Coming Soon!
44th Annual IDEA Conference
July 12 - 15 in CINCINNATI!
General Sessions
Location Announcement Coming Soon!
Everyone has a story to tell! Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it doesn't. Join this interactive discussion about the year’s best practices and biggest blunders! Attendees should submit a video or photo to share their game-day triumphs and cringe-worthy trainwrecks. We’ll then discuss these moments in an open forum general session. Attendees will be asked to submit photos and videos prior to attending.
Keynote speaker announcement coming soon.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
- Sunday evening Welcoming Reception
- Monday-Wednesday Lunch in Partner Expo
- Monday evening Excursion and GMA Voting
- Monday evening Dinner and Excursion Including Emerging Professionals Gathering
- Tuesday evening Tours and Dinner at Cincinnati Reds including MLB ASG Watch Party and Women's Networking Event
- Wednesday evening Dinner and IDEA Awards Gala
Educational Sessions in three tracks
CREATIVE CONTENT
- ARTificial Intelligence - Embracing AI
- Set the Stage for Success - Put That Up (Cinematography)
- The Fourth Dimension (Cinema 4D)
- Adobe
- Beyond the LUT "Green with Envy" (Color Grading)
TECHNOLOGY
- Find it Fast - MAM & Automation at Game Speed
- Glow up the Bowl- Dynamic, Theatrical Lights on Game Day
- Noise with a Purpose - How PA works in Venues (Sound Systems)
- Big Bright Pixels - LED Display Fundamentals
- Spend Smart - Planning for the Cost of the Future
DAILY GRIND 2.0
Our wildly popular breakout sessions bring together peers from across the industry who share many of the same daily challenges based on their job responsibilities. You may have attended a Daily Grind session in the past, but you’ll be amazed at our new and improved 2.0 sessions!
CONTROL ROOM
Control room EICs, live event directors, live event producers, control room equipment operators, technical services managers, live event production managers, directors of technology, IPTV managers, control room managers, and AV technicians.
OFFERINGS:
"Welcome to my Crib - Control Room Edition"
"Welcome Back to my Crib - How is Your Control Room Crewed"
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Aspiring live event producers / show callers & directors, active producers, directors, & show-callers with at least one year of experience in live event producing, show calling &/or directing live events.
OFFERINGS: "Game Prep - Pre-Season""Game Prep - Game Day"
Leadership
Manager & senior managers who are key decision-makers for strategy, budgets, and staffing.
OFFERINGS:
"Work/Life Balance Through the Years"
"Leading a Team from Different Eras"
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment directors, managers, & and coordinators who oversee entertainment bookings, programming, special effects, special events, and ceremonies and/or manage or oversee entertainment teams and talent (i.e., hosts, DJs, dance groups, mascots, etc.)
OFFERINGS: "Incorporating Trends""Integrating the Second Screen Experience"
CREATIVE
Shooters/editors, content directors/creators, production managers, and post-production specialists who create content for multiple platforms, motion graphic managers, motion graphic designers, editors, aspiring motion graphic designers, post-production enthusiasts, producers/editors, videographers, editors, aspiring
shooter/editors.
OFFERINGS: "Embracing AI - Day 1" "Embracing AI - Day 2"
Breakouts
Please note: Breakouts are open only to full-time professionals affiliated with that particular breakout. Additionally, several breakout sessions are offered over the course of the conference. They are all unique offerings and NOT repeats of previously offered breakouts. On Tuesday only, members of the minor league breakout are invited to attend their specific sport breakout.
• Alternative Productions
led by Tommy Bean, Dickies Arena with Andrew Palochko, Monster Jam/Feld Entertainment
• Baseball
led by Arianna Krizek, Philadelphia Phillies with Brendan McKeon, New York Mets and Sonni Simmons, San Diego Padres
• Basketball
led by James Dawkins, Miami Heat with Kurt Doster, Miami Heat
• Corporate Partners
led by John Adams, The Score
• Football
led by Julia Chongarlides, Altlanta Falcons & Mercedes Benz Stadium with Eben Sawilchik, Las Vegas Raiders
• Hockey
led by Ryan Bushey, NJ Devils with Caitlin Salemi, Seattle Kraken
• Minor League
led by Nick Wojciechowski, Milwaukee Admirals with Aaron Henry, Hershey Bears
• Soccer
led by Tom Davis, FC Cincinnati with Justin Drum, Charlotte FC
• University
led by Les Eller, Purdue Athletics with Chris Humphrys, Baylor University
Breakouts.
Please note: Breakouts are open only to full-time professionals affiliated with that particular breakout. Additionally, several breakout sessions are offered over the course of the conference. They are all unique offerings and NOT repeats of previously offered breakouts.
Baseball
led by Jami Itiakase, Cincinnati Reds
Basketball
led by James Dawkins, Miami Heat with Kurt Doster, Miami Heat
Football
led by Justin Casserly, Las Vegas Raiders with Allan Wertheimer, Minnesota Vikings
Hockey
led by Tina DiVilio, Philadelphia Flyers with Cynthia Paquin-Lepage, Montreal Canadiens & Chris Greenley, Carolina Hurricanes
Minor League
led by Heather Wojciechowski-DeCaire, Milwaukee Admirals with Colin Peterson, Manitoba Moose
Soccer
led by Jeremy Benjamin, Vancouver Whitecaps
University
led by Chris Ostien, West Virginia University with Chris Humphrys, Baylor University
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED
IDEA offers a number of ways to get involved in the organization. You’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with your peers while bettering the organization. Everyone is invited to attend whichever committee meeting sounds fun to them! Current Committee members will meet on Sunday afternoon to review the upcoming week. Committee meetings on Tuesday will be open to all interested members.
Conference Content Committee (CCC)
Chair Matt Jaques, Houston Texans
Emerging and Social Engagement (EAS-E) committee
Emma Kazian, Vegas Golden Knights
Golden Matrix Awards (GMA) Committee
Chairs Lina Martino, United Center, and Jeff Lewis, Ball Center
Historical (HoF) Committee:
Chairs John Franzone, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Aaron Buckles, Jamination
Inspire the Passion (ITP) Award Committee
Jacob Potter, University of Oklahoma
Inclusion and Outreach (I&O) Committee
Derryl Myles, University of Illinois
PRODUCT SHOWCASES
Monday
PixMob
Tuesday
The Famous Group
Daniels Wood Land
Sony
Pyrotecnico
CUE
Daktronics
Wednesday
TBD
The 2026 IDEA Conference will be held on July 12 - 15 in Northern Kentucky / Cincinnati, OH
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