New Panel Announced for SEGD Sports + Entertainment!
We’re excited to announce five new speakers for 2024 SEGD Sports + Entertainment, a two-day extravaganza celebrating the intersection of design, sports, and entertainment. Set in the vibrant atmosphere of Circa Las Vegas, the event is April 10-12, graciously hosted by our Presenting Sponsor, Daktronics.
Stadium-adjacent shopping and entertainment districts are becoming more and more prevalent in today’s experience-based economy. SEGD is thrilled to be discussing these emerging districts on a panel at the 2024 SEGD Sports + Entertainment event. We have put together a fantastic group of talented and experienced leaders in the phases of district design, planning, and operation.
Panel Participants
Amy Pratt
Director of Real Estate, Dallas Cowboys & Blue Star Land
Amy Pratt is the Director of Real Estate for Blue Star Land, a Dallas Cowboys/Jerry Jones Entity. She is responsible for commercial real estate where she oversees the development, leasing, and marketing of The Star District, located on the 90-acre campus of the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Frisco, Texas. Recently, her role has expanded to include additional commercial and entertainment developments under Blue Star Land across North Texas.
Prior to her career in real estate, Amy was the Vice President of Events and Tours for Legends; a sports, entertainment, and media company. Amy’s career in sports began as a sales consultant for the Dallas Cowboys and in group sales and sponsorship for the Arizona Coyotes Hockey Club. Amy was a scholar athlete (Volleyball) and graduate of the University of South Carolina.
Brian Earley
Vice President & General Manager, Patriot Place & NPP Development
Brian Earley is Vice President and General Manager of NPP Development, one of The Kraft Group Companies where he oversees all aspects for the commercial development and operations for Patriot Place, New England’s premier mixed use lifestyle destination. Patriot Place is a 1.3 million square foot retail, dining and entertainment complex located in Foxborough, MA adjacent to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution.
Brian held a number of senior leadership positions in the energy sector before joining BJ’s Wholesale Club including numerous roles with Gulf Oil and Global Petroleum. Brian serves as an executive faculty member and academic advisor for the Dean College School of Business and also serves on the board of directors of the Hockomock Area YMCA and is a trustee of Milford Regional Medical Center, where he serves as vice chairman. Brian received his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Mathematics from Fairfield University.
Derek O’Hara
Managing Director, Canopy
As Managing Director for Canopy, Derek O’Hara is responsible for leading a team to define, plan and execute complex sports and entertainment projects. Canopy is a newly formed interdisciplinary practice with an eye for placemaking in sports, entertainment and urban environments. Led by Janet Marie Smith and Fran Weld, Canopy is born out of in-house planning and development departments within Major League Baseball. Derek joined Janet Marie Smith and the LA Dodgers in 2017 and was the Project Director on the Centerfield Renovation at Dodger Stadium, completed in 2020. Derek has a degree in Architecture from UC Berkeley and lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
Nate Cherry
Urban Designer + Strategist, CityDesignLab
Nate is a nationally recognized urban designer and planner. His work focuses on urban development at the nexus of human behavior, strategy, and design. He has worked with numerous sports teams on masterplans that promote fan experience, innovation, and civic life. He speaks regularly at national conferences, and is author of several award-winning books and numerous articles on planning and urban design. He regularly teaches at the University of Southern California.
Michelle Stevenson
Principal + Regional Practice Director of Sports and Entertainment, HKS
Michelle Stevenson is a Senior Project Architect and Principal at HKS. She balances her devotion for current sports trends and amenities with research and cutting-edge technology. Michelle believes that being deeply invested in design from concept to completion produces the best holistic experience for clients, fans, athletes, and their communities.
Michelle was a key player in the development of SoFi Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park. She participated in the design and execution of SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater and Cosm. Currently, she is working on a number of large-scale projects, including major renovations to AT&T Stadium. Beyond her mission to create destination environments for her clients, as a past collegiate athlete Michelle is passionate about bringing women’s professional and collegiate sports to a broader audience.
Panel Moderator
Mike McCarthy
Vice President, DCL (Design Communications, Ltd.)
Mike McCarthy is the 2023 SEGD Treasurer/Secretary and a member of the 2023 SEGD Board. He is Vice President at Design Communications Ltd. (DCL), an internationally recognized custom manufacturer of architectural specialty products. He received a dual degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he double majored in Mechanical Engineering and Visual Art. Mike joined DCL in 1999 as a member of the engineering department. He now directly oversees DCL’s Boston and New York offices.
Join Us in Las Vegas!
This year’s event is more than just a symposium; it’s a breeding ground for the brightest minds in sports and entertainment design. Our aim is to inspire and equip attendees with the necessary tools and insights to create compelling experiences and strengthen brand-audience relationships.
About SEGD
We are designers of experiences connecting people to place. SEGD is a multidisciplinary community collectively shaping the future of experience design. We are a thought leader and an amplifier in the practice of experience design. Learn more at segd.org.