SVG Venue Summit Draws 180+ Game Presentation and Tech Leaders to UBS Arena for Two-Day Event

The 2023 SVG Venue Summit drew more than 180 game presentation professionals and important tech vendors to UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY to highlight the current trends being seen within in-venue production, explain how new workflows are allowing crews to elevate their shows, network with well-respected individuals from the industry, and take a tour of the key areas within UBS Arena. The first professional sports venue to open up in New York since Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in 2012, UBS Arena has become the new standard bearer in the NHL. Equipped with the latest broadcast technology, an impressive gameday atmosphere, and the passion of one of the league’s most storied fanbases, this venue parked next to famed Belmont Park is attracting diehard and new fans alike.

More than 180 attendees were present at the two-day SVG Venue Summit.

The two-day event kicked off with an in-depth presentation from the New York Islanders and UBS Area staff. 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. New York Islanders, SVP, Event Presentation and Content Experiences, Ryan Halkett, and his video production team provided a glimpse at the in-venue equipment, workflows, and technologies while also explaining the creative elements that go into their shows.

The New York Islanders provided a presentation in the lower bowl on Day 1.

Next up was a tour for UBS Arena in which attendees were able step inside and take a tour of the newest NHL venue. This behind-the-scenes trip allowed attendees to see important destinations including the control room, docking bays, rack room, other key production areas in the building, and was followed by a networking reception.

The next morning, SVG hosted a System Integration Focus panel centered on the current trends and triumphs within the ever-changing 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. System integrators and consultants from Alpha, Beck TV, Diversified, KMH Integration, NEP Integrated Solutions, and WJHW sat down for a conversation on the state of the industry and what’s to come in the future.

Systems integrators discuss supply-chain and control room design (L to R): Kevin Henneman, Brock Raum, Daniel Riess, Steve Stubelt, Darren Whitten, and Joe Wire.

The system integration panel was followed by a Ross Case Study on how to best use projection technology to elevate the game-day experience.

Game presentation crews from Madison Square Garden, New Jersey Devils, New York Giants, New York Mets, New York Red Bulls then gave 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 the gameday atmosphere.

Game presentation professionals from the New York City metropolitan area break down their gameday production. (L to R): Matt Coy, Brooke Eveler, Joe Kuchie, Brendan McKeon, and Don Sperling.

With advancements in augmented reality and on-ice projections, the fan experience is being elevated to new heights. Leaders from MSG, New York Islanders, Quince Imaging, and Silver Spoon Animation gave their insight into what’s ahead in these new areas of gameday entertainment.

Verizon Business Group’s Managing Director, Global Solutions, Lee Field, then took the stage for a fireside chat with Halkett to highlight the company’s innovative 5G partnership and explain how they’re leveraging technology to drive operational efficiencies and enhance fan engagement.

Experts examine the future of augmented reality and on-ice projection. (L to R): SVG’s Brandon Costa, Matt Coy, Eric Gazzillo, Dan Pack, and Adam Sabh.

The New York Islanders’ Director, Production, Alex Leafer, then joined EditShare’s Regional Sales Director, Northeast, Jeff McFadyen, for a case study on how 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.

Tech vendors explain the new technologies and workflows powering high-quality in-venue shows. (L to R): Greg Huttie, Deon LeCointe, Nima Malekmanesh, Paul McAniff, and Stephen Remich.

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. The next panel, featured leaders from Canon, Evertz, Grass Valley, Riedel Communications, and Sony 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.

The day concluded with a Keynote Conversation with Oak View Group’s SVP, Project Management & Technology, Katee LaPoff. With UBS Arena now open, Oak View Group has added another top-tier sports venue to their extensive portfolio. LaPoff provided an in-depth look at 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.

Oak View Group’s Katee LaPoff and SVG’s Kristian Hernández during the Keynote Conversation.

The 2023 SVG Venue Summit was made possible by Title Sponsor Canon; Gold Sponsors Diversified, Evertz, Grass Valley, KMH Integration, Riedel, and Sony; Case Study Sponsors Editshare, Ross Video, and Verizon; Silver Sponsor Fortinet; and Event Sponsors Pixotope, Signiant, and WJHW.