Venue Technology Group Program

See all the latest and greatest products and services that your venue needs. Don’t miss amenities, incentive, and gifting products, technology innovations, ticket management systems and providers, loyalty programs, food and beverage, and much more.

Opening Reception
ALSD Appreciation Commences: This year exhibitors will bring prizes to give away to attendees! Throughout exhibit hours, attendees are encouraged to meet and network with exhibitors. Attendees are welcome to drop business cards in the fishbowls of vendors they meet with. Business cards are pulled on Appreciation Days: Sunday, July 1 exhibit hours and Monday, July 2 exhibit hours. Winners must be present to win!

First Time Attendees join Veterans for a Welcome, Introduction and Toast in Exhibit Hall Welcome from: ALSD President, Jennifer Ark

Buses will shuttle back from venue at intervals beginning at 8:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

The Xcel Energy Center considered one of the top technology buildings in the country. Learn why. 

IT Tour: Sponsored and Presentation by AT&T Solutions
IT Tour: Presented by Jim Ibister, Vice President, Facility Administration, Minnesota Wild

Full day of sessions for venue and team information technology

It starts with a Big Decision. What technology infrastructure should you choose? What is it about your building that is
unique? What are the cost issues? What are your budget issues?

This kickoff seminar will take a look at different case histories of major buildings from different solutions providers.

Case Histories Provided:
• Amway Center: Harris
• Marlins Park: Daktronics

Panelist: Jason Coleman, Vice President of Information Technology, Orlando Magic
Panelist: Mark Steinkamp, Marketing Director, Daktronics

Ultimately, IT strategy and analytics drive ROI. They also drive nearly every other decision a team/venue will make about nearly every other facet of its IT business philosophy.

Moderator/Panelist: Mark DiMaurizio, Vice President, Technology Solutions, Comcast-Spectacor
Panelist: Scott Jablonski, Director, Club Analytics & Reporting, National Hockey League

Whether it’s Wi-Fi, bandwidth, or voice over IP, communications protocol is a hot topic in the venue marketplace.

Protocols Include:

• Bandwidth Case Study: Xcel Energy Center, AT&T Solutions
• Wi-Fi Case Study: Sporting Kansas City
• Wi-Fi Case Study: New England Patriots, Xirrus
• Voice Over IP Case Study

Panelist: Matt Lukens, Vice President, Business Development, ZiXi
Panelist: Diane Waddell, Senior Marketing Manager – National Events & Sponsorships, AT&T Solutions
Panelist: Jim Ibister, Vice President, Facility Administration, Minnesota Wild
Panelist: Steven Wastie, Chief Marketing Officer, Xirrus

Target Center Basketball Floor
Keynote Speaker: Chris Wright, President, Minnesota Timberwolves
ALSD Visionary Award Presented: Rich Krezwick, President, New Jersey Devils

The future is clearly the cloud. This seminar is intended to demonstrate the applications relative to the sports marketplace that are available.

• Multi-Media Video/TC Over the Web to Fans
• Cloud-Based Content Distribution Networks
• Web as a Source of Team Content and as Marketing Contact for Point for Fans
• Virtual Hardware Platforms, Operating Systems, Storage Devices, and Network Resources

• Scoreboards and Ribbon Boards
• IPTV/Cable in Suites

Panelist: Erik Watts, Senior Director, Technology, Pittsburgh Penguins
Panelist: Jason Coleman, Vice President of Information Technology, Orlando Magic
Panelist: Texas Rangers

Solution providers will showcase their products and services.

Learn about:

• Phone Apps and Other Mobile Capabilities
• Creating a Virtual Marketplace
• In-Suite and Premium Systems Only
• Technology as a Marketing Tool
• Seat Upgrade Systems
• Tablet Technologies
• Website Chat Functions

Panelist: Steve Nutt, CEO, Mobile Ticket App
Panelist: Evan Karasick, President, Channel 1 Media Solutions Inc.
Panelist: Bryan Apgar, Director of Sales and Chat Innovation, WebsiteAlive
Panelist: Adam Stass, CEO, WebsiteAlive
Panelist: Nick Young, Founder, Second Seats
Panelist: Steve Stonehouse, Senior Vice President of Sales, Ballena Technologies Inc.

ALSD Appreciation Days begin: This year exhibitors will bring prizes to give away to attendees! Throughout exhibit hours, attendees have the opportunity to meet and network with exhibitors. Attendees are then welcome to drop business cards in the fishbowls of vendors they met with. Business cards are pulled on Appreciation Days: Sunday, July 1 exhibit hours and Monday, July 2 exhibit hours. Winners must be present to win!

Buses will shuttle back from venue at intervals beginning at 8:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Presented by Michael McMillan, Director, Information Technology, University of Minnesota – Athletics
Presented by Tadd Wilson, Event Producer, Daktronics

CRM is both a sales tool and an IT tool. This session will focus on developing the IT-side of CRM.

Cut through the clutter. Team case studies will outline ticketing system options and objectives. Additionally, dynamic pricing options will be discussed. Leave understanding your best options and what you need from a ticketing system.

ALSD Appreciation Days continue: This year exhibitors will bring prizes to give away to attendees! Throughout exhibit hours, attendees have the opportunity to meet and network with exhibitors. Attendees are then welcome to drop business cards in the fishbowls of vendors they met with. Business cards are pulled on Appreciation Days: Sunday, July 1 exhibit hours and Monday, July 2 exhibit hours. Winners must be present to win!

Teams and venues have utilized products and services from ALSD vendors that have "changed the game." See case studies from teams and venues on how a product or service has solved a challenge or enhanced the game day experience. Each session is sponsored by an ALSD vendor and is an extension of the exhibit hall and educational sessions.

When you talk about F&B and digital developments, you talk about ROI. Does the increased cost of digitalized video boards drive revenue? Is there a need for flexibility created by digital boards? Who are the leaders in the space? What is the future of the business? This seminar will look closely at solutions.

• Points of Sale Systems
• Menu Boards
• Digital Food Selection Options: Phone, Tablets and Handhelds, Touch Screen Television

Panelist: Wayne Wichlacz, Director of Information Technology, Green Bay Packers
Panelist: Charlie Freeman, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Orlando Magic

The most innovative technology usually begins on the premium levels; learn why premium often leads the way in the world of IT. In this seminar, you will get a rundown on:

• Bandwidth: A Premium Issue
• Phone Systems and Usages
• Multiple Channel and Camera Angle Televisions on the Premium Levels
• Equipped Suites: Wired Suites, Computer Hook-ups, the Venue Leading the Way
• Fan Experience Leading to Added Revenues
• Online Ticketing Solutions, Mobile Apps, Bar Codes, and Paperless Ticketing
• Marketing Automation

Panelist: Jen Zick, Senior Director of Strategy & Business Development, FanOne Marketing
Panelist: Nic Barlage, Sr. Director, Suites, Premium Sales, Service, Business Development, Cleveland Cavaliers
Panelist: Steven Wastie, Chief Marketing Officer, Xirrus

General Session: All Attendees Invited.

Are you still looking for one of the most important pieces of the business puzzle? Business entertaining is usually overlooked in executive and management training, and Eddie is the acknowledged expert on this subject. It’s more important than ever in this economy, when every meeting and entertainment dollar has to be carefully spent to obtain the highest result. Eddie will show you ways to stand apart from the competition while growing your business and building relationships through intelligent entertaining. Subjects include taking a client to lunch, tasting wine like a Master Sommelier, and the proper pairing of food with wine for powerful impact. Additionally, listen as Eddie details the menu and entertaining tips for the reception at Target Field following his presentation. Take note about how you can best utilize the reception as a training template.

Presenter: Eddie Osterland, America’s First Master Sommelier

Target Field has won multiple facility awards and is considered one of the top venues in the country. Join 700 attendees at this major reception and tour.

Buses will shuttle back from venue at intervals beginning at 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

IT Tour: Presented by John Avenson, Vice President of Technology, Minnesota Twins

Bridge the gap between the database manager, the sales staff, and the senior executives. Get educated on CRM systems and how they can assist your department.

Panelist: Jason Koettel, Vice President – Information Technology Systems, Legends Hospitality Management
Panelist: Russell Scibetti, Director, Relationship & Database Marketing, New York Jets
Panelist: Bobby Whitson, CEO, Whitson Sports
Panelist: John Kolakowski, Marketing Director, Green Beacon Solutions

Tablets and mobile devices are the wave of the future. There are uses on the premium level and beyond, so you need to explore the technological issues as well as the options on what innovations offer you the best value and opportunity. In this session, learn tablet capabilities and uses such as:

• Mobile Capabilities: Voice, Touch, Gesture Recognition/Response
• Data and Analytics on Mobile Devices
• Optimization, Simulation, and Storage of Data
• Tablet and Handheld Ordering
• Tablet Marketing: Presentations, Marketing, and Sales

Moderator: Jared Frank, Editor, SEAT Magazine, ALSD
Panelist: Evan Karasick, President, Channel 1 Media Solutions Inc.
Panelist: Nick Young, Founder, Second Seats
Panelist: Steve Nutt, CEO, Mobile Ticket App
Panelist: ARAMARK

Teams need to foster connections between customer visits through social media. Learn more about your customer and visa versa through social media engagement and tailor experiences to their needs. Learn how your social media staffers can be more than just the voice of the organization, but a sales and customer service arm as well.

Moderator: Russell Scibetti, Director, Relationship & Database Marketing, New York Jets
Panelist: Angelina Lawton, Founder and President, Sportsdigita

Finding new customers used to be an art, now it’s a science. Learn how to work smarter, not harder. Learn how the effectiveness of data-driven analysis will lead to more proactive sales calls. Marketing and sales can work cohesively, especially on the premium levels, using technological tools such as marketing automation, interactive marketing, and profile analysis once the leads are targeted for acquisition and upsell purposes.

Moderator/Panelist: Mark DiMaurizio, Vice President, Technology Solutions, Comcast-Spectacor
Panelist: Scott Jablonski, Director Club Analytics & Reporting, National Hockey League
Panelist: Ron Contorno, President, Full Full House Entertainment Database Marketing

An ALSD tradition: Suiteholders from local venues share their wants and needs, likes and dislikes with the crowd. Learn what your premium clients want more (or less) of, what strategies work best for getting butts in seats, what complaints premium clients have, and how you can more effectively sell suites!

• ROI Measurement and Monitoring Techniques
• Sponsorship Strategies using Digital Signage