Introducing the Board of Directors at Innovate Stadia

Innovate Stadia, the UK-based stadium and arena construction specialist, has announced its Board of Directors as the company continues to expand its presence across the global sports and entertainment venue sector. Supported by an international team of specialist architects, engineers and project managers, Innovate Stadia is focused on delivering world-class venues that are innovative, cost-effective and built to last.

The Innovate Stadia Board of Directors brings together extensive expertise across stadium development, operations and design, led by John Butler as Chairman & CEO, Edward McCarthy as Director & COO, and Olan Crowley as Architectural & Design Director.

Together, the leadership team will drive the company’s strategic vision, combining commercial, operational and architectural excellence to deliver innovative, future-focused sports and entertainment venues worldwide.

John Butler – Chairman & CEO

John is presently financial backer and has over 40 years of experience in the stadium and arena industry, having owned and operated multiple companies that designed and built venue structures. At one time John was the largest operator in the UK and Ireland in this business. 

John has been involved in numerous prestigious projects worldwide; he procured such contacts as he brought the first temporary stadium tip-up seats to America. 

John supplied and built venues such as:

USA

• The Atlanta Olympics (USA) 

1. 1. Disney Wild World of Sport 
   2. Las Vegas Tyson Fight
   3. Miami open Tennis
   4. Boston – Marathon
   5. New Jersey – Speedway
   6. Florida Dural Golf
   7. Orlanda Players Golf etc.
   8. And many more events

• UK

1. All venues for the British Open Golf
2. All venues for the Ryder Cup
3. Lough Lomand Scottish Open Golf
4. Silverstone F1
5. Eastbourne Tennis

Australia

1. The Sydney Olympics (Australia) 
2. Sydney Concert Venue
3. Melbourne Tennis Event
4. Melbourne World Surfing
5. Gold Coast Indy Car Stands

Europe

European football stands in Portugal for Faro and Liera. 

Ireland

All venues for the following:

Irish Open Golf and Ryder Cup

Popes visit to Ireland

All US Presidential visits

Temporary venues for the Bolshoi Ballet

Neil Diamond 

Bruce Springsten

U2

Rod Stewart

Tina Turner 

And many more.

These high-profile projects have solidified John’s reputation as a highly respected and knowledgeable figure within the industry.

The 2026 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – focused on elevating & innovating the live experience – is being hosted at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 1st and 2nd, with an Opening Night Icebreaker at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium on September 30th.

Edward McCarthy – Director & COO

Edward has more than 35 years of experience in the stadium industry, with a career spanning senior roles such as Managing Director, Sales, Marketing and Business Development Directors for companies including Intelligent Engineering, Arena Seating, Sports Facilities International, Link Trading, MCS Stadium Seating, EUROSEAT International, and European Manager for two major American companies, Milliken and Hussey. 

With an extensive network of industry contacts worldwide, Edward has cultivated strong relationships with architects, suppliers, and clients over the past three decades. An initiative-taking professional, he excels in communication and people skills, demonstrating exceptional organisational abilities, relationship-building expertise, and strong planning, analytical, and decision-making capabilities. He has a deep understanding of stadium design and construction, developed through years of firsthand experience in the field. 

Edward champions the benefits of flexible, modular stadium designs. These can be tailored to specific venues, events and fan necessities, reducing construction time by at least 50% and cutting costs without compromising on quality. He is a passionate believer of delivering new stadiums or redevelopment of existing stadium/arena facilities without breaking the bank or compromising on the quality.

The three founding directors of Innovate Stadia are highly skilled and driven professionals, each with a passion for delivering cost-effective, flexible stadiums that meet the evolving needs of the modern sports world. 

Edward’s favourite Quote:

“A good engineer is a person who can do for $1 what any fool can do for $2.” 

—Ted Happold, Buro Happold 

Edward’s experience has taken him on projects to the following areas throughout the world, USA, Brazil, Singapore, Philippines, Middle East, Western and Eastern Europe, UK and Ireland. 

Olan Crowley – Architectural & Design Director

Olan graduated with a 1st Class honours degree in Architecture in 1994 and has worked in the UK, USA and Hong Kong. He is Design Director with Architects Workshop Limited, Dublin (www.awl.ie) and is on the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) technical consultants list. 

He assisted the FAI in developing the 2023 Facilities Investment strategy.

His experience includes design in wide range of projects worldwide and stadia from one-off stands to stadia vision studies and stadia masterplans. 

Projects include:

Limerick FC, Ireland

Drogheda FC, Ireland

Crusaders FC, Northern Ireland

Wexford FC, Ireland

Cordoba CF, Spain

Margate FC, UK

Hemel Hampstead FC, UK

Caligari Calcio, Italy

NEC, Birmingham, UK

Hillsborough Stadium Tampa Bay, Florida

US Rugby training Centre

FAI Training Centre, Abbottstown, Ireland

Conceptual Design for National Centres of Excellence (Soccer) both in Ireland & Poland.

Floriana FC, Malta

Vanadzor Lori stadium, Armenia

Ijevan Stadium, Armenia

Modular stadia Brazil – 6,000-20,000 capacities and various other sports and stadia projects. 

Olan is currently working on stadium masterplans in Poland, Spain, Brazil, Armenia and the USA.

With over 30 years’ experience in hotel, sport/leisure, retail, office, residential and commercial projects with design development of modular (MMC) stadia and industrialised housing solutions a specialty.

About Innovate Stadia

Innovate Stadia is a UK-based stadium and arena construction specialist helping clubs and organisations build world-class sports venues. With an international team of specialist architects, engineers and project managers, Innovate Stadia deliver modern facilities that are high-quality, cost-effective and built to last.

In partnership with SPS Technology, Innovate Stadia is redefining how stadiums are  built, redeveloped and experienced by combining deep sector expertise with advanced construction materials resulting in venues that owners and supporters are proud of.

The Innovate Stadia team are available to discuss anyone’s planned Ideas or Projects. Talk to us, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Contact Edward McCarthy, Tel: +44 (0)7818 863479

Email: EdwardMcCarthy@innovatestadia.com

Find out more, online at: https://innovatestadia.com

Innovate Stadia is a Premium Advertiser client of Sports Venue Business (SVB). Click on the image below to find out more about their innovative solutions…

SVB LIVE provides an unrivalled, global community, with opportunities to network, collaborate and explore new possibilities year-round via the SVB LIVE Business Club.

Check out the latest sports & entertainment venue development data from across the globe in the exclusive, subscription-only, SVB Global Report here.

#SportsVenueBusiness – The leading global platform for sector news, views & developments

#SVBLIVE – The leading global series of events for the live experience industry