5G and the Future of Live Sports, Powered by Boingo

Wednesday, August 5 | 12:30 PM ET

Sports venue operators are being faced with greater challenges than ever before. First and foremost, fans will expect a safe environment once venues reopen. But they’ll also want a new experience that melds the digital and physical worlds. Those kinds of experiences start with connectivity that enables seamless integration of in-app experiences, augmented reality activations, and touchless capabilities such as facial recognition. Join the conversation to learn how 5G and other advanced venue technologies are shaping stadiums to ensure health and safety while offering fans the ultimate viewing experience.

Speakers

Frank Conway is Chief Product Officer at VenueNext. Formed by the San Francisco 49ers during the development of Levi's Stadium, VenueNext is now a leader in point-of-sale, mobile commerce and loyalty solutions for sports and entertainment venues.  The VenueNext platform is used by every major professional sports league and colleges – transforming the way fans shop, order, and pay. Frank Conway has two decades of software and product development experience, having worked at world-class brands: Spotify, Sling, MLB Advanced Media and ESPN.com. Previously Frank was SVP/Head of Product at Refinery29, one of the largest independent digital media companies and named one of the world’s most innovative media companies by FastCompany.  Prior to Refinery29, Frank was Product Director at Spotify where he was responsible for non-music audio, video and experimental/complimentary content experiences. Frank holds a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University. 

Mike Finley is CEO of Boingo and serves on the company’s board of directors. He is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and leading the business into the 5G future. A respected leader in the wireless industry, Finley served nearly nine years at Qualcomm prior to Boingo, most recently as president of North America and Australia. He has more than three decades of experience in senior management roles, including executive positions at Nextel, Sprint, Verizon, Airtouch Cellular and Cellular One. Finley received a B.S. and B.A. in marketing from Creighton University and attended the General Manager Program in Executive Education at Harvard Business School. He currently serves on the board of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and is a member of the Creighton University Hall of Fame.

Andy Loughnane is President of Austin FC and oversees all aspects of Austin FC’s business operations including community engagement, ticketing, sponsorship, marketing and communications, digital and social platforms, media distribution, merchandise, food and beverage and stadium operations. Prior to his appointment as President of Austin FC in January of 2019, Loughnane’s sports and entertainment background encompassed leadership and sales roles across three major leagues: Major League Soccer (MLS), NBA and NHL. Loughnane most recently served as President of Business Operations for the MLS team in Columbus, and prior to his tenure in Columbus Loughnane oversaw all sponsorship and media sales initiatives as VP of Corporate Partnerships for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Loughnane previously helped launch a major league franchise as a member of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets’ inaugural front office staff. Prior to his role with the Blue Jackets, Loughnane worked for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings during the franchise’s back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998.

Taylor Bloom | CEO, SportTechie [moderator]

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