Planners Look to Sports Venues to Host Innovative and Immersive Events
Photo Credit: San Francisco General Hospital Foundation's Heroes & Hearts Luncheon was held at AT&T Park. More organizations are looking to sports venues to host their events. San Francisco General Hospital Foundation / Drew Altizer Photography
Skift Take
The use of sports stadiums and parks for non-sporting events is a growing trend in the meetings and events industry, and professional sports teams that are eager to create additional revenue and leverage investments are promoting their state-of-the-art venues as a unique alternative for hosting conferences, trade shows, meetings, and events.
Meeting and event planners seeking to score a touchdown or hit a homerun for their next major event are increasingly turning an eye toward professional sports venues.
The use of sports stadiums and ballparks for meetings and conferences is on an upswing as planners seek out one-of-a-kind venues that can provide impactful experiences specific to a city or locale.
"With seven professional sports teams, Denver is not short of major sporting venues, and we see a growing use of these facilities outside of the teams they host," said Matthew Payne, executive director of Denver sports, with Visit Denver. "Even with a good amount of games happening throughout the year, there are still open dates on the calendar that leave an opportunity for an industry that is sophisticated in putting on events."
A Search for Out-of-the-Box Solutions
Several factors are playing into this new look at venues for events, including the changing nature of meetings themselves, noted Greg O'Dell, president and
