NedAcoustics launches Venue Sound Baffle
Audiences attending summer’s shows in Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff ArenA and Lowlands Festival enjoyed significantly improved audio quality, thanks to a new sound improvement product, the NedAcoustics Venue Sound Baffle LT05.
The lightweight temporary Venue Sound Baffle system, engineered to improve sound clarity in the most reflective environments such as major stadiums and large-scale arenas. They were first used, in conjunction with additional permanent acoustic fixed installations within the ArenA, for ten concerts (headlined by Harry Styles, followed by shows from Bruno Mars, Luke Combs and The Weekend.
Mark Plantin, System Engineer of Harry Styles, stated: "When encountering the room treatment solutions in the Johan Cruijff ArenA for Harry Styles, it totally transformed the sound. The challenging acoustic space, with its glass roof, many reflective surfaces and loose low end was transformed with his use of Bass traps at the rear, absorption panelling all over the concrete panelling and a large amount of absorbing roof treatment which reduced the decay time greatly. On being told that the roof absorption system is touring capable, I hope to see it at every available occasion."
Their all-weather properties were (successfully) further tested, finishing the summer at Lowlands Festival, where they were installed in the Alpha, Bravo, India and Heineken stages. The unanimous opinion from acoustic consultants and sound engineers was a resounding thumbs up.
NedAcoustics is a new company, drawing on decades of combined audio and event production experience. Co-Founder Peter van de Geer, an event acoustic consultant for 40 years, was pivotal in developing the Venue Sound Baffle LT05 system, following years of ‘wrestling’ with the challenges or poor audio quality in stadium concerts, he says:
“Most stadia designed for use as a sports ground struggle to achieve consistent, high quality acoustics at concerts. We’ve worked very closely with Johan Cruijff ArenA where audiences have experience less than optimal acoustic clarity over the past two decades, particularly in the upper tiers of venues, where 1 – 1.5 k frequencies were a particular challenge for audibility, due to reflections bouncing sound waves around, resulting in lesser, often indistinct quality.
“Modern line-array pa systems deliver tighter focused sound waves, which engineers can turn up to give the audience a better experience. But in stadia, when these sound waves collide with the many curved, reflective surfaces, there are reflections giving chaotic reverbs anywhere between 7 to 20 seconds long. Everyone is familiar with the resulting poor, indistinct audio. I feel for touring system engineers and engineers who have a limited time to get the best out of their pa’s.
“Everyone who has worked with the Venue Sound Baffles installed have been astounded by the vast improvement in sound quality. The NedAcoustics Venue Sound Baffle LT05 succeed where other solutions have been tried – and failed.”
Hidde Salverda, COO Johan Cruijff ArenA, states: "Over the past years, the Johan Cruijff ArenA has made significant investments in improving the acoustics and overall sound experience. As a multi-purpose stadium, delivering excellent sound quality requires continuous innovation, close collaboration and a willingness to keep improving. Together with partners such as NedAcoustics, we have been able to test and implement new solutions in a live event environment, achieving tangible improvements for artists, production teams and audiences alike.
These new baffles were over a year in the design and manufacture, and deliver significant sound improvement, by removing sound-wave reflections. The panels weigh less than 2 kg per square meter to minimise roof stress and use materials that do not absorb water, and are fully compliant with Fire Safety requirements.
NedAcoustics manufactured 6,500sq m, installed in six hours for the ArenA shows, creating a ceiling of 3,300sq m, with a backdrop of 2,500sq m behind the stage. At Lowlands Festival the Venue Sound Baffles were deployed behind the stages, in the ceilings and down the sides and rear of the tented stages. They not only improved the audio clarity by reducing reflections, but also reduced the noise levels escaping each stage, which was an important licensing consideration for the clients.
Peter continues: “We’ve been aware of the challenge incoming productions have had at large venues with sound quality. This collaboration was a perfect blend of acoustic and event-logistical knowledge, to create a product that works incredibly well acoustically, and is quick and easy to install.
“Having successfully deployed the Venue Sound Baffle LT05 in two settings known to historically have struggled with sound quality, we’re now launching to the international market for rental or purchase. We can treat a venue or take the baffles on tour, and are already working on a new generation of bass traps for next summer.”
SONY Captures 2026 Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup 2026 brought together more than 2,000 players competing across 24 games over seven weeks, with a prize pool of more than $75 million. Behind the competition was a vast content operation, tasked with capturing everything from live gaming action and team promos to event highlights, meet-and-greets and celebrity appearances.
To meet the demands of this fast-paced production environment, the Esports World Cup production team selected Sony Cinema Line cameras as the foundation of its workflow, combining image quality, reliability and operational flexibility across the event.
At its peak, 50 Sony FX3 and FX2 cameras were recording across the event,supported by ECM-778 shotgun mics. Alongside this, four FX6s and two BURANOs captured the highest quality team promo content in a purpose-built. “We decided to go with Sony as our main platform for reliability and future-proofing. Everyone thinks of the equipment as reliable and a great choice for quality,” said Adam Kędzierski, Post Production Lead.
Capturing content at speed
With a constant stream of content required throughout the event, the production team needed a camera system capable of adapting to different shooting environments and tight schedules.
During EWC26 media days, teams often had just 20 minutes to complete their promotional content from start to finish. Multiple cameras were therefore positioned in advance, allowing talent to move through the studio quickly while the production team captured multiple angles with minimal disruption.
Sony’s BURANO and FX6 cameras were used for this studio work, with their full-frame sensors, dual base ISO, autofocus capabilities and electronic variable ND filters helping operators maintain control in changing conditions while working against demanding production schedules.
“The BURANO was a perfect choice for us,” said Charles Dalton, Senior Creative Producer. “It gives us that cinematic image quality in a smaller, lighter and more power-efficient package, which is ideal when you’re working with lean, agile crews.”
The FX6 was also used for run-and-gun and documentary-style filming, with its compact form factor, internal ND filters and dual-native ISO supporting fast-moving production.
Bringing cameras closer to the action
Away from the studio, the production team needed to capture players during competition without distracting them from the action. The compact form factor of Sony’s FX3 and FX2 made them particularly suited to this environment.
“These guys are playing in a serious competition, for a lot of money. The last thing we want to do is turn up and distract them with a huge camera,” said Ryan Priestnall, Cinematographer and Camera Operator. “The FX3 is agile and compact, so we can get close and they don’t really notice us as much.”
Paired with Sony G Master and G Master II zoom and prime lenses, the cameras provided the autofocus performance needed to keep pace with fast-moving subjects, while allowing operators to concentrate on composition, movementand exposure.
“I don’t want to have to worry about the autofocus, and I can almost forget about it because I know the cameras and the lenses are more than capable,” Priestnall added. “The Sony lenses and the Sony cameras have been invaluable for that.”
A consistent workflow from capture to post
With footage arriving from a large number of cameras and operators across the event, consistency in post-production was equally important.
Sony’s S-Log3 gamma curve provided the post-production team with the ability to finesse the light and dark areas of the footage. Simultaneously, the S-Gamut.Cine colour space allowed them to quickly and accurately tweak colours so they matched between the countless clips coming in from the camera operators.
“Having shot on Sony is definitely making our life easier, because you have the same image character,” said Roman Ivasyk, colourist supervisor. “You have the same colour science, you have the same meter data, so you know it all. Even when the cameras look uneven, it’s very easy for you to find out what went wrong and quickly fix it in post.”
For the Esports World Cup team, the combination of image quality, reliability, compact form factors and a consistent workflow enabled the production operation to scale across a major international esports event.
When asked what Sony’s Cinema Line cameras, lenses and microphones had unlocked for EWC26, the answer was clear: “creativity, reliability, stability and scalability.”
Sony contributed two BURANO cameras, two FX6 cameras and ten FX2 cameras to support the EWC26 production, alongside ECM-778 shotgun microphones and a broad range of Sony G Master and G Master II prime and zoom lenses.
For more information on this case study and the products involved please visit: Esports World Cup 2026 x Sony
AEG & Fundamental Partner To Bring NEXUS to SoCal Venues
Fundamental, an AI company whose Large Tabular Model (“LTM”), NEXUS is reimagining enterprise decision-making, and AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, have announced a new partnership spanning two of AEG’s signature Southern California properties. The agreement names Fundamental an Official Partner of the six-time MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy and L.A. LIVE, AEG's 4-million-square-foot sports and entertainment district in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, the partnership will bring NEXUS, Fundamental's Large Tabular Model (LTM), to key areas of each property’s commercial business to help generate predictive insights and inform smarter decision-making.
Unlike Large Language Models (LLMs), which are built to understand and generate text, NEXUS is purpose-built for tabular data: the rows and columns of structured business records that sit behind ticketing, marketing, and partnership decisions at every major sports and entertainment brand. Where most organizations look at that data to explain what already happened, NEXUS is built to help anticipate what may be coming next, identifying patterns that can inform areas such as fan engagement, marketing, and partnership strategy.
Both the LA Galaxy and L.A. LIVE will put NEXUS to work across ticketing, marketing, and partnership strategy, giving each organization a live, forward-looking view of the patterns already sitting in their own data. NEXUS will also be the presenting sponsor of the Coachella Valley Invitational, the largest pre-season professional soccer tournament in the United States, featuring 20 teams from across Major League Soccer (MLS) and National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
“Sports and live entertainment businesses move fast, and the organizations that win are the ones that see what's coming before it happens,” said Fundamental CEO Jeremy Fraenkel. "NEXUS was built to find the value hiding inside structured data that previously looked unpredictable. Through this partnership, we have an opportunity to work alongside the LA Galaxy and L.A. LIVE to show what a foundation model built for tabular data, not text, can do for an industry built on split-second decisions."
“We're constantly looking for new ways to deepen our understanding of our fans and set the Galaxy up for long-term growth,” said Tom Braun, President and Chief Operating Officer, LA Galaxy. " We look forward to putting NEXUS to work, and we see real potential for it to inform how we engage fans, build partnerships, and grow the club.”
“This partnership is built to deliver real value on both sides while introducing Fundamental’s technology to the global sports and entertainment industry, and it opens the door to joint thought leadership on where AI and prediction are taking this business next,” said Nick Baker, President and COO of AEG Global Partnerships. “It’s a partnership that came together through the collaboration and vision of teams on both sides, including Rashid Dadashi, vice president of AEG Global Partnerships, and Richard McBeath, head of marketing at Fundamental, and we are all incredibly excited about the impact we can create together.”
The partnership marks Fundamental's entry into professional sports and live entertainment, extending NEXUS's reach beyond the energy, shipping, and manufacturing sectors where it already runs in production today. Founded in 2024 by alumni of JPMorgan, Bridgewater, and DeepMind, Fundamental has built a growing base of enterprise contracts for NEXUS spanning demand forecasting, price prediction, and customer churn.
Advent Design Tampa Bay Rays Ballpark Experience Center
Advent, a global experiential design and technology company, has partnered with the Tampa Bay Rays to design the Rays Ballpark Experience Center, opening in early 2027 at Westshore City Center in Tampa. The one-of-a-kind destination will offer fans, sponsors and premium partners, both current and prospective, a unique opportunity to visualize and experience the future Rays ballpark and surrounding mixed-use district years before the ballpark is scheduled to open in 2029.
The Rays announced the Experience Center on Tuesday, following last month's approval of the new ballpark financing by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and Tampa City Council. Construction on the new ballpark is scheduled to begin in October.
“The Rays Ballpark Experience Center, when it opens in a few months in Westshore, will be what ‘Forever is Now’ is all about,” said Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby. “Rays fans, sitting anywhere from general to premium seating, will no longer have to imagine their experience in our new ballpark. One visit to the Experience Center will make it all real and serve as a reminder of why we love baseball, and especially our team. The Experience Center will also preview the new mixed-use district plus a chance to preview our new district with engagement with hotel, office and retail-related experiences.
“As important, our sponsors and marketing partners will see how their investment in the ballpark will deliver an entirely new level of energy and connection with Rays fans and their target audiences, which are often the same. The Experience Center will illustrate how signage, activation, client engagement and opportunities that may have been difficult to imagine not long ago will be possible when the Forever Home opens in 2029.”
Located at 1111 North Westshore Boulevard, the nearly 15,000-square-foot center will serve both the public and the Rays' sales efforts. Approximately one-third of the space will be open to the public and feature retail, family-friendly experiences, coveted Rays memorabilia and exhibits highlighting the new ballpark and surrounding district. Fans will be able to explore a digital preview of the ballpark and campus, create a personalized baseball card and discover new Rays experiences celebrating the past, present and future.
The remaining space will offer an appointment-only, immersive journey designed to help prospective season ticket members, premium clients and partners envision their place and experience in the new ballpark and district. Leveraging advanced technology, visitors will be able to explore different seating viewpoints, hospitality and premium offerings, group areas and elements of the complete ballpark and district experience.
“The Experience Center will be like walking into the future,” Babby said. “Fans and partners will be able to see it, feel it, hear it and experience it – from sitting in the seats, or food and beverage locations they may choose, to exploring the clubhouse, to understanding the full journey of arriving at the ballpark and enjoying the district around it. Rays fans have waited a long time for this, and we are overjoyed to be able to offer that experience right now, in Tampa, where we will begin to build the Forever Home in the months ahead.”
“When we sat down with Ken Babby and his team to discuss the Forever Home project, we were blown away by the team’s energy and vision,” said Advent CEO John Roberson. “Tampa Bay fans have a lot to look forward to, and we are thrilled to help them get a taste of what that experience will be like when they visit the Center.”
The Rays Ballpark Experience Center is the latest in a series of sales and experience centers Advent has delivered for professional franchises investing in new or reimagined venues, each built to help fans and partners see, feel and commit to a future before it is built, and each strongly tied and tailor-made to the identity of the team behind it.
In Las Vegas, Advent designed and built the A's Ballpark Experience Center, anchored by The Immersive Cube®, a 270-degree, 26.5-million-pixel environment that lets guests tangibly visualize the future ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.
In Charlotte, N.C., Advent designed and created MoMINTum, the Bank of America Stadium Experience Center commissioned by Tepper Sports & Entertainment to preview the stadium's $1.3+ billion redevelopment. TSE Chief Revenue Officer Eric Sudol called it "the most technologically advanced preview center in sports." Immersive technology and storytelling come together in North Carolina’s Queen City to deliver a heart-pounding, emotionally resonant experience for Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC fans alike.
In Cleveland, OH, Advent unveiled their third Immersive Cube® at The Browns Experience for the Cleveland Browns and Haslam Sports Group, in support of the new Huntington Bank Field and its surrounding district in Brook Park, Ohio. Spanning nearly 21 feet, it is the widest Immersive Cube® ever deployed and houses a live digital twin covering 25 square miles of the Cleveland region.
Most recently, the Jacksonville Jaguars opened the Advent-designed Stadium of the Future Sales Center, anchored by the Immersive Cube® where current and prospective Season Ticket Members can visualize their seating and hospitality options for 2028 and beyond. At their ribbon cutting ceremony last month, Jaguars President Mark Lamping credited Advent's process, not just its technology, for making the Stadium of the Future Sales Center feel unique to Jacksonville and the team’s identity.
"What impressed me the most was the time [Advent] spent trying to understand what's really unique about Jacksonville and the Jaguars fans,” Lamping said. “It wasn't a cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all plan that was brought to us. We really felt it was truly customized, and they took into full consideration what's unique about our sales opportunity, our sales challenges, and brought solutions to bear that we felt were truly customized and not just a clip and paste from some other market."
Across every project, Advent works to transform physical spaces into captivating storytelling environments that inspire the people within them and drive value for the organizations behind them. For 25 years, Advent has utilized research, technology and storytelling to achieve this goal, helping global sports franchises, universities, corporate leaders and entertainment venues connect deeply with their audiences, drive engagement and generate value.
Additional information about the Rays Ballpark Experience Center, including public hours and appointment scheduling, will be announced at a later date.
Please visit newballpark.raysbaseball.com for more information.
AEG and O2 Announce Naming Rights Extension
Following a series of record-breaking years for The O2 and ahead of the venue's 20th anniversary in 2027, AEG and O2 have announced a major multi-million-pound extension of their long-standing naming rights partnership. Under the landmark agreement, O2 will retain naming rights to The O2 until 2038, marking the largest naming rights renewal of its kind in UK history. The agreement builds on one of the most successful venue naming rights partnerships in the world and reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the live entertainment experience, supporting artists and delivering added value for fans.
Owned and operated by AEG, The O2 has grown into the world's most popular live entertainment destination, welcoming more than 100 million visitors and hosting over 6,800 events since opening in 2007. Together, AEG and O2 have consistently set the benchmark for venue-brand partnerships, delivering landmark cultural moments ranging from temporarily renaming the venue 'The O3' during Drake's seven-night residency to creating a digital recreation of The O2 within Fortnite.
The partnership has evolved over time in line with changing needs and fan demand, helping to maintain the venue’s status as best in class – for example, through the O2 5G DAS mobile network, ensuring an excellent connection even during sell-out events, and introduction of high-speed Virgin Media gigabit broadband Wi-Fi.
As well as boosting the number of tickets available to shows at The O2 through Priority Tickets by 50%, O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers will, for the first time, enjoy Priority access to shows at indigo at The O2 under the new agreement.
The inclusion of indigo at The O2 expands the partnership's support for emerging talent, providing O2 customers with access to performances from artists at an important stage of their development before they progress to arena-scale shows.
Paul Samuels, President of Global Partnerships at AEG International, said: "The renewal of our partnership with O2 reflects the enduring strength of a relationship built on trust, innovation and a shared ambition to deliver exceptional live entertainment experiences. Over the past two decades, The O2 has become one of the world's most successful and recognisable entertainment venues, and this landmark agreement ensures we can continue investing in the venue, enhancing the fan experience and setting the standard for premium live entertainment for many years to come."
Gareth Griffiths, Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said:
"Live entertainment is in O2's DNA, and for nearly two decades The O2 has been at the heart of how we reward and excite our customers, giving them access to world-class experiences through Priority they simply cannot get anywhere else. We are thrilled to extend our partnership for another 10 years.
“Our contract renewal with AEG reflects our confidence in the future of The O2 and our commitment to the UK's live entertainment industry. We’ll continue supporting artists at every stage of their careers, from indigo at The O2 through to arena headliners, bringing our customers closer to what they love and helping them create memories that last a lifetime."
The announcement comes as The O2 prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027. A series of special events are already on sale, including performances from Maisie Peters, Jorja Smith and SOMBR, with further announcements to follow in the coming months. O2 customers will continue to receive access to tickets through Priority, which has sold more than 3.9 million tickets at The O2 over the course of its partnership.
Co-op Live to Host 2031 Netball World Cup
World Netball (WN) has today announced that England Netball has been awarded the rights to host the 18th edition of the Netball World Cup (NWC) in 2031.
The announcement comes in England Netball's centenary year. The NWC2031 will be the fourth time England has hosted, following the inaugural edition in Eastbourne in 1963, where England won bronze, the 1995 edition in Birmingham, and the record-breaking Vitality NWC2019 in Liverpool.
The pinnacle event, featuring 16 of the world’s best netball nations, will be held at Co-op Live in Manchester, one of the world’s leading next-generation live entertainment arenas. The announcement builds on the venue’s history-making Soft & Gentle Netball Super League Grand Final, where netball became the first ball sport and the first sporting final to be staged there.
With the backing of UK Sport and Manchester City Council, England Netball set out a clear vision in their successful bid for the NWC2031, one that aligns powerfully with WN’s strategic mission to grow, play and inspire. Through the hosting of the event, WN and England Netball will together lead a Global Netball Revolution in a city built on innovation, collaboration and courage, to define the next chapter of WN’s journey, and transcend the power of sport to empower, connect and inspire the global netball family.
WN President Dame Liz Nicholl DBE said: “On behalf of World Netball I am delighted to award England Netball the rights to host the Netball World Cup 2031.
“England last hosted our pinnacle event the Vitality Netball World Cup in 2019, for which the legacy still lives on globally through Net2019 legacy projects in Zambia and Argentina, as well as in Great Britain where 160,000 women were inspired to start playing or play more netball because of the event.
“After reviewing their strong bid, I am confident England Netball will host another thrilling international event, and I am excited to see what we can achieve together in 2031 and beyond.”
Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of England Netball, commented: “As a proud Northerner, I am absolutely thrilled to see the world’s biggest netball event coming to Manchester.
“This is a city with an incredible sporting heritage and a real passion for bringing people together through sport.
“To have the best netball players in the world coming to Manchester is a hugely exciting prospect, and I know the city will give them the welcome they deserve. “This is a fantastic opportunity not only to showcase our sport on the biggest stage, but also to inspire the next generation of players and fans.”
Fran Connolly, Chief Executive of England Netball, added: “Building on the huge success and legacy of Liverpool 2019, the Netball World Cup 2031 gives us a powerful platform to grow the visibility, profile and impact of women’s sport and netball across the UK.
“Having witnessed the spectacle of the Soft & Gentle Netball Super League Grand Final at Co-op Live earlier this summer, we know Manchester is the perfect stage on which to take our sport to another level.
“The energy, atmosphere and ambition we saw in the arena demonstrated what is possible when women’s sport is given the platform and investment it deserves.
“Hosting the Netball World Cup in Manchester will allow us to showcase the very best of our sport to a global audience, inspire more people to pick up a netball, and create a lasting legacy for players, fans and communities.
“We can’t wait to work with World Netball and our delivery partners to deliver an event that sets a new benchmark for how women’s sport is presented, experienced and valued.”
Delivered with the backing of UK Sport and Manchester City Council, the NWC2031 aligns with UK Sport’s ambition to bring the biggest and best sporting events to the UK through its Making Live Sport Matter strategy.
The tournament represents another important milestone in the drive to make the coming decade one of transformational progress for women's and girls' sport.
Esther Britten MBE, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport, said: “This is fantastic news for netball, for Manchester and for women’s sport across the UK.
“The Netball World Cup in 2031 will be a landmark moment in this decade of women’s sport for the UK and represents another of the biggest and best sporting events in the world coming to the UK’s shores.
“Time and again, we’ve seen how major sporting events inspire people, bring communities together and create unforgettable experiences for fans and I am certain that Manchester 2031 will do all of that and much more.
“We’re proud to support England Netball in bringing the Netball World Cup back to the UK and look forward to working with our partners to deliver an outstanding tournament.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said: "Hosting the Netball World Cup at Co-op Live in 2031 will be a landmark moment for Greater Manchester and women’s sport.
“Building on our city region’s proud sporting heritage and track record of staging major international events, the tournament will showcase world-class netball from 16 competing countries to a global audience, inspire more people to take part in the sport and create a lasting legacy for communities across Greater Manchester.
“We look forward to working with England Netball, World Netball and partners to deliver an unforgettable event."
Councillor Shazia Butt, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Libraries, Manchester City Council said: “We are absolutely delighted that Manchester has been chosen to host the Netball World Cup in 2031. “As the home of AO Thunder and a city with a proud tradition of showcasing women’s sport, this is a tremendous moment for us.
“Building on the successful staging of the Netball Super League Final at Co-op Live earlier this year and Manchester’s recent recognition as a Top 10 Global Sporting City for the eighth-year running, the City continues to strengthen its reputation as a leading destination for netball, driven by sporting ambition and opportunity. “We look forward to welcoming the world and delivering an unforgettable celebration of elite netball and women’s sport.”
Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Netball World Cup to Manchester in 2031. “Manchester is a leading destination for netball as home to one of the UK’s strongest netball franchises, AO Thunder.
“The Netball World Cup is a premium global event and further cements Manchester’s reputation for delivering world-class women’s sporting events which includes the T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup this summer, and the Tour de France Femmes in 2027.”
Katie Musham, New Event Development for Oak View Group, owner and operator of Co-op Live, said: “Co-op Live and Oak View Group are delighted to play our part in bringing the Netball World Cup to the great city of Manchester in 2031.
“Manchester’s sporting legacy is unparalleled, and our home on the Etihad Campus embodies the energy and prestige an event this stature deserves.
“We look forward to building on successfully hosting the Soft & Gentle Netball Super League Grand Final this summer and further strengthening our relationship with England Netball and World Netball, to celebrate the sport, the UK’s globally renowned sporting infrastructure, and the importance of women in sport.”
WN is progressing the bidding process for further events in its international events calendar, with the NWC set to take place every two years from 2031 and will share further updates in due course.
The next edition of the Netball World Cup will be held in Sydney, Australia in just under one year.
Populous appointed to lead London Stadium development vision
London Stadium has appointed Populous as Lead Consultant to explore development and leisure opportunities on land surrounding London Stadium at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The commission will examine how the stadium and the wider campus could evolve into a leisure-led, mixed-use destination that complements London Stadium’s successful programme of sport, music and major events. The work will focus on improving the visitor experience, attracting more people throughout the year and creating sustainable long-term value from the publicly owned site.
Populous will lead a multidisciplinary design team to develop a spatial strategy for London Stadium and help shape a shared planning vision with the London Borough of Newham. The team will work closely with the venue and its separately appointed commercial advisers to test the emerging business case, assess deliverability and prepare material for engagement with potential development partners, investors and operators.
Building on feasibility work completed in 2024, the study will consider a range of complementary uses. These may include leisure and entertainment experiences, hospitality, hotels, conferencing, food and beverage, and a potential secondary venue, alongside other uses where they support a viable and coherent plan.
The proposals will also consider public realm and landscape improvements across the wider island, including its canal side setting, movement and connections with the surrounding Park and emerging neighbourhoods. The work will be guided by clear principles for sustainability, climate resilience and inclusion, while protecting the Stadium’s ability to operate safely and efficiently in different event configurations.
A London Stadium spokesperson said: “London Stadium is a successful, year-round, multi-use venue, enjoying a unique setting at the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“We have now appointed Populous to explore potential development and leisure opportunities that will further enhance this outstanding London destination.”
Declan Sharkey, Global Director and Senior Principal at Populous, said: “London Stadium has a rare combination of a globally recognised venue, excellent transport connections and a distinctive setting within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Our work will explore how new leisure, hospitality and public realm uses could make better use of the surrounding land, strengthen connections with the Park and create a destination that works on event days and throughout the year.
“As Lead Consultant, we will bring together the design, operational, commercial and planning requirements to shape a clear and deliverable vision for London Stadium and the communities it serves.”
IUF Announce Strategic Partnership With Pattison ID
Audio-visual and digital integration leader, IUF, has announced a partnership with physical branded environments expert Pattison ID that will see the two companies work together to form a strategic partnership to offer enhanced digital and connected experience across North America. The expanded agreement means IUF is now able to offer complex, large-scale deployment to stadiums, arenas and conference centres across Canada and the United States via Pattison’s six manufacturing facilities in theregion and their impressive team of almost 1,000 worldwide.
"North America represents an exciting opportunity for IUF. Over the past several years we've built upincredible expertise delivering large complex LED, digital signage and IPTV solutions for stadiums and arenas across Europe, and I'm excited to bring our skills and vision to North America, said Josh Bunce, Chief Executive Officer, IUF. “Joining up with Pattison ID allows us to combine our innovative, flexible and scalableapproach with one of the continent's largest and most respected implementation businesses. Together, we'reable to offer stadiums, arenas and venues a seamless journey from strategy and design through to deliveryand long-term performance, all through a single partner."
“At Pattison, we have decades of experience in helping organisations transform their physical environments to serve their customers better,” said Marco Calabretta-Duval, President, Pattison ID. “IUF brings a complementary set of digital, creative, technology and software capabilities as well as their vast ambition andextensive experience in elevating sports venues with large scale digital displays and integrated systems.Together we can deliver together for clients across North America, particularly within the stadium and arenaspace."
The partnership means ambitious digital installations from concourse signage and exterior LED displays suchas huge halo screens, dynamic ribbon displays and scoreboards through to IPTV distribution, menu boards and digital fan experiences can now be delivered end-to-end by working with a single, trusted supplier, rather than coordinating multiple vendors across strategy, technology and on-the-ground delivery.
With a proven track record of deploying a variety of digital solutions within stadium settings, IUF has recentlyfinished installations in the O2 Arena Belfast, First Direct Arena in Leeds and the AO Arena Manchester andhas worked with sports brands including the NBA, England Cricket Board and Manchester City FC. As organisations increasingly look to improve customer and fan experience while generating greater operational efficiency and revenue opportunities from their physical environments, the partnership enables clients to benefit from global innovation alongside trusted local delivery.
IRWIN Named as Seating Supplier for Republic Stadium Sacramento
Sacramento Republic FC today announced IRWIN as the Official Seating Supplier for Republic Stadium, the club’s new soccer-specific venue under construction at The Railyards in downtown Sacramento. Irwin will be supplying Venue360 – a seating system designed to create better fan experiences throughout the venue, from the energy of the supporters’ section to the comfort of the stadium’s most premium spaces.
“Every seating experience at our new stadium gets a substantial upgrade through our partnership with IRWIN,” said Republic FC Chief Revenue Officer Dustin Vicari. “From the newest premium offerings — which fans can preview at the Republic Preview Center — to the supporters’ safe standing section and everything in between, we’re giving fans new options built for comfort and reliability.”
“This is exactly what Venue360 was created for,” said Fred Hannapel, Director of Sales. “One stadium. Thousands of fans. Multiple ways to experience a match. Republic FC is putting the fan at the center of every decision, and IRWIN is thrilled we could help put every fan in a better seat — and help create an incredible new place to bring people together.”
Working with IRWIN, the club developed a seating program that upgrades the fan experience throughout the venue. Fans in thegeneral seating bowl will have individual chairback seats, replacing the bleacher-style sections at the club’s current home. At 19 inches wide, general seating also gives fans more room than Republic FC’s current seating options to enjoy the match.Safe standing sections will feature railing and seats that fold flat for supporters who prefer to spend 90 minutes on their feet, chanting, singing and bringing the noise.
The upgrade continues into Republic Stadium’s club and premium spaces. As the club prepares to unveil its premium seating program at the Republic Preview Center, fans will discover seating designed around greater space, comfort andchoice. Club seating options will feature 22-or 24-inch-wide seats, with padded seating standard in the stadium’s premier clubsections. Select locations will introduce breathable mesh-backed seating, while select suite environments will take comfort even further with cinema-inspired lounge seating.
Behind that comfort is the same commercial-grade engineering IRWIN brings to stadiums, arenas, performing arts venues and entertainment destinations around the world. Venue360 is designed not simply for opening day, but for the thousands of matchdays, concerts, events and celebrations that follow — with durable materials, replaceable components and seating engineered for the demands of a modern venue.
The first opportunity to experience the new seating options will be at the Republic Preview Center. Season Ticket Members andstadium seat depositors will receive priority seat selection and will be able to schedule appointments in the coming weeks. Fans can also purchase 2027 season ticket memberships and place deposits on available seating types to secure prioritystatus.
St Louis CITY SC renew with Evolv Technology
Evolv Technologies Holdings, a leading security technology company pioneering AI-based solutions designed to create safer experiences, today announced that Major League Soccer team, St. Louis CITY SC, has entered a multi-year renewal agreement for Evolv Express®, the company’s people-screening solution. Express has been in use at Energizer Park, the team’s 22,423-seat home stadium, since its opening in 2023. Nearly two million people have been screened to date using Evolv Express at CITY SC matches and community events.
The renewal, which maintains Evolv’s status as CITY SC’s “Official Fan Screening Partner,” has updated the Express fleet to all Gen2 hardware, which went live in April. Evolv Express uses advanced sensor technology and AI to detect concealed threats and identify the person and location of the potential threat, while allowing people to move through checkpoints at their natural walking pace. The system is designed to screen visitors effectively while helping minimize congestion and disruption to traffic flow at entry points. The new Gen2 hardware adds enhanced mobility, improved camera resolution, and other features to the equipment fleet. Gen2 has progressively been rolling out across North American sports facilities as existing Evolv customers renew, and new teams and venues join Evolv’s roster.
“Since our inaugural season, our partnership with Evolv has helped enhance our fan experience while not compromising safety,” said Matt Sebek, Chief Experience Officer, St. Louis CITY SC. “It’s our goal to make Energizer Park one of the most innovative and efficient stadiums in MLS. Extending our relationship with Evolv and updating our Express units to the latest hardware helps us continue to deliver an efficient arrival experience for our fans and staff from the moment they enter the stadium.”
“CITY SC is another in a growing list of teams and venues that have elected to renew and extend their Express subscription agreement far ahead of the end of the initial term,” said John Baier, Evolv Vice President of Sports & Entertainment. “We’re grateful for the vote of confidence that these renewals illustrate, and appreciate the opportunity to deliver our latest product and enhanced fan arrival experience to hundreds of thousands of St. Louis soccer fans each season.”
The CITY SC renewal is further evidence of Evolv’s strong and stable position in American professional soccer. With other recent additions in MLS, Evolv serves 15 professional soccer teams, a 50% market share. These soccer teams join many other professional sports teams and venues around the world on the Evolv sports and entertainment customer list.