2021 Recap

The 2021 Select LA Investment Summit was the 6th time domestic leaders and international businesses gathered to share and exchange insights about growing opportunities throughout the LA region. 

This year’s Select LA theme focused on how Los Angeles is becoming the sports & entertainment industry capital of the USA. With dozens of large-scale and high-profile sports and entertainment events coming to LA in the next decade and culminating with the 2028 Olympic Games, now is the time to understand and explore the technology demands and venue requirements that are bringing new business opportunities into view! 

All summit attendees were invited to the opening reception of the summit to mix and mingle at one of the most iconic sports stadiums in the United States, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Attendees had the opportunity to take guided tours of the stadium during the reception. 

Opening Remarks 

There are 88 cities and over 100 unincorporated areas within the County of Los Angeles. These districts are represented by influential policy makers and elected officials. During the opening remarks we learned about their visions for making Los Angeles a truly international region through programs and policies that will directly impact international and local businesses.  

• Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 1 

• Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 2 

• Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor of California, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) 

• Diane Farrell, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, United States Department of Commerce 

Morning Plenary 

The morning plenary “Setting the Stage: Sports and Entertainment” was moderated by Bob Graziano, of JPMorgan Chase.  The panel discussed the World Cup bid and why LA is the epicenter for sports and entertainment during the next 7 years. 

Panelists:  

• Chris Klein, LA Galaxy President, Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee Co-Chair 

• Larry Freedman, LAFC Co-President, Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee Co-Chair 

• Julie Urhman, Co-Founder and President, Angel City FC 

#1 Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Defense Wins Championship: Planning for Cybersecurity Threats.  

A panel of experts shared defensive strategies and case studies that illuminated how cybersecurity companies can be part of the local solution to these ongoing threats. 

Moderator: Chris Covino, Mayor of LA Office 

Panelists:  

• Sem Ponnambalam, Xahive 

• Stephanie Geosits, All About Sports 

• Jim McMurry, Milton Security 

• Gene Yoo, Resecurity 

Technology and Building the Fan Experience 

Parking, entry, concessions, promotions, sponsorships, restrooms. Each of these aspects play a part in the fan experience but is there a way to combine them all? Often, leveraging mobile technology to enhance the fan experience can mean downloading multiple apps and submitting the same information repeatedly. In order to compete with the multiple options consumers now have when it comes to watching live events, stadiums and franchises must provide an infrastructure that enables fans to enjoy the experience on their terms. This session explored some of these innovations and where international companies can look to get in the game. 

Moderator: David Siegel, LA Sports Council 

Panelists:  

• Martha Saucedo, AEG 

• Michele Kajiwara, Staples Arena 

• Skarpi Hedinsson, Hollywood Park 

Lunch Sessions 

Mayor Garcetti, LA City Controller Ron Galperin, and British Consul General Emily Cloke provided remarks during lunch, and the English Premier League displayed the EPL trophy for conference attendees to take photos with.  

#2 Concurrent Breakout Sessions  

Mobility: Moving People Forward 

A key element to the fan experience is arriving at the stadium. With Los Angeles’ notorious congestion, this can mean waiting in long lines to enter and park. Over the last decade, some of the largest investments in public transportation across the country have taken place in LA, with the future aimed at connecting event spaces such as The Forum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood by rail. With the 2028 Olympics spanning across the entire region, how will visitors navigate to and from these sites with ease and without a car? How can technology and transportation-based software services streamline information for the throngs of visitors not from Los Angeles? 

Moderator: Joshua Schank, LA Metro 

Panelists:  

• Samantha Bricker, Los Angeles World Airports 

• Lisa Trifiletti, Inglewood Transit Connector 

• Hillary Norton, State of California Transportation Commissioner 

Scoring Sustainability Goals 

Staging and running a sports event naturally means large crowds and large amounts of waste. What do we do with the trash left behind after the game? As a global leader and champion of green initiatives, Los Angeles needs to lead by example through using advanced structures and innovative systems that will significantly reduce or even negate carbon footprint from these big events. During this conversation with industry leaders and experts, we dove in depth on the actions LA stadiums plan to take on managing waste sustainably and ensuring climate responsibility. 

Moderator: Justin Thompson, Nixon Peabody 

Panelists:  

• Nancy Sutley, LADWP 

• George Cunningham, Rose Bowl 

• Matt Do, JLL 

Afternoon Session 

Post-Game Analysis: The Legacy of Mega Events 

Much like a crucial final play or heroic performance, the history of a sporting event can live on for years. So too can its legacy live beyond the field of play. In fact, the 1984 Olympics established legacy sports programs that are still active today. With sustainability and no new development being hallmarks of the next Olympic games, how will these goals manifest into legacy and benefit the communities where the events take place? We heard from past and future event organizers on ideas and ways the 2028 Olympics can be legendary like the competing athletes. 

Panelists:  

• Mary Leslie, LA Business Council  

• Jeri Oka, Senior Design Principal, JERDE 

• Winston Damarillo, Talino Labs 

• Andrew Choi, Tech Lead, LA Procurement Platform 

Select LA Investment Summit Photo Album