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Preliminary 2023 Conference Schedule

SATURDAY, JULY 8

7:00 p.m.

Board Advisors Reception: ALSD, Design, Tech Board Advisors & IIFX Distinguished Fellows
Game Night: Indianapolis Indians vs. Memphis RedBirds at Victory Field
SUNDAY, JULY 9

8:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.

Exhibitor Set Up

2:00 p.m.

New Attendee Meeting

Winning High Consequence Conversations

3:00 p.m.

Opening Keynote

4:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.

Placemaking Super Panel: The Indy Narrative
Built on big events and a strategy to use sports as an economic driver, Indianapolis has developed into a destination unlike any other. With its sports facilities and hotels are largely in downtown, coupled with hundreds of the largest sports events on the planet, Indianapolis is a placemaking legend. Join the panel to understand what makes a city a star, and how your own should take note.

4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

All-Attendee Opening Tradeshow Reception

7:00 p.m.

Tour and Reception at Lucas Oil Stadium
MONDAY, JULY 10

8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.

All Attendee Tradeshow Breakfast

8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.

Bullseye One-to-One Meetings

9:00 a.m.

State of the Industry

Presented by Hunden Strategic Partners

9:30 a.m.

Visionary Award Presentation
2023 Recipient: Mel Raines, President & COO, Pacers Sports & Entertainment

9:45 a.m.

Super Panel: Fieldhouse of the Future
The recently wrapped $360 million renovation of Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be on full display for ALSD attendees. Before tours begin, let’s learn about the operational lift, premium product mix, and feature elements of the arena’s surrounding cityscape.

10:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m.

League Day Part I
Teams and Venues only may attend League and Standalone Meetings

10:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Leadership in Technology: Building a Culture of Innovation
Today’s sports business leaders should foster a culture of innovation, highlighting best practices for building and scaling technology initiatives across organizations.
Premium and Practicality: A Design Dream
Novelty has its place in the premium design landscape. But what really distinguishes a design is leading with functionality and flexibility, followed by form. Let’s look at several case histories from inside and outside of sports that deliver on the premium and practical objectives.
FANDOM in Focus
Understanding the Modern Fan Mindset Attracting, growing, and retaining a loyal fan base is the central mission of sports and entertainment organizations. As competition for the out-of-home entertainment dollar intensifies and lifestyles center around the home, though, a deeper, more sophisticated, and data-driven approach is required to satisfy modern sports fan.

11:25 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

Data-Driven Decisions: How Analytics is Revolutionizing Fan Engagement
This panel will delve into the role of data and analytics in driving revenue, operational efficiency, and fan engagement across sports and entertainment organizations, highlighting real-world examples of success.
Location-Driven Design
Venues tell a story. Often the fans, former and current athletes, celebrations of city and state jump off the pages. In this session, learn how you can lean into location-based design to enhance each celebrated chapter in your team and venue story.
Raising the Bar: Women in Sports & Entertainment -Taking Charge and Making a Difference!

Women leading the way in the sports & entertainment industry, serving in leadership and executive roles in security, safety, event operations, guest services, risk management, and more.  Our distinguished panel talks about their experiences, the pressing security and operational challenges that women leaders are addressing today, and the future view of sports and entertainment, including the importance of diversity and inclusion with an emphasis on helping the next generation of young women become future industry leaders.

12:20 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Fan Loyalty and Retention: CRM and Personalization Strategies
This panel will discuss how sports and entertainment organizations are leveraging CRM and personalization strategies to build long-term relationships with fans, increase loyalty, and drive revenue.
Venues as Catalysts for Economic Growth
Is your venue the heartbeat of your city? Could it also be the catalyst to economic, real estate, education, and corporate growth. Learn what we have learned, what’s working, and what should you lean into to make your venue and surrounding district a reservoir of growth opportunity?
The Rise of Cyberthreats in Sports and Entertainment
As stadiums become more dependent on online networks, professional sports and entertainment entities become increasingly threatened by cyberattacks. What are the specific threats and risks, and how do we mitigate them?

1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.

All Attendee Tradeshow Lunch

1:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.

Bullseye One-to-One Meetings

1:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.

League Day Part II

2:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Tabletop Tech: A Roundtable
The roundtable workshop between teams and venues and vendor suppliers is an engaging and collaborative forum where industry experts come together to share their experiences and expertise. Involving venue managers, event planners, marketing experts, and technology specialists, along with vendors and solution providers, the workshop is designed to brainstorm, share, and create best practices to improve overall venue experience. Through collaboration and innovation, industry professionals can gain new perspectives and develop new industry solutions.
Tabletop Exercise: When Things Go Wrong: A Detailed Perspective on Why Everyone Needs a Seat at the Table

In this session, Marketing, Suites, Sales, Food & Beverage professionals are paired with Safety, Security & Event Operations to better understand the practical importance of working together prior, during and after an incident, emergency and/or crisis.  Professionals from all aspects of game and event operations are invited to explore specific techniques and work real-world event scenarios to better ensure your team’s preparedness.

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Digital Identity: The State and Future of Ticketing Technology
We live in a digital world. How can our current and future technologies support this? Learn about blockchain’s status and staying power. Explore the most secure, transparent, and frictionless technologies, which allow for a better fan experience.
The Sports Technology Boom
Indiana has gained a reputation as the preeminent host for major events and is now actively developing a thriving sports tech ecosystem. Sports Tech HQ was formed to help Indiana focus on future technology business opportunities. Learn from firms on emerging tech and more about Sports Tech HQ.
Integrating Security and Safety into the Design and Build for an Efficient Fan Journey

The fan experience is more than what happens during live sports or entertainment events, it is created and curated during each step of their journey before, during, and after the event.  A venue’s design and how it is built can create a seamless flow from parking areas to the venue and from space-to-space.  Safety and security are inherent parts of the overall design and build of every venue and event and can be the decisive factors in the overall experience. Purposeful design and smart construction can mitigate safety and security risks and make the fans feel safe and secure. Fans who feel safe and secure are likely to spend more time and money at venues,  return for future events, and bring others, all of which increase revenue.  The panel will explore how safety and security should be factors in the design and build of every venue for the purpose of increasing the bottom line.

The Changing Landscape - Managing Sports Betting Risks to Your Venue

3:45 p.m.
4:00 p.m.

Bullseye One-to-One Meetings

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Innovative Fan Experience: AR, VR, and Interactive Content
Have fun discovering the latest trends in AR, VR, and interactive content. Sports and entertainment entities are constantly pressed to create more immersive, engaging, and unforgettable experiences for fans. Let the tools we have available help in the mission.
Capturing Return on Capital Investments
Capital investments are highly scrutinized, with proof of return a hallmark of the long term play. But what does ROD mean to various stakeholders and how does it add up for overall renovations and technology upgrades.

4:30 p.m.

IIFX Attendees Depart for NCAA

5:00 p.m.

IIFX Reception at NCAA Headquarters

5:00 p.m.

All-Attendee Tradeshow Happy Hour

5:00 p.m.

Bullseye One-to-One Meetings
6:30 p.m.
Tour and Reception at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
TUESDAY, JULY 11

9:00 a.m.

Opening Address and Welcome

9:00 a.m.

A Celebration of the Venue Marketplace and Industry Achievements
ALSD’s annual Spotlight competition returned in 2023, and the winners are the cream of the crop. Additionally, IIFX joins the celebration featuring four winners as part of their IIFX Innovation Awards. Join us to crown winners from Spotlight categories such as suites, clubs, culinary creations, amenities, technology, and new premium offerings and IIFX categories like woman innovator and venue award.

9:30 a.m.

The Mega Trends Shaping Premium Seating
Shifting consumer needs, rapid technology improvements, and powerful macro-economic forces are having a big (and mostly positive) impact on our industry. In the next decade, these forces will alter the way we work and the type of products buyers demand. It’s more important than ever for those of us in the premium seating industry consider lessons from adjacent industries and think strategically as we make bold bets on the future of premium seating.

10:00 a.m.

Beyond the Pitch: Soccer’s New Downtown District – “Eleven Park”
Eleven Park is a transformational riverfront neighborhood development in downtown Indianapolis, anchored by a 20,000 seat multi-purpose soccer stadium and will showcase premier retail, restaurants, residential, office space, public plazas, entertainment venues and much more. Eleven Park will be an experience and a destination for those looking to live, work and play in downtown Indianapolis.

10:40 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

The Connected Smart Stadium Has Arrived

How can we enable fans to engage in personalized and meaningful ways at our venues? How can we make the experience not only easier, safer, and more rewarding, but also seamless. From sports teams and their stadiums, arenas, and entertainment districts to casinos and shopping destinations, a connected future has arrived. What does harnessing it mean for your venue and its revenues? 

Adapting to New Buyers and Buying Patterns

As corporate and individual buyers and buying patterns evolve and the desire for flexibility increases, it’s important to adapt and address new needs. New lead generation tools can assist in this new era, as can creating bespoke packages for the right buyer, using the right channels. This session will help understand how to maximize sales and efficiencies in today’s market. 

The Evolution and Education of New Premium Seating Spaces
Gone are the days when suites were the only option. Today, venues must continually evolve their premium offerings to match the desired experience of their clients. This session will explore not only new premium spaces such as lofts and upper level premium clubs, but also how to educate our clients on the why, where, and what to buy options.
Passion, Purpose & Profits
The Blank Family of Businesses Core Values are Lead by Example, Put People First, Innovate Continuously, Giveback to Others, Listen & Respond, and Include Everyone. These core values are the essential elements that power our people, culture, policy, process, tools, and technology to create and consistently deliver world-class fan, guest and customer experiences every time, everywhere, every opportunity, no exceptions.

11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Agility. Insights. Operations.
High-performance infrastructure enables digital business innovation and transformation. As we enter the next gen of sports and entertainment experiences, this is critical to delivery of services to our fans.
One-on-One: The $1 Billion Questions for Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven’s President answers questions about the new 20,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Operations, premium seating, F&B will all be addressed with an underpinning of fan experience in mind.
Culture Matters - Enhancing the Guest Experience by Focusing on the Staff Experience
When it comes to guest experience satisfaction, our frontline staff are the face of our venues. While not breaking news, what is new is dealing with the challenges of hiring, retaining, and inspiring individuals in this post-COVID world of venue management. Needed most is for these team members to not only show up in numbers, but do so with enthusiasm and commitment to ensure an exceptional guest experience. Achieving world-class guest services in today’s climate requires a different approach than most of us have used before and must include delivering on the culture our staff seeks.
Speedway to the Future - IMS, NTT, and the Immersive Fan Experience

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is the highest capacity sports venue in the world, with over 350,000 fans joining during the Indy 500 race. Join NTT and the IMS to hear about what they are doing to enhance the journey of the fan, both inside and outside the venue for the Indy 500, Vintage Racing, and other fan events. Whether watching an event live or virtually, fans enjoy live, data-driven sporting insights not available in the past. Also, hear about the future innovations in the works to make tomorrow’s motor sports fan experience even more immersive!

Product-Market Fit: How To Win With The Next Generation of Fans

The future of the live events industry depends on our collective ability to get the next generation of fans off the couch and into the venue. Join our session to learn how some of the best in the business engage and retain this underserved consumer with innovative products, features, and experiences.

12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

All-Attendee Tradeshow Lunch

12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Bullseye Appointments

12:30 p.m. 12:55 p.m.

Solutions Sessions
Our venues face daily challenges from operations to sales and service to technology. Let us show you the solutions. A set of presentations on actual solutions will be presented by clients and teams.

1:00 p.m. 1:25 p.m.

Solutions Sessions
Our venues face daily challenges from operations to sales and service to technology. Let us show you the solutions. A set of presentations on actual solutions will be presented by clients and teams.

1:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

Invitation Only Session: Exclusive Sales Leadership Workshop

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

The Power of Technology
The ALSD and InfoTech Research Group are working to help you improve premium fan experiences through the power of technology. Learn how to drive out innovative technology solutions for exclusive premium experiences. Learn about current best practices and how to improve the premium experience via technology.
Optimize. Transform. Disrupt.
Using the recent installation of the Field Suites inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA we will discuss how the design and implementation team supported the ideation, development, and acceleration of existing premium inventory. We’ll show how we induced demand through products that can be brought to market in a venue’s off-season without sacrificing quality.
The New Rules in Etiquette
In order to deliver exceptional service, you must first learn the new rules in etiquette. Today’s customers expect frictionless and white glove. They look to you to solve the problem, or at least find a solution. They want memories without having to encounter operational hurdles. This session will evaluate service, what may be missing from your operation, and what tools can enhance your teams’ etiquette. It will help full time and front line personnel understand that the gift of hospitality should be shared venue-wide.
Sustainability and Innovation: Green Technology in Sports and Entertainment
This panel will explore how sports and entertainment companies are embracing green technology and sustainability initiatives to reduce their environmental impact, optimize operations, and enhance the fan experience.

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

What Ticket Tracking Tells Us
Billions of dollars in ticketing transactions arm the industry with the richest data we’ve ever seen. Pricing, demographics, and buying habits are merely the start of the information abundance we are sorting through. This session will uncover known and lesser known data points that can help our primary and secondary sales efforts.
Opening the Doors to an Underserved Audience
The number of avid sports fans with visible and invisible disabilities may surprise our industry. It’s a sizable audience, to say the least. How do we allow their proverbial voices to be heard and ensure our venue experiences are inclusive? Start by bringing those with disabilities to the table. The underserved should be represented as sports venues build, train, and open their doors.
Executing the Extraordinary
Learn how to make moments extraordinary every step of the way. Three customer service gurus have each opened or operated multiple buildings in multiple markets, and understand the evolving customer desires. They will uncover the three keys to making moments no matter the market or venue.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When it comes to fan experience, technology is not one size fits all. It’s important to understand what tech works best for which fans and why, where it should be employed, and what’s missing. Data underpins many of these decisions, like where to build belly-up vs. grab n’ go stands, and how F&B and retail lines can be eliminated with in-seat service. Moreover, understanding how our premium and GA demographics consume the game will help guide storytelling opportunities within the venue.
Sports Betting and its Impact on the Integrity of Sports

The growth of sports betting and online gaming is challenging the sports and entertainment industry with increasing incidents of match fixing.  Sportradar, a sports technology company that monitors the intersection of sports, betting, and integrity, reported 1,212 suspicious matches in 92 countries in 2022. The panel will discuss these challenges and ways to ensure the integrity of sports around the world.

3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

An Action Plan for Sustainability in Sports

Sustainability is applicable to environmental, business, and cultural objectives. Sports and sporting venues are a powerful platform with the ability to positively affect all three. In this session, we will outline case histories and action plans for sports teams, venues, and premium areas to harness the power and possibility of sustainability. As a bonus, learn of sustainable gifting opportunities.

Insight, Automation, Intelligence: How to Harness Sales Tech

Premium tech tools help us manage time and data, communicate more clearly, and improve customer engagement. But how do we determine the best tech to best address our needs and our company culture? This session will explore the challenges tech can attack, how to use tech to build pipelines and improve conversion, and what solutions you may not even know you need. 

Relationships into Revenue: Building Bonds & Business
The ability to drive renewals, retention, and new business, and build dynamic teams are constantly top of mind for elite sports teams. A study by Bain & Co. found that a modest 5% increase in customer retention can increase company profitability by 75%. What’s their secret, and how do they get and stay ahead? This session will answer these questions and address how to optimize your relationships, grow your business, and upsell and cross-sell, all while driving bottom-line results.
Compelled to Serve: A Critical Design Element
For our staff and front line to feel compelled to serve our clients, we must first compel them to work. It starts with designing standard-setting back-of-house spaces, which are inviting and outfitted properly. Moreover, staff space should make our personnel feel as though they are the premium clients in the building. If we wish to maximize hospitality and minimize turnover, timidity, and liability we must care and feed those who are caring and feeding.
Best Practices in Emergency Response Training

This session will discuss the standardized training courses that best reflect what is needed to keep fans and spectators safe during the diverse events your team will oversee. Our goal is to provide you with the best practices in emergency response to avoid post-incident litigation. The focus will be on simple, yet effective training strategies to empower all of your employees to respond with confidence and the knowledge to mitigate loss.  Novel concepts such as employee Emergency Response Teams will also be discussed.  Our panel will explore the current environment and the best practices for emergency response and the tools and training needed to take charge during emergencies, render assistance, and save lives.  

4:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Revenue Cross Training
Successful teams intersect revenue and business units through cross training and rewards. Specifically in partnerships, premium seating, and ticketing today, there is massive potential to introduce this full-menu concept as a means to exceeding internal revenue goals, while also enhancing incentives for buyers.
Fandemonium Unleashed
Winning at the Game of Fan Engagement

A fan’s first impression is everything! It’s an experience with the user at the forefront of every decision that will establish better trust and more meaningful interactions with their customer. Creating an interactive experience that keeps you entertained and excited throughout means you must UNLEASH the FAN within. Everyone involved in the events must play a bigger game. They must embody the biggest fan from the crazy fun lunatic to the silent celebrity. Just BE THE FAN!

When you unleash the fandemonium within you create a wholesome experience that takes your stadium from a good gathering to a sold-out stadium in the sportstainment world! It’s not what you do, it’s how you make them FEEL that provides an ultimate fan experience. Be the Fan to feel the experience.

6:00 p.m.

Tour and Reception at Indianapolis Motor Speedway