Populous invests in event and planning technology leader, OnePlan

Populous, the renowned global sports and entertainment venue and events design practice, has made a strategic investment in OnePlan, the world’s leading event site and venue planning software company.

OnePlan’s innovative GIS mapping collaboration platform is used by over 50,000 events in 110 countries, delivering up to 85% time-savings for its customers.

The platform simplifies the planning of live events and venues through easy-to-use, collaborative mapping tools. OnePlan’s award-winning digital twin software, VenueTwin, enables teams to visualise, plan operations, and sell spaces in a virtual version of any venue including stadiums, arenas, conference centres, and smart cities.

The company’s web platform accommodates the event planning of venues of any size, indoors and outdoors, seamlessly integrating existing architectural CAD and floor plan files.

The partnership with OnePlan will enable Populous to further enhance its industry-leading live event services. It will also integrate their collaborative VenueTwin platform with its own digital offerings to provide a unique level of planning and visualisation for clients, throughout the design phase and the entire life cycle of projects.

Paul Foster, Founder and CEO of OnePlan, said:

This investment opens an exciting new chapter for OnePlan, building on the fast growth we’ve experienced to date. The unrivalled knowledge and specialisms of the team at Populous will deepen the positive impact our software provides. We’re excited by the new opportunities this partnership opens, and the many benefits it creates for events and venues across the world.

Earl Santee, CEO and Chair of Populous said:

This strategic investment is part of our commitment to focus on digital innovation across our business. OnePlan is a company we’ve admired for a long time. Alongside our own design and operational expertise our strategic investment with them will enhance our delivery capabilities for major events worldwide.

Nick Reynolds, Chief Global Strategy Officer at Populous, added:

The increasing role that virtual environments play in the collaborative design process, and the opportunities they provide in connecting venues and events to their audiences before and after opening, is key to our design approach and ongoing relationship with our clients. OnePlan has established itself as the leading collaborative platform in 2D and 3D event planning and they will work in tandem with our internal digital teams to enhance the digital twin services we can offer our clients.

About Populous:

Populous is a global architecture and design practice that has led the design of many of the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues, including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Sphere Las Vegas and Climate Pledge Arena. Over the last 40 years, the firm has designed more than 3,500 projects worth $40 billion across emerging and established markets. Populous has over 1,000 staff and 27 offices on four continents with regional centres in London, Kansas City, and Brisbane.

Among Populous’ comprehensive services, the firm’s specialised event planning division has worked on major international events since its inception, from the Super Bowl and NHL Winter Classic to multiple Olympic and Paralympic games. Populous holds decades of experience working throughout the entire event ecosystem, from overlay design and operations to accreditation and transportation. Populous’ other areas of expertise include architecture, interior design, event planning and overlay, branded environments, wayfinding and graphics, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, aviation and transport design, hospitality and sustainable design consulting.

About OnePlan:

OnePlan is the world’s leading event site and venue planning software. Founded in 2018 by Paul Foster, the company’s solution provides event organisers and venue managers an easy way to collaborate in one visual plan to create safe, successful events.

OnePlan’s innovative technology, including its 3D digital twin platform VenueTwin, has supported over 40,000 events and venues worldwide.

Clients include Crypto.com Arena, Intuit Dome, Silverstone, ExCeL London, and OnePlan is the Official Supporter of GIS Mapping and Digital Twin Software for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sports Venue Business has launched a raft of new offerings under the SVB LIVE banner, including Networking Events and a Webinar Series. The 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition is being held at the 82,300-capacity Croke Park stadium in Dublin, Ireland, on October 9th and 10th, with an Opening Night Icebreaker on October 8th.