“This is the natural next step after launching our podcast, TicketingPodcast.com, in March 2023,” said TicketCo CEO and podcast host Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg. “We’ve had an incredible lineup of guests sharing insights from both football and other sports. Non-sports professionals have vast knowledge, but few platforms to share it. We quickly realised there’s a big audience eager to hear these stories and insights from the unsung heroes of the sports industry.”
The podcast will now be rebranded as Don’t Forget Your Tickets, and the brand is expanding beyond audio to include the Emirates conference, which will focus on the theme, Exploring the Future of Sports Business: From Ticketing to Fan Engagement.
“We’re building something unique,” said Moberg. “This won’t be a conference full of sales pitches or overcrowded panels. We’re bringing in top-tier speakers and moderators, sticking to the efficient 1:1 interview format, which we believe will work just as well for a live audience at Emirates as it does for the podcast.”
What sets this event apart, aside from the high-quality format, is its affordability. Full-priced tickets are £350, with early bird tickets at £250, and a two-for-one offer. Moberg explains the pricing strategy: “We want every ticketing manager and commercial director to attend, and we know price can be a barrier, especially for smaller clubs. Since we’re not in this for profit, we can offer highly affordable rates, and host a premium event without premium prices.”
The conference will feature ten speakers, including Paul Barber, CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion, discussing the dynamics between club owners and CEOs, and Steve Kavanagh, former CEO of Millwall, on financial sustainability within the EFL. Other speakers include Daniel Krizan, CEO of TruCrowd, who will explore facial recognition ticketing alongside Manal Smith, Head of Ticketing at Arsenal FC. Additionally, Jens Lehmann, former Arsenal goalkeeper and key member of the "Invincibles," will share his journey of purchasing the branding rights to "The Invincibles" and his plans to build a business focused on giving back to the people.
“We’ve already secured most of the ten slots and are finalising the remaining speakers. We’re confident this lineup will deliver unique, high-quality insights to all attendees,” said Moberg. “In partnership with our event partner Urban Zoo, we look forward to hosting a day of great discussions and learning with the unsung heroes of football.”
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