Maximizing the Impact of Technology by Selecting the Right Fit for the Venue

Building a memorable and engaging live event experience starts long before the doors open to welcome people into the venue. To hear behind-the-scenes info from a global sports and entertainment company, Justin and Matt sat down with Katee LaPoff, Chief Technology Officer at the Oak View Group (OVG) for an episode of The Daktronics Experience podcast.

Katee grew up in this industry and gained a wealth of experience in New York and working at Madison Square Garden before joining OVG. And those experiences continue to grow today.

“We opened approximately one building a year at Oak View Group, which allowed me to evolve how I think about technology,” said Katee. “Tech in an arena can range from switches and routers to point-of-sale systems and handhelds for in-seat ordering. Every morning, we interact with technology without even thinking about it, and we want venue tech to be the same way.”

That technology includes LED displays inside and outside of live event venues to connect with patrons throughout their experience.

“Outside of Madison Square Garden, we wanted to create that ‘wow-factor,’ making sure people have that moment of, “I can’t believe I’m here!” Katee added.

This is the beginning of their live event experience and starts it off with a bang. Then the rest of the experience should be as smooth as possible for everyone attending as well. This is where the right piece of technology at the right time is extremely important, especially for a global company like OVG.

Katee explained, “If we put a piece of tech that’s frictionless in New York, it may not be frictionless in another market. It’s also important to evaluate the environmental impact, like whether to renovate a building instead of tearing it down.” So, knowing the market, the culture and the day-to-day expectations of the people all play into the selection of technology and how to proceed with the overall project for any given venue.

“The rising tide should lift all boats, meaning our arenas should benefit the communities they are in,” continued Katee. “We always start with the business goal and the ROI thinking, then layer on how it impacts the community."

Katee and the OVG team take all of this into consideration before selecting the right technology for the job. They lean on digital displays as tools to help build mood and vibe surrounding a venue and can use them to change those vibes throughout each event.

“Foundationally,” added Katee, “great technology is about connecting. Connecting fans with their artist and with each other. Technology is constantly changing, so we make sure to stay aligned with our partners and adjust as needed.”

To hear the full podcast conversation, click here.