Two Weeks Out! SVG Venue Summit Examines the State of Gameday Production on March 13-14

With only two weeks away from the 2023 SVG Venue Summit on March 13-14, today is the last day of FREE registration for the two-day event at UBS Arena. Headlined by a presentation by the New York Islanders and UBS Arena on Day 1 and a keynote conversation with Oak View Group on Day 2, this in-person event has something for every production professional within the in-venue space.

CLICK HERE to register.

Panelists and topics of the event have been confirmed. Here is a breakdown of discussions on both days:

Day 1: Monday, March 13
(All times are in Eastern Time Zone)

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Registration

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Inside UBS Arena With New York Islanders
After multiple false starts, games played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and a global pandemic, the completion of UBS Arena has been a long time coming for fans of the four-time Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders. The seven-year process has resulted in a $1.1 billion venue that boasts high-quality production technology within an IP, HDR-capable control room, numerous LED video displays, and an experience that’s uniquely their own. Members of the Isles’ video production team provide a glimpse at the in-venue equipment, workflows, and technologies while also explaining the creative elements that go into their shows.
Confirmed Presenters:
Chris Billotto, UBS Arena, Senior Manager of Digital Displays, IPTV Systems, & Arena Content
Ryan Halkett, New York Islanders, SVP, Event Presentation and Content Experiences
Paul Jennings, New York Islanders, CTO
Alex Leafer, New York Islanders, Director of Production
Adam Sabh, New York Islanders, Director of Media Art & Design
Fritz Stillings, New York Islanders, Senior Manager of Game Presentation & Events

3:00 – 4:30 p.m.: Tour of UBS Arena
Step inside and take a tour of the newest NHL venue. This behind-the-scenes trip will allow attendees to see important destinations including the control room, docking bays, rack room, and other key production areas in the building.

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Opening Night Reception
After the tour, enjoy complimentary drinks and time for networking.

Day 2: Tuesday, March 14
(All times are in Eastern Time Zone)

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.: Registration and Breakfast

10:30 – 10:35 a.m.: Welcoming Remarks presented by Title Sponsor, Canon
Presented by: Jamon Lomax, Canon, Senior Manager of Television Broadcast & Production Sales, U.S. and Latin American Markets

10:35 – 11:20 a.m.: System Integration Focus: The Current Trends and Triumphs Within an Everchanging Production Landscape
With new venues planning to open within the next few years, the venue sector of the industry is still dealing with unprecedented challenges. Despite these hurdles, the community is still finding ways to deploy state-of-the-art systems that bring crowds to their feet. Leading system integrators and consultants sit down for a conversation on the state of the industry and what’s to come in the future.
Moderator: Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor
Confirmed Panelists:
Kevin Henneman, KMH Integration, President and Director of Engineering
Brock Raum, BeckTV, Senior Project Engineer
Daniel Riess, WJHW, Associate, Video Production Design Lead
Steve Stubelt, Diversified, VP of Sales, Media & Entertainment
Darren Whitten, Alpha, Sports Account Executive
Joe Wire, NEP Integrated Solutions, VP, Managed Services

11:20 – 11:35 a.m.: Ross Case Study: How to Best Use Projection Technology to Elevate the Game-Day Experience
Professional sports teams are constantly looking for new ways to push the boundaries of their game-day presentation with the goal of drawing in new spectators while finding innovative ways to delight loyal fans. While sports teams have experimented with display projections on the playing surface for quite some time, professional hockey teams have recently used Ross Video Technology to seamlessly integrate on-ice display projections into their entire production workflow, which has elevated their pre-game ceremonies and entertainment between periods to a whole new level.
Confirmed Presenter: Shawn Hutcheson, Ross Video, Business Development Manager – North American Sports & Live Events

11:35 – 11:50 a.m.: Networking Break

11:50 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Big Shows in the Big Apple: Local Teams Highlight Respective In-Game Experiences
Working in the saturated media market of New York City, professional sports teams are competing for the attention of the masses that consistently crave new forms of entertainment. When fans do walk through the turnstiles of their respective venues, how do clubs keep them in their seats and how do they get these fans to return? Game presentation crews from around the area give a peek behind the control room door to explain their production philosophies, new and legacy activations, how they stand out in the Big Apple, and tips for improving your gameday atmosphere.
Moderator: Kristian Hernández, SVG, Senior Editor; SVG Venue Summit Program Director
Confirmed Panelists:
Matt Coy, Madison Square Garden, VP of Event Presentation
Brooke Eveler, New York Red Bulls, Director of Event Production
Joe Kuchie, New Jersey Devils, Senior Director of Live Experience and Production
Brendan McKeon, New York Mets, Executive Director of In-Game Operations
Don Sperling, New York Giants, VP and Executive Producer

12:45 – 1:00 p.m.: Verizon Case Study: UBS Arena, the NY Islanders, and Verizon: A Technology Hat-Trick
As the Official 5G and Technology Partner at UBS Arena, Verizon works closely with both UBS Arena and the New York Islanders to ideate, build and deploy next-generation solutions for content production, content distribution, and fan experiences. In this fireside chat, Ryan Halkett and Lee Field will highlight this innovative partnership and explain how they’re leveraging technology to drive operational efficiencies and enhance fan engagement.
Confirmed Presenters:
Lee Field, Verizon Business Group, Managing Director – Global Solutions
Ryan Halkett, New York Islanders, SVP, Event Presentation and Content Experiences

1:00 – 1:50 p.m.: Networking Lunch

1:50 – 2:30 p.m.: What’s Next in Augmented Reality and On-Ice Projection
With advancements in augmented reality and on-ice projections, the fan experience is being elevated to new heights. Leaders give their insight into what’s ahead in these new areas of gameday entertainment.
Moderator: Brandon Costa, SVG, Director of Digital
Confirmed Panelists:
Matt Coy, Madison Square Garden, VP of Event Presentation
Eric Gazzillo, Quince Imaging, VP of Innovation
Adam Sabh, New York Islanders, Director of Media Art & Design

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.: EditShare Case Study: Collaborative, Fast Turnaround Editing for Sports With the New York Islanders
The Islanders have relied extensively on EditShare EFS storage and FLOW asset management to support its content production, game-day presentations, and social media presence for a number of years. Join the New York Islanders’ Alex Leafer and EditShare’s Jeff McFadyen as they discuss how the Islanders leverage this technology across multiple facilities to deliver their stunning content to delight fans.
Confirmed Presenters:
Alex Leafer, New York Islanders, Director of Production
Jeff McFadyen, EditShare, Regional Sales Director, Northeast

2:45 – 3:30 p.m.: Tech Vendors Discuss the Latest in IP, 4K, and More
With the opening of new stadiums slowing in 2022, venues opted to renovate pre-existing buildings with new technologies, and as the industry heads towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, host stadiums will continue to ramp up these projects. In this 45-minute panel, vendors shed light on the latest trends in baseband, IP, and hybrid environments, where the discussion on HDR is heading, and the current state of 4K in the production ecosystem.
Panel Introduction: Shawn Reilly, Fortinet, Regional VP, Vertical Sales
Moderator: Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial
Confirmed Panelists:
Greg Huttie, Grass Valley, VP of Production Switchers
Deon LeCointe, Sony, Director, Networked Solutions
Nima Malekmanesh, Evertz, Director of Business Development – Live Media
Paul McAniff, Canon, Senior Technical Specialist
Stephen Remich, Riedel Communications, Senior IP Specialist, System Consultant

3:30 – 4:00 p.m.: Keynote Conversation: A Sit-Down With Oak View Group
With UBS Arena now open, Oak View Group has added another top-tier sports venue to their extensive portfolio. In this keynote conversation, SVP of Project Management & Technology Katee LaPoff will explain their perspective of bringing this building online, how the recent wave of arenas opening across the country is changing the way fans experience games in person, provide an update on new venues in the works, what the lasting legacy of UBS Arena will be as time goes on, and more.
Moderator: Kristian Hernández, SVG, Senior Editor; SVG Venue Summit Program Director
Confirmed Keynote: Katee LaPoff, Oak View Group, SVP of Project Management & Technology