Exploring NextGen Spaces for Sports & Entertainment

Andy Simons jointly founded the multi award-winning AJ100 architecture and design practice KSS over thirty years ago. Andy provides strategic design direction on our major projects ensuring the clients’ needs are met and guides the management of the consultant team. With his main focus on stadia and training centre projects both in the UK and abroad he brings analytical depth and experience to every project he is involved in, believing in the power of sport as a force for good.

Technical Architect (BSc Architecture) and Project Management Professional (PMP)®. He has over 28 years’ experience on construction projects, and he is highly specialised on singular projects construction management. He led the Project and Construction Management for Business and Arts International Center (“BAI Center”) in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the  Project for a new Auditorium, Exhibition and Convention Center. He also served as Project Manager for the Futur Palau Blaugrana project (Sports Arena) for FC Barcelona during 2017.

He is the Business Development Manager and Chief Operations Officer for Sports & Events Architecture at IDOM, with responsibility for the strategic development of future sport projects for IDOM worldwide, which has given him an important sports specialization from participating in the development of several sports architecture projects and engaging with clients and professionals all over the world. Such sports projects include typologies as stadiums, arenas, sport halls & community centres, and training grounds & sport cities.

Freemans Event Partners has named Natasha Thiebaut as its new chief commercial officer. She has spent her 25-year career working with sports and entertainment venues to maximise revenues from premium seating, partnerships, catering and ticketing.

Thiebaut will sit on the company’s executive board and has been tasked with delivering its five-year strategic plan. She has previously worked at Everton, FC Porto, Leinster Rugby, Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium and Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana.

Thiebaut previously served as vice-president of IMG’s stadium division, playing a leading role in the opening of Wembley Stadium and developing Club Wembley. She also led IMG’s advisory work for stadium development ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Greg Power is Director of Estates, Campus Strategy and Property Development at The RDS.

The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) is a philanthropic organisation founded in 1731, and owns one of Ireland’s most well-known venues — RDS Arena.

The venue boasts a capacity of 18,500 and is the home ground of Leinster Rugby, which plays in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup. It also provides the backdrop for the annual Dublin Horse Show.

Greg is the Programme and Project Director for the new RDS Arena stand. Prior to entering the events and arena world, he was head of capital projects and master/space planning at two major universities.

Javier Martinez is an Internationally renowned Tech, Sports, Leisure & Entertainment Senior Executive

With a 25+ years solid track record delivering outstanding business results at world leading companies including The Walt Disney Company, Atlético de Madrid Football Club, Global Sports Innovation Center by MICROSOFT and Manchester City FC.

Javier has returned to Madrid after almost four years in Riyadh at the heart of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he lead the strategic launch of Al Nassr FC ́s MR SOOL PARK STADIUM (currently Al-Awwal Park) where CR7 delights football fans.

Having set the stadium as a country reference, he joined PIF ́s Gygaproject QIDDIYA as Sponsorship & Partnerships Executive Director, to finally lead the landing and development of FIFA and Formula 1 official Tech partner : GLOBANT, as Managing director for Middle East & North Africa.

Faye Bennett is the founder and managing director of Faye Bennett Consultancy Services (FBCS). As a specialist consultancy in the AV and technology space, FBCS works with end-users to help them manage their AV investments, recognise on-going value from service providers and hit strategic business objectives through robust operational management planning.

With a background in LED technology and live event venues, Faye and the team are passionate about creating value for their customers across key verticals. 

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.

Jim is an experienced business leader in events, music, venues, and sports with a strong track record of working with some of the most demanding rights holders, promoters, and brands. He has over 25 years of experience in delivering high-quality outcomes in tough environments, from leading the operations strategy on the winning US$4bn DBO contract for Kai Tak Sports Park, the commercial delivery of Wembley Stadium’s event calendar for 12.5 years, to marketing QPR FC while in administration and recently relegated. Jim has been a key part of the Mott Macdonald Venues team for the last 3.5 years working on new and established venues of all scales, from St Neots Arts Centre to the new Cardiff Arena.

Annabel Turpin is Chief Executive of Storyhouse in Chester, one of the country’s largest arts centres, incorporating theatres, a cinema and the city’s library, and welcoming more than 800,000 visitors a year. She is also Co-Director of the 160-strong Future Arts Centres national network, championing the role of arts centres in driving social, economic and cultural change. In December 2023, she was appointed as North Area Council Chair and National Council member of Arts Council England.

In her previous role, as CEO and Artistic Director of ARC in Stockton on Tees, Annabel established the venue as a leading North East arts organisation with national and international influence, including for its Pay What You Decide pricing and arts freelancers’ policies. She founded Venues North, developing best practice through a network of venues supporting artists making new work, and produced and toured new theatre work nationally and internationally. Prior to her 15 years at ARC, she was Director of Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead from 2002-2008. She is a long-term advocate of purposeful strategic collaboration, and horizontal and vertical sector partnerships. She played a significant role in securing £20million+ investment in local creative industries as Deputy Chair and Strategic Lead for Creative Place for the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Business Board. She has previously held a number of board positions including North East Culture Partnership, North East Screen industries Partnership, Sunderland Culture and Tangled Feet, and has recently joined the Cheshire & Warrington Business Advisory Board. Her advisory roles include as a consultant, facilitator and speaker to venues, theatre companies, national and international cultural bodies.

Twitter/X: @annabelturpin

www.storyhouse.com

https://futureartscentres.org.uk/

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 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).

A Director of COX, Alastair is one of the preeminent international sports architects. He trained in the UK at Newcastle and Liverpool Universities and worked in London before emigrating to Australia in 1996 following the completion of Wimbledon’s redevelopment for the AELTCC, his introduction to sports architecture. Alastair has been at the forefront of sports design for the past 35 years and works with clients and partners to advance the typology of sports and entertainment venues globally. With a track record of involvement in most of the major stadia and arenas in Australia and New Zealand, including Allianz Stadium, Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Rod Laver Arena, the SCG, and Eden Park, he has also worked on the delivery of venues and overlay for the Olympic Games as well as the FIFA, Cricket and Rugby World Cups. His work has been recognised through numerous architectural and industry awards and, as a global authority on sports design, he is often called on by media internationally for comment.

Gregg is leading a new business line for Blenheim Chalcot, the UK’s largest tech venture builder and the owner of multiple sports franchises. The first projects for Royals Stadium Design are a brand-new home ground for the Rajasthan Royals Indian Premier League team in Jaipur, and Freedom Park, an entertainment and sports destination in Hillingdon. In Jaipur, The Rajasthan Royals have recently signed a deal with the local government. Gregg is now preparing an 80-acre masterplan where the 50,000-seat stadium will be a centerpiece for community engagement. In Hillingdon, Blenheim Chalcot has secured 30 acres and funding to develop a sports and entertainment hub. There will be a stadium for Wealdstone FC, a Rajasthan Royals cricket academy, and a high-performance training center. Gregg has over 20 years of experience in real estate, including consulting roles, and a senior in-house position at Goldman Sachs. He is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Scale Space innovation hub in White City, a Joint Venture with Imperial College. He studied at Oxford and is working with Charles Mindenhall, Blenheim Chalcot co-founder, to re-purpose a Grade II listed building as a Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the University.

Puneet writes: I am an architect specialising in large public building design and project management.

I joined ARX in 2024 to lead a new chapter in the story of a business with an astounding pedigree in kinetic architecture and moving structures. During my career leading design offices for global design firms, I have led delivery of major stadiums, entertainment arenas, convention centres and cultural centres, primarily in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions. My goal has always been to deliver great public buildings where large numbers of people can converge for shared experiences.

The world of sport and entertainment fits that bill perfectly, and I continue to be excited and enthused by the latest architectural and technological developments – and we’re using them here at ARX to create iconic, multi-use venues.

Sheena Wrigley joined Factory International (formally Manchester International Festival) in 2021. As Executive Director she was the primary link between the City’s capital project team and Factory International during the final build stages and opening of Aviva Studios in October 2023.  She has played a central role in the transformation of the company from biennial festival to year-round organisation. Previous roles have included: Director of the Palace Theatre & Opera House, Manchester (ATG); Chief Executive of West Yorkshire Playhouse (now Leeds Playhouse); Head of Theatres, Arts & Festivals with Bradford Council (leading the Alhambra Theatre, St Georges Concert Hall and the city’s cultural events programme).  Originally from Manchester, she returned to city in 2015 as Executive Director of HOME and played a leading role in the successful opening of the city’s last new arts venue.

Co-founder in 2003 of international leisure business consultancy, Petersham Group, we offer a range of services from feasibility and market studies, concept and project development through to advising on operational management. Over more than 20 years, we’ve undertaken more than 120 projects, a huge body of experience from which to draw. In addition to projects across the Experience Economy in the UK, our work has been international in scope, from Malaysia, China and Vietnam to Portugal, Sweden and Estonia to name but a few. Increasingly, we are being asked to advise on the incorporation of leisure and entertainment into large, mixed-use schemes, resorts, shopping malls and similar. Current projects include advising a leading Indian corporation on creating destinations with leisure and entertainment at their heart adjacent to their airports in Ahmedabad and Lucknow, through to developing a concept and business plan for an immersive experience based around WW II heritage in East Anglia, UK. Previously, career highlights included as Development Director for Vardon Attractions (now Merlin Entertainments) where I had responsibility for the roll out of 24 Sea Life Aquariums and other attractions across the UK and Continental Europe in the 90s, and as Projects Director for Grant Leisure Group, advising clients on international expos, brand lands and national museum projects. Our business is based on collaborating with a strong network of colleagues across the sector and I believe that this flexible and dynamic approach is a particular strength of ours, allowing us to bring together bespoke teams with the skills necessary to deliver great outcomes for our clients.

Natasha is the UK Embodied Carbon Lead for Structures, with a goal to develop and deliver the Buro Happold advisory and consultancy service in Embodied Carbon over and above Buro Happold’s own dedication to reducing embodied carbon as a company. This also includes upskilling colleagues in their understanding of embodied carbon, primarily in its measurement and reduction.   She is one of the experts leading the development of knowledge on the embodied impacts of construction materials within industry, supporting groups such as the IStructE and UKGBC. She co-leads R&D spending on Buro Happold embodied carbon work and demonstrates our ROI to the funding Partners.

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.

Chris is a project manager with a global reach, specialising in the entertainment sector. Based in the United Kingdom, Chris has successfully overseen and executed high-profile entertainment projects around the world, demonstrating a deep understanding of project lifecycles and the unique demands of international collaboration. With a keen eye for detail and a strategic mindset, Chris excels at coordinating teams, managing budgets, and ensuring that each project meets the highest standards of quality and client satisfaction. Chris’s projects over the last 40 years have included stadium tours, Olympic Ceremonies, National Days, temporary structures including Chanel Mobile Art and more recently, Abba Voyage build and infrastructure. Throughout his career, Chris has developed a reputation for seamless communication and adaptability, navigating the challenges of cultural differences, time zones, and shifting client expectations with skill. Known for a proactive approach to problem solving and an innate ability to anticipate and mitigate potential obstacles, Chris consistently delivers on-time, on-budget results. In addition to his leadership and project management skills, Chris brings a forward-thinking perspective to technology, integrating the latest tools to enhance project outcomes and foster collaboration. His expertise is complemented by a strong focus on building lasting relationships with clients and partners, ensuring that each project not only meets immediate goals but also lays the groundwork for future success.

David is the Sustainability Design Lead for Populous in the EMEA region.

With over two decades of global sustainability leadership, he excels in formulating and executing long-term strategies. David actively leads teams in innovative design implementation, maximising benefits for all stakeholders, including investors, asset owners, building users, and facilities managers.

His commitment to staying at the forefront of the industry ensures that his projects deliver innovative and sustainable outcomes.

Steve is the Chief Operating Officer for Chester Race Company. Operating three racecourses, accommodation, bars & restaurants and conference & event spaces. He has overall responsibility for the performance of all sites as well as the 15-year development plans. Steve had spent 16 years working in the Visitor attraction industry for Merlin Entertainments. Working as the Head of Operations at Alton Towers Resort, Operations Director at Chessington World of Adventures and finally the General Manager of Madame Tussauds London. All attractions welcoming over 3million guests per year with multi-faceted operations. From Theme Parks, Hotels, Entertainment, Zoo’s, Security and many more. All of which produce high levels of EBITDA through focusing on the Guest. From there Steve moved to Emirates Old Trafford as the Operations Director for Lancashire Cricket Club, taking his first step into Sport stadium operations. Helping them through the challenges of Covid and starting the Hotel extension project before moving to Chester Race Company.  Steve is an advocate of all round Guest Experience and believes from the moment you buy a ticket to an event all the way to getting home from an event we have a responsibility to give guests the best possible experience. Immersing them into more than just the sport itself. Steve is passionate about going the extra mile for Guests to give them a memorable experience.

Ian is a Partner of Charcoalblue, an international design and delivery consultancy specializing in theatre, acoustics, and experience services. He works with clients to create extraordinary projects and programs that create outstanding guest experiences through technology, space and storytelling. Ian’s professional career began at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead, he then went onto work as a technical manager, sound engineer and designer for organisations including Abbey Road Studios, Battersea Arts Centre and Punchdrunk.  He remains passionate about improving access and inclusion to the arts, and is the Chair of Travelling Light – a charity in his home city of Bristol that creates theatre with and for children and young people. In 2009 Ian joined Charcoalblue and has helped design over 100 venues across the world spanning performing arts buildings, workplaces, events and experience spaces, broadcast studios, cinemas, museums and sporting venues.  Recent projects include work for Sydney Opera House, All England Lawn and Tennis Club, Google and BAFTA. He led the Charcoalblue team on the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize winning Liverpool Everyman Theatre.  In his current role as Managing Director of Charcoalblue Experience, Ian leads our global team of design managers, experience designers, producers and project managers.

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.

Tim Thomas, Global Specification Manager for Sika, graduated B. Eng Civil Engineering, Certified Surveyor Structural Waterproofing (CSSW) and Construction Product Life Cycle Assessment Specialist (One Click LCA). Tim has 9 years construction site experience and 27 years’ experience in technical sales and marketing, mainly focusing on construction chemicals for international projects. The majority of Tim’s career has been in the UK apart from 2007 – 2014 in Dubai, UAE and he has worked in a variety of roles including, Product Manager; Regional Sales Manager; Business Development Manager; Technical Sales Representative and Job Site Engineer. Tim likes, cooking, reading and occasionally practising circus skills.

Sean Miller is a consultant in the professional sports and live event industry, specializing in enhancing the stadium experience through advanced production technology. With a background that includes collaboration with top-tier Premier League and La Liga clubs, as well as hands-on experience at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Sean brings a wealth of industry knowledge and insights. In his presentation, he will explore the critical role of real-time data and graphics in transforming the modern stadium environment, focusing on how these technologies contribute to immersive fan engagement, streamlined event management, and dynamic in-game experiences. His expertise will shed light on the challenges and opportunities involved in integrating these tools effectively, ultimately elevating the live event experience for fans and organizations alike.

James Ransome has been working in Live Production for more than 12 years and has held roles ranging from Warehouse Technician to Regional Sales Manager.  As a well-rounded and versatile professional, James most recently drove business for Ross Video across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Specifically, he supported our customers and business with major installations within stadiums and arenas, including the Principality Stadium in Wales and The Confetti X Arena in Nottingham. James now leads our Business Development Strategy across EMEA. Before joining Ross, James was a Key Account Manager for Canon and supported the growth of their Cinema, Broadcast, and Professional Video business lines. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Management from the University of Sussex.

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.

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.