The Sports World Congress (SWC), organized by HUB23, has announced a strategic collaboration with the European Stadium & Safety Management Association (ESSMA), reinforcing the congress’s position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing international forums dedicated to stadiums, venues, and major sporting event infrastructure.
As part of the agreement, ESSMA will join the SWC Advisory Board and actively contribute to the development of the congress programme, bringing the expertise and vision of its network of 350+ members across Europe and beyond.
The partnership comes at a pivotal moment for the stadium industry. According to Deloitte, It was predicted that by 2025 more than 300 sports stadiums worldwide would have undergone renovation projects or new facility construction, with almost 50% of these investments taking place in North America and Europe. The objective of this new wave of investment is to attract a new generation of fans while creating diversified revenue streams beyond matchday activities.
At the same time, industry forecasts indicate that more than €60 billion will be invested in new stadiums and sports precincts worldwide over the next 15 years, including approximately €48 billion across the top five European football leagues. These figures highlight the scale of transformation underway in the global sports infrastructure sector and the growing importance of innovation, sustainability, technology, and fan experience in venue development.
“This strategic collaboration will represent a qualitative and quantitative leap forward for the stadium industry,” said Josep M. Monti, President of HUB23. “Partnerships like this are essential to creating value for the sector. Together, we can help lead Europe towards the next generation of stadium innovation, particularly in the build-up to UEFA EURO 2028 and the FIFA World Cup 2030.”
Ludwig Sneyers, Managing Director of ESSMA, commented: “At ESSMA, we strongly believe that the future of stadiums will be shaped through collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation. Joining the Sports World Congress Advisory Board is a natural step in our mission to connect the stadium industry, share best practices and help address the challenges and opportunities facing our sector. With UEFA EURO 2028 and the FIFA World Cup 2030 on the horizon, this partnership provides an excellent platform to bring together the expertise of our international network and contribute to the current and next generation of sports venues.”
Through this collaboration, HUB23 and ESSMA will create new opportunities for knowledge sharing, international networking, industry benchmarking, innovation showcases, and strategic dialogue among stadium operators, clubs, federations, cities, technology companies, investors, and public institutions.
The next edition of the Sports World Congress will take place in Barcelona on 1–2 February 2027, bringing together the leading voices shaping the future of sports venues, fan experience, operations, sustainability, technology, and major events. As Europe prepares to host some of the most important sporting events of the coming decade—including UEFA EURO 2028 and the FIFA World Cup 2030—the stadium industry has a unique opportunity to redefine its role as a driver of innovation, community impact, economic growth, and global connectivity.
The future of stadiums will not be built by a single organization, city, or country. It will be built through collaboration. On 1–2 February in Barcelona, the world’s leading venue owners, operators, clubs, federations, brands, and innovators will come together to shape that future. Join the conversation. Join the movement. Join the ESSMA network. Join the Sports World Congress.
