data in both Sponsorship and Premium’.

Milano Cortina 2026 tech challenges and solutions

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Daniele Tagliabue will tell Andy Simons in this conference how Milano Cortina 2026 (the 2026 Winter Olympics to be held in Italy from February 6^th-22^nd) will present an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate the technological modernization of the venues and the infrastructure. It is not just about hosting a global event but about delivering Games that leaves a lasting and positive legacy for the territories.

He will further tell Simons that the venues of Milano Cortina are already recognized as world-class locations for hosting major events and Winter sports. Tagliabue will share with Levett that their goal is to seamlessly integrate the venues with the technological requirements of an event of this scale while also promoting a lasting infrastructural and digital legacy.

He will also cover the topics – ‘Venue Technology Readiness and Infrastructure Enhancement’, the challenges of organizing a sporting event of this scale, the approach to be adopted, ensuring reliable connectivity in the more remote venues is one of the most critical challenges both in terms of network infrastructure (fiber optics, 5G, Multiprotocol Label Switching [MPLS]), and guaranteeing connection resilience.

LaLiga trial-and-error hospitality exercise

Image: FC Barcelona

Milos Nenadovic will point out in this colloquium that one of the main challenges the LaLiga (the top men’s professional football division of the Spanish football league system) faced was that it was on an average quite behind the other leagues in terms of the hospitality portfolio that the clubs commercialize.

Nenadovic will buttress with data the above – three percent of the stadium capacity in LaLiga was dedicated to the hospitality space whereas in the English, French, German, and Benelux (Belgian football league) leagues it stands between six percent and 10 percent.

The LaLiga decided to pull up its socks and started to bridge the above gap and created more than 10,000 new hospitality seats in their stadiums in the last two seasons.

He will also inform the gathering the key takeways of the ever-expanding field of hospitality and how the entire exercise was a trial-and-error one and they also learnt what kind of hospitality offerings strike a chord with the different categories of fans.

Cutting-edge Irish FA football facility plans

Image: Irish FA

Thomas Fulton will tell in this congress how the Irish Football Association that governs football in Northern Ireland (UK) is anchored in heritage and authority positioning itself as a bridge between the divided communities while fostering national pride through international competitions. Its key strength lies in its robust grassroot networks that ensure talent development and broad participation.

Fulton will also delve details of its plans to create a new state-of-the-art, multimillion pound National Football Centre as part of a significant strategic investment which will inspire a new generation to reach their full potential. The new facility expects to feature world-class pitches and cutting-edge training facilities fully realizing the association’s ambition to create a project that will become the beating heart of Northern Ireland’s football community supporting both the elite and the grassroots players.

Ross Video-powered Principality Stadium storytelling capabilities

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Discover with Alex Luff and James Ransome in this summit on how the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales (UK) transformed its gameday experience with the broadcasting company Ross Video’s Unified Control Solution.

The duo will further explore in this session the impact of seamlessly integrating production control with the light-emitting diode (LED) content management – delivering realtime stats, synchronized visuals and electrifying moments at the push of a button.

Luff will further tell Ransome how from dynamic matchday graphics to immersive fan interactions this technology upgrade redefined the Principality Stadium’s storytelling capabilities and unlocked new revenue opportunities through enhanced sponsorship visibility and premium fan experiences.

Event hub Stadio Olimpico sustainability quotient

Image: Stadio Olimpico & Parco Foro Italico

Andrea Santini will tell the distinguished gathering in this conference how the 72,698-capacity Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, serves as the home field of two football teams – the Serie A teams AS Roma and SS Lazio – and also stages major sporting acts as well as concerts. The stadium hosts approximately 80 events every year.

Santini will further share that the sports complex Parco del Foro Italico skirting the venue is almost akin to a town with circa 1,000 inhabitants and also comes armed with offices, sports facilities, university, and TV studios and receives 60,000 visitors (more than four million per year) for more than 80 days in a year.

Based on the above, he will point out that sustainability goes on to become the essence for running the show of the Stadio Olimpico – how to turn sustainability into a competitive advantage for the venue and its event organizers? And what is the role of the stadium in driving this change?

Santini’s presentation will also dive into the holistic approach adopted in order to ensure a cohesive effort across multiple domains as well as the importance of engaging the stakeholders. Sustainability goes on to become a value-add and planning becomes the nub.

He will also talk about event legacy and how it is driving the change and how even a very small-scale event is held at the Stadio Olimpico underscoring its significance.

Knowing your sustainability onions

Image: Malmö FF

Magdalena Nour will tell the gathering in this symposium that the most successful football club of Sweden Malmö FF sustainability initiatives in their home stadium – the 22,500-capacity Eleda Stadion in Malmö, Sweden – does not cost them an arm and a leg but they go about doing the work within a modest budget and the deliverables are pack-a-punch.

Her mantra on achieving the above – research, reflect, evaluate, and act. Nour will also advise that while going ahead with sustainability-related works the venue operators/owners should do an in-depth research on the same and not be in the dark.

Fatzer AG lead-by-example Green goals

Image: Fatzer AG

Dr. Martin Bechtold will tell Neil Levett in this meet how the heavy duty wire ropes company Fatzer AG focus is always on long life products, efficient material use, quality, and innovation.

Talking about sustainability, Dr. Bechtold will further tell Levett how the efficient use of resources resonates with how the company works and when it comes to the ‘Green’ factor Fatzer AG believes in leading by example and being the first mover.

He will also point out to Levett that a venue cannot turn ‘Green’ overnight and it has to be a concerted effort from start to finish requiring the participation of all the stakeholders.

Mesmerizing Mercedes-Benz Stadium soccer extravaganza preparedness

Image: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Joseph Coomer and Andy Simons will discuss in this meet how the United States is all geared up to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ along with Mexico and Canada from June 11^th-July 19^th.

Coomer will narrate to Simons how the spectacular 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (US) which comes under the umbrella of the AMB Sports + Entertainment will be staging eight matches of the soccer spectacle including the Semifinals fixture and will provide details of whether hosting the World Cup is just another event for them as the home of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Atlanta United FC already host soccer. Coomer will also discuss at length with Simons how the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is putting its best foot forward to host such a prestigious event.

Coomer will further narrate to Simons what are the lessons they have learned from Qatar 2022. American football and basketball is hugely popular in the United States and in this context will the American population show equal passion for the World Cup games?

The duo will also discuss about the security quotient – do the 11 US stadiums represent a higher terrorist risk than the Canadian or Mexican venues? The discussions will also cover topics like ‘Fan Zones’, the ‘Last Mile’ and the logistical challenges involved in hosting the greatest soccer show on the planet – it is not just about three huge countries, 3,000 miles between venues but the 48 team format with 104 matches.

Harnessing crowd intelligence to optimize venue operations

Image: PMY Group

David Bass will explore in this session of the summit how crowd intelligence is transforming venue operations through realtime insights into visitor behavior, movement and engagement. Using light detection and ranging (LIDAR), artificial intelligence (AI) analytics and live data the venues are shifting from reactive to proactive decision-making – enhancing safety, optimizing resources and improving the fan experience.

The key topics to be covered by Bass include predictive attendance modeling, site occupancy tracking and foot traffic analysis to improve the crowd flow, the retail layouts and the food and beverage (F&B) operations.

He will also highlight the real-time queue management strategies that boost efficiency and service. Through real-world examples discover how data-driven insights create safer, smarter and more engaging venues.

Taking cue from quick-service-restaurants

Image: Global Payments

Steve McArdle will share in this conference the fundamental changes vis-à-vis the fans ordering food and beverage (F&B) in the stadium and the event sectors in the future.

McArdle will also talk about the innovative ways of the quick-service-restaurants (QSRs) and applying a new Science to improve the fan experience in the venues as well as driving revenues.

Behind-the-scenes of Emirates Stadium in association with:

Enchanting-entrancing Emirates Stadium

Image: Arsenal FC

The Emirates Stadium is a football stadium in Holloway, London, England (UK). It has been the home stadium of the Premier League team Arsenal F.C. since its completion in 2006. It has a current seated capacity of 60,704 making it one of the largest football stadiums in England by capacity. The venue is a unique mix of commercial and hospitality spaces that are valuable on both matchdays and non-matchdays.

The Emirates Stadium will be the venue for the Coliseum Summit EUROPE – the only Global Sports Venue Alliance in the world – to be held from March 18^th-19^th, 2025.

Join us on the Opening Day of the Coliseum Summit Europe for an exclusive networking evening. This event, reserved for the delegate pass holders, will take place on the 18^th from 6:15 pm to 7:45 pm at a traditional English pub conveniently located within walking distance from the Emirates Stadium. Enjoy drinks and the opportunity to connect with the fellow delegates in a relaxed atmosphere. Location details will be sent to you via email.

Image: Coliseum GSVA

Cruzados Claro Arena crux sustainability

Image: Cruzados (Facebook)

Juan Tagle will engage in a conversation with Javier Dávila de Eusebio in this summit on the top-notch club of Chile Universidad Católica’s (also known as Cruzados) home pitch – the totally redeveloped 20,000-capacity Claro Arena in Santiago, Chile (renovation of the facility is still underway).

Tagle will further tell Eusebio that the totally transformed Claro Arena will be one of the most futuristic and sustainable arenas in South America once it comes on stream and will host an array of sporting events as well as cultural and entertainment shows. It will also boast a wide range of hospitality offerings and will weigh high on the sustainability quotient – the Green element being the core of the venue.

Events and security perspective of multisports venues club

Image: Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Darwinek, CC BY-SA 3.0

In a fireside chat in this conference Kinga Święcicka and Tomasz Zahorski will discuss the evolving trends around organisation of events including the security quotient.

The duo will hold up examples of the Legia Warsaw (a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland) home ground – the 31,103-capacity Polish Army Stadium in Warsaw, Poland – activations including the domestic and international games of Legia which has one of the most passionate and creative fans around the world.

Święcicka and Zahorski will further discuss in the fireside chat that hundreds of events are organized yearly at the above stadium on non-matchdays. The other topics to be discussed are the Legia Park concept, the ‘Fan Zone’ created on the grounds next to the stadium, the events held at the Legia Training Center, the club’s state-of-the-art high performance facility located in the suburbs of Warsaw, and the events held at the Legia tennis courts – a historic destination being revitalized into a top racket and events center.

ARX Kinetic Architecture push-the-envelope stadium design

Image: ARX

Puneet Khunger will inform in this conclave how the ARX Kinetic Architecture Solutions, part of the Kinetic Solutions Group, excels in the engineering of cutting-edge moving structures for the stadiums and the entertainment venues.

Khunger will further inform the august audience that ARX’s expertise lies in delivering world-class kinetic architecture that pushes the boundaries of multifunctional stadium design – from concept to commissioning and beyond.

He will further explore the future of the retractable pitches and will present a case study of the ARX work at the 62,850-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (UK). This groundbreaking venue features a fully retractable dividing pitch enabling seamless transitions between Premier League football and the National Football League (NFL) games and supporting the top-tier events like boxing and concerts. He will also discuss the engineering innovations, operational benefits and the future potential of dynamic pitch technology in shaping the next generation of multiuse stadiums.

Marseille home venue revamp nod to rich heritage

Image: Stade Vélodrome, Guiguilacagouille, CC BY-SA 3.0

Romain Giraud will confer with Tomasz Zahorski in this meet on how the French professional football club Olympique de Marseille is lending a futuristic touch to its home ground – the 67,000-capacity Orange Vélodrome in Marseille, France – while keeping the pristine sheen intact.

Giraud will also deliberate with Zahorski on what role sustainability plays in infrastructure projects and what are the cutting-edge technologies being integrated into management of the venues.

He will also talk about how data and connectivity is being leveraged to improve operational efficiency and what are the trends for shaping the future of the sports clubs’ venue operations.

MatSing fully connected venue experience

Image: MatSing

Henri Benamou will showcase in this session how the stadiums and the arenas deliver high-capacity mobile connectivity for improved fan engagement. Connectivity today is of essence – both inside and outside the venues – with the 21st century facilities needing highly reliable, ultra-fast and robust connectivity.

Benamou will further showcase how the MatSing Lens Antennas are proven to be ideal for a fully connected venue experience as a multiband and multicarrier 4G long-term evolution (LTE) and 5G network can be delivered in the most efficient manner while utilizing the fewest possible antenna locations.

UEFA insights on raising the bar for sustainable football venues

Image: Coliseum GSVA

Filippo Veglio will share in this conference the ‘Green Goals’ of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Veglio will further share that the UEFA aspires to take a leading role as a catalyst of positive change in sports by promoting sustainable development and introducing more sustainable business and operating models in football.

He will also aver that the UEFA will not succeed in keeping the planet liveable without the support of every individual and every organization. Every venue operator/owner needs to step up action within their own worlds. Veglio will also highlight how the EURO 2024 hosted by Germany was a sustainability personified event. The organizers encouraged the fans to travel sustainably and one of the key successes of the soccer showpiece was reducing the tournament’s carbon footprint.

Refurbishing venues while ‘maintaining operations’

Image: Wimbledon/AELTC

Brodie Robb and Will Goring will dwelt at length in this summit on the challenges faced by the sports venue operators/owners and how they strive to enhance the facilities to attract major events and increase revenue.

The duo will further observe that the above can often be a complex task and refurbishment is seen as a more desirable option as it enables the venue to function normally though rejig work is in progress.

The outdated nature of many stadiums puts pressure on improving the facilities, the need to increase the revenue and the changing expectations of the spectators. With the rise of women’s sports and the focus on environmental sustainability the venues must adapt to meet the demands of a more diverse and environmentally conscious audience.

Robb and Goring will present case studies of venues highlighting the above points.

The sound of innovation: Engineering and acoustics at Co-op Live Arena

Image: Buro Happold

In this meet Andy Pottinger and Olly Creedy will explore the forefront of engineering and sound design at the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England (UK) where cutting-edge technology and meticulous planning converge to create an exceptional auditory environment.

The duo’s presentation will delve into the sophisticated design and engineering methodologies that establish the Co-op Live Arena as a premier venue for live performances. Join them to gain insights into advanced acoustic modeling and soundproofing techniques that ensure optimal sound quality delivering every note and beat with unparalleled clarity. Understand the collaborative efforts between the engineers, the architects and the sound designers in overcoming the challenges to achieve acoustic excellence in a world-class venue.

Engineering innovation and adaptive design – the 3Arena case study

Image: Forum by Nowy Styl

In a joint presentation in this meet Jakub Rachfalik and Damon Lavelle will take up the case study of the transformation of the 13,000-capacity 3Arena in Dublin (Ireland) and will inform the august audience how it posed a unique engineering and architectural challenge – how to integrate an advanced telescopic grandstand system into an existing venue while ensuring full functionality for a wide range of events.

The duo will further explore the complexities of the project – from the challenges of precisely maneuvering massive grandstand modules and adapting the structure to the venue’s limited storage capacity, to the innovative engineering and architectural solutions that enabled the creation of a system fully tailored to the 3Arena’s needs. The presentation will highlight how close collaboration between the designers, the engineers and the investors made it possible to deliver one of the most demanding and technically advanced mobile seating systems in the industry.

(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!

Building a scalable platform ecosystem for a multiclub sport venue

Image: Olympiapark Muenchen

Timo Schubert will explain in this summit how the shift towards the digital platforms is driven by the demand for integrated, personalized fan experiences and data-driven insights. He will maintain that the highly integrated platforms offering multiple services incur significant development costs and long cycles.

He will also talk about leveraging synergies and creating a centralized single-code platform that addresses diverse club- and sport-specific needs as well as employing a modular, application programming interface (API)-driven architecture with modern frameworks to enable rapid prototyping, iterative development and seamless integration.

Planning makes perfect – maximize your revenue and fan engagement with digital media

Image: Uniguest

Tim Hoddy and Sean Miller will tell the august audience in this summit that the sports teams don’t get results without planning, focus, dedication, and training. In the same manner, it should be no different for the venue operators/owners deploying and using digital signage and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in their venues.

The duo will further share in this informative and engaging session ideas and real-world examples of how Uniguest technology is delivering memorable experiences, streamlining operations and generating revenue across hundreds of world-class venues globally.

With insights direct from an end users’ perspective this session will offer pearls of wisdom for those embarking on a digital media journey or wanting to do more with their existing platforms.

Managing digital customer experience

Image: Odyssey Pavilion, Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0

Robert Fitzpatrick will inform David Bass in an interaction in this meet as to how digital integration into the customer experience leaves a positive impression on the latter and help the customers to access the companies in the most convenient way possible.

Fitzpatrick will also tell Bass the critical importance of the employee and how the employees drive an organization’s development and growth. With employees a business can function effectively and efficiently. He will also talk about building trust in third-party provision and how data as a purchasing tool helps to facilitate better decision-making and spending practices.

‘Sound’ stadium acoustics resonate well with fans

Image: Solotech

Nick Lythgoe will hold a detailed discussion with Neil Levett in this meet on how sound is still underrated in stadiums and arenas for live events and that the live experience often suffers because of bad sound quality, even in new build facilities.

Lythgoe will share with Levett how acoustics is vital to anyone in charge of running a stadium and the venue operators/owners should ensure that a proper design is in place so that there is no significant loss of sound in the seating areas. Bad sound quality will lead to loss of spectators and will prove to be a dent in the venues’ revenue earnings.

AUDIOVISUAL Solutions

BRAND Development

Signify sturdy lighting a given in venues

Image: Signify

Niels Geven will tell the assemblage in this conference that Signify which is the world leader in lighting for the professionals, the consumers and the Internet of Things (IoTs) help enrich the fan experience in the venues.

Geven will further inform the assemblage that sturdy lighting in the venues can also optimize the player performance and lower the energy expenses of the venues in a sustainable manner. He will also highlight the positive impact lighting brings for the athletes’ well-being, boost the fans’ safety quotient and also help optimize the venue operations.

Bringing concert sound to the sporting event – a Premier League case study

Image: L-Acoustics

Kyle Durno will share in this congress how the concert-level sound from L-Acoustics brings alive the sporting events too and packs a punch.

Durno will further share that the L-Acoustics sound system delivers a true rock and roll experience to the fans even while watching the sporting events and hits with impact maintaining clarity, intelligibility and immediacy. In this regard he will also present a Premier League case study.

Bluenergy Stadium in a league of its own

Image: Udinese Calcio

Jacopo Romeo will discuss in this assembly how the Serie A club Udinese Calcio home facility – the 25,144-capacity Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy – is a model of innovation, multifunctional and a sustainable stadium: The Bluenergy Stadium best demonstrates how a stadium can be active 365 days a year and create a positive impact on the community.

The Udinese stadium is one on the few owned by the club and allows the City of Udine and the Friuli Venezia Giulia (a Northeast Italian region) to host a flagship event like the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Super Cup which will be staged in the venue in August 2025.

Romeo will also bring to the fore how the Bluenergy Stadium will be the first stadium in Italy to boast a solar park soon.

Managing a perfect playing surface in venues

Image: STRI

Lee Collier and Nick McLaren will be speaking in this conference about ‘Maximizing Usage and Protecting Playing Surface Quality’. The modern stadiums are under pressure to be multiuse hosting a variety of events in addition to their core purpose of being a home for professional sport. This creates a number of challenges for those managing the facilities and the playing surface.

The duo will talk through their experience of helping the clients to maximize revenue whilst maintaining an elite standard pitch.

100 years of Westfalenhalle – tradition meets future

Image: Westfalenhalle Dortmund, Tbachner, CC BY-SA 3.0

Rainer Schüler will inform Neil Levett in this meet that the 15,380-capacity Westfalenhalle (one of the most legendary concert, event and rock arenas in Europe) in Dortmund, Germany, is celebrating its 100th birthday – a century full of unforgettable events, technical developments and architectural changes.

He will further deliberate with Levett on how does one master the challenges of an event venue boasting rich history?

Schüler will provide insights into the opportunities and challenges of managing a 100-year-old hall. The topics will include the balance between monument protection and modernization, the integration of new technologies such as light-emitting diode (LED) installations and video cubes as well as the sustainable renovation of an arena steeped in tradition. He will also look at how the Westfalenhalle fits into the modern environment of an exhibition and congress center and what are the future prospects of the event venues which enjoy a rich historical background.

Spaces made intelligent

Image: AiFi

Damian Ritter will tell in this congress how a Spatial Intelligence platform powered by computer vision is set to revolutionize the fan experience at the stadiums, the arenas and the entertainment venues. By leveraging real-time data and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights this technology enhances crowd management, optimizes concession and merchandise operations and personalizes fan engagement.

Ritter will further explain how the advanced computer vision systems can analyze the foot traffic patterns, reduce congestion and streamline the entry processes for a seamless arrival experience. Inside the venue the AI-powered heatmaps and predictive analytics improve queue management at the concessions and the restrooms minimizing the wait times and maximizing convenience.

Additionally, personalized content delivery and targeted promotions based on realtime behavioral insights create a more immersive and engaging atmosphere. By integrating these capabilities the Spatial Intelligence platform transforms the live events into smarter, safer and more enjoyable experiences for the fans while driving operational efficiency for the venue operators.