VNC 2025 Panel Preview: The Big House(s) – Booking Arenas/Stadiums

The eighth annual VenuesNow Conference will take place Sept. 9-11 at Resorts World Las Vegas. Presented by Lockton and Oracle, the event marks the debut in the entertainment capital of the world and the first time VNC has expanded to three days.

VNC is the preeminent forum for live events, sports, and cultural venue owners and partners to explore industry dynamics, share best practices, and discuss future trends. This year, the three-day conference will feature sessions on bookings, hospitality, premium experiences, technology, and a new half-day of curated programming focused on sustainability across all venue types, touching on energy, water, and waste management, along with strategies to strengthen financial performance, corporate partnerships, and guest experience.

Registration for VenuesNow Conference is open now at venuesnowconference.com.

Here’s a look at the VNC 2025 panel “Booking Arenas/Stadiums.”

MODERATOR
Michael Owens
SVP, Live Entertainment
Moody Center

SPEAKERS
Antony Bonavita
EVP, Chief Venues & Development Officer,
Rock Entertainment Group / Cleveland Cavaliers

Becky Colwell
GM of Kia Forum
Vice President of Music and Events at Intuit Dome

Jen Sandstrom
VP, Programming & Booking
SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater, and Hollywood Park

Elyse Scally
VP, Live Entertainment
ASM Global / Legends

As the largest stadiums in the U.S. continue to push the boundaries of technology, innovation and the fan experience, content too is growing to change what is possible on stage and on tour.

“Though the post-pandemic boom has tapered off, the volume of touring content remains at all-time highs,” says panel moderator Michael Owens, SVP Of Live Entertainment At Moody Center in Austin Texas. With these new heights come competition — between venues, artists, and even the calendar just not having enough dates to go around.

“Yesterday’s arena headliners are today’s stadium acts,” Owens adds. “More and more new buildings begin to crowd the marketplace. Expectations from team owners, mayors, cities and municipalities are high. Economic conditions are uncertain. We’ll examine all of these challenges and hear from some of the industry’s most experienced venue managers on how they tackle the day-to-day challenges and real-world situational approaches to programming content in today’s environment.”

This panel discussion will include representatives from some of the most buzzed about venues in the world, like SoFi Stadium with its indoor-outdoor roof and game-changing Infinity Screen making a unique backdrop for the world’s biggest tours, and Rocket Arena’s continued commitment to modernization efforts as home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, while welcoming a new WNBA team to call the arena home.

Another major new SoCAl landmark includes the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, where panelist Becky Colwell balances operations and music along with sister venue and touring mainstay the Kia Forum just down the street. Adding a wide range of experience is Elyse Scally, VP of Live Entertainment at ASM Global / Legends, who offers perspective from a wide range of venues and markets.

As the definition of what a stadium or arena tour can look like – from mulit-night record-breakers like Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour to Zach Bryan bringing the show to fans in relatively unknown Joan C. Edwards Stadium in West Virginia, it’s up to the industry to bring and create new opportunities for artists.

“We’ll learn how the best in the business stay aggressive in competitive environments, how they interact with agents and promoters to be the ‘must-play’ venue in their market, and how they navigate communication with venue ownership to manage expectations,” says Owens.