Welcome Drinks Reception at Swansea City AFC

Registration & Coffee

Welcome speeches and Session 1: Host venue in focus – Swansea Arena, from concept through to delivery and the value it brings to the local community

Additional panellists to be confirmed

Speakers :
Lisa Mart, Venue Director at Swansea Arena, Ambassador Theatre Group John Roberts, Director, AFL Architects Russell Greenslade, Chief Executive, Swansea Business Improvement District

Coffee break & Exhibition networking

SPONSORED BY:

Session 2: Post Pandemic roadmap to recovery: Unlocking new revenue streams and optimizing operations - returning your venue to profitability

Speakers :
François Deffarges, Head of Engineering Support Department, NEXO Sean Jarvis, CEO, Leicestershire County Cricket Club Mark Kelly, Managing Director, Ashton Gate Ltd & Bristol Sport Ltd Matthew Daniel, Head of Operations, Swansea City AFC George Vaughan, Head of Technology, Ascot Racecourse Richard Mann, New Business Director , NEC Group

Session 3: Safety and Security – new trends and approaches in the wake of the pandemic

Speakers :
Darren Crossman, Facilities and Safety Manager, Welsh Rugby Union/Principality Stadium Peter Swordy, Director of Health, Safety and Compliance, London Stadium Darren Whitehouse, Head of Strategy and Partnerships, Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) Ken Scott, Head of Inspectorate, Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) Eileen Williams MBE, Safety Officer, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Steve Laws, Co-Founder, TaylorBridges Eric Solem, Commercial Director, WeTrack

Lunch & Exhibition networking

SPONSORED BY:

The 2030 Stadium Model - Technology implementation and platform development for the future of guest experience

Topics covered in this fascinating presentation will include;

• Autonomous just walk out retail operations

• Biometric age verification and payment using face identity 

• Facial recognition for ticketing, access systems

• Covert threat detection, eliminating friction at entry

• Robotics for fulfilment, concessions operations and delivery 

• Connectivity - WiFi 6e/7, 5G UW for back-of-house operations, guest services

Speakers :
Christian Lau, Chief Technology Officer, Los Angeles Football Club Peter Oliver, Business Development UK, Axess AG

Session 4: Sweating your main asset – insights into designing, managing and maintaining your playing surface

Speakers :
Geoff Webb, CEO, Grounds Management Association Eddy Van Endert, Heads Groundsman, KRC Genk Jason Frew, Vice President of Business Development, Signature Systems

Coffee break & Exhibition networking

SPONSORED BY

Session 5: Projects in Focus - innovative Stadia projects from a design perspective

Part 1 – Sam Wright, Director – WilkinsonEyre

Lord’s Marylebone Cricket Club – from Masterplan to Delivery of the Compton & Edrich Stands

Sam is the architect responsible for delivering the Compton & Edrich Stands at Lord’s, which were brought into use during the 2021 Season. He explains how the stands were designed as part of the fulfilment of a long term masterplan for Lord’s on which WilkinsonEyre have been working for five years and how long term strategic thinking and a focus on adaptability are key components of the firm’s approach to stadium and arena design.

Part 2 – AFL’s approach to innovative stadium and arena design

AFL Architects Senior Associates Marcel Ridyard and Rita Ochoa introduce AFL’s approach to innovative stadium and arena design, and case study several recent projects that evidence how AFL’s expertise in this space has helped clients operating at a community level to the highest profile global stage successfully realise new possibilities.

Part 3 - A new headline act for the South West

Once home to aviation icon the Concorde, the legendary Brabazon Hangars will be retrofitted into YTL Arena Bristol, the South West’s first indoor arena and entertainment complex. Andrew Billingham, CEO of YTL Arena Bristol, will be sharing a project update on the new 17,000 capacity venue.

Speakers :
Marcel Ridyard, Senior Associate, AFL Architects Rita Ochoa, Senior Associate, AFL Architects Sam Wright, Director, WilkinsonEyre Matt Blackhouse, Senior Events Manager, YTL Arena Bristol

Session 6: New approaches to sports venue design/build in a post pandemic world

Speakers :
Sam Wright, Director, WilkinsonEyre Martin Glass, Director, gmp - Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner Bradley Merchant, Project Director, Arena Seating

Evening Networking Reception at Swansea Arena

Coffee & Exhibition networking

Session 7: Venue Flexibility - new approaches to maximizing fan engagement and widening your event calendar in an increasingly competitive market

Additional panellists to be confirmed

Speakers :
Robert Else, , Terraplas Stuart Beeby, Group Operations Director, Ambassador Theatre Group Stephen Hogg, Director, d&b audiotechnik

Coffee break & Exhibition networking

SPONSORED BY

Session 8: The growing importance of LED technology in Stadia projects

Speakers :
David Da Costa, CEO, Bendac Ewan Prentice, Regional Sales Manager, Daktronics Derek Field, MD Musco Lighting Africa/Sales Manager Musco Lighting Europe, Musco Lighting

Session 9: Small to mid-size clubs and venues – insights into successfully competing against larger neighbours

Speakers :
Josh Stephens, Head of Commercial, Leyton Orient Football Club Ritchie Bates, Head Of Commercial, Port Vale Football Club Limited Ross Brett, Application Project Manager, Sports Facilities, L-Acoustics Robert Cutler, Head of Business Development, Selling To Corporate Adam Palfrey, Commercial Director, Worcester Warriors and Sixways Development

Lunch, Exhibition networking

LUNCH SPONSORED BY

Speakers :
Matthew Fallon, Project Architect, AFL Architects Stephen Hogg, Director, d&b audiotechnik

Bespoke venue tour

VENUE TOURS SPONSORED BY

Venue Tour speakers include:

Matthew Fallon, Project Architect – AFL Architects

Stephen Hogg, Director – d&b audiotechnik

Company representatives from Ambassador Theatre Group

Speakers :
Matthew Fallon, Project Architect, AFL Architects Stephen Hogg, Director, d&b audiotechnik

Session 10: The evolution of Stadia Design and Construction

Part 1 – Plastic Fantastic - Fabrics in Stadia Construction with Katja Bernert, Project Application Management Textile Architecture, Mehler Texnologies

Katja will present the latest developments in the evolution and usage of fabric applications such as meshes in Stadia projects, including an in-depth look at their application within the roof of the new Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. Their contribution to more sustainable projects will also be reviewed, including the options to have façade applications with fabrics that consist of 100% upcycled PET bottles, such as Mehler Texnologies “TF 400 Eco F” which was recently awarded the “Product of the year” in the AMA Awards for Sustainability in Tensile Architecture.

Part 2 – Climate and Culture in Sustainable Stadium and Arena Design with Jon-Scott Kholi, Architect Director, BPD Pattern

BDP Pattern is the sports and entertainment division of BDP, an international practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists. Our approach to sustainability is founded on our ethos to create designs that achieve a balance between the man-made environment and the natural world.

In this session, BDP Pattern director Jon-Scott Kohli presents the studio’s approach to passive sustainable design in stadia and arenas. With careful consideration of climate and culture, the studio generates robust architectural concepts that inherently minimise material and energy use while maximising match-day atmosphere and spectator experience.

Parametric design is the core process that realises those concepts and the delivery of optimised structures for efficiency in fabrication and construction. Working with integrated interdisciplinary teams of architects, urban designers, technologists and engineers, we deliver spectacular sports buildings using rational building systems that drive sustainability performance.

Speakers :
Katja Bernert, Project Application Management Textile Architecture, Mehler Texnologies Jon-Scott Kohli, Architect Director, BDP Pattern

Session 11: Closing Key Takeaway Session: Enhancing your sustainability credentials - from design through to venue management

Speakers :
Juliette Ferté, International Sales Manager, Daplast Russell Seymour, Chief Executive, British Association for Sustainable Sport Henry Staelens, CEO, Forest Green Rovers Simon Chun, Project Manager, Arena Group

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