sgunatilakebspb311assessment1

[sgunatilakebspb311assessment1]

References

Allegiant Stadium. (n.d.). About Allegiant Stadium. https://www.allegiantstadium.com/stadium/about-allegiant-stadium 

Arena. (2024). Arena Announces Pivotal Role Building Demountable Cricket Stadium for T20 World Cup in New York. https://arenagroup.com/usa/2024/03/29/arena-announces-pivotal-role-building-demountable-cricket-stadium-for-t20-world-cup-in-new-york/ 

Bureau, E. (2025). T20 World Cup 2024 generates $1.66 billion economic boost for USA, West Indies. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/t20-world-cup-2024-generates-1-66-billion-economic-boost-for-usa-west-indies/articleshow/120135816.cms 

Byers, T., Hayday, J. E., Mason, F., Lunga, P., & Headley, D. (2021). Innovation for Positive Sustainable Legacy From Mega Sports Events: Virtual Reality as a Tool for Social Inclusion Legacy for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.625677 

Commscope. (n.d.). CommScope Fiber is the Backbone of Allegiant Stadium. https://www.commscope.com/globalassets/digizuite/712110-la-raiders-cs-114508-en.pdf 

Geneva Environment Network. (2024). Sports, the Environment, and the Role of International Geneva. https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sports-the-environment-and-the-role-of-international-geneva/ 

HLB. (n.d.). The economic impact of hosting large sporting events. https://www.hlb.global/the-economic-impact-of-hosting-large-sporting-events/ 

International Olympic Committee. (2017). IOC Sustainability Strategy. https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Factsheets-Reference-Documents/Sustainability/IOC-Sustainability-Strategy-Long-version.pdf 

Jackson, B. (n.d.). The Best Ways To Experience The MCG. Australia. https://www.australia.com/en/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-melbourne-cricket-ground.html 

Jackson, B. (n.d.). The Best Ways To Experience The MCG. Australia. https://www.australia.com/en/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-melbourne-cricket-ground.html 

Jia, M. (2024). Innovation in Sports Event Management: A Case Study of the NBA. Frontiers in Business Economic and Management, 17(1), 139-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.54097/xgaxef63 

Matheson, A. V. (2013). Assessing the Infrastructure Impact of Mega-Events in Emerging Economies. Lincoln Institute Of Land Policy. https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/conference-papers/assessing-infrastructure-impact-mega-events-emerging-economies/ 

MCG. (n.d.). About the MCG. https://www.mcg.org.au/about-us/about-the-mcg 

Ministry Of Sport. (2019). MCG Receives $25 Million Investment To Enhance Fan Experience At The Stadium. https://ministryofsport.com/mcg-receives-25-million-investment-to-enhance-fan-experience-at-the-stadium/ 

Mottaeva, A. (2021). Influence of Large Sporting Events on the Development of Infrastructure of the Region and Its Investment Attractiveness. International Journal of Applied Exercise Physiology, 10(1), 156-163. http://dspace.wunu.edu.ua/bitstream/316497/41947/1/2.pdf#page=156 

Pierik, J., & Wu, A. (2025). Smile, you’re on camera: How the MCG uses AI to track what you buy at the footy. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/smile-you-re-on-camera-how-the-mcg-uses-ai-to-track-what-you-buy-at-the-footy-20250325-p5lm8d.html 

PMY. (n.d.). Powering Innovation at Allegiant Stadium. https://www.pmygroup.com/case-studies/allegiantstadium 

Ramos, F, R., Biscaia, R., Moro, S., & Kunkel, T. (2022). Understanding the importance of sport stadium visits to teams and cities through the eyes of online reviewers. Leisure Studies, 42(5), 693-708. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2131888 

Samsung for Business. (2024). Allegiant Stadium takes fan experiences to the next level with Samsung display technology. Insights. https://insights.samsung.com/2024/02/09/allegiant-stadium-takes-fan-experiences-to-the-next-level-with-samsung-display-technology/ 

SEN News. (2024). MCG Installing AI Security Scanners To Enhance Safety. https://sen.news/mcg-installing-ai-security-scanners/ 

Su, Z. X., Chen, L., & Xu, L. X. (2025). Carbon emission and energy risk management in mega sporting events: challenges, strategies, and pathways. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1513365 

Yadav, S. Y., & Sandeep. (2024). Smart stadiums: Enhancing fan experience through technological innovations in sports venues. International Journal of Sports, Health, and Physical Education, 6(1), 50-52. https://doi.org/10.33545/26647559.2024.v6.i1a.104  Yang, H. (2023). Sustainability in Sport Events: Economic, Environmental, and Social Perspectives. AISTS. https://aists.org/sustainability-in-sport-events/#:~:text=Controlling%20and%20offsetting%20their%20carbon,if%20new%20infrastructure%20is%20necessary

[sgunatilakebspb311assessment1]

Sport Event Topic 2

Entry 4: Commercial sustainability and innovation

Commercial sustainability in sports events management is looking at the impacts that a sporting event may have on the communities, and both the positive and negative impacts from an environmental, economic and social perspective. From an environmental point of view, sustainability means reducing the negative effects on the climate, and biodiversity through initiatives such as renewable energy etc. From an economic perspective it is achieved by reducing costs while maximising the economic benefits from the event. This can be achieved by using existing infrastructure and transportation networks or working with local businesses. From a social point of view, it relates to the effect on the local communities. However, usually they are mostly positive effects as it creates job opportunities and helps to grow the local economies (Yang, 2023). 

In this case, innovation is the fundamental guarantee for further encouraging the development of sports events and industries (Jia, 2024). Innovation is a key driver in organisational performance and it is paramount in defining, planning and measuring legacy. It is crucial in gaining or maintaining a competitive advantage in commercial and voluntary sport organisations and events. 

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are 2 of the largest sporting events in the world. The International Olympic Committee’s 2017 sustainability strategy emphasises to align with a significant number of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, creating a clear mission to support social development through sport. For example, the 2024  France Olympic and Paralympic Games’ purpose focused on “shifting the perception” of disabled people and increasing their overall social inclusion within society (Byers et al., 2021). 

IOC Sustainability Strategy (International Olympic Committee, © 2017)

The IOC sustainability strategy outlines 5 key strategic intents for 2030:

Infrastructure and natural sites: To develop operational indoor and outdoor sites wherever sports activities take place. This includes support and administrative infrastructure like non-competition venues at the Olympic Games and offices. 

Sourcing and resource management: Sourcing of products and services to manage material resources over their lifecycle. 

Mobility: Movement of people and goods correlated with the Olympic Movement’s activities both locally and globally. 

Workforce: Making the working conditions better and creating opportunities for the employees, volunteers and contractors of the Olympic movement. 

Climate: Managing direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions linked with the Olympic movement’s activities. Strategies such as reduction of carbon will be implemented (Olympics, 2017). 

[sgunatilakebspb311assessment1]

Sport Event Topic 1

Entry 3: Sport event infrastructure enhancement

Infrastructure enhancement correlated with sporting events can be costly. However, in most cases it can deliver long-term economic benefits as well (HLB, n.d.). Sports infrastructure enhancement includes spending on stadiums and sports venues, costs for transportation, tourist & athlete accommodations, and public spaces (Matheson, 2013). 

Sport event infrastructure enhancement can have various long-term benefits for the host country or region. These include, improvement of network automobile or railroads, and the effect of advertising which represents the host city or the country as a potential tourist or business destination for the future. This will strengthen the pride of the national community and strengthen their local and national economies (Mottaeva, 2021). 

In contrast, sport event infrastructure enhancement can have negative impacts from an economic and environmental perspective. In the past, there have been several cases of countries struggling to make use of the shockingly expensive infrastructure (particularly developing countries). This leads to abandoning such infrastructure and can lead to communities suffering a lot with deprivations correlated to unemployment, homelessness, and poverty (Jandu, 2020). From an environmental perspective, clearing land for construction can lead to the loss of ecosystems and can generate large amounts of pollution (Geneva Environment Network, 2024). The construction of large-scale sport event infrastructure and its transportation during the process are the main factors that generate carbon emissions. In addition to the carbon emissions, energy consumption is another massive concern in some scenarios (Su et al., 2024). 

The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a prime example of infrastructure enhancement to cater needs and boost the economic impact. The Cricket world cup was hosted in the nations of the USA and the West Indies. As there are not a lot of venues specifically for Cricket found in the USA, games were staged in Nassau County (New York), Grand Prairie (Dallas), and Lauderhill (Florida). The ICC invested in transport infrastructure, hotel facilities and stadium enhancements (Bureau, 2025). For example, a temporary 34,000 seat modular stadium was built in New York just for the world cup. The venue included premium grandstands, with VIP experiences and private hospitality.

ICC T20 Men's World Cup 2024 Temporary Nassau County Stadium (Dezeen, © 2024)

It is a great example of how any large sporting event can create temporary infrastructures to cater its needs (Arena, 2024). The entire world cup generated a total economic sum of $1.66 billion. The USA saw an economic impact of $618.4 million from hosting just 16 matches. The investments for the infrastructure enhancements directly benefited the local businesses and communities in the USA during the world cup (Bureau, 2025).

[sgunatilakebspb311assessment1]

Sport Venue Topic 2

Entry 2: Technology advancements in venues

Technological advancements in sport venues enhance the fan experience, transforming the way people engage with sporting events. Various technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and data analytics have enabled sport venues to offer extraordinary services to spectators. Key components such as IoT allow connectivity among devices. Moreover, infrastructure within the venue such as IoT sensors ingrained in seats, concession stands, and facilities allows the stadium to gather data on crowd movement, temperature and other vital factors in real-time (Yadav & Sandeep, 2024). Thus, the gathered data will allow the stadium to explore the areas to improve on. 

Allegiant stadium is one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world. It is a 65,000 capacity stadium and it was opened in 2020. It is the home of the Las Vegas Raiders NFL team and UNLV Football. Moreover, it hosts world-class entertainment events such as concerts and other special sporting events such as the Las Vegas Bowl. From a technological perspective, the stadium consists of 44 escalators, 2300+ TVs, and 75,000 square feet of 4K HDR-capable videoboards (Allegiant Stadium, n.d.).

 (Allegiant Stadium Exterior Visuals, Bloomberg © 2024)

This was mostly accomplished because of the collaboration between the Las Vegas Raiders and Samsung. It has the world’s largest outdoor display in the form of a 27,600-square-foot mesh technology panel. These displays offer an extraordinary visual experience for any events that can be easily customised by the operations teams. Additionally, the stadium consists of a translucent fully fixed roof and moveable field tray. Spectators within the venue are immediately immersed in a video experience and all have a stunning view from any seat within the venue (Samsung for Business, 2024). 

 (Allegiant Stadium & Samsung Collaboration, Samsung For Business © 2024)

Furthermore, the stadium has integrated other forms of cutting-edge technologies such as AV systems, IP based video production and broadcast technology, WiFi infrastructure, and surveillance by various other companies (PMY, n.d.). The network and connectivity within the stadium allow fans or visitors to use their Raiders and Allegiant Stadium mobile app throughout the facility to find parking spaces, discover concession stands, or order food directly to their seats, which creates a hassle free experience for all sports fans and visitors (Commscope, 2020).

[sgunatilakebspb311assessment1]

Sport Venue Topic 1

Entry 1: Sports fan experience, media or service enhancement at a sports venue

It is vital for sports stadiums to provide a great experience for all fans as it will create loyalty and attract more fans in the future. Major sport stadiums and venues around the world engage local communities’ and visitors’ attention. This brings in benefits such as contributing to the local economies, and enhancing the city or the country’s image where the stadium is based. Well-established sport venues offer complementary services to attract and enhance the fan experience. Examples of services include museums, halls of fame, tours, restaurants etc (Ramos et al., 2023). 

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was established in 1853 and it is the home of Australian Football since 1859, the birthplace of Test cricket in 1877 and one-day international cricket in 1971. (MCG, n.d.).  It has a capacity of 100,000 meaning it is one of the biggest sporting stadiums in the world and the largest in Australia. (Jackson, n.d.). The venue has hosted other special sporting events such as Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup soccer qualifiers and other events such as concerts over the years.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (Austadiums, © 2021)

The stadium offers services such as tours, and museums with exclusive access to monuments of history across more than 95 sports. Additionally, the venue has various world-famous cafes, restaurants and pubs with rooftop terraces and gardens to provide an unforgettable experience for all sports fans and visitors (MCG, n.d.). As of 2019, the MCG invested more than $25 million into upgrading the public announcement system, which had more than 3000 speakers placed throughout the seating areas, function rooms and other areas around the stadium. Furthermore, the stadium partnered with various telecommunications companies such as Telstra to provide free 5G network coverage (Ministry Of Sport, 2019). 

Melbourne Cricket Ground Tour (Visit Victoria, ©)

Technology integration has also become a pivotal factor to increase the overall sports fan experience at the MCG. Recently, the MCG has introduced AI powered security scanners and express food outlets with an AI powered checkout free initiative. The Evolv Express security gates use sensors, cameras and AI software to scan for a full body weapons search. It analyses data at a rate of 3500 people per hour, per entry lane (SEN News, 2024). The AI powered checkout free initiative is found across 4 express food outlets where visitors swipe their debit/credit card upon entry with cameras and sensors overhead that tracks the snacks and drinks they pick up (Pierik & Wu, 2025).

MCG Evolv Security Security Scanners (ABC News, © 2025)