ESTAAD 2025
CONFERENCE AGENDA

Opening Address by Jessica Smith OAM, Award-winning Paralympian

Exciting times are ahead in Saudi Arabia as we prepare for FIFA World Cup 2034. From world-class infrastructure and transformative sports initiatives to cultural and economic growth, what to expect to witness in the next decade leading to the historic world cup?

Football is a universal language and so too should be the right to host its most celebrated tournament. This session discusses why hosting rights should transcend legacy and geography, and the global impact from opening the door to new hosts.

How shape-shifting arenas host football, concerts, and theatre in quick succession, and why that adaptability fuels year-round fans and revenue.

What happens when sport becomes the heartbeat of a city district? Explore how walkable design, culture, and everyday experiences can elevate quality of life.

How can tech-enabled, multi-purpose venues become epicentres of connection and culture? What is the role of immersive design, adaptability, and location in shaping fan-centred destinations.

What does it take to host a Winter Olympics? Discover the strategies redefining sustainability in high-altitude, cold-climate mega-events.

Explore how strategic investment in sport and digital sectors can unlock new industries and build resilient, future-ready economies.

Explore Braga’s transformation into a hub of sustainable development, sporting innovation, and inclusive urban planning.

Get an insider’s view of the challenges, innovation, and adrenaline that bring the most thrilling, daring and high-risk sporting spectacles to life.

Opening Address by Semra Hunter, Acclaimed Sports Broadcast Journalist

Dive into how host cities are transforming stadiums into thriving hubs of innovation, culture, and community long after the final game.

Exploring sponsorship as a powerful engine for global visibility, community engagement, and shaping Riyadh’s future as a vibrant destination for business, sport, and culture.

Join us as we hear from women’s most successful club how they become the highest valued women's football club at $250 million.

From federations to pioneering series like F1 and E1, discover how they overcome complex challenges, adapt to extreme conditions, and set new standards for the future of sport.

As women’s sports gain global momentum, federations are driving participation, visibility, and impact. Explore how strategic investment in women is reshaping sport and society.

Discover how venue planning, infrastructure, and operations are evolving to meet the specific needs of para-athletes.

Dive into the winning formula where coaching, leadership, and club management collide, blending tactical mastery with strategic vision to build football empires from the ground up.

Celebrate the remarkable journeys of Saudi athletes and Olympians who turned ambition into achievement. Discover their personal stories of perseverance and grit.

Mother Nature can be unpredictable, but tech has a plan. From perfect surfing waves to right-altitudes, tech got our back.

Forget walking in blind-digital mapping lets athletes and organizers explore every inch of a venue before the action begins. Smarter prep, smoother events, better wins.

Footballers share their most unforgettable World Cup moments, from career-defining goals to the pressure of the biggest stage in football.

Opening Address by Hanane Spiers, Guiness World Book Records Adjudicator

How to transform spaces into places that bridge imagination with potential, birthing new inventions and meaningful conversations. How to create events site that embrace excitement-returning it multiplied to their communities.

Olympics, World Cups, and mega events don’t just bring crowds, they reshape entire cities. From infrastructure upgrades to economic booms and global recognition, this session show case studies of how host cities leveraged major events decades past their launch.

A behind-the-scenes look at how countries craft powerful narratives through pavilion architecture-blending national identity, innovation, and diplomacy into unforgettable visitor experiences.

Uncover how Olympic cities transform through visionary design and innovation, creating iconic venues and sustainable urban legacies that inspire the world every time.

Step inside the world’s most advanced venue. From its breathtaking Infinity Screen to next-level digital engagement and premium hospitality, discover how this $5 billion masterpiece sets standards for future stadiums.

From structural systems and compliance with FIFA specifications, to sustainability benchmarks, crowd modelling, and digital integration. Deep dive into the delivery behind the Kingdom’s most high-profile sports infrastructure projects.

Visionary architects explore how stadium design shapes national identity, elevates fan experiences, and delivers lasting legacies.

Sustainability isn’t a slogan. It’s a system. Dive into how ESG frameworks are reshaping investment, operations, and design.

Opening Address by Lucy Hedges, Journalist & Presenter, BBC

Explore how entire cities are being designed for gaming, blending physical infrastructure with virtual experiences to create next-gen esports destinations.

Get raw, unfiltered insights into the mindset, training, and business strategies behind esports domination.

How can federations shape governance, global recognition, and the Olympic future of esports?

Your favourite stars swap stadiums for screens, paired with top EAFC pros in a 2v2 showdown of skill, strategy, and pure hype.

Are you ready to compete in a world where players own the game, teams run themselves, and the arena is infinite? Moderator: Anna Rozwandowicz, Founder & CEO, The Story Mob

How do you turn a passive viewer into a hardcore esports fan? Find out how interactive platforms, blockchain, and metaverse integrations are reshaping esports fandom.

How do you turn a viewer into a fan? Find out how interactive platforms, blockchain, and metaverse integrations are reshaping esports fandom.

Esports venues are becoming the ultimate battlegrounds, explore how franchisees fuel arena investments, drive fan engagement, and create billion-dollar opportunities

Learn how brands are driving engagement through esports partnerships, gaming culture, and digital-first marketing strategies.

The journey, the struggles, and the future of competitive gaming.