Stellar speaker lineup revealed for the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference

From New Builds and Renovations to Major Revamps, the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – powered by HPE Aruba Networking – is set to feature a plethora of top industry expert speakers, dealing with topics as wide ranging as the customer journey and fan experience to hospitality, fit-out and interiors, premium sales and service, sustainability, technology and venue commercialisation.

The 2024 SVB LIVE Conference and Exhibition is being held at the 82,300-capacity Croke Park stadium in Dublin, Ireland, this October 9-10, with an Opening Night Icebreaker kicking the event off in style on the evening of October 8.

The 50+ predominantly c-suite speakers represent entities including:

AO Arena Manchester, Aramark, Ashton Gate, be.at Venues, Coventry Building Society Arena, Croke Park/GAA, Emirates OT/Lancs Cricket, European Arenas Association, Everton, first direct arena Leeds, Horse Racing Ireland, Los Angeles Football Club, KRC Genk, Newcastle United, Principality Stadium Experience/Welsh Rugby Union, Real Sociedad and RSC Anderlecht.

For the full lowdown, check out the Draft Agenda:

Draft Agenda

Wednesday October 8th

Icebreaker networking event: 5.30-7.30pm

Sponsored by Portview.

Venue: TBA

Thursday October 9th

7:00am: Hogan Suite opens for exhibitor setup.

8:50am – 9:20am: Badge collection/registration opens for the Expert Council, delegates, exhibitors, speakers and sponsors. Coffee, Tea & Networking in the Exhibition Hall.

9:25am: Welcome: Katie McIntyre, CEO, Sports Venue Business & SVB LIVE.

9:30am: Opening Keynote: Peter McKenna, Stadium Director, Croke Park and Commercial Director, GAA.

10:05am: Building Blocks: Optimising New Build & Renovation Projects. Speakers: Vicky Jaycock, Head of Premium Sales – New Stadium, Everton; Mark Kelly, Managing Director, Ashton Gate; Marc Lee, Sales Manager, Principality Stadium Experience/Welsh Rugby Union; and Duncan Fraser, Managing Director, DGF Consultancy. Moderator: David Hines, Managing Director, David Hines Sports Consulting.

10:40am: HPE Aruba Networking and partners discuss the latest developments – Sponsored by HPE Aruba Networking. Speakers: TBC… (Neil Russell, Director of Venue Experience & Revenue, Everton.)

11:10am: Taste Sensation: Delving into the Innovative Concepts in F&B – Sponsored by Aramark. Speakers: TBC…

11:45am – 12:00pm: Coffee, Tea & Networking in the Exhibition Hall.

12:00pm: Presentation by KAPPTURE. Speakers: TBC…

12:35pm: The 50km Menu: Why Sustainability is at the Heart of the F&B Offering at Croke Park. Speakers: Fiona Cronin, Meetings & Events Manager, Croke Park; TBC…

1:05pm: Powering Premium – Sponsored by 3D Digital Venue. Speaker: Francis Casado, Founder & Head of International Business Development, 3D Digital Venue.

1:30pm – 2:15pm: Lunch & Networking in the Exhibition Hall.

2:20pm: Presentation by TicketVerse. Speakers: TBC…

2:50pm: Fit-out & Interiors in Focus – Sponsored by Dawnvale. Speakers TBC…

3:20pm: The Fusion of Hospitality and Fan F&B. Speakers: Kate Beavan, Founder, New Quebec Advisory; … Moderator: Katie McIntyre, CEO, Sports Venue Business & SVB LIVE.

3:50pm: It’s All About the Experience. Speakers: Caroline James, General Manager, Utilita Arena Newcastle; Lisa Turton, Head of Premium Sales, first direct arena Leeds; Laura Rosinska, CEO, Event Exec; Rob Fee, Managing Director, IGNITE Experiences; Maxwell Fenton, Director of Sales – Formula 1, Elevate. Moderator: TBC.

4:20pm: Successful VIP Hospitality & Sponsorship Management – Sponsored by iXpole. Speakers: Chris Bergs, Sales & Partnerships Director, be.at Venues, Set Franssen, Commercial Director, KRC Genk, Lara Spaan, Commercial Director, RSC Anderlecht and Luc Vanhecke, Co-Founder, iXpole.

4:50pm: Utilising Technology to Transform the Fan Experience & Create New Commercial Opportunities – Sponsored by Diversified. Speakers: Robert Fitzpatrick, CEO, The SSE Arena Belfast; Brian Thomas, Senior Director Event Services, Los Angeles Football Club; and TBC… Moderator: Victoria Matthews, Executive Director, European Arenas Association.

5:30pm – 7:30pm: Croke Park stadium tour, with networking and F&B.

7:30pm: Depart Croke Park – Drinks back at the Official SVB LIVE Show Hotel, the Dublin One.

Friday October 10th

9:00am: Keynote. Speaker: TBC.

9:35am: Successful Partnerships: Overcoming Operational, Commercial & Strategic Challenges. Speakers: Vicki Donlon, Commercial Manager, Horse Racing Ireland; Dan Whitehead, Senior Business Development Manager – Hospitality & Commercial Sales, Emirates Old Trafford; and TBC… Moderator: TBC.

10:10am: Safety & the Customer Experience. Speakers: Claire Harkness, Operations Director, Coventry Building Society Arena; Ben Phillips, Head of Sales & Marketing, TEAMcard; and TBC…

10:45am: The AO Arena Redevelopment and Marquee Projects – Sponsored by 20.20 Ltd. Speakers: Jon Lee, Director, 20.20 Ltd; Jen Mitchell, GM, AO Arena Manchester; and TBC… Moderator: Katie McIntyre, CEO, Sports Venue Business & SVB LIVE.

11:15am: By Design: Innovations in Stadia & Arena Design – Sponsored by Populous. Speaker: Declan Sharkey, Global Director & Senior Principal, Populous.

11:35am – 11:50am: Coffee, Tea & Networking in the Exhibition Hall.

11:55am: Serving the “Half-Time Event” Thanks to Fast-Pour Beer Dispense – Sponsored by Qualflow Systems. Speakers: Ciaran O’Morain, Managing Director, Qualflow Systems; and TBC…

12:20pm: Optimising the Fan Journey for an Improved Fan Experience – Sponsored by usheru. Speakers: Geoff Wilson, Managing Director, Geoff Wilson Consultancy; Catherine Downes, Co-Founder & COO, usheru; Brian Thomas, Senior Director, Event Services, Los Angeles Football Club; and TBC… Moderator: Cassandra Calleja, Head of Business Development, Sports Venue Business & SVB LIVE.

1:00-2:00pm: Lunch & Networking in the Exhibition Hall.

2:00pm: Driving Change: Whether It’s Utilising Dead Spaces, Creating More Off-Manifest Seating, or Adding Value to Premium Spaces for Guests, Hear About The Latest Concepts & Innovations. Speakers: Caroline James, General Manager, Utilita Arena Newcastle; Yvette Thompson, Venue Commercial Director, Newcastle United; Vicky Jaycock, Head of Premium Sales – New Stadium; Markel Guevara, Head of Events, Real Sociedad; and TBC… Moderator: Katie McIntyre, CEO, Sports Venue Business & SVB LIVE.

2:40pm: Data is King – Sponsored by Riptide Partners. Speakers: TBC…

3:05-4:25pm: Industry Niche Workshops/Roundtables on SVB LIVE’s key pillars led by Expert Council members.

4:30pm: Closing Networking Event – with drinks and canapés.

5:30pm: Event closes…see you at an SVB LIVE event soon!

(Please note, this draft agenda is subject to change)

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