The Sports and Entertainment Industry is Forever Changed by COVID-19
But the industry can emerge much stronger and better
The Innovation Institute’s COVID-19 work has been inspired by its partnership with Toffler Associates on the Return to Work, Play and Spectate National Task Force
Our world has been altered by an invisible virus and its cascading impacts. It has changed how we live, work and play in ways we could have never anticipated or imagined. Just like 9/11 brought lasting changes to our society and to the security landscape, so has this pandemic.
For our sports and entertainment industries to proactively and effectively prepare, Toffler Associates and the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience assembled a diverse group of industry thought leaders. Together they have discussed and analyzed how sports and entertainment management, safety and security operations can be re-imagined as a result of the pandemic. The group is working on short- and long-term solutions as new information becomes available.
REturn to Work, play, and SPECTATE National Task FORCE
RTWPS TASK FORCE MISSION
Through leveraging the thought leaders in the sports and entertainment security industry, identify the key learnings, questions, and decisions that must be made during the “Great Wait” to safely return to work, play, and spectate.
Mission
By leveraging the knowledge and experience of thought leaders in the sports, entertainment and security industries, identify key learnings, questions, and decisions that must be made during the “Great Wait” to safely return to work, play and spectate and make informed and innovative recommendations to guide these industries forward.
How this Task Force will bring stability to a current fragile industry:
Robust Stakeholder Engagement
The task force represents a cross-section of sports and entertainment industry stakeholders and subject matter experts representing:
Entertainment
Professional Sports
Intercollegiate Athletics
Interscholastic Athletics
Endurance Events
Amusement/Theme
Parks
Parades/Festivals
Medical Profession
Law Firms
TASK FORCE PROFESSIONALS
Each member of the Task Force brings insights to collectively cross-pollinate a set of overall issues, concerns, and strategies. These return to work, play and spectate strategies provide a foundation and framework to address the pandemic’s impact on venues and events in the sports and entertainment industries.
The task force’s recommendations and guidelines are based on discussions with health experts, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). But, safety and security organizations must also consult applicable state and local public health agencies as well as federal and state OSHA guidelines.
The world’s knowledge regarding COVID-19 mitigation strategies continues to evolve, and we recognize that the period of transition may be extended and the recommended solutions adjusted. The task force stands ready and flexible.
Participants in the Task Force are listed below.
Flexibility and thoughtful planning will be essential
The Return to Work, Play, and Spectate task force is comprised of senior thought leaders, experts, and practitioners from leading industry organizations.
TASK FORCE LEADERS
Dr. Lou Marciani
INNOVATION INSTITUTE FOR FAN EXPERIENCE
CO-CHAIR
Gary Gardner
TOTALEACCESS Editor
Christopher Kinnan
INNOVATION INSTITUTE FOR FAN EXPERIENCE CO-CHAIRMEMBERS
Allison, David | University of Texas |
Arthur, Kirk | Microsoft |
Balachandran, Priya | Applied Silver |
Baver, William | NTT Data |
Berland, Terry | Violet Defense |
World Ironman Group | |
Bigelow, Chris | Bigelow Companies |
Borland, Scot | Jani King |
Brock, Jason | Pritchared Sports & Entertainment |
Broughton, David | Sports Business Journal |
Brown, Troy | Cleveland Browns |
Burchfield, Andy | University of Michigan |
Burns, Charles | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Cessna, Sharon | NCAA |
Chapman, Jeff | Babel Street |
Christine, Tim | NFLPA |
Compton, Kirk | NTT Data |
Coomer, Joe | Mercedes-Benz Stadium/AMBSE |
Cunningham, Andrea | Disney Company |
Cunningham, George | Rose Bowl |
DeLorenzi, Danny | MetLife Stadium |
Dolev, Lisa | Qylur |
Downing, Mike | Oakview Group |
Ilitch Holdings |
Pillsbury Law | |
Flores, David | Amazon |
OnePlan | |
Gilbert, Skip | US Youth Soccer |
IIFX | |
Haave, Carol | Live Nation |
Harnett, Mike | Olympia Entertainment |
Heath, Gregory | Performance Clean |
Henry, Kevin | Pocono Raceway |
Hopkins, Elliot | National Federation High School Associations |
Johar, Aman | Proteum |
Jolly, Till | Aveshka Group |
Kastel, Matt | Stadium Managers Association |
Keas, Jeff | Populous |
Kilma, Zach | The Wait Times |
IIFX | |
Kishnani, Smeet | Stantec |
Kothari, Pranav | Rick Family of Companies |
Labonte, Ed | Electronic Arts (EA) |
Lanier, Cathy | National Football League |
Joe Lewis Company | |
Masterton, Graeme | Stantec |
Mayer, Thom | NFLPA |
San Antonio Spurs | |
McCourt, Mark | Dalani Company |
McKay, John | New York Mets |
McSwain, Toby | RBC Heritage Golf Tournament |
San Francisco 49ers and Levi Stadium | |
Mills, Ken | Intellisite |
Naifeh, Larry | University of Oklahoma |
Nied, Robert | Golden State Warriors |
Nishi, Mike | Chicago Marathon |
Petsch, Timothy | TMI |
Powers, Rich | American Specialty Insurance |
Reynolds, Kirk | Intel |
Sharoni,Erez | Fortress |
Smith, Tim | C3 Presents |
Stanford, Barry | AEG World |
Steele, Jeff | Auburn University |
Thormeier, Bob | Delaware North |
Washington, Eddie | University of Michigan |
Weiss, Andy | Aveshka Group |
Weiss, Stu | Medical Director. NYC Marathon |
Task force projects & deliverables
It is vital to tap into the collective knowledge across critical areas of the industry to safely plan how to bring talent, staff, and spectators back to sports and entertainmen.t.
Task
Force
Critical
Area
emerging and essential technology
Talent, players, coaches, and staff
venues and stadium operations
regulation, legislation and policies
Entertainment and Non-Sporting Events
