Monday, March 23
5 PM
11 AM
2:30 PM
3:30 PM
4 PM
7 PM
11:30 AM
12:30 PM
Opening Reception at Majestic Theater
Sponsored by GH2 Architects
Tuesday, March 24
All general sessions and lunches will be held at Tobin Center.
Thursday, March 26
All general sessions and lunches will be held at Tobin Center.
9 AM
10 AM
11:30 AM
12:30 PM
1:30 PM
Session 1 – Contracts Feud: Fast-Paced Risk, Revenue, and Responsibility
Kick off the conference with this interactive, Family Feud–style session designed for venue managers of all levels. Participants tackle realistic scenarios involving license agreements, event contracts, and operational challenges, ranking answers and debating priorities. The focus is on understanding key contract concepts—like indemnification, liability, force majeure, and scope—and how they influence risk management, decision-making, and career growth. After each round, learn legal insight and practical guidance, helping attendees translate lessons into stronger contracting practices and strategic skills they can apply across their professional roles.
Session 2 – The Full Circle of Mental Health
This session will focus on fostering effective mental health conversations in the workplace. Through the examination of real-world scenarios, participants will gain insights into diverse perspectives across organizational levels - including employees, employers, supervisors, and human resources professionals. The goal is to build a deeper understanding of how to approach these sensitive discussions with empathy, respect, and practical strategies that promote a supportive work environment.
Refreshment Break
Sponsored by Best
Session 3 - Turning Concessions into Connections
Presented by: A Panel of San Antonio Food & Beverage Innovators
In today’s venues, food and beverage are more than just amenities—they’re powerful tools for connection. This session brings together leading San Antonio chefs, concessionaires, and hospitality professionals to explore how local flavor and creative collaboration can elevate the guest experience.
From building partnerships between chefs and local entrepreneurs to designing menus that tell a story, our panel will share how to create moments that matter through culinary innovation. Learn how data and guest insights can personalize offerings, increase engagement, and turn every transaction into a meaningful interaction.
Walk away inspired by fresh ideas, local success stories, and practical takeaways for transforming your concessions program into a cornerstone of connection, community, and unforgettable experiences.
Lunch - Name That Hall
Sponsored by Schuler Shook
Session 4 – From Reactive to Proactive: Capital Planning
A capital plan that is regularly reviewed and updated becomes a road map to help you pivot when emergent needs arise while still planning your facility’s future. Together, we’ll review how to conduct a facility assessment, and we’ll discuss how this becomes the foundation of your capital plan. We’ll talk about operational and maintenance budgets versus capital ones, and why including your executive and programming/events teams in capital planning is as important as your operations and facilities teams. Don’t just respond when a system fails – plan ahead to be a proactive manager!
Session 5 – TBD
Transportation provided to Frost Bank Center
Frost Bank Center Tour & Reception
Buses Depart to The Pearl (Dropoff Only) and Hotels
Wednesday, March 25
All general sessions and lunches will be held at Tobin Center.
9 AM
10 AM
11 AM
1:30 PM
2 PM
3 PM
3:30 PM
4:30 PM
5 PM
7 PM
11 AM
Keynote – Bruce Bowen
Recognized as one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history, Bruce Bowen had his No. 12 jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs on March 21, 2012.
During his time in San Antonio, Bowen was a key contributor to three championship teams, helping the Spurs capture NBA titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007. From 2000-01 to 2007-08, he was named to eight consecutive NBA All-Defensive Teams, earning first team honors five times and second team honors on three occasions. A true ironman, Bowen holds the Spurs franchise record, playing and starting 500 straight games over a seven-season span.
In 13 NBA seasons Bowen appeared in a total of 873 games with the Heat, Celtics, Sixers and Spurs.
Session 6 – HR 101
The interactive HR workshop for venue leaders offers an engaging and practical exploration of common legal challenges and real-world scenarios they may face in their roles. Designed to equip leaders with essential knowledge and problem-solving skills, the session fosters proactive compliance and confident decision-making. Through dynamic discussions and case studies, participants gain clarity on legal requirements while strengthening their ability to handle workplace issues effectively, promoting a positive and legally sound organizational culture.
Key takeaways to emphasize:
Proactive compliance reduces legal risks and builds trust.
Clear, consistent application of policies ensures fairness and transparency.
Effective communication is essential for resolving issues amicably.
Documentation is critical for legal protection and accountability.
Creating a positive workplace culture supports both employee well-being and organizational success.
Refreshment Break
Session 7 – Igniting the Next Chapter: Navigating Careers, Culture, and Cross-Generational Collaboration
Entering the workforce can be both exciting and challenging—especially in a multi-generational workplace. This session is designed for Gen Z and early-career professionals looking to build confidence, strengthen soft skills, and collaborate effectively across generations.
Led by a dynamic professor, this session will explore how Gen Z can maximize their strengths, communicate professionally, and navigate workplace expectations. From starting your first role to building meaningful professional relationships, attendees will gain practical strategies to support early career success.
Round Tables & Lunch
Sponsored by Southern Aluminum
Transportation provided to Alamodome
Tour of Alamodome
Transportation provided to Henry B. González Convention Center
Tour of Henry B. González Convention Center
Sponsored by Smart City
Transportation provided to The Rock At La Cantera
Tour of The Rock At La Cantera
Buses Depart to Hotels
9 AM
10 AM
12:30 PM
Session 8 – Infrastructure and Innovation: How Technology is Transforming Venue Operations
An exploration of the IT foundations and emerging technologies—networking, security, analytics, and AI—that are reshaping how venues operate, scale, and compete.
Session 9 – From First Call to Final Headline: Managing Media Before, During, and After Venue Crisis
In today’s 24/7 news and social media environment, a venue crisis unfolds in real time. How you communicate before, during, and after an incident can shape public trust long after the situation is resolved.
This panel brings together a General Manager, an Operations leader, and a City/Public Agency official to explore the full lifecycle of crisis communication. Panelists will discuss what venues must have in place before a crisis, how to manage the critical first hour, how to handle media pressure and misinformation, and how to rebuild confidence after the headlines fade. Attendees will leave with practical insight, real-world lessons, and concrete steps they can take to strengthen their venue’s crisis readiness.
Region 6 Business Meeting, Town Hall, and Lunch
Sponsored by Theatre DNA
Tour of Tobin Center (optional)