LaBella to Join Panel Discussions at Soccerex MENA 2025
LaBella’s Public Venues Studio Leader, Cristian Petschen, and National Director of Design, Brad Bartholomew, AIA, LEED BD+C, will share their expertise at Soccerex MENA 2025, taking place February 23-26, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt.
Bringing together over 2,200 attendees from around the world, this premier event serves as a key platform for federations, leagues, clubs, legends, and leading brands. The MENA region continues to experience unprecedented growth, investment, and interest in soccer, making this an essential gathering for industry leaders shaping the sport’s future.
On Monday, February 24th at 5:00 p.m., Cristian and Brad will participate in a panel titled “Beyond the Game: The Sports-Anchored Community of the Future,” which will explore how next-generation sports districts are transforming fan engagement. By integrating multi-use sports venues with mixed-use developments and cutting-edge technology, these destinations are evolving into year-round lifestyle hubs—enhancing visitor experiences, driving economic impact, and setting new standards for entertainment and urban development.
On Tuesday, February 25th at 4:00 p.m., Cristian will join a panel discussion titled “Foundations of the Future: Building Modern Stadiums.” This session will examine key design considerations for modern stadiums, including strategies for accommodating future attendance growth. As stadiums are increasingly designed with built-in expansion capabilities, they can align with current budget constraints while seamlessly scaling to meet future demand. Fellow panelists include Jassim Al-Jassim from the Qatar Supreme Committee and Peter Griffin from Trivandi. The panel will be moderated by Mark Lomas, a freelance sports journalist, editor, and copywriter who has worked with major media platforms such as ESPN in London and Sports360 in Dubai.