Exploring NextGen Spaces for Sports & Entertainment

Mark John Fenwick is founding partner of Fenwick Iribarren Architects, a Madrid-based architectural firm with over 35 years of experience. Over the years, the office has grown to become one of the largest architectural practices in Spain, delivering highly distinctive projects both nationally and internationally. In the past two decades, the firm has specialised in sports architecture, having designed more than 50 stadiums, including achieving a “Hat Trick” at the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup. Among these is 974 Stadium, the world’s first fully demountable stadium built with shipping containers.

Mark’s extensive experience has led him to co-author UEFA’s prestigious ¨UEFA Guide to Quality Stadiums¨, followed by the ¨Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines¨. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and events on stadium design and sports architecture. Always seeking new challenges and countries worldwide where he can create football cathedrals. Mark continues to push the boundaries of innovation in sports architecture.

Lisa has led the media and communications team for Bristol Sport Group since she joined from Sky in 2014.
 
A unique multi-sport model based at Ashton Gate Stadium, the group includes Bristol City (men and women), Bristol Bears (men and women), Bristol Flyers Basketball and the clubs’ associated community foundations. Lisa holds multiple board director roles within the sporting group and sits on the board of the British Basketball League (BBL).
In the last decade Lisa has overseen the digital and media strategy for the clubs’ livestreaming platforms along with the creation of a purpose-built TV Studio which now hosts the clubs’ shows and podcasts.

The next two years will see a £130m investment adjacent to the stadium, to build a 4000-capacity Sport and Convention Centre which will become the new permanent home of the Flyers. With a hotel and retail/commercial space alongside it, it will form a new Sporting Quarter for the city of Bristol. 
 
Prior to joining the group, Lisa worked for Sky News as a presenter and worked more than 15 years in broadcast television (Sky, BBC and ITV), covering many major live international news events.
 
A keen sportswoman and passionate advocate of women in sport, she represented GB in water polo for more than a decade competing at two European Swimming Championships and a Commonwealth Games.

Ondřej, the co-founder of CHYBIK + KRISTOF, is a pioneering force in transformative architecture. He spearheads a collaborative approach that fuses old and new structures while focusing on the art of adaptive reuse.

His journey began at the Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic) and deepened with international experience at TU Graz (Austria), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), and the Viennese studio PPAG (Austria). Noteworthy projects like Lahofer Winery exemplify his dedication to integrating contemporary design with historical and local context to create vibrant and timeless spaces. His expertise, evident in projects such as the refurbishment of the Gallery of Furniture and the self-initiated Zvonarka Bus Station project, extends beyond creative vision to emphasise the crafting of each building’s character. With a creative vision and a strong commitment to community engagement, Chybik is influencing a new generation of architects, prioritising collaboration and ushering in an era of purpose-driven design.

As a guest critic, he contributed insights at the Faculty of Architecture, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, the Faculty of Arts and Architecture in Liberec (Czech Republic), and the Politecnico di Milano (Italy). He actively participated in international juries for architectural competitions and national architecture prizes in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. He has received several awards with the studio, including the 2019 AR Design Vanguard and took part in the Tbilisi Architecture Biennial with the OUT-HABIT project.

Mannarelli has over 30 years of experience in the sports and live entertainment industry and is currently focused on consulting on new arena initiatives in Europe. Previously, Mannarelli finished a year-long tour in NEOM, Saudi Arabia serving as an Executive Director – THE LINE Proponent or “client representative” managing the delivery of THE LINE, a 170-kilometer-long cognitive and sustainable city at the heart of NEOM that will redefine conventional urbanism to address global challenges. A licensed German architect, Mannarelli has worked on some of the largest urban planning projects as well as sports and live entertainment venues around the world. Before joining NEOM, he served as the Director of Real Estate at FC Barcelona for seven years, where, as part of the Construction and Facility Management Department, he was responsible for the Espai Barça, a EUR 1 billion project to transform FC Barcelona facilities. Before his time at FC Barcelona, Mannarelli spent almost 10 years with ICON Venue Group, an industry-leading owner’s representative and strategic management consulting firm for public and private sports and entertainment, first as a Project Manager and then as Vice President overseeing ICON’s European operations. During this time, he was responsible for ICON’s engagements in Hamburg, Bern, Helsinki, Yekaterinburg, Geneva, Lausanne, Seoul, Barcelona, Fribourg and Dubai. Regionally, Mannarelli worked on the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre Project Development Plan.

Mannarelli began his career in the sports and entertainment business as a Design Manager with Anschutz Entertainment Group, a world-leading owner and operator of entertainment venues. While at AEG, he oversaw the development of O2 World in Berlin. Considered an expert in his field, Mannarelli often speaks at industry events around the world, offering key insights into the urban planning, architecture, and construction markets. He has lectured at Georgetown University in Washington, the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and Johan Cryuff Institute in Barcelona. Mannarelli holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in architecture from Princeton University, both in the United States.

Guy Monkley, Key Account Manager for Architen Landrell.  A muti-disciplined background and 10 years’ experience of Key Account Management, the last four years working with Architen on an exciting and varied portfolio of Tensile Architecture.  Two recent projects he has delivered include Leicester City Football Club Training Ground ETFE Roof & Façade and the new Compton and Edrich Stands at Lord’s, Marylebone Cricket Club.  Working with all key stakeholders including clients, engineers and Architects on the journey from concept to delivery Guy is passionate about delivering Tensile structures capable of enhancing crowd experience and participants performance.

Since January 2012, Marie Smyth has been an integral part of the historic Croke Park Stadium, currently serving as the Head of Venue Business. With a career spanning over a decade at this iconic Irish venue, Marie has played a key role in shaping and enhancing the stadium’s corporate offerings.

In her capacity as the Head of Venue Business, Marie spearheads sales initiatives and coordinates a myriad of activities for Croke Park Premium, showcasing her strategic acumen in the competitive events and hospitality industry. Her responsibilities extend to overseeing Meeting & Events, where she ensures seamless coordination and execution of diverse gatherings.
Croke Park Stadium, with its storied history spanning over a century, holds a special place in Irish sporting heritage. Marie operates in a challenging yet thrilling environment with a capacity of 82,300, 110 event spaces, 94 suites, and over 8,700 premium seats under her purview. Her daily challenges are as diverse as the events hosted at the stadium.

Leading a dynamic team, Marie manages a wide array of clients, ranging from internal and external to national and international, including corporate and association clients.
Marie Smyth’s tenure at Croke Park Stadium is characterized by her unwavering commitment to excellence, her strategic vision for business development, and her passion for creating memorable experiences in one of Ireland’s most iconic venues.

Guy – a family man with sport at his heart, he spent his formative years growing up in Wales, played Rugby for Swaziland and has a passion for the outdoor environment. He has 30 years Construction Project Management experience, graduating from the building sites of the 1980’s, working in Sport, Leisure and Retail construction in both the UK and overseas. In 2016 he set up EnTodo Project Management and has led major projects with clients including Fulham Football Club, Crystal Palace Football Club and Plymouth Argyle Football Club –  notably achieving planning permission and completing the build for Crystal Palace Football Club’s new Cat 1 Academy in Beckenham in 2021, leading the team which accomplished planning for CPFC’s new £120M Main Stand and last year securing PAFC’s new First Team and Academy sites for development.

“I don’t think I am a perfectionist but without exception I assemble the strongest most appropriate team for each project and I cannot accept less than 100% effort from everyone – I am driven to challenge the accepted norm and I pride myself in achieving the best result for the clients we serve.”

Ali Çelikkıran completed Electrical & Electronics engineering education.
He has experience in energy distribution, building management, project management and consultancy in the first 10 years of his 24 years of business life. He has been working at Galatasaray SK for the last 14 years, since the opening of the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, and his current position is the Stadium Operating Director.
He took part in many events and tournaments held at the stadium. (2013 U20 World Cup, UCL and UEL competitions, stadium concerts (Madonna – Bon jovi), 2022 Amputee World cup final, etc.)

One of his most important works is leading the most powerful solar power plant project built on a stadium, which is included in the Guinness World Records Book.

As General Counsel and member of the leadership team at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, I oversee venue legal affairs, manage business risks, and help our teams deliver all kinds of events from concerts to functions, large projects, sponsorship and venue services. I have worked in venues for over a decade and have had the privilege to be involved with major events such as the London 2012 Olympic Games, international, FA Cup and Champions’ League football and more recently three Women’s World Cup tournaments in Aotearoa including the hugely successful 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ruth is a Technical Director at Mott MacDonald and a leader of specialist engineering on major construction projects worldwide.  Ruth has a true passion for sports venues, working with teams globally to create venues which are sustainable, resilient to our changing climate and have an incredible atmosphere for players and spectators.

Josef Lageder is a seasoned professional with a robust background in sales, marketing, and management. Currently, he holds the position of Senior Portfolio & Global Ticketing Partner Manager at SKIDATA, where he has been instrumental since 1997. His roles have included Business Segment Manager for Global Events and General Manager for People Access in Italy, a position he held for 18 years. With an education in economics and 27 years of experience in revenue and access management systems for the sports, attractions, and mountain industries, Josef is a visionary and innovator who has brought award-winning innovations to the industry.

Venue and event expert with broad experience in the design, development, operation and management of sports and entertainment venues and events.
He is responsible for the management of Stadio Olimpico and Parco Foro Italico – the Olympic complex around it – in Rome.

The stadium is home of two football teams, AS Roma and SS Lazio, of the Italian football national team, of the rugby Six Nations Cup and of the World Athletics meeting Golden Gala. In 2023 the stadium hosted 81 large events, including 17 concerts, with more than 4,5 mln spectators.

Stephen Lord has over 25 years of experience in sports, marketing, entertainment, digital media, and content creation. He is the CEO of KOJO, an award-winning company specializing in sporting events, brand experiences, and screen production.

KOJO has contributed to a range of major stadiums and projects, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, ICC T20 Men’s & Women’s World Cup, Major League Cricket, Cricket Australia, Big Bash League, AFL, Super Rugby, NRL, A-League, and golf events. KOJO works with key stadiums across Australia and New Zealand, such as Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Suncorp Stadium, and Sky Stadium.

Stephen values creating a positive work environment and believes that prioritising people leads to the best outcomes. His leadership aligns with KOJO’s mission to produce work that captivates audiences globally.

Olly has been working in Acoustics since September 2005 and has a wide range of understanding in many acoustic disciplines from architectural acoustic design to electro acoustic and sound system modelling. His experience has involved extensive work on detailed computer modelling and acoustic design for a number of prestigious worldwide projects including published papers on the propagation of sound from high powered sound systems. Olly leads Sports and Entertainment projects within Vanguardia and has managed a number of prestigious Stadium and Arena venues around the world including the new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Henk Markerink (69) was CEO of the Amsterdam ArenA ( later Johan Cruijff ArenA) from November 1995 till September 2021. From 1991 till 1995 he was the project manager for the design and construction of the ArenA, working at TwijnstraGudde Management Consultants. In 2000 Markerink founded Amsterdam ArenA Advisory. With this consultancy company he advised about 30 stadiums worldwide, in Europe among others the Allianz ArenA in München and Galatasaray Stadium in Istanbul, in China the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, 4 World Cup2014 stadiums in Brazil and the Government of Qatar for the World Cup2022 stadiums. In 2005 he started a Sustainability program with the ArenA colleagues resulting in a solar panelled roof of 10.000 m2, changing heating systems from gas to renewable energy, a battery with a 3.5 MW capacity, resulting in a climate neutral venue in 2015. Also the year that he founded the ArenA Innovation Centre in where all types of protocol driven processes were re-arranged to data driven processes based on vast data collection of 20 years of operation, a process run together with various partners from the public and private sector.

Besides his job Markerink was active in various social/economic organisations and activities nationally and internationally. The past four years as chairman of the Employers Association VNO-NCW in the Metropolitan Area of Amsterdam.

Markerink got a Master’s in Architecture and Structural Engineering from Eindhoven Technical University.

John Jackson is the International Business Development Director at Fenwick Iribarren Architects. His role over the last 15 years has been very much focused on exploiting the company´s expertise in Sports Architecture. John started as an Architect in Fenwick Iribarren in 1999 having gained his Professional RIBA Qualifications in the UK and subsequent experience in the UK and Malaysia. John has both instigated and been directly involved in Fenwick Iribarren’s internationalisation over the last twenty years starting with Masterplanning and Commercial projects and now focused on Stadium and Sports projects.

This internationalisation has seen the company work both in isolation and in collaboration with other leading architects in stadium/sports throughout the MENA region, culminating in our leading role in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup , as well as the Far East , China , South America and Eastern Europe. This extensive international experience and portfolio has led Fenwick Iribarren to be regarded as one of the leading expert stadium designers and consultants in the last decade.

Involved in the LED industry since 1997, Tom brings a wealth of practical and technical expertise to digiLED. Working for LED screen pioneers Invision, Phillips and Lighthouse, on a practical level has played key roles on many high profile events including the 2000 Sydney Olympics and as Head of Video for Robbie Williams. 
Now found regularly working on new patents, Tom’s outstanding engineering skills drive product and industry innovation for the digiLED range of screens and accessories.

Kamil Kukułka is an executive board advisor at Ergo Arena, an indoor venue in Gdańsk/Sopot, Poland, opened in 2010 hosting over 100 sporting and music events, with a capacity up to 15,000 fans. He is responsible for the commercialization strategies, incomes and new business  since 2011.

Kukułka also owns Sport Innovation and NamingRights.pl, offering independent consulting services since 2008 specialized in sports venues and events commercialisation, naming rights and corporate sponsorships. Previously he worked for Coca-Cola Femsa in Mexico City for 6 months and as General Director of IAAF World Indoor Championships Sopot 2014 organizing committee. He also advices the organizer of athletic Diamond League Silesia 2023-2027 and local municipalities offering naming rights of football stadium (Szczecin) and other arenas in Poland. Member of AIESEC Alumni and BNI (Business Network International).

David is both the driving force behind the practice and instrumental in building our international reputation in the field of sports stadia and integrated commercial development.
He has an instinct for understanding clients’ needs and building collaborative relationships, and his creativity and commercial acumen gives him the ability to deliver clear strategic thinking and business-sound solutions.
He is passionate about exploring how good conceptual design can have a positive influence on the building user experience, and as an avid sports fan enjoys the challenge of creating memorable venues for spectators and sports stars alike.

As a d&b audiotechnik Director since 2002, Stephen has intimate knowledge of the company, its technologies and positioning in the market. Starting his career as a sound engineer and joining d&b in 1998, more recently in the role of Head of Sports Projects, Stephen has overseen the positioning of d&b audiotechnik in the Stadia and Arena segment where his desire to deliver the perfect audio experience can be matched with a passion for all sporting disciplines.

Hannu Helkiö has very wide experience as designer and project manager/director and has been involved in these roles with many different types of projects.
His expertise includes numerous sports and event facilities such as multipurpose arenas, stadiums and other sports facilities as well as property development projects.
Hannu has experience of more than 25 sports/arena projects which have included either conceptual design or full design and he has worked as a Main Designer in several projects.
One of the latest arena projects is Nokia Arena in the city of Tampere Finland where Hannu was the main designer for the arena facility.

Peter Bryan, Partner at TMG Partners, worked for the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2021 where he oversaw the final design, construction, and completion of Chase Center and surrounding development.  Chase Center is an 18,064-seat, state-of-the art sports and entertainment venue located in San Francisco, CA and home to the Golden State Warriors.  Chase Center opened 5 years ago to critical acclaim, receiving numerous awards both domestically and internationally.  Peter joined TMG Partners in August 2021 and continues to play a key role in San Francisco Bay Area development work.  TMG Partners is a local, privately owned, full service real estate company, specializing in urban infill projects across the Bay Area with over 30 million square feet under its belt and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Alain Belsoeur boasts an extensive career in football administration. From August 1972 until December 31, 2012, Alain served as Deputy Secretary, Secretary General at Le Havre Athletic Club, and then CEO of the club. His contributions include:

• Promotion to Professional Ligue 2: Spearheaded the club’s ascent to Professional Ligue 2 in 1979, ending a 15-year period as an amateur team.
• Regaining Professional Status: Instrumental in restoring the club’s professional status in 1981.
• Academy Development: Played a pivotal role in the establishment and success of what is now recognized as one of the most successful football academies in France (1984).
• Sustaining Top Division Presence: Ensured the club’s presence in Ligue 1 between 1985-1988 and again from 1991-2000, marking the longest period at the top level in the club’s history.
• Stadium Creation: Conceived and managed the design and construction of a new stadium, culminating in its completion in 2012.

At the national football level, Alain’s achievements includes:

• Creating the “Strategic Stadia Committee” and chairs the committee, now known as the “Stadia Infrastructures Committee” (since January 2013).
• President of the union of football Clubs Administrators (SNAAF) and Founder and President of the Union of Football Actors (UAF).
• Member of the Control Committee of Professional Clubs Finances (D.N.C.G.) and the Rules and Regulations Committee of the French Football League.
• Recipient of the Gold Medal from the French FA and French Football League, and Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals from the Ministry of Sports.

Mika Sulin has held prestigious positions throughout his career, including: General Secretary of the Finnish Olympic Committee, General Secretary of the IIHF 2012 Ice Hockey World Championships andLeading the restructuring of Finnish sports and securing €9 million in sponsorships

He has successfully marketed and sold several brands across Europe and played key roles in developing major product and marketing concepts internationally. His experience includes, General Manager of Nike Central and Eastern European countries, General Manager of Nike Nordics, Key roles in the development of Nike Retail concept and Nike Football category in CEE and Nordics.
Mika has developed multipurpose arena concepts worth nearly 2 billion eur in various European cities, including:
Hamburg (Barclays Arena), Prague (O2 Arena), Helsinki, Riga Arena, Vilnius (Siemens Arena) and many others

In the past seven years, he has orchestrated the Tampere Deck and Arena project, a €550 million development that includes Nokia Arena, home to Finnish League Teams Tappara and Ilves. This venue hosts significant international sports and cultural events, including the IIHF World Championships in 2022 and 2023.

In 2007, Mr. Sulin established his advisory company to assist private investment and venture capitalist companies with internationalization and global development projects in sporting goods industries, sports marketing, and stadiums and arenas. He has been involved in several European arena developments and feasibility studies.

In December 2023, Mika joined PMY Group as an Global Advisor. He is also leading the Hakametsä Sport Campus project, the first European downtown city sport campus worth €500 million to be opened 2027.

Pete Watts is the founder and Manging Director of Rockvolt, an operations consultancy that enjoys developing and progressing venues, events, and sports market suppliers.

Peter has years of operational, facility and event management experience gained through working across three continents covering major international moments including Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Premier League football, Premiership rugby, Test Match cricket, horse racing, golf majors, tennis grand slams, arenas, confex halls, and visitor attractions. As a BASIS Board Member, much of Peter’s work is centred in sustainable practices driving the environmental agenda forward in the sport world.

Peter Bryan, Partner at TMG Partners, worked for the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2021 where he oversaw the final design, construction, and completion of Chase Center and surrounding development.  Chase Center is an 18,064-seat, state-of-the art sports and entertainment venue located in San Francisco, CA and home to the Golden State Warriors.  Chase Center opened 5 years ago to critical acclaim, receiving numerous awards both domestically and internationally.  Peter joined TMG Partners in August 2021 and continues to play a key role in San Francisco Bay Area development work.  TMG Partners is a local, privately owned, full service real estate company, specializing in urban infill projects across the Bay Area with over 30 million square feet under its belt and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Andy Price leads the commercial strategy for the NEC Group’s Ticketing & Arenas division, with overall responsibility for venue programming for Utilita Arena Birmingham, Resorts World Arena and Bradford Live. This extends to all event and non-event revenues such as F&B, merchandise and retail, premium hospitality brand Amplify and the Group’s national ticketing agency, The Ticket Factory.

Prior to joining the NEC Group in 2019, he spent 19 years in senior marketing and live event roles, primarily within the UK commercial radio sector.

Andy is currently leading a strategic review project for Amplify, which looks to roadmap their investment in facilities for the next five years and beyond.

With extensive experience leading large multidisciplinary project teams across multiple sectors and regions internationally, Rob has delivered a variety of challenging projects throughout his career. He has led significant sports and entertainments projects, such as the Education City Stadium for the Fifa 2022 World Cup. Rob is passionate about design and innovation and is part of our global innovation and technology steering groups. He has a broad experience across sectors and regions, but he still applies his depth of knowledge in structural engineering, project delivery, and technology (as one of the co-founders of the BHoM open-source code framework).

Patrick is Managing Director for Daktronics UK. With over 18 years experience in the LED display industry, Patrick is responsibe for strategic market development in the UK and Europe.
Daktronics is a global leader in LED displays and have been informing and entertaining audiences for over 50 years. They have been responsible for delivering many milestone projects in the UK, including the install of one of the first large-format digital roadside billboards, Piccadilly Lights, the landmark 4K display on Piccadilly Circus, London and the supply and installation of the LED technology throughout the new groundbreaking Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ian Nuttall is the owner and founder of TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit, presented by his Xperiology events business. His working life began in sports hospitality events management (including Formula 1, horse racing and Wimbledon) before pursuing an award-winning career in B2B magazine publishing. He has co-launched and edited numerous business titles (ranging from energy and industrial processes through to airport design and Intelligent Transportation Systems). He has also founded many of the sports sector’s most respected publications and news sources – most recently TheStadiumBusiness News, delivering the all the latest Stadium Business news, blogs, videos, and up-to-the-minute media coverage from all the leading voices in the Stadium Business industry, all in one place. In addition to his ongoing commitments as a sports business writer and speaker, Ian provides highly-valued, specialist consultancy to the sports and entertainment venue sector.