PALERMO FC & POPULOUS COLLABORATE ON REDEVELOPMENT OF RENZO BARBERA STADIUM
Palermo FC has announced the conclusion of the preliminary services conference on the Renzo Barbera Stadium redevelopment project, a key technical and administrative step in the process that will lead to the modernisation of the club’s stadium.
Design of the stadium will be undertaken by global sports and entertainment design firm, Populous, working in collaboration between its Populous Italia team and its EMEA Headquarters. Populous has supplied the technical and design input for the feasibility study (DOCFAP).
The conclusion of this phase confirms the technical and administrative feasibility of the work, which is functional to the declaration of public interest of the project. The next phase will be the decision-making conference.
Palermo FC continue to work with the city council and local stakeholders with the aim of delivering a modern, high-quality stadium to the fans and the city, one that lives up to The Club’s ambitions. The common goal is also to make the Barbera one of the venues in the running to host international competitions, starting with the 2032 European Championships.
“The successful outcome of the preliminary services conference has enabled Palermo to reconfirm its commitment to contributing to the construction of a modern and functional stadium for the benefit of the entire community," said Palermo CEO, Giovanni Gardini.
“We are proud to support the Club and the Municipality in the creation of a new home for the fans and the city of Palermo. The new Renzo Barbera Stadium will be a national and international landmark, and a model for a sustainable development. It will be an icon on match days and activated every day,” added Silvia Prandelli, Senior Principal, Populous Italia.
Aramark Elevates Collegiate Basketball experience
As America gears up for the most thrilling stretch of the men’s and women’s college basketball season, Aramark is proud to support its university and venue partners with innovative food and beverage experiences, enhanced hospitality offerings, and athlete-focused nutrition programs that fuel performance on and off the court.
This year, Aramark Sports + Entertainment will serve thousands of fans at three arenas hosting preliminary rounds of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship: Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia (March 20 & 22), SAP Center in San Jose (March 26 & 28); and Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (March 27 & 29). Across these venues, Aramark will bring popular gameday dining options and signature snacks to the tournament’s high‑energy atmosphere as teams and fans gather for one of collegiate sports’ most anticipated events.
“March basketball brings an incredible surge of energy into our venues, and food is a big part of what makes that gameday experience unforgettable,” said Alison Birdwell, President & CEO, Aramark Sports + Entertainment. “As we prepare to serve more than 250,000 fans throughout the tournament’s early rounds, we’re excited to offer a mix of unique selections alongside their tried‑and‑true favorites — all with the goal of delivering something special and memorable as we celebrate this exciting time in college sports.”
Performance‑Driven Hospitality for Student‑Athletes
Beyond the arenas, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality continues to support men’s and women’s basketball players with its Training Table program, which delivers performance-driven nutrition to fuel student-athletes at more than 20 Division I schools. Training Table programs emphasize the core elements of athlete wellbeing.
“Our Training Table teams work hand-in-hand with sports dietitians, coaching staff, and performance teams to deliver the customized nutrition required for peak performance,” said Barbara Flanagan, President and CEO, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. “As our partner universities compete on the national stage, we’re proud to fuel their journey on the court, in the classroom, and throughout the postseason.”
Campus hospitality programs are boosting student spirit with creative events highlighting the excitement of tournament season. From bracket-style culinary competitions where campus chefs face off and students vote for their favorite dishes, to themed watch parties in popular campus hangouts, the atmosphere will be buzzing. Dining halls have joined in with gameday menus, basketball‑inspired décor, Wing Wednesdays, and social media-driven food brackets that culminate in live events.
Pop-A-Tot Takes Center Court
As the energy builds across campuses and into tournament venues, food continues to play a central role in how fans experience March basketball. The star of this year’s tournament menu is the Pop-A-Tot, a new layer of engagement for the in-arena experience that first earned fan enthusiasm when it debuted in Cleveland at the start of the NBA season. Presented in playful, game‑themed packaging, the tater-tot filled Pop-A-Tot dish is designed to be easily held, photographed, and shared, encouraging fans to make their own “tot shots” from the stands. The portable snack will now be featured across all three of Aramark’s tournament venues and each will showcase its own spin on the creation:
- Xfinity Mobile Arena: Tater tots topped with cheddar cheese sauce, pico de gallo, sour cream, pickled jalapeños, and cilantro
- SAP Center: Tater tots topped with white cheddar sauce, shredded cheddar, bacon, sour cream, shaved ribeye, sautéed peppers and onions, and chives
- Fans at SAP Center can pair their tots with a spirited courtside sip: the Bracket Buster, mixed with vodka, Fanta Orange, mint, and an orange wedge and crafted exclusively for the tournament.
- Capital One Arena: Tater tots topped with queso cheese, chopped brisket, and green onions
Commitment to Partners During the Sport’s Most Exciting Moments
Aramark supports institutions across all three NCAA divisions throughout postseason competition, providing everything from comprehensive foodservice and premium hospitality operations to Training Table nutrition.
This year, Aramark proudly celebrates its partnerships with a wide range of teams competing this March, including 55 NCAA programs across men’s and women’s basketball: 23 Division I schools, 22 Division II schools, and 10 Division III schools.
With millions of fans expected to tune in over the coming weeks, Aramark remains committed to elevating the collegiate basketball experience during the sport’s most exciting time of year. Whether serving fans in the stands or supporting student-athletes behind the scenes, Aramark demonstrates its deep commitment to the NCAA athletics community by delivering memorable food experiences that help make every postseason moment special.
Dan Kroeber & Paul Byrne: Rhode Island FC
MONDO | STADIA sat down with Dan Kroeber, Managing Partner of Fortuitous Partners, and Paul Byrne, General Manager at Centreville Bank Stadium, to discuss the landmark project. The pair explore the intricacies of transforming a historic brownfield site into a high-tech, all-electric sporting hub, while detailing the “stadium-as-anchor” philosophy that underpins the wider Tidewater Landing masterplan. From community-aligned naming rights to multi-sport versatility, they outline a visionary approach to the sports-anchored development that knits professional infrastructure into the urban fabric of Rhode Island.
Why was a local institution like Centreville Bank the right naming partner to anchor this project, rather than a national brand?
Dan: We firmly believe that soccer clubs are, first and foremost, community assets. Because of that, finding a community-focused partner was our priority from day one. Centreville Bank was an exceptional fit; they are a local institution currently in a significant growth phase, looking to expand their brand across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
We found a direct alignment between their mission - ‘progress on purpose’ - and our goal of making a lasting impact on local families. Whether through sport, youth development, or the economic uplift generated by this stadium project, we are both committed to driving growth in the region. We couldn’t have found a better partner to help us activate this project.”
Read the full interview from ISSUE 46 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst46_digitallr/12
Man City link up with N-able for cybersecurity
N-able, Inc., a global cybersecurity company delivering business resilience, today announced its selection as Manchester City’s official cybersecurity partner, protecting critical systems, data, and daily operations across the Club’s digital environment.
N-able will work with the Club to integrate its technology, including the provision of AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, to further develop the existing technology infrastructure in place.
As part of the agreement, the brand will also have presence across several digital and physical assets within the men’s and women’s first team portfolio.
James Tennant, Director of Technology – Information Security at City Football Group, said, “Manchester City is a leading global brand within sport and beyond and with that comes the requirement for us to continually invest in technology and services to protect our people, our data, and our operations.
“N-able offers advanced end-to-end solutions that will help us as we continue to evolve and future-proof operations and we look forward to working with them as part of this new agreement announced today.”
Vikram Ramesh, Chief Marketing Officer at N-able, said: "The best teams in the world don't just perform, they protect what makes performance possible. Manchester City operates at elite speed, across global markets, with zero tolerance for disruption. That's exactly the environment N-able was built for. This partnership is a statement about where cybersecurity is heading – toward partners who build the resilience that lets world-class organizations keep moving forward.”
Transact + CBORD partner with MyVenue to change the game
Transact + CBORD, an award-winning leader in innovative campus technology, today announced a new agreement with leading global sports and entertainment point-of-sale (POS) provider MyVenue, which will change the game for campus commerce across collegiate sporting and special events. The partnership allows students to use stored-value campus funds for concessions purchases inside stadiums, arenas, and hospitality venues.
The integration adds MyVenue’s purpose-built, high-volume point-of-sale platform to Transact + CBORD’s commerce ecosystem. Designed specifically for sports, entertainment, and hospitality environments, MyVenue’s hardware-agnostic solution supports traditional POS terminals, self-service kiosks, mobile ordering, in-seat and suite catering, and real-time back-office inventory and reporting – helping venues serve more fans faster while reducing operational complexity.
“The partnership between Transact + CBORD and MyVenue is a game changer for education, retail, and hospitality POS. It delivers a faster, simpler, and unified commerce experience across campus, faculty, and sporting facilities,” said Tim Stollznow, Founder and CEO of MyVenue. “For students and fans, it means shorter queues and more time enjoying the game or breaks between classes. For operators, it means greater oversight, improved efficiencies, and a more reliable experience. This is a significant development for the market: a powerful offering from Transact + CBORD, the world’s #1 campus commerce provider, and MyVenue, the benchmark for high-volume food and beverage POS operations.”
For colleges and universities, the integration simplifies vendor onboarding and deployment by building on the existing Transact + CBORD network. Institutions can move faster by purchasing the solution directly from Transact + CBORD, helping to avoid redundant vetting and deliver a better game-day experience without adding operational burden.
“MyVenue stands alone in its ability to perform in high-volume, high-pressure environments where speed and reliability matter most,” said Chris Setcos, SVP of Partnerships, M&A, and Corporate Strategy at Transact + CBORD. “We're thrilled for how this relationship will advance our commerce solutions and improve the student experience at important events.”
MyVenue’s platform is used nationwide at venues like Lumen Field, Ball Arena, AT&T Stadium, Dodger Stadium, and Little Caesars Arena. Through this collaboration, MyVenue expands its presence in collegiate athletics – which currently includes University of Florida, Purdue University, and Michigan State University, among others – while Transact + CBORD continues to advance campus commerce beyond traditional dining and retail locations.
Jacksonville Jaguars announce further Stadium plans
The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced updates related to the 2026 season at EverBank Stadium and the Stadium of the Future, to include offseason construction and expected 2026 gameday impacts.
The Jaguars initially proposed closing EverBank Stadium for two full seasons – 2026 and 2027 – to support the opening of the Stadium of the Future in 2028. Local fans and businesses voiced support for an alternative three-year renovation plan covering the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons, resulting in only the 2027 season being played away from Jacksonville.
Accordingly, rather than not playing in Jacksonville at all in 2026, the Jaguars will play at EverBank Stadium in 2026 with reduced capacity, while playing elsewhere in 2027.
"We heard loud and clear from our fans who said two seasons away from Jacksonville was too many, so we are delighted to be able to provide another season in EverBank Stadium to our fans," said Jaguars President Mark Lamping. "Coming off an incredible 13-win season of Jaguars football and with the reduced capacity, we expect demand for tickets to outstrip supply in 2026. We appreciate our fans' patience during the construction period and look forward to providing the state-of-the-art Stadium of the Future they deserve in 2028."
2026 Offseason Construction
Immediately upon the conclusion of the Jaguars' 2025 football season, Stadium of the Future construction ramped up, including expanded work on the exterior of the stadium and partial in-bowl demolition. Work continues constructing the expanded main concourse, which will provide a more convenient and safer navigation of the stadium by patrons in 2028. Steel trusses are also being installed around the outside of the stadium which will ultimately support the canopy structure that will cover and cool the facility.
Construction on Grand Staircase Two, located in the Northwest quadrant, is in progress and will be completed early in the upcoming football season.
In-bowl demolition has started, clearing the way for the corner scenic lookout decks, upper-bowl renovations and future field level seating.
The capacity of EverBank Stadium for the 2026 NFL season will be 42,507, which includes 1,260 standing room only tickets. Of the 27,637 seats that will be offline in 2026, 22,005 are located in the upper bowl (400 Level). Additional impacted seats are located in the 200 Level corners and select rows in the North End Zone; lower level South End Zone; and lower-level Club. The North End Zone spa deck and Sky Patio will also be offline in 2026.
Season ticket renewal information will be shared in the coming days. In addition, those Season Ticket Members affected by the removal of seats will be individually contacted by their ticketing representative to provide them with the first opportunity to relocate to available seats in the lower bowl. Those relocating from the 400 level will be offered preferred pricing options. In addition, the team is currently accepting new season ticket deposits.
International Games
The NFL requires all 32 clubs to play certain games at an international site once every four seasons. This is separate from the traditional game the Jaguars host annually in London.
The Jaguars' NFL-required games are currently slated to occur in 2027 and 2030 or soon after. However, the NFL has agreed to move that second NFL-required game to 2026 when EverBank Stadium is at reduced seating capacity.
Moving that game to 2026, combined with the Jaguars' annual London game, will result in the Jaguars playing back-to-back games in London during the 2026 NFL season – one at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the other at Wembley Stadium. As a result of the NFL's support, the Jaguars will no longer be required to play an NFL International Game in that second window, allowing for an additional home game in the Stadium of the Future at full capacity.
This additional 2026 game in London was always a possibility per the stadium agreement struck between the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville in 2024.
With the two games in London in 2026, this gives the Jaguars, at minimum, a critical and opportune two-week, in-season construction window.
Background on Scheduling
The Jaguars will play eight home games at EverBank Stadium in 2026, including the two preseason home games, as well as two games in London.
The Jaguars' home opponents in 2026 are division rivals Houston, Indianapolis and Tennessee, as well as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New England, Philadelphia and Washington.
The schedule is determined and approved by the NFL and typically released in mid-May. Per normal protocol and consistent with all other Clubs, the Jaguars have submitted their scheduling requests to the NFL Office for consideration.
Iconic global venues confirmed for Nations Championship
The strongest international rugby teams, and the best players in the world, begin their Nations Championship campaign this July, with iconic global venues confirmed to host the ‘Southern Series’ of fixtures, which span three consecutive weekends and offer a schedule of unmissable clashes.
One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand, will be the stage for the first ever Nations Championship fixture, with a heavyweight opener between the All Blacks and France. The two teams have built up a fierce rivalry over the years, whilst vying to establish themselves as the dominant force in their respective hemisphere. It will be the first time an international rugby fixture will be hosted at the new state of the art stadium in Christchurch, adding another layer of history to the landmark occasion.
From Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Eden Park in Auckland, and the National Stadium in Tokyo, through to neutral venues in the UK, including the new Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, the Nations Championship will visit venues and cities that cement the tournaments status as a global showcase of the best rugby nations and players that the sport has to offer.
Neutral venues in the UK have been selected to host the Fiji ‘home’ fixtures, and Japan will host Ireland at a Southern Hemisphere neutral venue, to establish the strongest start to the tournament in its first edition. The schedule also allows more fans access to attend fixtures, whilst balancing team logistics, travel, broadcasting and the stadium infrastructure needed to host elite international rugby fixtures.
The 12 competing nations, split into the two groups of six teams, representing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, will each play six fixtures against a different opponent from their rival hemisphere group - three in July (Southern Series) and three in November (Northern Series). Match points are on offer across the July and November chapters of the tournament, which will dictate the table standings per Hemisphere group to create the schedule of fixtures for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend in London.
The Finals Weekend is a totally new concept for rugby union and will deliver three days of double-headers at Allianz Stadium, in London, creating a dramatic climax to the tournament. The 1st ranked team in the Northern Hemisphere group, and the 1st ranked team representing the Southern Hemisphere, will battle to be named the first ever Champion of the new tournament.
Adding to the sporting jeopardy of the Finals Weekend, all teams will be competing to earn points for their group to decide the strongest rugby Hemisphere in 2026, meaning every fixture matters to every team as they compete for the two titles.
The Nations Championship Finals Weekend will welcome global fans to one of the sporting capitals of the world. London will add to its enviable list of major sporting occasions with the first ever Finals Weekend, and fans will have unprecedented access to tickets to see the best rugby on the planet, thanks to comprehensive pricing and ticket options available across the three days when the pre-sale and general sale ticketing windows open on the 25th February and 11th March respectively.
Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR said: “The confirmation of the match venues for the Southern Series chapter of the Nations Championship is another exciting and significant milestone for international rugby.
“The Nations Championship internationals, in July and November, now have real meaning for fans with every match counting to an overall tournament outcome. The July Southern Series matches are now locked in and will bring world class rugby to major cities and venues around the world including Buenos Aires, Christchurch, Johannesburg, Sydney, London and Tokyo.
“We are looking to answer the question, ‘Who will rule the world in 2026!’ as the top teams in the world compete for the Nations Championship crown, and we will also determine bragging rights as the Hemispheres Collide and the strongest hemisphere will ultimately be crowned.”
Commenting on the confirmation of venues and cities primed to host the first three weekends of Nations Championship fixtures, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby added:
“The Nations Championship will stand alongside the worlds best sport and entertainment tournaments, and the confirmation of venues hosting fixtures in July highlights the intention to put the best rugby teams and players in the sport in front of global fans, on some of the most iconic stages in world sport.
Every fixture matters to every team in the Nations Championship, with each result in July pointing towards the Finals Weekend in London this November. The added jeopardy and meaning to each fixture will create hugely compelling entertainment for fans, and drive longterm growth for the sport. This is why we have approached the Finals Weekend ticketing with the commitment to make it accessible to as many fans as possible, so they have every chance to be there to experience the start of an incredible new era for rugby.”
Cleveland Cavaliers reveal renderings for new training facility
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic and Bedrock have unveiled a collection of new interior renderings of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, offering an in-depth preview of the team’s next-generation training facility.
Located in downtown Cleveland along the Cuyahoga River, the 210,000-square-foot facility – designed by architectural firm Populous and interior design studio Pophouse – will be one of the world’s most advanced sports performance centres and the largest indoor practice facility for a professional sports team in the United States. The Cavaliers will move into their new home in February 2027.
In addition to state-of-the-art basketball courts and training spaces, the facility will feature holistic performance and experience amenities designed to support player wellness, connection and daily readiness. Select amenities highlighted in the newly released renderings include community dining and dedicated nutrition spaces, an integrated recovery corridor connecting hydro pools with a recovery suite and an on-site barbershop.
“We believe Cleveland is one of the premier destinations for professional basketball in the country and this facility elevates that distinction even further,” said Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations. “Every detail of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center was purposefully designed to fuel excellence—equipping our players with resources, innovation, and competitive edge required to pursue championships and help define the future of the game.”
Since breaking ground in October 2024 and topping off in July 2025, construction has advanced rapidly, with nearly 520 tradespeople, contributing over 200,000 hours of labor. The project is also exceeding economic and community benchmarks by engaging minority, female, local and low-income contractors in line with the community benefits agreement.
The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will also serve as a community asset for athletes of all sports and levels. The center will offer comprehensive care to the public and leverage medical innovation to deliver holistic care, injury prevention, nutrition and recovery and performance analysis for athletes. Public access to the Cleveland Clinic’s designated performance and treatment spaces is anticipated in August 2027.
The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is the first vertical development as part of Bedrock’s The Riverfront. A transformational mixed-use development reimagining underutilised land along the Cuyahoga River and the historic Tower City Center, The Riverfront will create new public parks, a Riverwalk and year-round waterfront experiences.
Asian Cup 2027: Venues for Saudi Arabia edition confirmed
SP Grid powers the next generation of sports fan engagement
As sporting experiences become increasingly geared towards audience entertainment, leagues, teams and venues are under pressure to deliver experiences that go beyond the game itself. Today’s fans expect real-time data, broadcast-quality visuals, interactive storytelling and equal experiences whether they are in-venue or at home. Across the industry, technology manufacturers are actively addressing this shift. From stadiums adopting broadcast-style production pipelines to sports courts transforming into interactive, digital canvases, fan engagement is no longer optional.
SP Grid sits at the centre of this evolution, enabling production teams to unify tracking, automation, data and media control into a single scalable platform, which helps turn arenas, stadiums and esports venues into fully connected experience engines. Unlike single-point solutions that address only graphics, tracking or automation in isolation, SP Grid acts as the connective tissue between systems. It aggregates real-time positional data, timing and control signals and distributes them across the users’ desired control workflow. SP Grid is already deployed on projects and venues involved in some of the highest levels of professional sport and entertainment.
“We have seen and are continuing to see many instances of SP Grid being used to create incredible fan experiences, especially in the world of sports,” explains Sarah Cox, CCO at Stage Precision. “These events require precision, accuracy and integration across various moving parts, such as lighting, audio, fan apps and more. With powerful timeline controls, automation features and real-time monitoring, SP Grid ensures that every aspect of the experience is perfectly timed and in sync.”
At the Honda Center, California, SP Grid was used to integrate tracking and control systems to support immersive in-arena visuals, dynamic game stats integration and tightly synchronised show moments, including a bespoke ‘Frog Dash’ game, to encourage crowd participation and bring greater sponsor visibility.
Describing the system created using Stage Precision’s platform, Eric Gazzillo, Vice President of Innovation at Quince Imaging, says, “It sits at the centre of the operation, managing data flow between the tracking system, game engine and media servers. We use active ID tags on players and SP handles the entire data communication network, from camera calibration through to real-time adjustments.”
For Red Bull’s next-generation arena at SAP Garden, Munich, SP Grid plays a critical role in coordinating complex, data-driven shows that blend sport, entertainment and brand storytelling. “No other software brings together a 3D stage tracking system with a user-friendly control interface like SP Grid,” confirms Leon Herche, Creative Producer at bright! studios, who were responsible for developing a workflow to enable tracking data to be transformed into engaging visual content for real-time gaming and audience participation. “The simplicity of the interface makes it super user-friendly. Even the arena team, without specific technical experience, can start and stop games and manage the system easily.” SP Grid’s custom UI feature enables simplified, branded controls to be presented on a tablet or touch panel, making everyday operation intuitive.
Drawing from SP Grid’s rich and versatile feature set, several more tools and capabilities are particularly impactful in live sports environments. Take real-time data aggregation, for example. SP Grid can ingest data from tracking systems such as person and object tracking, enabling instant visualisation of gameplay moments, player movement or branded fan interactions in endless creative forms, from on-screen data feeds to digital floors or in-app updates for audiences.
Precision synchronisation of 3D data enables elements such as LED, lighting, audio, graphics and even AR elements to launch simultaneously and without manual operation, critical for high-impact fan moments. For the 2024 Super Bowl, SP’s tracking solutions emerged as the linchpin of operations for an augmented reality simulcast in collaboration with Nickelodeon featuring the alternate reality of SpongeBob SquarePants.
From single-arena deployments to multi-venue leagues, SP Grid also scales effortlessly, supporting consistent fan experiences across seasons or locations. The E-Sports World Cup 2025 was a testament to this when bright! studios used SP Grid for multi-stage media control across seven venues and dozens of esports gaming titles.
Finally, by taking technical complexity and presenting data, workflows and complex device connections in a user-friendly way, SP Grid encourages creative teams to experiment with new fan engagement concepts and iterate existing set-ups over time to evolve as fan response is gauged.
“As many in our industry are highlighting the importance of fan engagement, SP Grid differentiates itself by focusing not on individual surfaces or effects, but on infrastructure-level orchestration of an experience,” concludes Cox. “Sports teams or organisations can adapt their fan experiences in an agile way, integrate emerging technologies over time and, most importantly, deliver compelling experiences.”
SP Grid empowers venues and broadcasters to turn every moment into a truly engaging audience experience in an era when sporting fans demand more than just a seat and a screen.