VenuesNow Panel to Explore Enhancing Fan Engagement at Live Events

VenuesNow Conference Panel Preview: Fan Engagement And Adding Value To The In-Game Experience Tuesday, Sept. 29 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Grand Ballroom A & B at the Sheraton Grand Seattle

The U.S. has the most robust infrastructure for sports and entertainment facilities of every size, from clubs to theaters to arenas to stadiums. With thousands of buildings capable of hosting live events, how does one stand out?

While there are many answers to such a loaded question, venue executives will likely share a common denominator: the fans. It’s one of if not the most important relationships to develop when operating a building, and the VenuesNow Conference panel titled “Fan Engagement and Adding Value to the In-Game Experience” will touch on venues maximizing their space to draw fans and keep them engaged.

Panelists include Kaity Dychala (PWHL’s director of game presentation and live events), Andrew Kesel (partner and director at Generator Studio), Gina Rotolo (Acrisure Arena’s VP of marketing and business services), Ashlee Stokely (Head of Stadium, Operations & Experience at Nissan Stadium / Tennessee Titans) and Luke Tingle (Project Executive at Daktronics).

The live music experience and how fans engage within that space have greatly evolved over the years with the emergence of social media, and venues are working hard to meet those expectations and demands.

A number of venues are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to improve premium spaces such as suites and boxes and upgrade the building’s technology, including large screens to entertain fans from any section and a local network for better connectivity—which can give venues visibility when fans post videos on social media. Another trend venues are following is developing social spaces like standing ledges and bars to give guests options for how they want to experience the sporting event or concert.

Investing in these spaces and practices, including grab-and-go concessions, increases revenue in multiple ways. It not only supports point-of-sale, which encourages more purchases, but can also lead to partnership and branding opportunities the venue can build on. Those relationships can help venue marketing teams develop unique promotions tied to events, a popular strategy during the lengthy Major League Baseball season that can include giveaways like bobbleheads and T-shirts while highlighting its community and local organizations.

VenuesNow Conference takes place Sept. 29-30 at the Sheraton Grand Seattle. Produced by Pollstar and presented by Marsh and Oracle, VNC brings together live entertainment, sports, and venue executives to address the industry’s most critical operational, financial, and strategic dynamics.

VNC 2026 follows the inaugural Secure Venues Summit on Sept. 28 at the Sheraton Grand Seattle, which is being launched by Oak View Group & Prevent Advisors. The event is programmed specifically for safety, risk management, and venue operations leaders, and will feature a Keynote address on the “State of Security in America: Trends, Evolution, and Adversaries in Preparation for the 2028 Olympics in LA” by Voviette D. Morgan (SVP, Safety & Security, LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games)

To register for the VenuesNow Conference 2026 or the Secure Venues Summit, visit venuesnowconference.com and securevenuessummit.com .

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/09/21/vnc-panel-preview-fan-engagement-and-adding-value-to-the-in-game-experience/)._