Vitality Stadium renovation: Planning application approved
AFC Bournemouth has announced that planning permission has been granted for the enabling works at Vitality Stadium, marking an important milestone in the club’s long-term vision for redevelopment and future expansion.
The approved works will deliver significant improvements to the stadium’s infrastructure and matchday experience.
These include the installation of a new perimeter fence and turnstiles, revisions to pedestrian and cycle routes, the creation of a new outside broadcast area, and the enclosure of terraces within the West Stand.
Together, these developments will enhance safety, accessibility, and operational efficiency, while laying the groundwork for future phases of the club’s ambitious redevelopment plans.
The enabling works represent a vital step towards creating a modernised Vitality Stadium that reflects AFC Bournemouth’s growth on and off the pitch.
“This is an exciting and important moment for the club. Our proposed new stadium reflects not only our ambition on the pitch, but also our commitment to investing in the community. The project will deliver long-term benefits for supporters, local residents, and the wider region beyond the BCP area,” said Bill Foley, owner of AFC Bournemouth.
The club will now move forward with detailed planning and implementation, with further updates to be shared in due course ahead of a vibrant future for supporters and the local community.
Meet the Creators of Tomorrow at Spark 2026: ISE 2026
Integrated Systems Events has unveiled the partners and curated content programme for Spark, the new showcase for the creative industries at ISE 2026, taking place 3–6 February at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via. Spark addresses the industry’s need for an event that unites the creative sectors bringing together gaming, broadcast, design, live events, and media inside one immersive experience.
Partners driving Spark include headline sponsor Samsung, strategic technology partners Mo-Sys, 3Cat and Lab of Tomorrow, as well as supporting partners CFLEX Event Solutions, Silver Music Entertainment, and LVP – Liga de Videojuegos Profesional (GRUP MEDIAPRO). Together, they will power keynotes, sessions, and brand experiences designed to unite the global creative community and demonstrate the future of digital creativity in real time.
Global Innovators Powering the Future of Creative Technology
At the heart of Spark’s programme is a series of immersive installations and live experiences showcasing how creative technology is transforming storytelling and audience engagement. Samsung will lead the showcase with its IVC Series Virtual Production Indoor LED signage. Attendees will experience firsthand how this LED technology empowers studios across broadcast, film, XR, and live events to push the boundaries of storytelling.
“Samsung has been working in broadcast, media & entertainment, live events, and gaming for some years now, designing our display technology to suit the specific requirements of each market. So, when we heard about the Spark event we wanted to be involved and are happy to support its inauguration, and we hope it will remain a core feature of ISE for years to come,” said Simon Jackson, Vice President of Samsung Europe.
3Cat, Catalonia’s leading audiovisual media corporation, will present an interactive experience inspired by its new video game Manairons, rooted in Catalan folklore. Visitors can explore a three-screen cube through gesture-based interaction and try a demo outside the cube. Co-produced with JanduSoft and with Flop Work as technology and interactive partner, the project highlights 3Cat as a creative-tech media hub and producer of innovative digital storytelling.
Lab of Tomorrow, the entertainment innovation arm of Tomorrowland, will pull out all of the stops, featuring their extraordinary Floating Sky, as seen at Tomorrowland 2025. Demonstrating how sound, imagery, lighting, and operational expertise converge to transform live environments. Supported by partners including KLSTR, Prismax, Fisheye, XineRobotics, and Areal, Floating Sky reflects the power of collaboration across creative, technical, and operational disciplines, turning ideas into scalable, future-proof live experiences.
Together, these activations and partnerships reflect Spark’s ambition to drive collaboration, inspire innovation, and unlock new creative possibilities across industries.
Edgbaston Stadium becomes first UK venue to deploy AI-driven enquiry handling
Edgbaston Stadium has become the first UK venue to deploy AI-driven enquiry handling, qualification, and proposal automation by partnering with event and venue management software leader, iVvy, as they launch Instant Proposal - powered by hivr.ai.
It is the first product in its new iVvyAI suite designed to automate and speed up meetings and groups sales.
With enquiry response times now heavily influencing conversions in meetings and groups, Instant Proposal gives hotels and venues the ability to respond within seconds instead of hours, removing manual admin and accelerating the entire enquiry-to-proposal workflow.
Instant Proposal uses hivr.ai’s email AI to automatically read and extract details from an enquiry, generating proposals within seconds directly within iVvy.
The launch also introduces a major new capability to the meetings and groups industry: AI-powered lead qualification and scoring, available for the first time through iVvyAI and powered by hivr.ai’s intelligence engine. Edgbaston Stadium is the first UK venue to deploy this capability, using AI to analyse incoming event enquiries, identify those most ready to progress, and prioritise responses with greater speed and consistently.
Lauren Hall, CEO of iVvy, said “This launch represents a major step forward for how venues manage demand. Instant Proposal – powered by hivr.ai brings automation and intelligence into the heart of the sales process, helping teams respond faster and win more business. Edgbaston’s early adoption shows just how transformative this can be.”
The launch marks a significant evolution for iVvy, embedding AI directly into its platform to remove manual admin, reduce friction, and streamline sales workflows. By integrating hivr.ai’s adaptive intelligence layer, iVvy AI delivers automation and speed to one of hospitality’s most manually intensive processes and gives venues a competitive edge in a market where speed directly influences revenue.
Felix Undeutsch, CEO of hivr.ai, said “We built hivr.ai to remove the operational bottlenecks that hold back meetings and group sales. Creating proposals is one of the most critical – and slowest – parts of group and meeting sales, yet we know speed is everything. On average, 26 percent of same-day proposals convert, while next-day responses drop to just 15 percent. Every delay risks lost revenue.”
At Edgbaston, the technology is already helping the team capture and qualify enquiries faster, reduce admin, and focus on higher-value commercial activity.
“We receive a high volume of enquiries across multiple channels, and speed and prioritisation are crucial. With AI-powered lead scoring and Instant Proposal capabilities, we can quickly identify our warm and hot leads, allowing sales teams to focus on the enquiries that are the best fit for our venue. It also frees up more time for consultative selling while AI handles initial qualification. It’s transforming how we work and how we serve our customers, and we’re already seeing strong results,” said Angela Sanders, Head of Conference and Event Sales at Edgbaston Stadium.
Instant Proposal launches first with email, with plans to launch voice and other features soon. The collaboration will expand to additional venues and markets across 2026.
New Dinamo Bucharest Multi-Purpose Arena: Work Officially Commences
Work has officially started on the construction of CS Dinamo București's new multipurpose stadium. The ground is projected to meet the standards of UEFA category four, making it one of Europe's best sporting facilities.
Bulldozers demolished the "horseshoe" structure at the Șoseaua Ștefan cel Mare entrance, which has served as the main access point since the stadium was built in the early 1950s.
According to the contractors involved, the project is scheduled for completion within 25 months, following the ground-breaking ceremony at the site. The event was attended by representatives of the institutions involved in the project, legends of Dinamo football, and nearly 500 supporters.
"Since taking over as President of the Dinamo Sports Club, my primary objective has been the delivery of the new stadium. Here we are today at this wonderful moment, which represents both an end and a new beginning. It is a moment that will remind us, for years to come, of the collective effort we have all put in. This was a team effort. I would like to thank all the stakeholders involved: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Sector 2 Town Hall, the National Investment Company, and the Ministry of Development," said Ionuț Adrian Popa, President of CS Dinamo.
"We are honoured to be here and to be part of this project. I am referring to the consortium of four companies with extensive experience in sports infrastructure projects. This is a very emotional moment for us too; the keyword here is 'responsibility.' We promise to strictly adhere to both the contractual deadlines and the budget we have committed to for building this multi-purpose arena," added Sorin Greu, CEO of Bog'Art.
Rays enter non-binding agreement to pursue stadium plan at Hillsborough College
The Rays have officially identified their preferred location for a new ballpark, the first step in a process that they hope will secure their long-term future in the Tampa Bay area.
The Hillsborough College District Board of Trustees on Tuesday afternoon voted unanimously to approve a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Rays to pursue a partnership to redevelop the college’s approximately 113-acre Dale Mabry campus in Tampa in a project that would include a new stadium and mixed-use development.
The campus is located near Tampa International Airport, across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium and just south of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ Spring Training facility that the Rays used as their temporary home with Tropicana Field unavailable last year.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlines a plan for the Rays and Hillsborough College to develop three key parts of the project: a new MLB stadium, a mixed-use development and new facilities for Hillsborough College.
“There's still great work ahead of us to be able to bring this to reality,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a press conference after the vote. “But what I can say with certainty is that we believe with conviction that we're going to be able to create a world-class work-live-learn-play development here in Tampa Bay, and we're very, very encouraged and pleased by today's outcome.”
Tuesday was only the first step in a lengthy process -- “an agreement to begin putting together a definitive agreement,” as Babby put it, and one the Rays took several times under previous owner Stuart Sternberg.
But it represents the start of what managing partner Patrick Zalupski called the new group’s “first and highest priority” -- finding a “forever home” in the Tampa Bay area, with a stated goal of opening in time for the 2029 season. The two sides have 180 days to exclusively negotiate and vote on a final agreement.
The group led by Zalupski, co-chair Bill Cosgrove and Babby officially took control of the Rayson Sept. 30. Since then, the Rays have been busy working to identify sites that would satisfy the criteria they laid out in their introductory press conference: “a great location and as much land as we can get,” specifically more than 100 acres.
The Hillsborough College site fits the bill, given its size and placement. During the meeting, Babby offered a little more about what the Rays have imagined for the site, if they come to an official agreement. Babby presented a conceptual plan that divided the area into three zones.
First is “Champions Quarter,” the site for a new ballpark and the surrounding amenities, located in the southeast corner at the intersection of Dale Mabry and W Tampa Bay Boulevard. Second is “Innovation Edge,” featuring Hillsborough College’s new facilities. Third is “The Canopy,” described as a “parkside neighborhood shaped by shade, greenery, belonging, and the rhythms of everyday life.” Through it all is “The Row,” a “signature street” running across the development.
Babby did not share any details about the Rays’ plan for the ballpark itself, although he noted they are working “feverishly” alongside architecture, design and planning firm Gensler as well as ballpark design firm Populous.
“That work is happening by the hour, every day and week, and we look forward to sharing more on that in the days and weeks to come,” Babby said.
Speaking at an unrelated news conference in Pinellas Park on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters he supports the partnership and wants to see the Rays succeed in the Tampa Bay area.
“Baseball can succeed in the Tampa Bay area. I have no doubt it can succeed,” DeSantis said. “I think you’ve got to have the right ownership. … I think that the new Rays ownership is committed to doing that.”
The new HC facilities, referred to in the MOU as the “College District,” would be located by the southwest corner of the property, facing North Lois Avenue, with the area retained by the college and not leased to the Rays. The document states that the Rays’ construction of the stadium and the mixed-use development “shall be done in a manner so as to minimize interference with HC’s operations and activities,” including the demolition of the current campus and the construction of temporary facilities.
Dr. Ken Atwater, president of Hillsborough College, said the partnership would be a “transformational opportunity” for the school and its students. Reimagining the Dale Mabry location would be a welcome development, he said, noting the more than $50 million in renovation the current campus needs.
“We’re excited to take this important step forward with the Rays and to help set the stage for the City and County as they move into the next phase of this process,” Hillsborough College Board of Trustees chair Gregory Celestan said. “Welcoming the Rays home to this site while creating a live, work, play and learn district is an extraordinary opportunity, and we’re ready to help get this project in motion.”
The rest of the property would be leased to the Rays for a term of “not less than 99 years,” according to the MOU, and the new stadium’s ownership would be transferred to Hillsborough County if public funding is required to develop it. The document did not provide any other details regarding the potential financing of the redevelopment project, except that the parties “will negotiate in good faith to agree on an ownership and financing structure.”
The Rays would be responsible for construction of the mixed-use development, according to the MOU, a project that “may consist of, but is not limited to, hotels, retail space, multifamily buildings, sports and health related buildings, commercial buildings, parking structures, restaurants and other related buildings.” The Rays would have “sole and exclusive control” over the mixed-use development while it’s being built and afterward.
Sphere Entertainment Co. announces plans for new Maryland venue
Sphere Entertainment Co. the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies announced today their intent to develop a new Sphere venue – which would be the second in the U.S. and first to utilise a smaller-scale design model – at National Harbour, a premier destination in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The addition of Sphere would create a new Maryland landmark that drives significant economic, cultural and community benefits for the County, State, and region, and provides unparalleled immersive experiences powered by advanced technologies.
“Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sphere Entertainment. “Sphere is a new experiential medium. With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and visitors, Governor Moore, County Executive Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate and advance immersive experiences across the area.”
“Maryland has a long history of providing world-class entertainment and we could not be more excited to work with Sphere Entertainment to bring this cutting-edge project to life,” said Governor Wes Moore. “This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George’s County history – proving once again our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life. We’re excited for what this means for our people, and how it will showcase the best of what Maryland has to offer to everyone who visits.”
“This is a world-class win and an incredibly exciting moment for Prince George’s County. This achievement reflects the strong partnership we have built with Governor Wes Moore and the State of Maryland, as well as a disciplined, experienced team that knows how to compete and win major projects at a national scale,” said Prince George's County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. “As only the second Sphere venue in the United States, this project demonstrates the future of economic development in Prince George’s County, how we compete, how we win, and how we attract other world-class destinations that will become flagship projects for our County, our State, and the entire region. I love winning for Prince George’s County.”
“We are excited to partner with Sphere Entertainment, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County to bring a Sphere to National Harbor,” said Jon Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of the Peterson Companies. “This innovative project will further reinforce National Harbor as the national capital region’s premier destination for conventions, entertainment, retail and dining, and hospitality; deliver more economic activity and jobs; and elevate National Harbor, and Maryland, as one of the country’s preeminent tourism and entertainment hubs.”
This project would utilize a combination of public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. Sphere would support approximately 2,500 jobs during the construction phase, and 4,750 jobs once operational, in addition to generating millions in additional revenue for the County and State. Once open, the economic impact of Sphere National Harbor is expected to be greater than $1 billion annually.
Located just 15 minutes from Washington, D.C., National Harbor is a top entertainment and tourism destination in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) region. Situated along the Potomac River, National Harbor offers world-class entertainment, dining, retail, gaming, convention, and leisure activities to more than 15 million visitors annually. A Sphere at National Harbor would become a major year-round draw, offering an array of immersive experiences, including original Sphere Experiences, concerts, and brand events, for residents and the millions of domestic and international visitors who travel to the area each year.
Sphere in Las Vegas was recently ranked #1 on both Billboard’s and Pollstar’s 2025 lists of top-grossing venues worldwide. As part of Sphere Entertainment’s vision for a global network of venues, which now includes Sphere in Las Vegas and the planned venue in Abu Dhabi, the Company has designed plans for various sized Spheres that deliver the fully immersive experiences that are the signature of Sphere in Las Vegas.
The proposed National Harbor venue would be the first smaller-scale Sphere, with capacity of 6,000 seats. Smaller-scale Spheres would feature an Exosphere – the exterior LED display of Sphere that showcases both artistic and branded content and reaches audiences globally. The venue would also feature a 16K x 16K interior display plane – the world’s highest-resolution LED screen. All of Sphere’s advanced technologies would be incorporated, including Sphere Immersive Sound, as well as haptic seating and 4D environmental effects.
Any construction, development, financing and operation of a Sphere venue at National Harbour is contingent upon, among other things, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, as well as receipt of certain governmental incentives and approvals from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.
BDP Pattern reveals design for new El Campin Stadium in Bogota
BDP Pattern, the sports and entertainment division of global multidisciplinary design practice, BDP has unveiled the concept design for the redevelopment of Estadio Nemesio Camacho, known as El Campín Stadium in Bogota, Colombia, creating a new landmark and entertainment district in the capital city.
Developed in collaboration with Sencia Colombia and engineering partner WSP, the ambitious project will transform the site of the historic existing El Campín Stadium into a world-class, mixed-use destination for sport, music, culture, and leisure - a new civic heart for Bogotá and a cultural hub for Colombia.
At the core of the development is a new 50,000-capacity stadium, a bold and modern replacement for El Campín, the historic home of Millonarios F.C. and Club Independiente Santa Fe. Designed to meet the highest international standards, the new stadium will feature a retractable roof, enabling year-round programming of sports, concerts, and large-scale performances.
Sustainability is crucial to the design, with proposals to incorporate energy-efficient systems, local materials and green spaces that reflect Bogotá’s unique landscape. The venue sets a new benchmark for Colombian sport and entertainment, creating a modern, future-facing home for two of the country’s most celebrated football clubs.
The masterplan has been carefully designed to allow the stadium to operate independently and simultaneously with the wider district. Public spaces, pedestrian routes and operational planning have been integrated to ensure smooth event-day logistics while maintaining the vibrancy of the surrounding neighbourhood.
The project is currently at the concept design stage. BDP Pattern has been appointed as Lead Design Consultant. The new stadium will be built alongside the existing El Campín, allowing all football matches and concerts to continue without interruption throughout the development phase.
Populous-designed Munich Arena plans approved by City Council
The new Munich Arena, designed by Populous, has taken another step in its journey to becoming one of the finest live events venues in Europe. This comes after planning for the new 20,000 capacity arena was approved by The Committee for Planning, Building and the Environment at Munich City Council.
This is an important step in the development and planning procedure and it sends a clear signal: the planning is progressing in a structured, reliable manner and with noticeable momentum.
What the Munich Arena stands for:
• World-class concerts – clear priority on sight, acoustics and fan experience
• From the region, for the region - for fans, for artists & organisers
• Lighthouse project with impact – culturally, touristically and economically
Deloitte expects around € 350 million p.a. added value for the city and region in operation. Concert guests who go out to eat, shop, stay overnight, strengthen gastronomy, hotels, trade - plus regional services and crafts; especially in economically challenging times, this is a real ray of hope.
"The decision is another important milestone for our Munich Arena. The close, objective cooperation with the city, administration and city council is a real added value – it helps to advance the planning precisely and in high quality. Our goal is a first-class concert arena for Munich and Bavaria – with clear priority on sight, acoustics and fan experience. At the same time, we think of the place as part of the environment: with a plaza and open spaces that create a quality of stay," said Lorenz Schmid, Managing Partner of the Munich Arena.
"The Munich Arena is a project with international aspirations – consistently intended for live entertainment. The milestone reached shows the care with which and in what close exchange the planning proceeds. We are creating an arena that offers first-class experiences for artists and fans alike – and further strengthens Munich and Bavaria as a concert location," added Tom Lynch, Live Nation, President, Venues EMEA.
The planning team, who prepared documents and presented them at the meeting, included: HENN, Populous, LATZ+PARTNER, schlaich bergermann partner sbp, Drees & Sommer
Udinese Calcio's Bluenergy Stadium celebrates tenth anniversary
Bluenergy Stadium, the home of Udinese Calcio, celebrates its tenth anniversary tomorrow on the occasion of the match against Inter Milan. Since its inauguration on January 17, 2016, the new stadium in Udine has established itself as one of the most modern and welcoming venues in the country, with a strong focus on sustainability.
Since the match against Juventus in January 2016, Udinese have played 208 matches in Serie A and the Coppa Italia at Bluenergy Stadium, with an average attendance of over 20,000 fans (20,567) over the years. The all-time attendance record dates back to January 29, 2017, when 26,008 spectators attended Udinese’s 2–1 victory over Milan.
Over these ten years, Bluenergy Stadium has also hosted numerous major events. In addition to high-profile friendlies between Udinese and West Ham, Athletic Club and Chelsea, the stadium has welcomed the Italian national football team on five occasions, the Italian rugby national team twice — set to return in 2026 — four matches of the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, including the final between Spain and Germany, and the 2025 UEFA Super Cup, won by Paris Saint-Germain against Tottenham, the most important sporting event ever held in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
However, Udinese’s stadium is more than just a sporting venue. Since 2024, Bluenergy Stadium has once again hosted major concerts, welcoming artists such as Zucchero and Negramaro and preparing to host leading names from the Italian music scene, including Vasco Rossi, Eros Ramazzotti, and Zucchero.
The new stadium has enabled the club to more than double its matchday revenues, organise increasingly prestigious events and develop one of the most advanced hospitality services in Europe through the Udinese Club House, while also implementing its sustainability vision. The roof of Bluenergy Stadium features the first solar park ever installed in an Italian stadium, which led to the creation of Italian football’s first Renewable Energy Community. This initiative, together with the elimination of plastic in hospitality areas, the introduction of smoke-free zones, and the widespread presence of recycling points, helps make Udinese’s stadium the greenest in Italy.
Much has changed over the past ten years, but the ambition to continue improving and to serve as an important benchmark for the community has only grown, particularly with the aim of minimising environmental impact and acting as a driving force for tourism and the economy of the city of Udine and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.