Since the first renderings of the 360-degree Halo videoboard were released nearly three years ago, Mercedes-Benz Stadium promised to blaze a trail in in-venue video production and technology. More than 230 attendees – including representatives from 12 NFL teams – traveled to Atlanta for SVG’s annual Sports Venue Production Summit to see the Halo in person, and learn more about the gear and personnel responsible for powering it.
The two-day event kicked off on Tuesday with a behind-the-scenes tour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Attendees were invited inside the 1080p60 video control room that powers the Halo videoboard.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened prior to the 2017 NFL season with one of the most unique and eye-catching videoboards in all of sports. Now, with one season in the books, AMB Sports and Entertainment – the video production team that supports both the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta FC – share what they’ve learned in Year 1 and how they plan to further enhance the fan experience in Year 2 and beyond.
Over the past few years, IP-based technology has steadily grown in popularity in video-production workflows and, with the recent publishing of the SMPTE 2110 ST standard, is expected to explode in the near future. What does this mean for your game-day production? Will IP technologies streamline your workflows, enable you to produce your show more efficiently, and make your fan experience better? Industry leaders share what they’ve learned in the field and answer your most pressing questions.
An unlikely playoff appearance. A long-awaited world championship. A 10-year anniversary of a famous play. A favorite player’s number retired. When it comes to storylines in sports, the possibilities and opportunities are seemingly endless. But how do you catalyze your fan base around key moments and keep the momentum going all season long? Hear how teams have treated their franchises’ biggest moments through the use of social media, digital platforms, in-venue presentations, and much more, and the tools they’re using to make it possible.
As sports venues look to push the boundaries of video display design, manufacturers and systems integrators must figure out how to turn concept into reality. What considerations must be made with regards to display format; pixel density; location; and production tools like cameras, lenses, and switchers to make the most of non-traditional displays? Leaders involved in building some of the industry’s most unique displays and the production systems to support them discuss the process of creating – and powering – a board that’s truly one of a kind.
Built from the ground up to redefine the fan experience, Mercedes-Benz Stadium incorporates a broad array of technologies integrated to work together as a seamless, unified system. Learn how IBM partnered with AMB Sports & Entertainment to design and implement an integrated IT platform. The holistic approach spans a huge breadth of services and technologies including mobile, analytics, infrastructure, and Internet of Things. And it’s all connected by the IBM Cloud and backed with world-class security, storage solutions, data protection, and disaster recovery — a true end-to-end integration that only a partner like IBM can deliver.
Videoboards – both traditional and non-traditional – would be nothing without captivating video content tailor-made to fit the canvas. Game-day production personnel and graphics operators charged with programming in-venue video displays share their approach to creating a dynamic video presentation on a wide variety of shapes that are rarely, if ever, 16:9, and discuss the graphics gear, video processors, and replay servers they rely on to make it happen.
As sports venues invest in video display technology and the top tools to capture content, so too must they invest in the infrastructure to get video signals from Point A to Point B and beyond. Hear from the technology vendors who are leading the charge in signal distribution, both within the stadium and from the truck dock out to the broadcast center.
DYVI, EVS’s live production switcher, has changed the way the New Jersey Devils’ production team entertains and engages fans on gameday at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The result has been faster turnaround, unmatched content customization, and greater ease in program making.
Increasingly, the in-venue control room must serve the video needs of far more than the in-venue displays. Whether it’s a college that becomes responsible for an ESPN3 production, a videoboard producer that must broadcast a preseason game for linear TV, or a videoboard operator that must drive digital platforms, both the capabilities of control rooms and the skills of those working in them continue to evolve. Industry leaders on the control-room front lines discuss the technology that’s making it happen and the comms required to keep everyone on in the loop.
Please park in the Silver Deck and enter via Gate 2.
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Josh Beaudoin first joined WJHW in 2003. He grew up working in the family-owned general contracting business. After college, Beaudoin pursued his interest in electronics by working in the electronic security alarm, professional stage lighting production, and professional audio engineering businesses before returning to construction as an audio/video project manager and systems designer.
Beaudoin has benefited from working in all aspects of the technology construction industry including audio/video design-build system integration and sales, electrical contracting, audio consulting, and professional audio equipment manufacturing and international business development. This unique blend of experience has provided him with knowledge of each discipline and process required to complete modern stadiums, arenas, and convention centers. Beaudoin’s experience has given him a special insight into not only the consulting business, but the entire construction process from equipment manufacturing to system design, procurement, and installation, as well as commissioning. He has worked on several major professional stadiums and conventions centers as an equipment manufacturer, AV contractor, electrical contractor, and design consultant.
Beaudoin rejoined WJHW as the director of public assembly and large venue projects in 2010 and is now a principal of the firm. He actively pursues prospective clients, negotiates fees, develops strategic business relationships, and manages projects for WJHW.
Dave Belding is a sales leader with three decades of experience bringing high-quality technology to the sports industry spanning professional teams, colleges, universities, venues, and associations. Belding has been integral in driving new ways for organizations to increase fan/viewer engagement, ticket and merchandise sales, and sponsorships through the deployment of live video strategies. His background includes video production, system design, and implementation.
With more than 25 years with the Diamond Vision division of Mitsubishi Electric, as well as four years at Barco Media, Belding helped set up and operate portable large-scale display systems at many sporting and entertainment events including AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), American Airlines Arena (Miami Heat), and Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers). He was inducted into the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) Hall of Fame in 2008.
Mike Bilbow is the assistant athletic director, digital and production for the University of Georgia Athletic Association. He oversees stadium video board production, linear and digital television production, social media, and other digital content creation. Bilbow is currently in his second stretch at UGA. From 2009 – 2014, he was the executive director of new media for IMG College, leading the team that first began creating content for the Bulldogs.
Prior to returning to Athens, Bilbow was on the opening management team for the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta. As VP of content and production, he was responsible for all exhibits, interactives, and information technology, as well as the guest experience for the award-winning College Football shrine.
Bilbow holds a B.S. degree from Oklahoma State University, where he majored in radio/television/film with an emphasis in news and public affairs. He has extensive television experience as a producer, writer, and photographer.
Justin Brant is completing his eighth year as assistant athletics director of Crimson Tide Productions for the University of Alabama Athletics Department. His responsibilities include oversight of all creative video operations, graphic design, and live production. Since joining the Crimson Tide, the department has grown from two staff members to 18. Crimson Tide Productions covers nearly 200 live athletic events, 40 coaches shows, nearly 50 broadcast shows for regional and national distribution, 75 digital productions for the SEC Network + channel on Watch ESPN, and 30 linear shows for the SEC Network live on national television.
Ben Brillat is the chief architect for IBM’s Global Sports and Connected Venue services team. He leads the technical architecture portfolio for IBM’s stadium, arena, shopping mall, airport, casino, and other large public venue customers. He trains IBM delivery teams around the world with assets, skills, and techniques which they need to successfully deliver these projects.
Brillat is a 17-year IBMer, Open Group Certified Master IT Architect, and holds a degree in computer science from Rensselaer in Troy, NY.
Brandon Costa covers the sports video production industry, with a focus on live streaming, over-the-top (OTT), social media, and other digital distribution technologies and platforms. He also directs SVG’s internal digital strategies launching the company’s video outfit, ‘SVG On Demand,’ designing and overseeing its mobile application, ‘SVG Mobile,’ and serving as executive producer and host of The SVG Podcast. Costa serves as program director of both the SVG College Sports Summit and the SVG Digital Summit. Prior to his time at SVG, Costa spent five years producing digital content for MLB Advanced Media.
Kevin Cottam is the director of sports and live events at Ross Video. A graduate of Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology, he began his television broadcasting career in 1996 with CTV News. In 1998, he began working with CTV Sportsnet (now Rogers Sportsnet) in Toronto, Canada. Cottam worked at Sportsnet for 13 years as a technical director/studio director, working on studio and live sports productions. He also worked as a freelance live-event technical director/director for many other networks and production companies in the Toronto area.
Cottam began freelancing with Ross Video in 2006 as a demonstration artist and trainer, with a focus on professional sports and entertainment productions. He joined Ross Video full-time in 2011 and has been working extensively with NFL, NBA, and NHL teams for game day productions, as well as high-profile entertainment productions. Cottam brings a wealth of production knowledge and experience to this role and looks forward to working with new and existing clients to provide technology for their live sports productions.
With 20-plus years in sports presentation and production, Matt Coy has experience in every major sport including football, baseball, soccer, beach volleyball, hockey, and many more. His career has included three Summer Olympics, three Winter Olympics, ﬁve NFL Super Bowls, two FIFA World Cups, and many other large scale events.
As the general manager of Game Changer MVP, Coy brings his reputation and expertise overseeing the business and marketing efforts, along with client services, to ensure each project stands tall.
Scott Cunningham is a live event professional with 20+ years of producing, management, and consulting experience in game presentation at the pro sports level. He understands the game flow from a game presentation perspective and has the creative ability to infuse entertainment value elements that create and build atmosphere into that game flow. Cunningham also comprehends the control room environment and how to utilize existing pieces of equipment to achieve the desired effect in game presentation. He currently serves in the front office of the Atlanta Braves as vice president of fan experience, responsible for revamping the club’s overall game presentation and fan experience while leading their Promotions, Entertainment & Special Events, Audio & Video Production, and Broadcasting departments.
Cunningham’s background is in broadcast sports production where he produced the broadcasts for the Florida Marlins and the Miami Heat television networks, as well as the Miami Dolphin pre-season broadcasts and season-long coach’s shows. However, in 1998, he took his broadcast production experience to the “team” side of pro sports as the director of game presentation for the Florida Panthers Hockey Club. He has been producing live events ever since.
Cunningham has worked international events (Arab Olympics in Doha, Qatar) as a venue director and consulted with teams, most recently, the Manchester City Football Club of the Premier League in 2013, evaluating their game presentation and developing a systematic plan for improvement. In 2014, he was involved in the 3-year design and build of SunTrust Park at the Battery Atlanta. He was primarily responsible for the procurement, design, and installation of the LED video boards, audio sound system, control room, and broadcast cabling.
Jason Dachman oversees all aspects of SVG’s North American editorial operations, including the thrice-weekly SVG Insider newsletter and SVG’s annual print publications. A member of the SVG team since 2009, Dachman also serves as program director for SVG’s Sports Content Management & Storage (SCMS) Forum, Sports Graphics Forum, and TranSPORT event. Prior to joining SVG, he spent three years covering local sports for The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA, and two years on the production staff of SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s The Ron & Fez Show. Dachman began his career in the Sports Information Department at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also earned a B.A. in media communications and cinema studies.
Jeff Gouch is the sales manager for sports venues, EVS Americas. Jeff Gouch has been at EVS for over four years as sales manager with the venue focus added in 2017. He has helped initiate projects at a variety of pro and collegiate venues including the first EVS ST-2110 project in the USA. Prior to EVS, Gouch worked for manufacturers such as Panasonic, Grass Valley, Thomson, Philips BTS, and others responsible for multiple types of broadcast clients. He holds a B.S. in communications – radio and television from Ohio University and can be followed on twitter @jeffgouch.
Robert D. Jordan CFE, SVP of Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment, heads the Team & Venues Services Division’s design development specialty. The division works to provide sports and entertainment facility design consultation to property owners and developers. Jordan is an established voice in the “Smart Stadium” movement, integrating cutting edge technology into modern stadiums to improve fan experience and drive revenue.
VWSE acquired Jordan’s firm, Venue Research and Design, in 2012. Prior to that, Jordan was responsible for the design and development of MetLife Stadium, heading design and construction for the $1.6B joint venture. Jordan’s background includes three decades of public assembly facility design and operation, including American Airlines Center in Dallas and the development of the new University of Washington football stadium in Seattle. Jordan’s team is integral to Major League Baseball Advanced Media’s mission to make Major League Baseball one of the leaders in stadium technology, managing MLBAM’s DAS/WiFi consortium, as well as league-wide installations of Instant Replay, Statcast, and iBeacon.
Joining the SVG team in 2011, Karen Hogan Ketchum manages SVG’s print publications, including the semiannual SportsTech Journal, the annual Mobile Sports Production Yearbook, and all event print programs. She drives the company’s Venue Initiative, writing about the sports venue production industry and coordinating the agenda for the annual Sports Venue Production Summit and Venue Production Seminars. In addition, Hogan Ketchum is the director of SVGW (formerly SVG’s Women’s Sports Media Initiative). Hogan Ketchum began her career in sports at Fordham University with WFUV Sports, serving as Supervising Producer of “One on One,” WFUV Sports’ weekly call-in show. After graduating in 2009, she spent the 2009-10 season in the public relations department of the Trenton Devils (ECHL) before taking on a freelance copy editor assignment with Professional Sports Publications.
Gregory Kuh is the lead designer at Rocket Surgery, Ross Video’s creative service department. He began his broadcast career in 2005 at a Madison, Wisconsin ABC affiliate as a weekend Deko operator. In 2006, Kuh became a full-time technical director at WKOW-TV and shortly after, in 2008, accepted a role as a graphic artist where he later assisted in the high-definition transition of 12 television markets.
Kuh began freelancing for Ross Video in 2011 and traveled the globe working with broadcasters, as well as live events and venues. He accepted a full-time position in 2013 and a year later helped create Ross’ own creative service department alongside Andrew Sampson. Since 2014, Kuh has worked exclusively for sports and live events across North America. He has worked with teams in the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, and MLB, as well as dozens of universities across the country. Kuh has worked on many high-profile events including the Academy Awards, Super Bowl 51, and the College Football National Championship.
Eric Long has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for eight seasons and is the director of production for the team’s creative entity, Eagles Network. In his current role, Long oversees the production of content that is consumed on a variety of platforms including television, website, app, social media, and in-venue at Lincoln Financial Field. He leads a staff of talented producers and editors responsible for the execution of the organization’s digital content strategy and manages logistics for the team’s major production projects.
Long’s experience in sports production is diverse. He has been employed by several major and minor league sports teams and college athletic programs, as well as serving as a consultant. He is a graduate of the Film-Video program at Penn State University.
Nima Malekmanesh has been with Evertz since 2001 and is one of the lead software engineers who developed DreamCatcher. Malekmanesh oversees DreamCatcher marketing, sales, and service worldwide. He also contributes to product direction and development.
Mike Meglathery joined Diversified as a systems engineer in 2005 and brings over 20 years of experience in broadcast and professional audio/video system design. Meglathery now serves as a dual purpose senior project manager and lead project engineer. This dual focus allows him to calculatingly design and modify high-end projects while keeping a close eye on the timeline and budget, allowing clients to realize cutting-edge facilities within their project constraints.
Meglathery’s engineering consultant background allows him to manage many different types of projects, including Design-Build, Architectural Design, and Design-Bid. He also has expertise in all facets of production and operations of broadcast engineering facilities, allowing him to perform workflow evaluations, facility upgrade analysis, and system-detailed design and commissioning.
Meglathery’s list of previous broadcast clients include Microsoft Studios, Raycom Mobile, ESPN-HD, CNN-HD Los Angeles Bureau, Qualcomm-MediaFlo, BYU Broadcast, LDS Church, Cablevision/MSG, TV Azteca, Turning Point Ministries, and Frank Gehry’s Experience Music Project. His list of previous live event/sporting clients include the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals, Anaheim Ducks, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Chicago WhiteSox, Detroit Lions, Houston Astros, LA Dodgers, Carolina Hurricanes, San Francisco Giants, and Texas A&M University.
Meglathery has a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Vermont.
Scott Nardelli specializes in the deployment and integration of fiber optic technology and solutions. In 2007, he joined Bexel as chief business development officer to source, define, and manage strategic partnerships and business alliances. Nardelli is now serving as vice president and general manager for Bexel’s specialized division: Bexel Engineered Systems and Solutions (Bexel ESS), delivering turnkey optical solutions to broadcasters worldwide.
Additionally, Nardelli has involvement in the custom design and installation of broadcast cable for more than 100 stadiums, arenas, and entertainment venues across the world. His extensive contribution to Bexel includes projects from the first all-optical broadcast for the Academy Awards, as well as the deployment of the HD NFL “Instant Replay” system, optical integration for CBS Golf, and the broadcast infrastructure for MetLife Stadium, LA Coliseum, Stubhub Center, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and U.S. Bank Stadium. He proactively expands the scope of Bexel ESS to include custom integration projects, specialized vehicles for optical broadcast equipment, ESU, data storage, and broadcast internet solutions.
Stuart Reynolds began his career freelancing at northern Utah sporting events for NBC affiliate KSL-TV as an audio tech, cameraman, and tape-op while completing a B.A. in broadcast communications at Utah State. After Utah State, he worked at the University of Oregon’s and Stanford University’s Athletic Departments managing their facility audio and video systems, as well as directing team coaching analysis. He later began an entrepreneurial venture called Home Team Advantage, which combined early MPEG-I video codecs with a robust relational data base and client/server networked computer systems to provide the world’s first facility-networked coaching analysis system.
Before Diversified, Reynolds’ last professional engagement was as vice president and senior consultant for Acoustic Dimensions of Dallas, Texas, where he design-engineered and project-managed the installation of large screen displays, sound reinforcement, video production replay, and broadcast infrastructure. Reynolds also distributed video systems for multiple major league sports projects and many minor league and collegiate team projects, as well.
Reynolds continues his deep involvement with sports for Diversified, playing a balanced role for the team in assisting business development, sales, and project engineering. He brings 30 years of live video production engineering and facility design experience to the Diversified team. His personal resume includes project management and design engineering work for Oakland Alameda Coliseum, Hard Rock Stadium, Wrigley Field, Coors Field, Rogers Arena, Honda Center, Rio Tinto Stadium, Avaya Stadium, Peoria Sports Complex, and Colorado State Stadium.
Daniel Riess joined WJHW in 2015 after working at Texas A&M’s Sports Broadcast and Production Department, 12th Man Productions. At 12th Man Productions, Riess was a broadcast and venue engineer. He has also successfully worked on collegiate and professional sports facilities.
A native of Jacksonville, FL, Rinehart is a 1984 graduate of the University of Alabama, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. While in school, he served as a student trainer under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Rick Seegull, manager of Riedel’s System Consulting team, is responsible for managing and coordinating the design of the company’s comprehensive products in broadcast facilities throughout North America. He also develops the company product training programs and represents Riedel North America on industry panels.
In his 25-year career prior to joining Riedel, Seegull managed and created both startup divisions and departments involved in all aspects of the product chain, from concept and design to manufacturing, marketing, and sales. Seegull has served as SVP of sales and marketing for Aurora Multimedia, director of business development for A/V control and automation company Xantech Corporation, and product engineering manager at Otari MFG. Seegull graduated from the Polytechnic University of New York with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering.
In 2007, Don Sperling was named VP and executive producer of Giants Entertainment, the media, events, programming, and production arm of the New York Football Giants. Sperling oversees all television, radio, digital and social media, publishing, creative services, events, and game day stadium event presentations. He was formerly the president of D&L Media, a full-service production, development, and consulting company, specializing in new media and digital strategy across all platforms, branding, live events, television and film production, broadcasting, entertainment, news, sports, and media training.
Sperling was SVP and executive producer of NBA Entertainment for fifteen years, responsible for the overall branding, development, programming, promotion, and creative direction. He also fostered the NBA’s global success and expansion; created and developed NBA Inside Stuff – NBC’s and now ABC’s extremely successful and longest-running weekly sports and entertainment show airing fifty-two weeks a year; and helped develop the NBA’s award-winning “I Love This Game” image campaign, public service announcements, and a wide array of promotions.
Prior to working at the NBA, Sperling worked as a producer and writer in the News and Sports Department at CNN. He also worked for CBS News, NBC, WCBS-TV, and IBM.
Michael Sullivan is currently responsible for overseeing all live operations for War Eagle Productions, the video services department of Auburn Athletics. This includes all SEC Network and videoboard shows and events. He is the lead production liaison between Auburn and ESPN, and handles the oversight of the more than 85 student and freelance staff that run the more than 330 yearly events. Sullivan also oversees the engineering department ensuring that all equipment and materials are properly configured, well-maintained, and serviced before each show or broadcast.
Sullivan began working as a student with AUHD, the former organization responsible for video board operation. During that time, he gained invaluable experience and was contracted on numerous projects with companies such as Daktronics, ESPN, Ross Video, and Big Screen Networks. With the addition of the SEC Network and the creation of the in-house video group, War Eagle Productions, Sullivan was hired to his current role upon graduation. Sullivan has served as the football videoboard director since 2013 and has been the lead director for SEC Network broadcasts since its inception.
Brent Stevens is the national sales manager for professional sports at Daktronics. His focus is on business development as it relates to the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, and other large sports projects. Stevens joined Daktronics in 1998 as a sales representative in the major league sports market, now a part of the live events market. In the fall of 2002, Stevens moved to Atlanta, GA, and in 2007, he took over the role of national sales manager for professional sports to focus all of his efforts on that market.
Stevens took a brief hiatus from Daktronics in October of 2014 to become the VP of business development for Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment out of New York, returning to Daktronics in his previous role in April of 2016.
From network-level live directing to state of the art control room design and engineering, Sam Thompson brings 37 years of experience and a range of expertise to any project he commands. He has engineered and built remarkable control rooms, production trucks, and broadcast studios which serve as industry standard models. Thompson has drawn on his knowledge base and visionary thinking to create the infrastructure to support the world’s largest sports venue video boards at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL. The resulting show that he directed, has been ranked as the top technology and content program in the National Football League each of the last four seasons. The first of its kind 8k wide program, stitching five production switchers and 24 mixed effect busses to composite and manipulate content, speaks to both his engineering and programming prowess.
Other recent projects include redesigning and building the central control room at Ole Miss University to support all live and web-streamed sports events and programming, as well as designing and implementing the new studio facility for CBS Sports Interactive. Thompson directed the live broadcast of the final 22 Space Shuttle launches, including the final launch in 2011.
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently launched a new project that included a major renovation to the club level, as well as a 6,500 seat amphitheater (the first of its kind that is connected to an NFL stadium) and 94,000 square foot indoor flex filed. Thompson designed and implemented full command and control of these new spaces to the existing control room, as well as an auxiliary control room local to the amphitheater stage.
Jeff Volk is vice president of Alpha Video and the founding officer/director of the Alpha Video Sports & Entertainment Group. With 26 years of industry experience, 23 at Alpha Video, Volk has overseen the negotiation and installation of over 75 major sports venue technology integrations including control rooms, broadcast infrastructure, A/V systems, and IPTV/digital signage solutions. Recent projects include the new production facility at Louisiana State University, as well as the HD control room upgrade at Ford Field and US Bank Stadium – one of the most technologically advanced sports venues in the world and home of the Minnesota Vikings, Super Bowl LII, and the 2019 NCAA Final Four. Volk uses his knowledge of technology, fan engagement, and team ROI to create technology environments that help better engage fans and drive revenue.