Preliminary 2023 Conference Schedule
SATURDAY, JULY 8
7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, JULY 9
4:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
MONDAY, JULY 10
9:00 a.m.
It’s been an incredible year of change in the major league venue world and this year’s State of the Industry will get you up to speed with all the changes taking place with new venues, naming rights deals, team moves, and all the intrigue of potential changes in the works. Beyond the latest new builds and renovations, come for our special spotlight on “Super Hosts: Cities that Shine” where we will examine the cities that perennially host the biggest sporting events, winning bids for Super Bowls, Final Fours and other major events year-in, year-out. What’s the secret sauce?
9:45 a.m.
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.
11:25 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
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.
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 you should lean into to make your venue and surrounding district a reservoir of growth.
2:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
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.
At the very least, fan experience begins with the expectation of a clean and well-lit venue. While this is absolutely necessary, it’s also absolutely overlooked. There is an art and a science behind keeping a place always ready for game time. Here is how it is done by Canada’s largest privately owned janitorial and facility maintenance company with over 8,000 employees – Scandinavian Building Services.
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.
Delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of ticketing technology and its close relationship with digital identity. We will shed light on the current state of ticketing, explore the transformative potential of digital identity, and discuss the future possibilities that lie ahead.
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.
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.
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
The Next G and Demystifying Private Wireless
Enabling smart networks to meet fans demands has gone beyond the underlying infrastructure that provides wireless connectivity. It has been elevated to a new era of delivering wireless experiences that provide a seamless journey for venue guests and endless mobility to the applications that deliver on the next G. This session will discuss how JMA’s scalable network platform has powered more professional sports stadiums with seamless upgrades for the Big Game than any other. As a build partner to Allegiant stadium who will be hosting in 2023, learn how JMA extended the existing network to deliver the connectivity required for 5G applications that will elevate the fan experience. In addition, you will learn how JMA can add a private network to an existing DAS and deliver unique applications providing venue owners endless mobility for business operations and improve fan engagement. Learn how to take it beyond the Next G.
4:30 p.m.
Guests walk together to the NCAA. Meet in the JW Marriott Main Lobby
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Busses will pick up guests at 6:30 p.m. at NCAA Headquarters and carry them to Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tour and Reception
Busses will pick up guests at 6:30 p.m. to and from Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tour and Reception. Guests may also elect to walk back.
TUESDAY, JULY 11
8:30 a.m.
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.
- ALSD Spotlight Awards: Suites | Club Spaces | Overall Building Architecture | Unique Culinary Creation | Enticing F&B Environments | Premium Access, Amenity, or Benefit | Sales and Service Enablement Software | Immersive Venue Tech | Unique Premium Space
- IIFX Innovation Awards: Venue Award | Technology Award | Women Innovator | Technology Innovation Leader
9:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
Venues that capture real-world luxury are thriving. As the trend towards premium experiences that marry exclusive access with luxurious intent grows, venue experts Forward Associates and ASM consider what luxury looks like in the real world and how food and drink and other standalone experiences are changing the way venues operate.
10:00 a.m.
10:40 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Innovation in Action: Unlocking the Power of Mobile in TD Garden's Digital Strategy
Step behind-the-scenes as we explore the digital strategy at TD Garden. Join us as we dive into the integrations across the venue, team, and district, and discover the successes achieved, as well as the invaluable lessons learned throughout the process.
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.
11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Engage with a panel of Sports & Entertainment leaders to learn how to enhance fan experiences through better digital engagement strategy, all while improving venue productivity. Brief presentations from each panelist will be followed by interactive Q&A discussions with attendees.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) hosts the World’s Largest Single Day Sporting Event – the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race – with over 330,000 fans in attendance. 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 Indianapolis 500, Brickyard Weekend, 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 the tomorrow’s motor sports fan experience even more immersive!
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.
12:30 p.m. 12:55 p.m.
1:00 p.m. 1:25 p.m.
1:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Invitation Only Session: Exclusive Sales Leadership Workshop
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
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.
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
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.
We are opening venues and unveiling renovations that look different than before. Inclusion and sustainability take center stage, with unprecedented investments in women’s athletics and community accessibility. What are the critical themes bringing our venues into a new era?
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.
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.
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.
A Sports Betting Parlor is Coming to Your Venue Real Soon!
In 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. Sports betting is now legal in 36 states and in Washington, DC, with 34 states having active programs. Mobile sports betting is growing with more than 26 states allowing bets to be placed through apps. States are establishing or expanding their gaming commissions to license and regulate sports betting and gaming. The proliferation of sports betting apps and retail sportsbooks means that very soon, most people in the United States will have an opportunity to place sports bets online and in sports betting parlors in venues, including stadiums and arenas. Are you ready?
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.
Immerse & Inspire | Innovating Fandom for the Next Generation
Digital technologies are revolutionizing the way fans experience sports and live entertainment. Fans can now attend games virtually, interact with players and other fans, and purchase digital merchandise. This is creating new opportunities for fan engagement and loyalty, propelled by rapid advances in immersive technology. Venues need to embrace these new technologies for engaging with the next generation of digital native fans. Increasingly, they will need to create real time, on-demand, immersive experiences powered by virtual and augmented reality, and populated by digital assets and unique IP. This opens up a huge opportunity for entertainment venues to redefine live events and create a monetizable pipeline of innovative assets.
5:30 p.m.
Busses shuttle guests to and from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway