61 episodes

 About Us

The Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) was founded in 2020.  IIFX’s vision is to be the leading and most trusted global authority on providing exceptional, memory-making fan experiences for the sports and entertainment industry. The Institute focuses on the fan journey and creating the ideal fan experience for its member organizations, one that results in increased revenue, sustainable growth, operational efficiency, a diversified workforce, new and repeat attendance, and maximized health, safety, and security through best practices, innovative technology solutions, and high-quality services.  IIFX produces content and events and facilitates dialogue and collaboration around its core areas of expertise.
 Our FANCENTRIC Podcast Series explores topics about the sports and entertainment industry that should interest all fans throughout their journey. Our guests include visionary industry thought leaders, advanced practitioners, authors, technologists, and fans from around the world. We are bound together by passion and the incomparable skills of visionary thought leaders throughout the international community. Along with our technical and subject matter experts, we discuss new ways to change the world’s sports and entertainment fan experience for the better.

FANCENTRIC - The Fan Journey is the Experience‪!‬ Christopher J. Kinnan

    • Business

 About Us

The Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) was founded in 2020.  IIFX’s vision is to be the leading and most trusted global authority on providing exceptional, memory-making fan experiences for the sports and entertainment industry. The Institute focuses on the fan journey and creating the ideal fan experience for its member organizations, one that results in increased revenue, sustainable growth, operational efficiency, a diversified workforce, new and repeat attendance, and maximized health, safety, and security through best practices, innovative technology solutions, and high-quality services.  IIFX produces content and events and facilitates dialogue and collaboration around its core areas of expertise.
 Our FANCENTRIC Podcast Series explores topics about the sports and entertainment industry that should interest all fans throughout their journey. Our guests include visionary industry thought leaders, advanced practitioners, authors, technologists, and fans from around the world. We are bound together by passion and the incomparable skills of visionary thought leaders throughout the international community. Along with our technical and subject matter experts, we discuss new ways to change the world’s sports and entertainment fan experience for the better.

    FANCENTRIC - Why Sports & Entertainment Venues Need to Prepare for the Weather

    FANCENTRIC - Why Sports & Entertainment Venues Need to Prepare for the Weather

    COPYRIGHT 2024 BY IIFX
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
    Recorded 20 March 2024 by IIFX

    Join Dr. Lou Marciani, Director & Co-Founder of IIFX, and Jim Mercurio, former Executive VP & General Manager @ Levi's Stadium and President of JCM Events Management & Consulting, LLC, for our free FANCENTRIC podcast.

    Russ Simons, Chief Listening Officer and Managing Partner @Venue Solutions Group and Tom Bedard, Senior Manager of Emergency Operations join the discussion.

    Fans, Sports & Entertainment leaders, and anyone with an interest in the legal liability posed by weather incidents that threaten business and event operations should enjoy this discussion.

    Learn how sports and entertainment leaders prepare their venues and staff to protect their fans and staff during adverse weather conditions.

    Join Dr. Lou and Jim as they query their guest panel about their experiences in preparing for adverse weather, including developing action plans and training their staff to respond to almost any weather condition.

    The National Weather Service reports that more than 30 people a year die from lightning strikes in the United States, most during some outdoor sports or entertainment activity. There are 20-25 million lightning flashes in storms across the United States each year. 

    Are you and your venue staff prepared? Learn from the weather experience of our guests.

    Over the past three and a half decades, Russ Simons has been involved in nearly every facet of the sports and entertainment facility industry, from design and construction to operations, marketing and PR, safety and security. At Venue Solutions Group (VSG), Russ directs the firm’s organizational analysis, operational consulting, guest experience benchmarking, and safety, security, and risk management efforts. VSG is a team of former senior facility managers who evaluate building systems, operations, management, facility condition, guest experience, safety and security, and sustainable operations. Russ has worked with team and facility operators at every level from collegiate to all U.S. based major professional leagues. Russ’s work goes hand-in-hand with architects and engineers to design facilities that are safe, operationally efficient, revenue positive and sustainable. He has worked with a wide variety of clients, including the Orlando Magic, San Diego Padres, Indiana State Fair, Pittsburgh Steelers, Reliant Park, Texas A&M University, The Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta, and the historic Keeneland Equestrian Facility. Prior to creating VSG, Russ was a senior principal with global design firm Populous. There, he managed the firms’ facility operations, evaluation, and analysis group which assisted public assembly venues in all operational aspects.

    Tom Bedard is a meteorologist and emergency manager with over a decade of experience in severe weather. Specializing in weather safety planning, Tom has developed weather training courses currently in-use by FEMA’s National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, he has implemented weather safety services at hundreds of venues across North America, and he has helped develop best practices for how private weather services support event operations. He currently resides in Bentonville, AR where he works as a meteorologist and emergency operations center senior manager.
    About the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience

    Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (www.iifx.org) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘Fan Journey’ for the sports and entertainment industry. IIFX provides training, industry content creation, Fan Journey best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

    • 45 min
    Why Sports and Entertainment Venues Need the SAFETY Act

    Why Sports and Entertainment Venues Need the SAFETY Act

    COPYRIGHT 2024 BY IIFX
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
    Recorded 2/6/2024

    Dr. Lou Marciani, Director & Co-Founder of IIFX, and Jim Mercurio, former Executive VP & General Manager @ Levi's Stadium, for our free FANCENTRIC podcast. 

    Fans, Sports & Entertainment leaders, and anyone with an interest in the legal liability protections afforded by the SAFETY Act for sellers of qualified anti-terrorism technologies (QATTs) should join the IIFX Live Stream event on 6 February  2024 at 11 AM Central time.  

    Learn how these technologies could save lives in the event of a terrorist attack.

    Join Dr. Lou and Jim as they query their guest panel about their experiences in earning SAFETY Act Designation and Certification for their technologies and venues.  Learn from their experiences and from the legal expertise of our guests. 

    The SAFETY Act Designation and Certification programs emerged in the 2002 Homeland Security Act.  According to the Department of Homeland Security, SAFETY Act liability protections apply to "a wide range of technologies, including: products, services, software and other forms of intellectual property that are designed or modified to identify, detect, deter, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the impact or harm arising from an Act of Terrorism. Protections apply only to claims arising out of, relating to, or resulting from an Act of Terrorism."

    This live stream event starts at 11 AM Central on Tuesday, 6 February 2024. 

    Our panelists include: 

    RICHARD FENTON
    Vice President/CSO
    Corporate Security & Safety 
    Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

    JOHN PETRONE II, Esq.
    Senior Managing Director
    Petrone Risk
    www.petronerisk.com

    KATHLEEN GRIGGS
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer
    Databuoy Corporation
    www.databuoy.com



    About the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience

    Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (www.iifx.org) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘Fan Journey’ for the sports and entertainment industry. IIFX provides training, industry content creation, Fan Journey best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

    • 48 min
    FANCENTRIC - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - ARE YOU AND YOUR VENUE READY

    FANCENTRIC - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - ARE YOU AND YOUR VENUE READY

    COPYRIGHT 2023 BY IIFX
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


    EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - ARE YOU AND YOUR VENUE READY
    Recorded: 12/06/2023


    Fans, Sports & Entertainment leaders, and anyone with an interest in Emergency Preparedness should watch the IIFX Live Stream event recorded on 6 December 2023.

    Dr. Lou Marciani, Director & Co-Founder of IIFX, and Jim Mercurio, former Executive VP & General Manager @ Levi's Stadium, hosted our free FANCENTRIC podcast. 

    This live stream event explores the importance of emergency preparedness in mitigating risk, creating emergency response teams, training your staff, types of emergencies you should prepare for, and the policies, procedures, and plans you should always have ready to go. 

    Join Dr. Lou and Jim as they query their guest panel about fan behavior. Our panelists include: 

    DARCY LEUTZINGER, PhD
    Director of Security, UWM
    President, Premier Training Services

    LINDSAY GIETZEN, PhD
    PA-C, PhD | Program Director, DMSc/DHSc
    University of the Pacific, School of Health Sciences
    Sacramento | Stockton | San Francisco

    B. TILMAN JOLLY, MD, FACEP
    Principal
    KBMA Solutions 
    Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder
    Columbus Street Partners

    JOHN PETRONE II, Esq
    Senior Managing Director
    Petrone Risk
    About the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience

    Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (www.iifx.org) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘Fan Journey’ for the sports and entertainment industry. IIFX provides training, industry content creation, Fan Journey best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

    • 47 min
    FANCENTRIC Live Stream - What is Going on With Fan Behavior?!

    FANCENTRIC Live Stream - What is Going on With Fan Behavior?!

    COPYRIGHT 2023 BY IIFX
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


    FANCENTRIC Live Stream 1
    What is Going on With Fan Behavior?!
    Recorded: 11/13/2023
    42:31 (minutes:seconds)

    Dr. Lou Marciani and Jim Mercurio are the hosts for our FANCENTRIC live stream and podcasts.  This inaugural livestream event explores the behavior of fans during sports & entertainment events.  Join Dr. Lou and Jim as they query their guest panel about fan behavior.  Hear from:

    MARIO COUTINHO
    Vice President of Stadium Operations and Security
    Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club

    DAN DONOVAN
    Founder + Managing Partner
    Stratoscope

    LINDSAY GIETZEN
    PA-C, PhD | Program Director, DMSc/DHSc
    University of the Pacific, School of Health Sciences
    Sacramento | Stockton | San Francisco

    DARCY LEUTZINGER
    Director of Security, UWM
    Owner, Premier Training Services
    About the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience

    Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (www.iifx.org) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘Fan Journey’ for the sports and entertainment industry. IIFX provides training, industry content creation, Fan Journey best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

    • 42 min
    FANCENTRIC TECH - Genetec and Capitol One Arena - An Innovative Fan Security Partnership

    FANCENTRIC TECH - Genetec and Capitol One Arena - An Innovative Fan Security Partnership

    COPYRIGHT 2023 BY IIFX
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED



    FANCENTRIC TECH - Genetec and Capitol One Arena - An Innovative Fan Security PartnershipRecorded: 11/6/2023

    Dr. Lou Marciani, Director and Co-Founder of IIFX interviews Sylvester Servance, Director of Venue Security of Monumental Sports & Entertainment about how they use Genetec Inc. security capabilities throughout the Capitol One Arena, their e-Sports Arena, an office complex, and the practice facility for the Washington Wizards and Mystics .  They discuss:
    Importance of security technology in the Sports & Entertainment IndustrySecurity Best Practices and developing security threat profilesThe role of Genetec security solutions in protecting fans, teams, and artists during sports & entertainment eventsHow Genetec solutions integrate with surveillance cameras, access control systems, and other security capabilitiesAccess control, video surveillance, facility management, and other security capabilities that Genetec provides.Genetec success stories at Capitol One ArenaThe role of analytics in sports & entertainmentWays Genetec solutions can make key points along the fan journey frictionlessHow Genetec solutions can help enhance the fan experienceGenetec Inc. is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. Today, the company develops solutions designed to improve security, intelligence, and operations for enterprises, governments, and the communities in which we live. Its flagship product, Security Center, is an open architecture platform that unifies IP-based video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), communications, and analytics. Founded in 1997, and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its customers via an extensive network of certified channel partners and consultants in over 159 countries.
    Genetec Inc. is a leading member of the IIFX Xperience Consortium.

    The FANCENTRIC Tech Talk is a podcast series produced by the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience and its Xperience Consortium.   

    About the Xperience Consortium

    The Xperience Consortium is a  worldwide industry technology ecosystem and think tank focused on innovation and the fan journey. The Fan Journey is the Experience! The Xperience Consortium helps the sports & entertainment industry discover and deploy innovative solutions that move the industry forward in its quest for a frictionless, premium fan journey.   The XC is focused on sports & entertainment organizations seeking:
    Increased RevenueSustained GrowthSustainable and Efficient OperationsFrictionless Fan JourneyGrowing & Diversified Fan BaseImmersive, Memory-making, Premium Fan Experiences

    About the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience

    Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (www.iifx.org) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘Fan Journey’ for the sports and entertainment industry. IIFX provides training, industry content creation, Fan Journey best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

    • 24 min
    Women in Sports & Entertainment - Taking Charge and Making a Difference Volume 3

    Women in Sports & Entertainment - Taking Charge and Making a Difference Volume 3

    COPYRIGHT 2023 BY IIFX
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


    On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX), in association with the Security Industry Association Women in Security Forum, hosted a virtual town hall titled “Women in Sports & Entertainment Security – Taking Charge and Making a Difference!”  This was the third in a series of IIFX Town Halls featuring women in sports and entertainment security.

    "Our Women in Sports & Entertainment Security Town Hall events feature impressive women who lead the way in sports and entertainment industry," said Kasia Hanson, Chair of the Security Industry Association Women in Security Forum.

    The distinguished panel talked about their leadership experiences, the pressing safety, security, and risk management challenges that women leaders are addressing today, and the future of women leaders in the sports and entertainment.

    The Town Hall is part of IIFX's FANCENTRIC  series of podcasts and forums and is complimentary to all who can benefit from attending. It features visionary industry thought leaders, advanced practitioners, academics, authors, technologists, and fans from around the world.

    "Sports stadiums and entertainment venues in 2030 will feature different talent, fans, and staff than what we see today. Our Town Hall series feature programs to inspire the next generation of young women who will lead the sports and entertainment industry," said Dr. Lou Marciani, Director and Co-Founder of IIFX..

    Our panelists included:
     
    Kasia Hanson – Global Director of Video | Security | Venues @Intel Corporation.
    Kasia is the Chair of the Security Industry Association Women in Security Forum, the 2022 SIA Progress Award Recipient, a Women in Security Power 100 honoree, ISJ Top Security Influencer, a Distinguished Fellow for the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX), and was named the #3 IFSEC Security Influencer in 2021. Kasia will moderate the Town Hall.

    Sheryl Pinckney-Maas – CEO and Founder of Guardian Zone, LLC
    Sheryl is the CEO and Founder of Guardian Zone, LLC, a technology company in Texas that is a leading provider of crowd-sourced security solutions. Her company is the first in the market that addresses the public-private challenges at large public venues. The Guardian Zone solution includes an innovative security mobile app and software platform that bridges the communication gap between on-site security, law enforcement, and the public during an emergency.


    Holli Draines – CEO, Elite Strategy Global, Inc.
    As a black female business leader and champion of diversity and inclusivity efforts, Holli Draines helped Elite Strategy Global (ESG) to break beyond barriers that were created by dated thinking, prejudices, and social inequality. Holli has led her team’s efforts on several major security and risk management projects through formulating effective security protocols that align with business and safety standards; successfully mitigating risk and business disruptions and saving organizations time, money, and resources.
    About the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience

    Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (www.iifx.org) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘Fan Journey’ for the sports and entertainment industry. IIFX provides training, industry content creation, Fan Journey best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

    • 1 hr 17 min

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