Next Stop Esports opens

During this period, delegates can check their virtual access and create their profiles for the best eNetworking experience.

Opening Session: Esports Business Behind the Scenes for Venues & Destinations (LIVE panel)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

From an esports lead sales to loading in the production, pro player expectations and receiving thousands of fans to your venue operations, unravel the mystery of what the world of esports events looks like from an expert insider's perspective through this highly informative panel discussion.

Speakers :
Kim Meltzer, Co-founder & CEO, Destination Esports Floris Looij, Freelance MICE Sales Consultant, Neil Johnson, Director, eSports, Events DC (t/a Washington Convention & Sports Authority) Jean Butler, International Business Development Manager , Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage Ellen Dekker, Business Development Manager, RAI Amsterdam Ben Akroyd, Lead Consultant, Arena Consultancy

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Session 2: Post Covid Event Safety/Security considerations for Venues and Pro-Players (LIVE Q&A)

As Covid restrictions are lifted across the globe, regulations for safety will be a key requirement in order to host esports events properly. Matt Payne (formerly Epic Games Director of Security) CEO of Inner Circle, will break down hot topics that include venue sales, operations. and security you are not going to want to miss! Topics will include, Covid 19 updated security information, pro player management, internet security and understanding the safety and security of fan engagement.

Speakers :
Matt Payne, Founder, Inner Circle Solutions Buffy Christie, Founder, Inner Circle Solutions

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Session 3: Understanding the expectations of the Esports Buyer (LIVE Q&A)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

Esports Buyers are not who you think they are...welcome to video gaming leads coming from production coordinators, publishing event directors and brand marketing executives along with tournament organizers looking to bring their game, or community together under one roof. Learn from expert "Esports Buyers," who organize global events for professional level esports tournaments.  They will tell their side of the story as to what they are looking for in a destination and venue.

Speakers :
Christoffer Melin, International Expansion Manager, ESL GAMING Devin Murphy, Esports Events Lead, North America, Riot Games Kim Meltzer, Co-founder & CEO, Destination Esports Ben Akroyd, Lead Consultant, Arena Consultancy

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eNetworking

Club Showcase: Schalke 04 – insights into building an esports brand as a sports franchise

Tim Reichert, Managing Director, FC Schalke 04 Esport GmbH

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Session 4: Venue Flexibility Part 1 - Using design to unlock esports in your facility (LIVE panel)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

As venue operators and executives finalise their reopening plans, there is a growing awareness of the need to diversify and maximise their event calendars to begin to recover their recent revenue losses. Venue ‘flexibility’ is key to unlocking all parts of your venue to host a wider variety of events including esports. An expert panel of leading architects discuss how venues of all kinds can repurpose and reassess their existing building spaces to be able to successfully host a wide variety of esports and gaming related events.

Speakers :
David Hines, Director Sports and Entertainment, Buro Happold Ben Feferman, CEO, Amuka Esports Rhys Courtney, Senior Principal, Populous Grant Paranjape, VP of Esports Business, Washington Justice Terry Smith, Managing Director - Arena Seating, Arena Group

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Session 5: Understanding an Esports Audience - Suggested Approaches for Marketing & Engagement (LIVE Q&A)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

You just booked an esports event at your venue and you are already preparing ticket sales for the fans that will fill the seats and spend money at your venue. What preparation do you need to have a successful revenue stream when the fans pass through the doors? Are they like sports fans or is there more to that question for destinations to prepare for? Listen in on actual fans who will share their stories and tell you what makes going to an esports event memorable and engaging.

Speakers :
Luke Thompson , Head of Esports, ReedPOP Kim Meltzer, Co-founder & CEO, Destination Esports

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Session 6: Venue Flexibility Part 2 – Ideas and inspiration to enhance the fan experience for both esports and other events in your venue (LIVE Q&A)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

Esports tournaments and events offer a unique opportunity to attract new audiences to your venue, but how do you maximise their ‘in seat’ experience to give them an unforgettable experience and also motivate them to return to experience your more mainstream events? Leading industry experts will offer advice in terms of the event expectations from a fan perspective and innovative ideas to ensure that all of the events in your event calendar can be as compelling as possible!

Speakers :
Adam Horodecki, Esports Development Manager, Forum by Nowy Styl Jason Spiller, Owner & Team Principal, Dire Wolves Jules Simpson, Senior Project Manager, BLAST Luc Delany, Director of Creative Technology & Esports, Northern Lights Arena Europe Wayne Powell, Business Development Manager, d&b audiotechnik GB Limited

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eNetworking

Session 7: Under the spotlight – Leading esports hubs and multi-purpose venues showcase their facilities and the benefits they offer to esports tournament and event organisers

SESSION SPONSORED BY

The range of venues which are becoming ‘esports ready’ is increasing all the time, offering new and exciting destinations for tournament organisers and rights holders to consider using for their own esports events in the future. During this session a selection of venues and hubs will showcase their unique facilities and explain why they are the perfect destination to take your next esports event!

Developing an esports cluster for London - Here East and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in focus. In-depth discussion between;

Speakers :
Nicky Wightman, Director, Emerging Trends, Savills Gavin Poole, CEO, Here East

Lambeth Town Hall – Helping you deliver esports tournaments and events to a thriving local community (LIVE Q&A)

Lucy Zaman, Commercial Venue Operations Manager, VenueLambeth

Twickenham Stadium, both an esports event destination and training centre (LIVE)

Johanna Byrane, Head of Business Development , Twickenham Stadium

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Session 8: Building your esports Broadcasting and Production Infrastructure– the do’s and the don’ts! (LIVE panel)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

Esports offers a unique opportunity to reach a much larger audience than for your traditional events and with the right content you can quickly build your reputation and legitimacy with your local gaming community. This in-depth discussion will discuss the essential steps needed (and mistakes to avoid!) to ensure you can deliver the highest production values when creating and sharing live esports content, including how connectivity is key!

Speakers :
Ben Akroyd, Lead Consultant, Arena Consultancy Mark Hempel, Head of Product Management , IHSE Andrew Haworth, Director of Operations & Production, Blast TV Jonathan Lyth, Group Chief Technical Officer, ES Broadcast Daan van der Wiele, Founder & Consultant , nxt GEN

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Session 9: Fireside Chat-True Confessions-Venues share it all! (LIVE panel)

SESSION SPONSORED BY

Listen in to current and former hospitality and venue sales/operations executives who tell all in their experience when they hosted their first esports event! True stories of their first impression, crazy interactions and what they learned after it was all said and done. Not to be missed!

Speakers :
Ben Akroyd, Lead Consultant, Arena Consultancy Kim Meltzer, Co-founder & CEO, Destination Esports Matt Wilson, Vice President of Sports, Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau Floris Looij, Freelance MICE Sales Consultant, Jean Butler, International Business Development Manager , Amsterdam Conference Centre Beurs van Berlage Ellen Dekker, Business Development Manager, RAI Amsterdam Brian Mirakian (Guest Moderator), Senior Principal, Populous

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