Ahead of TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2022, Kamil Kukułka, executive board advisor – commercialisation for the Ergo Arena, discusses how the venue in Gdańsk, Poland has fared following its reopening amid COVID-19, along with what is on the agenda moving forward.
Kukułka owns Sport Innovation, an independent sales and marketing agency founded in 2008, which specialises in sports venues and events commercialisation, and corporate sponsorships. Along with Ergo Arena, Sport Innovation also currently represents the National Stadium in Vilnius, Lithuania.
TheStadiumBusiness: How is the reopening/return of spectators going for Ergo Arena?
Kamil Kukułka: “We started the reopening in June 2021 with a number of sold out events, however the total annual attendance numbers are still not higher in comparison to 2018-2019 due to a smaller number of international shows.
“Our total attendance should be around 480,000-490,000 people this year. The sales revenues are increasing, but the operational costs are rising rapidly mainly due to energy costs.”
TSB: What’s on the roadmap for the arena over the next six to 12 months?
KK: “The upcoming months look very promising for the arena operator – we are expecting the comeback of international artists (including Andrea Bocelli, Andre Rieu, Nick Cave, ZAZ, Slipknot), world famous shows (Cirque du Soleil) as well as top handball and volleyball events (FIVB Nations League, FIVB World Championship 2022, IHF World Men’s Championship 2023).
“We are observing the rapid increase in popularity of local shows (young pop and hip-hop stars, stand-up comedians, mixed martial arts organisations).”
TSB: What are you looking forward to most about the Summit?
KK: “I’m mostly interested in any case studies about top revenue generating arenas as well as new innovative sources of income. The second important area for us is ESG reporting and how specific venues are addressing climate change.”
JOIN KAMIL KUKULKA – AND HUNDREDS OF COLLEAGUES FROM THE SECTOR – AT THESTADIUMBUSINESS SUMMIT 2022 IN MANCHESTER ON 5-6 JULY. SIGN UP HERE.
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