#TDS26 Speaker Preview: Building beyond game day with David Carlock
A sports venue can be more than a place for game day. At TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit 2026, David Carlock, Founder and Managing Partner of Machete Group, will explore how sports-anchored mixed-use districts can create year-round activity and wider value for cities.
David joins us in Manchester for a session drawing on recent work across some of the US’s most significant venue and mixed-use developments.
How Mixed-Use, Sports-Anchored Districts Transform Cities:
David will share insights from his recent projects, including the 1901 Project, Westcourt, the Shell Energy Stadium renovation, and the new Philadelphia arena for the 76ers, the Flyers, and the new WNBA team, exploring the shift from event-driven environments to place-driven spaces that foster year-round activity. The talk will highlight the economic gains for cities that diversify their revenue streams beyond game-day traffic, ultimately creating new hubs for sports fans, residents, and visitors alike.
The 1901 Project, Chicago – the mixed-use development planned around United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.
Image: United Center.
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Westcourt, Orlando – the mixed-use sports and entertainment district being developed adjacent to Kia Center.
Image: Supplied.
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Shell Energy Stadium, Houston – the home of Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash, which has undergone a major multi-phase renovation programme.
Image: Houston Dynamo FC.
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New Philadelphia arena – the proposed new home of the Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers and the city’s new WNBA team, targeted to open in 2030.
Rendering: Supplied.
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At #TDS26, David will bring that experience to the stage as the Summit explores the next generation of stadiums, arenas and entertainment destinations.
About David Carlock
David is the Founder and Managing Partner of Machete Group. He has more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and real estate.
Before founding Machete Group in 2007, David served as Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Houston Rockets where his responsibilities included supervising the design and construction of Toyota Center, and then overseeing building operations.
Prior to joining the Rockets, he was a member of Hard Rock Café International’s senior management team and The Walt Disney Company’s Corporate Strategic Planning Department.
David sits on the board of Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a New York-based nonprofit organization committed to helping high potential African-American, Hispanic, and Native American students and young professionals successfully pursue careers in business. He is a graduate of Harvard College and native of Boston, MA.
Join David Carlock at #TDS26
TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit 2026
30 November – 2 December 2026
Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
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