Business View Magazine | July 2019

143 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 THE STADIUM MANAGERS ASSOC I AT ION managers, SMA is helping to give clarity to our members on what can be a confusing subject. At our annual seminar, major stadium construction and renovations are hot topics as well. Oftentimes we provide a forum for the major players of a new stadium’s construction, such as architects and the teams involved, to discuss the construction and design in detail. At our 2019 Annual Seminar we brought in experts to discuss construction of the Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park, future home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, and in 2018 when the City of Atlanta was undergoing a flurry of stadium construction, we brought in representatives to discuss those new builds as well. One of our most popular breakout sessions has been the 5x5x8, where we discuss smaller renovations that go on at most stadiums on an annual basis. This intimate forum allows the stadium manager to ask in-depth questions they wouldn’t have the opportunity to ask in a larger group. We also make available to our members our annual operations survey, so our stadium managers can see how their stadium compares to its peers and make evaluations on what the latest trends are. One of the best things about how the Stadium Managers Association is run, is that its Board of Directors are elected directly by its membership. In addition, all Board Members have a history of working in stadiums. In other words, the Board knows exactly what kind of challenges stadium managers face from personal experience. Our corporate membership is also growing. The Stadium Managers Association provides a valuable forum for them to provide their expertise and make face to face contact with stadium managers during our annual seminar. SMA is guided by four core principles: To network, educate, involve and give back. We give back in a variety of ways, including providing college scholarships and opportunities to students interested in a career in stadium management,