Las Vegas has long billed itself as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’. And it’s not hard to see why; for years, the city has played host to anyone who is anyone in the music industry – from Elvis to Elton, Celine to Cher – all the greats have had residencies here. And, over the past decade, thanks to the opening of Allegiant Stadium and with Formula One coming to town in November, it has established itself as one of the most coveted destinations for playing and watching sports, too.
But it’s not just the Entertainment Capital. The city has become an ‘Entrepreneur Capital’ too: thanks to its convenient location, connections, and vibrant business and tech community, Las Vegas now ranks as the top tech city in the US for early-stage startups.
At MWC Las Vegas, we will celebrate our host city with two spaces that will showcase how connectivity is helping sports & entertainment venues and startups thrive: Industry City’s Sports & Entertainment Summit and our HUB Startup and Innovation Zone.
Showcasing the Entertainment Capital of the world
The Sports & Entertainment Summit at Industry City will host some of the most celebrated names in the industry. Indycar champion Tony Kanaan, regarded as one of the most successful drivers in the INDYCAR SERIES history, will sit down with Eric Clark, CEO, Americas NTT Ltd to discuss how digital technology has transformed the racing experience and helped him engage with fans.
The Summit will also explore how stadiums and large entertainment venues are making the most of mobile technology to surprise and delight fans and guests with memorable experiences. Delegates are invited to get a taste of the technology in action on the show floor. JMA Wireless, sponsor of the Sports & Entertainment Summit, will have several experiential demos at its booth (Booth 310, Exhibition Hall) demonstrating the modern-day fan experience in all its glory – this will include an AR demo of some of the groundbreaking experiences the company helped to create at Las Vegas’ very own Allegiant Stadium – which next February will host the Big Game.
JMA has been using mobile connectivity to create memorable experiences for each and every fan, from the moment they step foot into the Allegiant. And we’re talking big numbers. For each Raiders game, the stadium is filled with 65,000 fans – a number which rises to 72,000 for music concerts, with the Allegiant welcoming the likes of the Rolling Stones, BTS, Billy Joel and Imagine Dragons.
Whether it’s supporting on-site parking, mobile ticketing, cashless payments, providing real-time information on concessions, encouraging crowd participation or showing every angle of the action with multiple screens, technology has been integral to all experiences at the stadium since it opened its doors in 2020. Already, Allegiant Stadium ranks as the No. 1 international stadium for live events, having welcomed more than a million fans and grossed more than $180 million for the 24 non-football events it hosted between November 2021 and October 2022.
Supporting startups through to success
To celebrate the wonderful startup community that’s thriving within Las Vegas, we will also be showcasing the local companies that are set to disrupt the connectivity ecosystem in the coming years at our HUB Startup & Innovation Zone, supported by 4YFN and Mobile World Capital Barcelona.
Over the course of the event, the zone will feature a number of pitches, presentations, thought leadership and networking activities aimed exclusively at startups. It’ll be the perfect place for budding entrepreneurs looking to connect with investors, as well as for bigger companies looking to unearth the latest and greatest ideas coming out of the Las Vegas startup scene.
Our HUB Startup Stage, located at Booth 1830 in Exhibition Hall, will run a packed schedule featuring experts from startup programmes and initiatives, including our presenting partners, Keiretsu Forum Southern California, The A-Crowd, StartUp Vegas and StartUpNV. A non-profit state-wide business incubator for startups in the state of Nevada, StartUpNV’s ecosystem includes founders, mentors, university connections, investors and business partners.
Meanwhile, the HUB Lounge is a space fully dedicated to networking. It’s open to every attendee at MWC Las Vegas and will be where startups can connect with like-minded individuals and industry experts. Delegates are also welcome to use the space as a place to hold their own meet ups during the show.
Celebrating the entertainers and entrepreneurs
Through Industry City and the HUB Startup & Innovation Zone, MWC Las Vegas will celebrate our host city’s long history as the Entertainment Capital of the World and the city’s budding startup scene.
Together, they are must-attend spaces for anybody wanting to discover first-hand how companies are using mobile connectivity to create the experiences we know and love, and help Las Vegas keep its crown. And it’s not too late to sign up – register for your event pass here