Fully booked Coliseum Summit US set for Wrigley Field

Image: Coliseum GSVA

With one week to go, preparations are entering their final stage for the 11^th Coliseum Summit US, taking place on August 26^th-27^th at Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Field.

The Coliseum team is already on location in Chicago, working through the final preparations for two days of knowledge sharing, business networking and venue experiences. Registration has now officially closed, with the Summit fully booked.

More than 55 speakers from stadiums, arenas, clubs, leagues, universities and the wider venue industry will contribute to a programme covering the projects, technologies and business models currently reshaping the sports venue sector.

“There is always a very different feeling when you arrive in the host city and months of preparation suddenly become reality,” said Michael Rennschmied, Founder & CEO of Coliseum Global Sports Venue Alliance. “Chicago has given us an exceptional environment for this year’s Summit. We are fully booked, the programme is complete and our team is now here preparing everything for next week. We are looking forward to welcoming the global Coliseum community to Wrigley Field.”
 

From Chicago to the world

Chicago’s rapidly changing sports infrastructure provides the starting point for this year’s Summit. The programme will examine the Chicago Bears’ future stadium plans, Chicago Fire FC’s new stadium at The 78, the 1901 Project surrounding the United Center and the new Ryan Field at Northwestern University.

From there, the programme moves across the United States, with projects including the Athletics’ new ballpark in Las Vegas, the future plans of the Kansas City Chiefs, the restoration of Tropicana Field and the transformation of Crypto.com Arena. International case studies from Calgary, Buenos Aires, Singapore and the United Kingdom bring the global perspective that has always been central to Coliseum.

The programme reaches well beyond new construction, with sessions addressing technology, safety and security, sustainability, premium hospitality, commercialisation, brand development, fan experience and venue operations, alongside a particular focus on the rapidly developing infrastructure supporting women’s professional sport.
 

Understanding venues means experiencing them

Curating an international programme of this scale does not begin and end with researching projects or inviting speakers. For Coliseum, it also means continually attending industry events, travelling to venues and experiencing sports facilities first-hand.

That approach continues in Chicago. With the team arriving well ahead of the Summit, the days leading up to the event are being used not only for preparations but also to experience the city’s sports landscape from the perspective of the fan and the operator.

The Coliseum team has already attended a Chicago Fire FC match at Soldier Field and a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. This coming Saturday, the programme of venue visits continues with a Chicago White Sox game at Rate Field.

“You cannot properly understand a stadium or arena only from drawings, presentations or photographs,” Rennschmied said. “You need to visit it when it is alive. You need to see how people arrive, how they move through the building, how they use the hospitality and concessions, how technology works and, most importantly, how the venue feels when the stands are full. That experience is an important part of how we identify the subjects and projects we bring to Coliseum.”

This philosophy extends throughout the year. The Coliseum team regularly visits stadiums and arenas, attends matches and events, and meets venue professionals around the world – bringing those experiences back into the development of future Summit programmes.
 

More than two days in a conference room

Venue experiences will also form an integral part of Coliseum Summit US itself.

On August 25^th, early arrivals will visit the Chicago Blackhawks’ new Fifth Third Arena, followed by the traditional Coliseum Ice Breaker networking event. During the Summit, Wrigley Field will become a case study in its own right, with Chicago Cubs executives and project partners sharing insights into the continued evolution of the historic ballpark.

The Summit will conclude with a behind-the-scenes tour of Wrigley Field, allowing delegates to see first-hand how a venue opened in 1914 continues to evolve while retaining its distinctive character.

With more than 15 hours dedicated to networking, the conversations away from the stage remain just as important as the presentations themselves.

“Coliseum has never been about simply sitting in a conference room and listening to presentations,” Rennschmied added. “We want people to see venues, meet the people behind the projects, openly discuss what worked and what didn’t, and build relationships that continue long after the Summit.”

For the Coliseum team, the remaining days are now about the final details before the doors open at Wrigley Field.

On August 26^th, the stadium and arena industry comes together again – to learn, grow and do business.

Continue following Coliseum for the latest updates on sports venues, stadiums and arena business news worldwide.

Coliseum is dedicated to building a global community of sports and entertainment venue professionals helping create better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and industry experts from around the world. Apply for membership through the Global Sports Venue Alliance and access the 365Coliseum Business platform.

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