Morning Plenary
Assessing the Impacts of Public Investments in Transportation/Sports Infrastructure
Moderator: Renata Simril, President & CEO, LA84 Foundation
Panel:
James T. Butts, Mayor, City of Inglewood
Ernesto Chaves, Interim Sr. Executive Officer, LA Metro
Samantha Bricker, Chief Sustainability and Revenue Officer, Los Angeles World Airport
The impact of sports are myriad, including in areas such as urban planning, public transportation, the built environment, design, technology and innovation. When a mega-sporting event is awarded to a city, as has being the case this decade for Los Angeles & Southern California, it often becomes an organizing principle—and hard deadline—for transportation initiatives and investment. When new sporting venues and complexes are constructed, planning and transportation become front of mind—particularly as the generation of stadiums built for cars in suburban areas fades away in favor of downtown venues stitched into the urban fabric, and a generation of fans emerges that values ride-sharing, WiFi, convenience, and communal moments. From gondola rides and gondolas at Dodger Stadium, to Tokyo's recent Hydrogen Olympics, to Inglewood’s new professional sports venues, to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, this panel will discuss what happens regionally and globally when new mobility technologies are challenged to meet the many demands of those seeking to attend the fields of play.