ADI recognised for game-changing impact on football
ADI has been named Best Business Serving Football (Over 100 Employees) at this year’s Football Business Awards 2026.
The prestigious award recognises nearly 30 years of supporting clubs, governing bodies and rights holders across every level of the game.
Since installing UK football’s first stadium LED screens in 1997 ADI have been at the forefront of football venue fan engagement. Today, ADI delivers integrated solutions spanning stadium LED installations, sports presentation, remote production workflows, creative content and live event operations, all through one connected business.
Added value for fans and commercial partners
ADI’s technology and content eco system helps clubs modernise matchday presentation, strengthen sponsorship opportunities and enhance supporter engagement.
They dominate the UK stadium digital infrastructure market, where they have installed and operate screens, digiBOARD and signage platforms in well over 50% of Premier League and Championship venue. ADI’s Live Venue remote production network centralises and simplifies matchday content delivery for clubs, delivering thousands of hours of live matchday content to millions of fans each season direct from their Lancashire HQ.
Notable recent projects include Villa Park, where ADI recently delivered one of Europe’s largest and highest-resolution digital stadium platforms. The long-standing partnership with Aston Villa also includes the transformation of the club store along with a revamp of Villa’s warehouse to heighten the club’s fan journey. Find out more here: https://www.adi.tv/projects/aston-villa
Delivering the modern football experience
Beyond permanent installations, ADI continues to support UEFA and The FA at a federation level at major international events, including sports presentation, fan engagement and ceremony delivery across England men’s, women’s and U21 fixtures. In particular, ADI’s inclusive, interactive pre-match entertainment has become a staple of The Lionesses fixtures in recent years.
ADI have been pivotal to the successful launch of Baller League UK in the UK, delivering high-energy arena productions designed to engage younger audiences across broadcast, live streams and social media platforms.
Lasting legacy
The Football Business Awards accolade recognises ADI’s fully integrated approach, which combines the design, manufacture and installation of LED technology with in-house creative production, live event delivery, sports presentation and digital storytelling.
Working directly with clubs from initial concept consultancy through to ongoing delivery, this complete service has delivered longstanding partnerships of over 20 years with a number of UK clubs.
Outside of the top tiers, ADI have helped embed digital stadium technology in the lower leagues, with notable recent installations in clubs such as Stockport and Forest Green Rovers helping to modernise and uplift stadiums whilst providing clubs with broader and stable income streams to attract local community investment.
Judges described ADI as “synonymous with football”, recognising the company’s long-standing role in helping shape modern matchday and ‘New Era’ experiences across the sport.
They continued: “ADI provide an excellent service to their client clubs and are always looking for creative and innovative ways to improve the service they offer, which in turn help clubs to generate more revenue and build relationships with their own commercial partners. ADI clearly display an understanding for clubs’ requirements and for future development in the digital sector of the industry.”
Geraint Williams, Founder and Group CEO of ADI, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement for everyone across ADI and reflects the passion, creativity and technical expertise our teams bring to every project. ADI would like to thank all of its clients, partners and collaborators across the football industry for their continued support and trust. From clubs and governing bodies to venues, sponsors and production partners, these relationships continue to drive innovation and help shape the modern matchday experience across the game.”
NBA confirm teams coming to Manchester and Paris
The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that the New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs will play regular-season games at the Accor Arena in Paris, France, on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027, and at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, as part of the league’s multiyear slate of regular-season games in Europe.
The NBA Paris Game 2027 presented by Tissot will mark the 16th game featuring an NBA team in France since 1991 and the league’s sixth regular-season game in Paris. The NBA Manchester Game 2027 will mark the 20th game featuring an NBA team in England since 1993, the league’s second game in Manchester and first regular-season game in the city.
“Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe,” said NBA Managing Director, Europe and Middle East, George Aivazoglou. “As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities.”
“Participating in these games in Paris and Manchester is an incredible opportunity for our organisation to proudly represent both the Pelicans franchise and the City of New Orleans on an international stage,” said Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars. “These games provide a unique platform to showcase our team, our culture and our community to global audiences while building meaningful relationships with fans, partners and communities abroad. We are grateful to be part of the NBA’s continued international growth efforts, and we are excited to help grow the game globally and connect with new generations of basketball fans.”
“It’s an incredible honour to make our return to France and play our first-ever game in England, given the strong embrace we’ve felt from the community and fans across Europe,” said Spurs CEO RC Buford. “Bringing world-class basketball, community impact engagements and compelling fan activations to a European market, alongside the league, aligns directly with our organisation's vision to unite our global audience through unforgettable experiences and a shared love of sports.”
The Pelicans, who will be playing their third and fourth games in Europe and first in France and England, currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson, 2022 NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray, and 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
The Spurs, who will be playing their 10th and 11th games in Europe, sixth in France and first in England, currently feature two-time NBA All-Star and 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, two-time NBA All-Star De’Aaron Fox, 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and 2026 Castrol Rising Star Dylan Harper. The Spurs currently lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals, with Game 2 tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
In addition to the games, the NBA, the Spurs and the Pelicans will conduct NBA Cares social impact programming focused on health, wellness and sustainability, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Her Time to Play youth basketball clinics, coach and referee development programming, and interactive fan activities that will bring the NBA experience to fans in Paris and Manchester.
The NBA Paris Game 2027 will be supported by Presenting Partner Tissot and Official Partners including AWS, C4, Foot Locker, Emirates, Nike, Unibet and Sprite. The NBA Manchester Game 2027 will be supported by Official Partners including AWS, AB InBev, C4, Foot Locker, Emirates, Nike, Sprite and Tissot. Both games will air live across Europe and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.
Ticket sales and additional information about the games and surrounding events will be announced at a later date. Fans can register their interest and enter a chance to win free tickets by visiting NBA.com/Paris and NBA.com/Manchester. Fans in the UK and France can also enter for a chance to win court area tickets, travel and accommodation, and a meet and greet with an NBA legend by visiting NBA.com/ParisVIP and NBA.com/ManchesterVIP. Special ticket packages offering premium access, VIP experiences and hospitality are available now at NBAExperiences.com/NBA-Europe.
Bayer Leverkusen to build 'Talent House' for future stars
Bayer 04 will be preparing young talents for a potential sporting career in an even more systematic way in future. The club is breaking new ground to help develop their academic, social and personal skills as well. With the ‘Haus der Talente' or 'Talent House’, Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH is creating a new centre for the development of young athletes in a central location in Leverkusen. Once completed – expected to be in the summer of 2027 – the project will be run in partnership with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V.
Anyone expected to make the right decision under pressure in the 89th minute of a Champions League match or during an Olympic final needs more than just talent, technique and fitness. They must be used to making decisions on their own initiative and trusting their skills and intuition. Optimal preparation for a potential sporting career therefore also involves the continuous development of young athletes’ academic, social and personal skills. To this end, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen are creating an exceptional environment. 36 young athletes aged between 14 and 18 will live and learn together under one roof. These will include young footballers, but also young people from other team sports, athletics, judo, fencing and parasport. They will live together in residential groups under the supervision of teachers. Skills such as a willingness to perform, motivation and perseverance will be part of the educational and learning process. Added to this will be the development of social skills such as teamwork, respect and reliability, as well as a willingness to try new things and accept criticism.
Like the Bayer 04 Campus planned for Monheim, the Talent House is a key component of Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s overall strategy for medium- and long-term success. The facility is being built between the Löwenburg children's nursery and Elisabeth-Langgässer-Straße in Leverkusen. It's situated in a green setting yet close to the city centre, and therefore near the partner schools and various sports facilities. This is because the young athletes should, where possible, be able to travel to school and training by bike or bus. A concept agreed with the Jugendamt (child protection services) will allow for targeted support. Each residential group will have a designated key worker who acts as a point of contact for the young people on all matters beyond sport. They'll have close communication with the coaches, parents and the Jugendamt. Cross-sport exchanges between top athletes will be part of the educational concept. At the Talent House, the residents will have to carry out household duties, just as they would in a family.
The Talent House, designed and built by architect Bernd Oxen, will be a sustainable timber-frame building with plenty of greenery that blends in well with its surroundings. The living areas will feature a green façade, supported by wooden trellises. The roofs will be covered with greenery and fitted with a photovoltaic system, whilst a heat pump will provide heating and hot water. Rainwater will be fully absorbed into the ground via drainage channels on the property. The outdoor areas will primarily feature native trees and shrubs.
Bayer 04 has been in close contact with the future neighbours of the Talent House for almost three years. The organisers presented their ideas and plans to them at an early stage so their suggestions could be incorporated into the planning. Five public meetings were held, during which there was a constructive, open and detailed exchange of views.
Following the Leverkusen City Council’s resolution on the urban land-use planning process, the city administration has now granted planning permission. The actual construction phase will take around a year. If all goes to plan, the young athletes will be able to move in during the summer of 2027.
Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 Leverkusen managing director sport: “The competition to attract the best young talent in modern top-flight football is extremely fierce. The Talent House will give us a significant advantage over other clubs, both in terms of content and infrastructure. This is because the concept, in this form, is a unique and promising one. Here, young athletes who possess the necessary skills can develop into elite performers in a state-of-the-art and professional environment.”
Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 Leverkusen CEO: “Success in elite sport is no accident, but rather the result of, among other things, professional planning and a modern infrastructure. The Talent House is a key component of Bayer 04’s overall medium- and long-term strategy. This also includes the Campus, which we hope to be able to bring to fruition soon.”
Steffi Nerius, head of the boarding school: “Since taking up my post 11 years ago, I've been particularly committed to strengthening Leverkusen as a sporting hub and offering young talents the best possible opportunities for development. So I'm delighted Bayer04 Fußball GmbH and TSV Bayer04 Leverkusen e.V. are making an important contribution to the future with the Talent House. The focus is on dual careers: sport and academic education should go hand in hand. With the Talent House, we're creating the ideal conditions to give young people the best possible preparation – in terms of sport, education and personal development – for the rest of their lives.”
Stefan Hebbel, Lord Mayor of Leverkusen: "The Talent House will strengthen Leverkusen as a sporting hub. We've known for decades how professionally and strategically Bayer 04 and TSV promote young talent. This project and other challenges - such as the expansion of the A1 Autobahn, which directly affects the people of Leverkusen, the club as a whole, Bayer 04, other stakeholders and the city - are evidence of cooperation on an equal footing. And, of course, we are also united by the hope that our city will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Bernd Oxen, architect: "The Talent House will be surrounded by lush greenery and adjacent to nature and residential neighbourhoods. This guided us in our design. The building will blend seamlessly into its surroundings. This will be ensured by the vines, the greenery and the plants we've selected. In terms of the rooms, it will be important that there will be areas for the young athletes to retreat to, but also places to meet and socialise that also take into account the needs of the residents."
Anne Dannenberg, managing director BayArena Tech +: "We involved our future neighbours in the process right from the start, regularly asking them for their opinions, suggestions and concerns. We were able to take many of the things that were important to them into account in our planning. We're convinced that building is a process that works particularly well when people listen to each other. We're delighted that, after a long phase of preparation, we're now moving on to the realisation phase."
Ipswich Town confirm off-season stadium improvements
Ipswich Town have confirmed details of improvement works inside the stadium bowl at Portman Road over the close season.
Summer works inside the stadium will vastly improve the facilities and matchday experience on offer to disabled supporters, while also introducing safe standing areas in the lower tier of the Sir Bobby Robson North Stand.
Work is already underway in the West Stand, which will see the area for disabled supporters (Block DA) in the lower tier move from its current position at the Sir Alf Ramsey South Stand end to a section of what is currently Block JJ, close to the Sir Bobby Robson North Stand. Block DA will, in turn, be replaced by seating.
Along with this move, a new reception area and entry point for disabled supporters will be created off of Sir Alf Ramsey Way, leading directly to the new seating area and offering significant upgrades to the matchday experience of those using them. This area will also include dedicated accessible changing spaces, improved access to concourse and seating areas, additional accessible toilets and increased capacity within these areas.
The club’s Disability Liaison Officer, Lee Smith, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer significant upgrades to the facilities available to our disabled supporters.
“An audit conducted during the 2024/25 Premier League season highlighted areas where we could make improvements and we have been committed to investing in these at the earliest opportunity. The new facilities will make a real difference to so many disabled supporters attending games at Portman Road.”
Work is also underway to update the toilet facilities on offer to all supporters in the West Stand, alongside further improvement works outside of the stadium bowl. Full details will be made available in due course.
Safe standing is being introduced across the lower tier of the Sir Bobby Robson North Stand, increasing the capacity of the area. As part of the work to facilitate the installation of the safe standing area, seating for disabled supporters will be introduced across the very front of the stand.
New Nissan Stadium to host 2030 Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is headed to Music City.
On Tuesday, the National Football League announced that Nashville will host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 at the New Nissan Stadium.
The announcement was made at the NFL Spring League Meeting here in Orlando following a review of the proposal by the NFL's Fan Engagement & Major Events Committee and a vote by full ownership.
"The 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville was one of the great fan events in our history," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Super Bowl LXIV at the new stadium is the next step in this remarkable football journey. The vision of Amy Adams Strunk and the Tennessee Titans helped make this moment possible, along with our great partners at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. We can't wait to put on an unforgettable show in 2030."
The Titans and the city of Nashville did their due diligence in recent months and years while preparing to make a formal pitch to the NFL to host the game.
Leading up to Super Bowl LX, Titans President and Chief Executive Officer Burke Nihill and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, president & CEO Deana Ivey were among those from Tennessee who traveled to San Francisco, studying how the Bay Area Host Committee coordinated the events leading up to the game.
Goodell, during the Steel Topping Out ceremony at new Nissan Stadium in November, raved about the franchise's new stadium, scheduled to open in 2027, and the city of Nashville, and at the time dropped some strong hints this announcement could be coming.
That day was Tuesday.
Super Bowl LXIV will mark the first time Nashville will host the event.
"Hosting the Super Bowl is a defining moment for Nashville and Tennessee and reflects years of work to build Music City into a globally recognized destination for music, entertainment, and live events," Ivey said. "This event is an incredible opportunity to showcase the dynamic and creative character of Nashville to a global audience and to deliver a Super Bowl experience that is distinctly Music City, where music, sports, culture, and hospitality come together in a way few cities can match. We are grateful to the NFL for the confidence they have placed in our community. Nashville has earned a reputation for hosting major events at the highest level, and we are ready to welcome the world."
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp serves as the lead event organizer and will coordinate operational planning and partnerships with the city and state.
The Titans organization serves as the Host Club, providing stadium resources and operational support.
"Tennessee's selection to host the 2030 Super Bowl is a proud moment for our state," Governor Bill Lee said. "We invested in a new stadium with a vision for the future - one that brings major events, drives tourism, and fuels economic growth while creating new opportunity for communities across Tennessee. I'm grateful for the partnerships that made this possible, and we look forward to showcasing all that our state has to offer on a global stage."
"Nashville is the complete package when it comes to hosting the nation's biggest events," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "Nashville has repeatedly demonstrated that top events succeed here because of the way we come together to offer an unmatched entertainment experience. We're looking forward to showing the world an East Bank with a century of affordable housing and great infrastructure and green space as they watch the biggest event in sports. And we're going to work hard to ensure our local residents and businesses benefit as much as possible from being on the world's biggest stage."
When Nashville hosted the NFL Draft back in 2019, the event drew 600,000 fans in a then-record-setting weekend that generated $224 million in economic impact.
In addition to the game, Super Bowl week will feature NFL Honors, Super Bowl Experience, Super Bowl Opening Night and meaningful community initiatives, including NFL Source, the league's procurement program for local and underrepresented businesses.
Dates for the next four Super Bowls are now on the schedule:
LXI, 2027: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
LXII, 2028: Mercedez-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
LXIII, 2029: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
LXIV, 2030: Nissan Stadium, Nashville
"We are thrilled that the new Nissan Stadium will host Nashville's first Super Bowl in 2030," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "This is an exciting moment for our city and our entire state. We cannot wait for our community to experience an event of this magnitude and for the world to see the energy, hospitality, and culture that make our city so special on a global stage. Thank you to Commissioner Goodell, my fellow owners, and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. for their partnership throughout this process. We look forward to bringing an unforgettable Super Bowl experience to Nashville together."
Wembley offer Michelin-Starred dining at FA Cup Final
Wembley Stadium, the home of English football, and Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and food service, successfully redefined the major stadium food and beverage experience at Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup Final by introducing the first-ever concessions concept led by a two-Michelin-star chef.
This pioneering activation with Chef Andrew Wong of A. Wong delivered an elevated, bespoke menu directly to Inner Circle members, underscoring Wembley Stadium’s commitment to providing world-class dining at every level of membership experience. Inner Circle is one of the stadium’s more accessible memberships, giving fans the chance to enjoy some of the biggest games and events, as well as a range of bars and restaurants.
The initiative marked the first introduction of a Michelin-starred chef-led concessions concept delivered at scale within a major stadium environment. Working with Delaware North, Andrew Wong created a bespoke menu inspired by dishes from his acclaimed restaurant, A. Wong, specifically centred on the energy of dim sum and layered flavours.
The activity is part of a wider stadium strategy to deliver a sense of occasion, quality, and meaning to fans, not just those enjoying the already elevated offerings in the hospitality and members’ areas. Andrew Wong was chosen not just for his prestige, but as a chef whose cooking, rooted in heritage, translates and is adaptable at scale.
Andrew Wong commented on the event: “Our presence at the Emirates FA Cup Final was about creating a concessions concept that still felt true to A. Wong. The menu was a snapshot of what we do there, centred on the energy of dim sum and layered flavours, but translated for scale. It wasn’t about recreating a restaurant, but about redefining concessions as something more thoughtful, expressive and accessible to every fan.”
Doug Tetley, Managing Director, Delaware North, added: “At Delaware North we always aim to deliver stand out quality hospitality experiences and we’re delighted to collaborate with Andrew Wong to bring this unique and distinctive dining experience to Wembley Stadium.
"Andrew is an incredible chef, and this collaboration brought an exceptional level of culinary excellence to this weekend’s Emirates FA Cup Final. Andrew’s vision and expertise is elevating expectations of what stadium food can be, setting a new benchmark for hospitality in live sport.”
While Wembley Stadium’s matchday hospitality has long been a space for elevated dining, this successful launch ensures that fans in entry level membership can also access Michelin-level thinking. The concept successfully demonstrated that quality and accessibility are not mutually exclusive, using food as a way to elevate the overall matchday experience.
Based on the significant success of this initiative, Wembley Stadium and Delaware North are exploring opportunities for future concession concepts, featuring a curated collection of industry-leading chefs.
SeatGeek Launches Game Day Your Way Product Suite
SeatGeek, the high-growth technology platform transforming the live event experience for fans, teams and venues, today announced the launch of its new product suite, “Game Day Your Way” — a connected set of product features that gives teams a complete, real-time picture of their fans across every touchpoint of game day, from parking to post-game. For the first time, ticketing, entry, concessions and payments live in one place, unlocking better operational decisions, new revenue opportunities and a more seamless experience for every fan in the building. The Game Day suite is one important step in SeatGeek's broader vision of creating a fully connected live event experience for rightsholders and fans alike.
For too long, teams have operated game day across a patchwork of disconnected systems. A fan walks through the gate, grabs food at a concession stand, redeems a loyalty offer, and makes a payment, and each of those moments lives in a different system, owned by a different vendor, invisible to the others. The result is an incomplete picture of how fans actually experience a game and limited ability to act on it in the moment.
SeatGeek's Game Day suite changes that. By connecting ticketing, entry, concessions and payments into a single unified system, teams gain a 360-degree view of fan behaviour and spend and the tools to act on it in real time. That means resolving a ticketing issue from the concourse, pushing a personalized offer to a fan who just entered the building, or adjusting concession staffing based on live wait time data, all from one place.
The suite was piloted at Rocket Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where it is serving as a proof point for what a fully connected game day looks like in practice.
"Teams have always had data on their fans, but it has never lived in one place," said Russ D'Souza, Co-Founder of SeatGeek. "Our Game Day suite connects every touchpoint of the fan journey into a single system, giving teams the full picture they need to make better decisions on game day and build deeper relationships with their fans over time. What's happening at Rocket Arena is one important step toward that vision."
For fans, the difference is felt immediately. Faster entry, real-time wait times, and easier in-venue transactions bring the kind of seamless experience that once felt reserved for premium ticketholders and VIPs to every fan in the building.
"SeatGeek’s Game Day tools provide us a clear, real-time view of how our fans move through Rocket Arena and experience a Cavs game, from the moment they arrive until the moment they head home," said Chris Kaiser, Chief Marketing Officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers. "We’re obsessed with finding a better way, and the insights we gain from this platform will elevate the fan experience and strengthen how we deliver for our guests and partners every night."
Key features in the Game Day suite include:
- Native Access Control: Real-time ticketing and entry management, operable from any mobile device, with ingress data available in under one second.
- Live Activities: Dynamic, real-time updates that keep fans informed and engaged throughout the event, before, during, and after.
- Virtual Box Office: A mobile-first box office experience that lets teams resolve ticketing issues and serve fans from anywhere in the venue. (SBJ Award Nominee: Best in Venue & Franchise Operations Technology)
- Wait Times: Real-time concession and entry wait time data surfaced directly to fans, reducing friction and improving flow throughout the venue.
- Virtual Payment: A connected payment experience that ties transactions across the venue into a single, unified system, integrated with Cavs Rewards, the Cavaliers' fan loyalty platform powered by Uptop.
The Game Day suite was successfully piloted at Rocket Arena and is available to SeatGeek enterprise partners. Learn more at SeatGeek's Game Day Your Way hub.
Newcastle United complete strategic purchase for stadium plans
Newcastle United has completed the purchase of a significant portion of the historic Leazes Terrace building next to St. James' Park.
The acquisition of a substantial majority of the Grade I listed structure includes its northern, southern and western elevations – including all areas facing the stadium.
It also includes most of its eastern elevation, with a small block of private residences remaining in this part of the building.
A strategic purchase
This strategic purchase is part of the club's long-term planning as it continues to assess all credible and feasible options for the future of its home stadium.
It provides Newcastle United with greater flexibility and ensures any future decisions support the club's ambitions, as well as its responsibilities to the local community and the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The club recognises the building’s historic and architectural significance and is committed to its preservation.
Ongoing use
There are no plans to change the current use of Leazes Terrace, which is currently let for student accommodation, and the club will retain the building’s existing property management operator.
The investment to purchase Leazes Terrace does not impact the club's football trading position.
Detroit Pistons Secure NBA’s Largest Practice Facility with Motorola Solutions Technology
The Henry Ford Health Detroit Pistons Performance Center (PPC), the largest practice facility in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and primary business headquarters for the Detroit Pistons, has unveiled a technology system that seamlessly blends rigorous security with the open civic spirit of uptown Detroit. PPC’s security staff worked with Motorola Solutions and technology integrator Knight Watch to deploy a system combining video security, access control and voice communications solutions, purposefully designed to identify and resolve potential issues across the facility.
“We are just a few miles from downtown in the heart of Detroit’s New Center neighborhood, and on any given day, we have elite athletes training just floorboards away from people going to the health center or grabbing a bite to eat,” said Matt Grimm, senior director, Corporate Security, Detroit Pistons. “Our unified video and access helps my team maintain the highest levels of protection for players and staff without creating an atmosphere of a high-security fortress. We have the real-time clarity needed to keep security behind the scenes while keeping our doors open to the community.”
Motorola Solutions’ integration of video, access control and voice communications transforms security from passive monitoring to proactive safety. By linking these once-siloed tools into a single, operational view, the Pistons’ security team can identify and resolve potential issues the moment they arise, rather than simply recording them for later review. This unified approach enables the Pistons to maintain a robust security presence across public and private zones that doesn’t disrupt the facility’s open and high-performance culture.
"Instead of relying solely on physical barriers, metal detectors and guards, the Detroit Pistons have demonstrated that the best security is the kind people don't notice," said Jehan Wickramasuriya, senior vice president, Security & Resilience Software, Motorola Solutions. "Their state-of-the-art security operations center acts as a hub for discretely managing events so that community members, staff and players can stay focused on training and work. It protects without intimidating and responds without overreacting."
"Securing a heavily-trafficked, 185,000-square-foot space brings unique challenges,” said Ryan Bailey, CEO of Knight Watch. "Together with the Pistons, we built an invisible safety net spanning practice facilities, an official NBA merchandise store, dining establishments and the Henry Ford Health Center for Athletic Medicine. This is the future of securing multi-purpose developments.”
Click here to learn more about the collaboration.
Manchester City open £10m women's team facility
The opening marks a milestone moment for the new Women’s Super League Champions, and one of the largest-ever investments in a dedicated, purpose-built first team environment for an elite women’s football team.
Spanning 17,000 square feet, the new space incorporates the very highest standards for elite football environments. It includes industry-leading technology throughout, with the aim of optimising player preparation and recovery and minimising injuries.
Included are a world-class gym, with specialist strength and conditioning facilities, dedicated medical, rehab and physio spaces, hydrotherapy and recovery areas. At its heart lies the City circular dressing room, designed to support team connection and further improve player development.
The site includes the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium, the first purpose-built stadium in the Women’s Super League, as well as access to over 1,000 staff across the wider Club eco-system.
To mark the official opening of the facility, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak travelled to Manchester to see the space first-hand.
Commenting on his visit, he said: “This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole.
“We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014.
“The facility therefore rightly reflects the scale of our ambition for Manchester City Women and our long-term belief in the future of the women’s game.”
Managing Director of Manchester City Women, Charlotte O’Neill, added: “After years of planning, designing and constructing, we are proud to open our new world-class space that we believe offers some of the very best facilities in women’s sport in the UK.
“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar; it is about creating an environment where our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level, and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.
“It is also a clear statement of our ambition to continue to develop and attract the very best talent in world football.”