Exploring NextGen Spaces for Sports & Entertainment

Unibox is the UK’s leading provider of LED Lighting, Lightboxes, Transparent LED screens, modular aluminium profile systems, and Display Solutions. From our 40,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Manchester, our team of 120 specialists design, engineer, and manufacture in-house, collaborating with architects, designers, design agencies, fit-out contractors and stadiums to bring complex concepts to life.

Our product range is highly versatile and fully customisable, developed to meet the demands of any project or environment. From design development and prototyping through to production, project management and delivery, Unibox manages every stage of the manufacturing process, ensuring precision-engineered solutions are delivered on time, within budget and ready for installation.

We have delivered projects across stadiums, retail, hospitality destinations, commercial spaces, exhibitions and experiential environments, and global multi-site rollouts for some of the world’s most recognised brands and venues. With a growing portfolio across stadium and arena environments, our systems and products have been developed and adapted to support the growing trend towards 365-day venues — spanning hospitality suites, premium spaces, retail, museums, wayfinding and fan engagement, giving designers the flexibility to bring any brief to life, whatever the application.

Sika is a speciality chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and automotive industry.

Sika has subsidiaries in 102 countries around the world and, in over 400 factories, produces innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and vehicle industries toward greater environmental compatibility. With more than 33,700 employees, the company generated sales of CHF 11.2 billion in 2025.

Sika is the leading worldwide partner for all needs with regards to the new construction, maintenance and refurbishment of stadiums, including Roofing, Flooring, Waterproofing, Concrete technology, Structural bonding and strengthening, Concrete protection, Concrete repairs, Grouting and fixing, Sealing and bonding, Building finishing, and facade.

TSC is a global, specialist advisory firm focused on sports, major events and leisure. We bring international insight, data and best practice, having built trusted client relationships on six continents through our offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Singapore. We advise rights holders, governments, sports clubs, and public bodies on hosting major events, maximising commercial potential, building new sports and culture facilities, and measuring the impact of their investments.

Our Facilities and Venues Advisory practice is one of the most experienced in the sector. Over the past decade, we have supported the delivery of more than 40 sport, leisure and entertainment schemes, open or under construction, with a combined capital value exceeding £1bn. We develop robust business plans that underpin investment decisions and provide rigorous economic and social impact evaluations to help clients understand and demonstrate the value of their projects. Alongside development, we are recognised experts in venue operations, with over 20 years of experience managing, negotiating, and procuring complex operator contracts across public and private asset portfolios.

KSS is an award-winning AJ100 architectural practice that specialises in designing sports venues. With nearly 35 years of experience, our diverse and award-winning portfolio includes stadiums, arenas, grandstands, elite training centres, and multi-functional sports halls across the UK and internationally. From our studios in London and Kent, our 100-strong and growing team brings our clients’ sporting ambitions to life, creating iconic, high-performance spaces enjoyed by thousands of fans, athletes, and communities around the world.

Our holistic approach integrates architecture with interior and graphic design to deliver exceptional hospitality and player and athlete-centric facilities. For fans and guests, we design personalised fan zones, concourses, and lounges that deliver unforgettable experiences that promote and enhance our clients’ brands and values.  Driven by innovation and a commitment to excellence, we continue to reimagine the future of sports architecture. Our diverse and award-winning portfolio includes iconic projects such as Wimbledon’s No.1 and Centre Courts, training centres for Liverpool FC, Leicester City FC, and Crystal Palace FC, and the stadium expansion of Anfield, Liverpool FC, and Elland Road, Leeds United FC.

At KSS, we combine deep sporting insight with design expertise to exceed expectations and create inspiring venues.

PFEIFER Structures believes that architecture can be more: lighter, smarter, more sustainable. For decades, we have been engineering and building structures that unite what seems contradictory: lightness and strength, transparency and power, vision and function.

Whether lightweight roofs, movable structures or transparent building envelopes – our creations are more than constructions: they are experiences, innovations, and commitments combined.

As pioneers of lightweight construction, we guide every project from the very first idea to its final realization – including planning, engineering, material selection, and on-site execution.
With profound expertise in cables, steel, aluminium, membranes, glass, and composites, PFEIFER Structures creates solutions that conserve resources, last for generations, and set new benchmarks.

Together with our clients, PFEIFER Structures turns visions into reality – light, efficient, and future-focused.

From humble beginnings, Daktronics grew to become the world leader in LED digital display systems and today sets the market standards for customised digital display systems. During the journey, we haven’t forgotten where we came from. From our CEO on down, we guarantee our employees will put you first. With offices worldwide, Daktronics has had more than 45,000 video-capable installations. With 500+ engineers, we continually invest millions of dollars, roughly 5% of our income annually, into researching and developing our display products.

Architen Landrell is at the forefront of tensile architecture innovation. We specialise in structural membrane design to create landmark fabric structures, stadiums and arenas with iconic features. With 35 years’ experience in the industry, an impressive portfolio of award-winning projects and a growing list of over 6,000 structures in 48 countries, our track record speaks for itself.

From our UK office, we offer a global service to the design and construction market. From initial design ideas to in-house manufacture, installation and after-care, we are here to look after your structure from its first day onwards.

Inspire Innovate Perform

Merson Digital is the UK’s leading provider of high-performance AV and LED solutions for stadiums and large-scale venues. We deliver full end-to-end systems that elevate the fan experience, drive monetisation, and unlock long-term commercial value. 

From large-format LED displays and IPTV networks to back-of-house integrations and smart content management, we manage every stage, from design and manufacturing to installation and ongoing support. Our in-house teams combine expert structural engineering with advanced digital technology to deliver seamless, scalable systems built for real-world performance. 

Driven by precision and powered by experience, Merson Digital is setting a new standard for stadium AV. 

Pure Vista sets the standard in frameless glass balustrade design, delivering products of exceptional quality that go beyond regulatory standards. Our systems provide architects and specifiers with innovative, rigorously tested, and user-friendly solutions. Recognised as the trusted choice for commercial frameless glass balustrade, our pioneering range combines cutting-edge engineering with proven performance.

For areas with dense foot traffic and heightened security needs, our MEGAgrip glass balustrade and BLASTguard anti-terror glass systems are specifically engineered for public spaces such as stadiums, transport hubs, and large venues. Designed to exceed British standards, they deliver uncompromising safety and resilience.

Our dedicated and highly skilled team is here to support you at every stage—from concept through to completion. Since 2007, we have been manufacturing and supplying premium glass balustrade channel systems for projects of all sizes, from family homes to major infrastructure developments. Over the years, we’ve gained invaluable knowledge and insights, enabling us to deliver not only world-class balustrade solutions but also expert, personable customer service you can rely on.

Q-railing is a global innovator in the field of glass and vertical bar balustrade systems, providing complete solutions that are instantly recognisable for their quality, unique design and excellent performance. Our international team is constantly striving to create the safest and most stylish balustrades in glass, steel and aluminium, along with handrails and accessories to suit.

With offices all around the world,  including here in the UK, they are known as the benchmark and market leaders in their sector. Architects can rely on Q-railings’ experience, drawing on their expertise through CPD and specification work on major projects worldwide.

Founded 45 years ago, Solotech is a world leader in audiovisual and entertainment technology with 18 strategic locations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and China. Thanks to an inventory encompassing over 300 renowned manufacturers, Solotech is the single source for audio, video, lighting, rigging, soft goods, control and collaboration solutions and services. The company is internationally recognised for its expertise in Live Productions and Systems Integration in various markets, namely music, sports, business, culture and education.

Clients can also benefit from its Service Centre, Online Store and virtual technology know-how. The company employs 1,360 professionals in its offices located in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saguenay, Halifax, Macau and Hong Kong.

CAST CONNEX is the industry leader in the architectural and structural use of cast steel components in the design and construction of building and bridge structures. Our products include pre-engineered connectors that simplify the design and enhance the performance of structures. We offer design-build services for project-specific custom cast steel nodes and components.

CAST CONNEX’s standardized and custom-designed steel castings have successfully supported the structural performance, architectural expression, and constructability of world-class stadia projects, such as Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium of the Future, SoFi Stadium, USTA Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Providence Park.

Daplast is one of the world’s leading companies in seating solutions for sports facilities.

Our Integrated Project Management – design, engineering, manufacturing and installation – controls the entire process, from the design of customised products to technical advice, including the configuration and layout of the seats.

We have worked in major European stadiums, such as the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the Camp Nou, and the Parc des Princes in Paris, as well as in stadiums and arenas around the world.

Our recycled stadium seats contain a high percentage of recycled material, recovered by mechanical and chemical recycling.

For over 60 years, HARMAN has been developing best-in-class technology solutions that set the standard for innovation and dependability.  Our unrivalled family of brands represents industry-leading professional audio, video, lighting, and control products that are trusted by leading sporting venues and events around the world.

HARMAN delivers stunning architectural lighting outside the venue, clear and powerful audio and lighting in the bowl, digital signage in guest suites, and a continued, connected experience in the concourse and beyond.

Founded in 2006, PixMob is a leader in wireless lighting, creating unforgettable experiences and igniting collective joy at live events worldwide. PixMob’s sustainable LED devices generate vibrant effects that synchronise an immersive crowd-based show with the performance’s sound and visuals. The company is vertically integrated, designing, manufacturing, and deploying its solution in over 40 countries. Over the years, PixMob has created fan euphoria at over 2,000 events and has worked with renowned clients, including the Super Bowl, Coldplay, the Olympic Games, NBA / NHL All-stars, The Weeknd, Eurovision, Shawn Mendes, Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, and more.

Modern stadia are iconic landmarks in cities around the world. As roof structures become more architecturally complex, designers require innovative solutions and specialist expertise that allow them to create visually striking buildings while ensuring optimum comfort, safety, durability, and design flexibility.

Natural daylight plays a crucial role in the open environment of a stadium. Bringing daylight into the stands whilst protecting spectators from the elements creates comfortable, well-lit viewing areas. For the pitch itself, daylight is essential to maintaining healthy, high-quality grass surfaces that support top-level play. Minimising secondary steelwork is equally important, helping to reduce shadows and deliver superior conditions for broadcasting and live TV coverage.

In training and sports facilities, the provision of natural daylight creates interior environments that enhance mood and energy and encourage optimum athletic performance.
Our dedicated technical experts have collaborated with leading architects and designers on numerous high-profile projects requiring bespoke canopies, rooflights, and vertical glazing for many of the UK’s major sporting venues.

With five decades of proven performance in this sector, we are proud to have supplied daylighting solutions for stadia and arenas of all types—from sports halls to 70,000+-seat stadiums, including more than 20 UK football grounds.

At Walker Morris, our expert construction and engineering lawyers can deliver targeted legal support for a wide range of sports stadium projects. Based in Leeds and operating nationally and internationally, our team is ranked Tier 1 in the UK Legal 500. The team comprises five partners and 34 other specialist lawyers. From the outset, the team helps clients avoid risks by crafting precise, robust contracts. Our team’s extensive experience ensures that every document, whether for a new stadium, an extension, or refurbishment, is clear, enforceable, and tailored to a client’s needs to protect the client from risk.

The team is also on hand to help clients when things go wrong – whether that is delayed projects, disputes as to payment for works, or issues with defects – the team provides pragmatic commercial solutions to minimise risk and costs.

Our Services – Recent Relevant Experience

• Drafting and negotiating contracts – We’ve supported a rugby club’s relocation and ground construction, developed documents for football clubs’ new stadiums, training grounds, and community pitches, and have secured contracts for essential infrastructure like flood lighting, media screens, a TV studio, and flood alleviation drainage.

• Dispute resolution and risk management – We’ve helped our clients to resolve disputes relating to a wide range of issues, including defects in sports pitches, flooding, structural defects in a stand, payment, and missed games due to delays in a ground being available. We understand how even small delays to construction can have a big impact on revenue for Sports Clubs.  Our team ensures projects stay on track despite unexpected challenges.

Sports stadium construction is about more than building structures; it’s about creating dynamic environments where innovation and sport thrive. We support this by working closely with clients to address key challenges, deliver efficient legal processes, and transform potential obstacles into opportunities for progress.

Vpod Smart Solutions helps venues, stadiums, and event spaces enhance visitor experiences and generate new revenue streams with CrowdStor Smart Lockers—secure, scalable, and designed for high-footfall environments. CrowdStor provides flexible functionality for personal storage and retail click & collect. Visitors can store belongings and pick up merchandise orders through a seamless, self-service interface. Monetisation options include pay-per-use models, pre-booking, loyalty integration, in-store promotions, and branded content—driving both revenue and engagement.

For retail, CrowdStor supports click & collect while increasing in-store footfall with collections acting as a trigger for exclusive offers, cross-promotions, or upsells—boosting sales and smoothing fulfilment.

Thanks to its smart technology, CrowdStor lockers are multipurpose, making it easy to adapt for matchdays, VIP events, backstage access, or brand activations. Real-time usage insights from the cloud-based platform also improve planning and efficiency. Available in durable finishes including steel, compact laminate, and wood, CrowdStor lockers are custom-brandable and serve as advertising platforms. Modular and flexible, they suit both temporary events and permanent installations.

By easing crowd flow, reducing staffing needs, and creating income opportunities, CrowdStor Smart Lockers by Vpod empowers venues to deliver smoother, smarter visitor journeys before, during, and after every event.

JDE Peet’s has been passionate about coffee since 1753. We’ve got over 270 years of experience in helping partners deliver the perfect cup of coffee for every occasion. Our Cafitesse liquid coffee system serves the finest, 100% Arabica coffee in seconds. That’s right. Seconds.

We understand that stadia operators need to serve coffee quickly, to beat the half-time rush. We can serve a coffee in 6 seconds. For hospitality, Cafitesse can deliver a jug of coffee in 14 seconds, with no waste or waiting around 10 minutes for a bulk brewer to pour. Our coffee is consistent. Cup after cup. Jug after jug. We can elevate the coffee experience of any stadium. Be it general admission, premium general admission, large-scale hospitality, or boxes with our L’OR capsules. And we have just launched a Cafitesse machine that delivers both hot and chilled coffee, for the lovers of iced lattes out there.

Not heard of Cafitesse? We’re certain you soon will. We already help to uplift the beverage experience for retailers and operators at world-class stadia across the UK and Europe. Come find us to see how we can maximise your coffee offer.

Free, high quality care. Without discrimination.
Our charity partner EMERGENCY provides free, high-quality care to people affected by conflict and poverty.
They do this in a sustainable way: building healthcare facilities, training local personnel, and conducting search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea.

Founded in 1994, EMERGENCY has treated over 12.5 million people in 20 different countries and currently operates in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Italy, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda.
 

Our host venue for #TDS22, Emirates Old Trafford is a flexible, multi-purpose conference and events venue and world-class international sporting stadium ideally located in Manchester. Catering from ten to 2,000 people across a multitude of events, from small meetings to large exhibitions, our high end space is fully supported by dedicated and in-house services, such as event duty managers, IT support and experienced event planners. With over 3,600m² of space, 43 meeting rooms, over 700 on-site parking spaces, amazing transport links and a 150-bedroom Hilton Garden Inn hotel on-site, Emirates Old Trafford is an event organisers dream!

TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards are held annulay, aimed to recognise achievement and innovation in the design, construction, refurbishment and management of major sports venues

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