Back by popular demand, we'll be kicking off the 2026 CSEF Conference with several concurrent facility tours on Day 1. Attendees can select to attend one of the multiple tours running at the same time — stay tuned for the full tour lineup!

This panel brings together senior leadership from FIFA World Cup host cities to share firsthand perspectives on what it takes to plan, deliver, and operate one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The discussion will go beyond planning to focus on end-to-end project delivery, including major venue preparations, stadium upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and renovations required to meet FIFA standards and global expectations. Panelists will also explore the coordination required across public and private partners to execute complex capital projects on accelerated timelines while maintaining day-to-day city operations.

Additional topics will include cross-sector collaboration, operational readiness, and citywide activation strategies, as well as the long-term legacy impact of these investments—ranging from economic development to enhanced community infrastructure and global visibility.

Go behind the scenes of the transformative Phase 2 of the University of Kansas Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. This panel delves into the project’s evolution from a bold vision to a complex, multi-asset reality. We will explore the creative financing solutions and strategic public-private partnerships that made the deal possible while examining the core objectives of enhancing student life and catalyzing regional economic growth. Attendees will discover how the project’s unique delivery model serves as a scalable roadmap for universities navigating the hurdles of funding and executing complex, high-impact campus infrastructure.

CPKC Stadium—home to the Kansas City Current—is the world’s first stadium purpose-built for a professional women’s sports team. Designed to reflect the spirit and energy of Kansas City, the 11,500-seat venue sets a new benchmark for sustainable performance while creating an athlete-centered, inclusive fan experience.  

This session explores how the project team achieved LEED Gold certification through a deliberate focus on energy strategy, system reliability, and long-term operational efficiency. It will examine how evolving codes and standards, “Critical to Quality” considerations, and stakeholder priorities informed key infrastructure decisions—particularly around on-site power generation and the transition to natural gas solutions to enhance resilience, reduce environmental impact, and support continuous operations.

From concept to completion, this case study demonstrates how forward-thinking energy design can support both sustainability goals and a world-class experience in next-generation sports venues.

As youth sports continue to drive tourism, community development, and economic impact, destinations must evolve to meet rising expectations from athletes, families, and organizers. This session will explore what it takes to plan, develop, and sustain successful youth sports facilities—balancing community needs with long-term growth strategies. Guided by experienced industry leadership from Ice Miller, the discussion will bring together perspectives from the public and private sectors, including municipal leadership and development experts, to share insights on partnerships, funding models, and designing destinations built for the future.

Kansas City is widely recognized as the sports architecture capital of the world, with a long legacy of landmark venues and a current wave of transformative investment in sports and entertainment districts. This session will bring together key stakeholders to explore how the city’s identity as a national leader in the intersection of sports, design, and urban development are reshaping the region, offering insight into how these districts are being planned, delivered, and activated. Hear perspectives from city leadership, major professional sports franchises, district developers/operators, and design and architecture partners on the major forces, projects, and partnerships driving investment and transformation in Kansas City.

Join us for a fun evening bar crawl through a variety of unique restaurants in the Kansas City Power & Light District while networking with industry peers. Stay tuned for exciting announcements about the featured venues, special experiences, and entertainment planned throughout the evening. 

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For CSEF venues, some of the most important project decisions happen after the request for proposals (RFP) is issued. However, careful and strategic planning before the RFP can reduce risks, improve procurement efficiency and save potentially months of negotiations.  

This panel will give owners, public agencies, and project stakeholders a chance to talk through structuring an efficient and effective RFP and the expected and achieved results. The panel will provide tips from their various professional perspective on what happens next, from reviewing qualifications and building a shortlist to interviews, scoring, and final selection.  

The discussion will focus on real-world challenges that come up on venue developments, expansions, and redevelopments. Participants will also share common pitfalls, including vague evaluation criteria, too much emphasis on name recognition, and interview formats that do not reflect the real demands of the project. Attendees will leave with practical ideas, lessons learned, and better questions to ask when selecting advisers and consultants for major venue projects. 

Advanced Registration Required - Open to Public Sector Attendees Only. 

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While various forms of “architainment” have been introduced in convention and stadium environments in the past, the technological breakthroughs in the lighting world over the last 25+ years have allowed this concept to flourish and are now an essential part of the built experience. As with any tool in the realm of architecture or lighting, wielding this conceptual idea can be applied inappropriately or even lead to visual noise or visual disability if not properly controlled and integrated into the architectural fabric. And while this concept has been on the fringes of architecture and lighting for quite some time, the technology associated with this, especially in the forms of control methods and logic, has been more difficult to implement. Often the tilt of “architainment”, by its sheer nature and description, begins to lean toward the side of the equation dealing with entertainment. Looking at lighting design “architainment” , however, that favors the architectural side versus the more technologically driven theatrical side can allow this concept to be implemented in almost every spatial application. It can therefore reside in non-traditional architectural environments, support alternative visual conditions, all while addressing issue of maintenance and seamless operation and function of the building. As both a science and art, “architainment” lighting design has the unique ability to manipulate spatial characteristics of architecture that other forms of lighting design can leave flat and generic in environments that demand more attention. 

Learning objectives:

• Define “architainment” as expressed in the world of lighting design and how it can be created and effectively utilized.
• Illustrate the means and methods of “architaiment” lighting design principles to generate unique visual conditions.
• Offer brief explanation of the technology, from actual lighting equipment to the more critical control methods and DMX dimming protocol, that allow this concept to be part of the visual experience.
• Provide the design tools to apply “architainment” lighting to environments beyond the usual fan experiences and allow this expression to weave itself into athletic performance areas and even non-traditional spaces to expand the boundaries of creativity.

In today’s rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape, shaped by NIL, transfer portals, revenue sharing, and regulatory change, one truth remains clear: facilities matter. Stadiums are strategic assets that drive revenue, enhance fan and donor engagement, and reinforce institutional identity while supporting the broader mission of the university.

This session brings together the owner, architect, and contractor behind the University of Missouri’s Memorial Stadium Centennial Project, a transformative SEC renovation reimagining a 100‑year‑old venue for the next generation of student-athletes and fans. The project centers on a new multi-level North Concourse totaling approximately 191,000 square feet, including nearly 99,000 square feet of enclosed, climate-controlled space. The new structure introduces expanded premium seating, upgraded concessions and restrooms, and a new entry plaza that significantly enhances the fan arrival and circulation experience.

Using Memorial Stadium as a case study, the panel will explore key trends in stadium modernization, including neighborhood seating concepts and premium offerings such as field-level open-air suites, loge boxes, club seating, and outdoor “Tiger Den” patio boxes. Two new club spaces anchor the project: a Rock M Club built beneath the historic Rock M Hill and a Mezzanine Club, together accommodating more than 800 guests and strengthening donor and alumni engagement.

The discussion will also highlight construction execution in a live campus environment, including phased delivery through football seasons, structural repairs, technology upgrades, and renovations across the existing bowl. Attendees will gain practical insight into how collaborative planning and disciplined construction execution can transform a historic stadium into a competitive advantage and a catalyst for future campus growth.