Enoch Lawrence’s Post

Smaller and more intimate are the future of sports stadiums. And I have always loved the idea of the pop-up stadium. Now we need actual reinventions of the seats. Stadiums are being built with smaller capacities to ensure a "sold-out" atmosphere which is great. But what about larger seats with more legroom at the same time? There is no logical reason anymore to make seating at sporting events brutally uncomfortable. Are you listening #tampabayrays https://lnkd.in/egJ3mFEH

NBA star, Russell Westbrook, has invested in the wide-ranging scheme that intends to deliver a new soccer stadium in Oklahoma City through his Russell Westbrook Enterprises venture. https://lnkd.in/eHzr46EK

Monumental Sports & Entertainment has appointed KLUTCH SPORTS GROUP, LLC, Legends and Elevate to help lead the modernisation of Capital One Arena. James Van Stone, president of business operations and chief commercial officer at MSE, said: "Their expertise will be instrumental in shaping the future of our arena, ensuring we not only meet but exceed the expectations of our fans, partners, and community." https://lnkd.in/eBPXymFT

Newcastle United Football Club gearing up for stadium expansion decision Newcastle United will make a decision on expansion of the club’s St James’ Park home in early 2025, members of the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) have been told. The FAB is a nine-person supporter board that was officially unveiled in November 2023 as part of the club’s wider Fan Engagement Plan. During last Monday’s online meeting, a number of representatives from FAB were joined by Chief Operating Officer, Brad Miller, Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Silverstone and senior representatives from the club’s supporter services, communications and commercial venue teams. Miller delivered an in-depth update on The Premier League club’s stadium feasibility work to FAB members. As part of a comprehensive presentation, the club outlined that the study has now entered a crucial second phase, with more detailed analysis currently taking place to investigate project-related risks and opportunities before a decision stage in early 2025. Miller said: "This is an exciting but extremely complex project, and I’d like to thank supporters for their patience as we conduct this key phase of the feasibility process. We aren’t quite at a decision-making stage yet, but we are targeting the early part of 2025 to complete the next essential tasks. "We know what a transformed St. James’ Park would give us and we now have a significant amount of data and feedback on our stadium footprint and surrounding area, so we are several steps forward. "But it is also clear that this option has several risks associated with it, so we need to fully analyse those risks against the opportunities to reach truly informed and intelligent outcomes." Newcastle United has taken on CAA ICON to conduct a feasibility study of future options for St. James’ Park. For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/e-BwPuRn #NUFC Commercial Venue Director, Yvette Thompson, sits on the SVB LIVE Expert Council. #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #stadia #StadiumDesign #fanengagement #footballbusiness #PremierLeague #PremiumExperience #SportsVenueBusiness Sports Venue Business #SVBLIVE John Sheehan Cassandra Calleja The Sports Networker David Hall

Necessity is the mother of invention and I love seeing innovative beta tests succeed in environments that never would have existed without being forced as a last option. Northwestern's new stadium is coming no matter what, but other schools pondering a stadium/arena change will no doubt look to this serendipitous example and take an adjusted path - big or small - with their plan design. Witnessing evolution in sports, in real time, is an incredible thing. #sponsorship #sportsmarketing #collegesports

Post 6 - Pivotal Events in Sports, Media, and Entertainment in 2024 Manchester United Ownership Saga Resolution In 2024, Manchester United’s long-anticipated ownership change marked a significant moment in football’s financial landscape. The club’s sale, valued at £6 billion, set a new benchmark for football club valuations, reflecting the enduring global appeal and commercial power of iconic sports brands. The transaction highlighted key trends shaping the industry: Rising Club Valuations: Manchester United’s record-breaking valuation underlines the growing influence of global fan bases, commercial partnerships, and media rights in determining a club’s worth. Investment Appeal: Football clubs continue to attract interest from diverse investors, including institutional investors seeking to capitalise on the sport’s expanding global footprint. This milestone demonstrates how football remains at the forefront of sports business innovation, with clubs increasingly operating as global brands. What does this mean for the future of football ownership and investment? #FootballBusiness #ManchesterUnited #SportsInvestments #ClubValuations #GlobalSports #BerkidaVentures Photo by STEVE CHAI on Pexels

For European investors eyeing stable growth, U.S. sports are where it's at. Unlike European leagues with unpredictable revenue swings, American teams benefit from salary caps and revenue-sharing, making them cash-flow machines even when seasons get rocky. And with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, MLS, in particular, is primed for serious growth—private equity and sovereign wealth funds have opened multiple exit opportunities for legacy owners in U.S. sports franchises. #SportsInvestments #WorldCup #PrivateEquity

The way to a fan’s heart (and loyalty, and dollars) is through their stomach … or so it would seem. Managing consumer demand for food (variety, convenience, on-demand) is essential to modern stadium management Sports Business Journal #sportbusiness #sportmanagement #stadium #facilties https://lnkd.in/eKJpFxpc

NEWS: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment has taken another step toward integrating their collection of sports properties with the creation of Kroenke Signature Properties. It's a new division to sell sponsorships across Los Angeles, Denver and London. It will be led by Arensal FC's Olly Dale and SoFi Stadium/Hollywood Park's Chris Sloan. Sports holding companies have thus far generally been less prolific in selling sponsorships across multiple properties than many owners had hoped. But Kroenke thinks they can break that pattern, given the strength of their team assets and geography. The full story, only at Sports Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/ee7s5vp3

More details on the creation of KSP from Ben Fischer