IAKS UKI Conference: Sports-led regeneration

Manchester Sportcity: the journey to sporting, social and economic benefits from sports-led regeneration

Explore an exciting project

IAKS UK and Ireland will be hosting an exciting event in Manchester that will explore how the sports-led regeneration of the then derelict Eastlands part of the city into the Sportcity development for the 2002 Commonwealth Games has continued to deliver sporting, social and economic benefits for the city and the local community.

Visit four venues

The event will take place across Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September 2026 and will include a day of seminars and a tour at the Etihad Stadium, along with venue tours of Co-op Live, National Cycling Centre and City Football Academy. We will be joined by a range of key speakers and stakeholders who will share their experience and perspectives on the Manchester project.

Celebrate the new the section

The Manchester event will also see the launch of the new IAKS UK and Ireland section as a formal part of the international community of IAKS members.

Tickets starting at EUR 320. Special rates for IAKS members.

Register now

Key facts at a glance

The conference and venue tours on 22-23 September will

map out the steps required to bring the vision of Manchester Sportcity to life over the past 30 years,
bring together key individuals from the main partners in this project,
include building tours with the operators of the major venues,

host a informal networking drinks and dinner in Manchester on Monday 21 September,
invite for a networking dinner in Etihad Stadium's Mancunian Suite on 22 September.

About Manchester Sportcity

(c) National Cycling Centre

How the journey began

The journey to the development of Manchester Sportcity can be traced back to an initial bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games, with a further attempt to bid for the 2000 Olympic Games. Although both bids were unsuccessful, the process of bidding for these events brought together key decision makers in Manchester City Council and National Government to focus on the opportunity for regenerating the Eastlands area of the city and led to the construction of the Manchester Velodrome (now the National Cycling Centre).

(c) Etihad Stadium

A forward-thinking strategy

The focus then shifted to the opportunity to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games, with a successful bid leading to the development of the City of Manchester Stadium (now the Etihad Stadium) and a range of other sports facilities that were needed to host the games. A forward-thinking legacy strategy ensured that the stadium was designed to be converted from athletics to football use after the event, along with ensuring that the other venues would support both elite and community sport.

(c) Co-op Live

The benefits for local sports projects

An innovative funding model was then developed which allowed the stadium to generate significant revenue for re-investment into local sports projects, as well as creating a framework agreement between Manchester City Council, City Football Group and arena operator Oak View Group that has enabled the ongoing development of the Etihad Stadium, City Football Academy and the recent opening of Co-Op Live (the largest indoor arena in the UK).

Programme

Tuesday 22. Venue: Co-Op Live
	Tuesday 22 September Venue: Co-Op Live - Vertu Place
9.00	Arrival and registration
10.00	Welcome and introductions
10.10	Overview of Co-Op Live Arena within Eastlands masterplan
10.30	Co-Op Live Arena tour
12.00	Walk to National Cycling Centre – In-field area
12.15	The origin of Sportcity: Transforming a derelict site to serve the needs of elite and community sport MCR Active, Sport England; Better, British Cycling
13.15	Lunch
14.00	National Cycling Centre tour
15.00	Walk to Etihad Stadium East Reception for City Football Academy tour
15.15	City Football Academy tour (with viewing of training facilities from platform)
17.00	Afternoon Tea – Canalside (adjacent to Co-Op Live)
19.00	Dinner – Etihad Stadium (The Mancunian – pitch view)
23.00	Close

23 September
	Wednesday 23 September Venue: Etihad Stadium, Tunnel Club
9.00	Arrival and registration (with refreshments)
9.45	Welcome and introductions
10.00	Keynote Manchester City Council
10.15	Sporting legacy of Sportcity MCR Active, Sport England, City Football Group
11.00	Eastlands Regeneration Framework Manchester City Council, City Football Group, Oak View Group
11.40	Refreshment break
12.00	Phased development of Etihad Stadium City Football Group, Populous
12.30	Entertainment Destinations Medlock Square – City Football Group, Oak View Group, Populous
13.00	Lunch (including formal signing of new IAKS UK&I Section)
14.00	Etihad Stadium tours
15.00	Refreshment break
15.30	Panel 1 Manchester community sports projects beyond Sportcity MCR Active
16.00	Panel 2 Socio-economic benefit of sports-led regeneration Manchester Metropolitan University, The Sports Consultancy
16.30	Closing remarks and networking
18.00	Close

Secure your front-row seat

attendance fee
	early bird (until 15 July)	standard (starting 16 July)
IAKS members	EUR 320 (GBP 275)	EUR 405 (GBP 350)
others (public sector)	EUR 350 (GBP 300)	EUR 435 (GBP 375)
others (private sector)	EUR 465 (GBP 400)	EUR 550 (GBP 475)
students	EUR 60 (GBP 50)	EUR 60 (GBP 50)
Dinner on 22 September	EUR 60 (GBP 50)	EUR 60 (GBP 50)

Free cancellation until 7 September 2026. After that, we charge a 50% cancellation fee. All prices are including VAT.

Student discount apply to full-time students (certificate of matriculation must be provided).

Dinner on 22 September
Two course dinner including half a bottle of wine at the Mancunian Suite of Etihad Stadium, overlooking the bowl.

Registration open until 15 September 2026.

Register now

Meet the speakers

Emma Bernstein (Strategic Projects Lead, Sport England)

Emma is a Strategic Projects Lead at Sport England, holding several different roles since 2006. Emma delivered several large capital funding programmes including investment into the London 2012 Olympic venues. Her interest in data and impact drove the development of the Moving Communities service. Emma recently graduated from the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy and her hobbies include cricket and cycling.

Joe Dale (Head of Commercial, Crest Experiences)

Joe Dale is a commercially minded sports leader with a passion for using sport to improve people's health, happiness, and sense of community. His career spans national sporting organisations and high-growth brands, where he has built expertise in fan engagement, strategic partnerships, digital transformation, and organisational change. Recognised for his empathy and collaborative leadership style, Joe combines commercial acumen with a genuine commitment to people. He is driven by the values of Fun, Integrity, and Excellence, and thrives on creating meaningful impact through sport.

Shaun Dawson (Chief Executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)

Shaun has created a dynamic and award winning organisation with a host of attractions that both delivers its core remit and also works with partners to ensure that the 4,000 hectare Regional Park adds value to the bigger social and economic agendas in the communities it serves in London, Essex and Hertfordshire. He was a key player during the bid process for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and now leads the Authority’s work on its three thriving legacy venues.

Mark Donnelly (Chief Operating Officer, Oak View Group International)

Mark Donnelly is Executive Vice President, Development & Operations at Oak View Group International, where he leads the company's international development and operations. With nearly three decades of leadership experience across sport, entertainment, and live events, he has played a key role in delivering some of the UK's most iconic venues and major infrastructure projects. A Chartered Accountant by background, Mark combines commercial expertise with operational leadership, having held senior roles across the venue, sports, and media sectors. He is recognised for leading complex developments, driving business growth, and delivering world-class fan and customer experiences.

Trudi Else (Strategic Lead, Active Environments Sport England)

Trudi works at Sport England and has extensive experience across the sport and physical activity sector, combining strategic vision with operational leadership to deliver projects that create healthier, more active communities. Throughout her career, she has helped shape landmark initiatives including Manchester Sportcity, the National Cycling Centre, the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, and Team GB's Performance Centre at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She currently leads Sport England's national infrastructure partnerships with organisations including the National Trust, Forestry England, and the Canal & River Trust, helping unlock the potential of green and blue spaces to support active lifestyles and improve wellbeing. Trudi is passionate about bringing together sport, infrastructure, and the environment to create lasting social impact.

Neil Fairlamb (Strategic Director, Manchester City Council)

Neil is Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) at Manchester City Council responsible for the planning and delivery of local and Citywide Neighbourhood Services. This includes the City’s Libraries, Parks and Leisure services as well as the Cultural Strategy. His other priorities include improving highways, tackling homelessness, improving the Council’s social housing stock and ensuring that neighbourhoods are vibrant and clean. Neil also leads the Crime and Disorder Strategy which aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. Neil sits on the board of the National Football Museum and is Chair of Manchester Active and leads on bringing a range of services together with partners in Manchester’s neighbourhoods.

Daniel Fujiwara (Associate, TSC Impact)

Dr Daniel Fujiwara is a globally recognised behavioural economist specialising in social value, wellbeing, and policy evaluation. He is a leading expert on the social value of sport and sports infrastructure, with a PhD in Behavioural Economics from the London School of Economics and teaching experience at leading universities around the world. Daniel has authored more than 50 publications and helped shape international guidance on social value and policy evaluation for governments and organisations including the OECD. He is widely recognised for developing pioneering methods in social value analysis and has led evaluations of major public investments totalling more than $100 billion worldwide.

Mike Hall (Partner, FaulknerBrowns Architects)

Mike is a Partner at FaulknerBrowns Architects and leads their work in the sport and leisure sector, both nationally and internationally. From his experience working closely with sports governing bodies such as FINA, UCI, IAAF and ICF, Mike has extensive knowledge of the requirements for sports facilities and is passionate about the importance of active infrastructure in our towns and cities. He sits on the IAKS International Expert Aquatics Circle and is also a representative of the International Union of Architects.

Charles Johnston (Managing Director, Centrix Consult Ltd)

After a wide ranging career across a number of sectors, Charles is currently Managing Director of Centrix Consult Ltd, which provides advice on Property Strategic planning and management, mostly in the leisure and commercial fields in the UK, Europe and Middle East. Charles held senior property and facilities roles at Sainsbury’s, MDA Consulting and Sport England. He helped secure the £100m National Leisure Recovery Fund and has supported major sport facilities including London 2012 and Birmingham 2022. He is an independent member of the DCMS Grassroots Facility Programme Board and a qualified engineer/project manager with MBA studies at City University.

Tom Jones (Senior Principal, Populous)

Tom is a Senior Principal in the London office of Populous and has a keen interest in how sports and entertainment buildings and events can enhance cities and communities. He has a great passion for sport and has been able to use this in the design and delivery of a number of high-profile projects around the world, including the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Emirates Stadium for Arsenal FC and the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He has also worked on other major sports events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and NFL Super Bowl. Tom has been Vice President of IAKS since 2017.

Eamonn O’Rourke (CEO, Manchester Active)

Eamonn has worked in public and private across the Sport and Leisure Sector. However predominantly working for Manchester City Council through the 1980’s to 2016 producing the first Sport and Physical Activity Strategy in 1996 which is the bedrock of later investment. During this time he has worked in teams delivering significant regeneration projects for the city, including the regeneration of Hulme and Moss Side, Crumpsall and Broughton and East Manchester. Leading on the sport strategy for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and having worked on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Bids contributing to what became the legacy of the games that we see today.

Paul Shakespeare (Senior Principal, Populous)

Paul is a Senior Principal at Populous and has expertise in all sectors and stages of Sports & Event architecture including stadiums, arenas, entertainment venues, Co-Xx venues as well as event overlay. He has led major sports and entertainment projects around the world, including the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, Lusail Stadium in Qatar and the King Salman Stadium in Saudi Arabia, which is the Final Venue for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. He also led the design team on a number of redevelopment projects for the Etihad Stadium, including the South Stand expansion, Tunnel Club and North Stand expansion, which includes the new Medlock Square development. He was also involved in the design and delivery of Co-op Live – the largest indoor arena in the UK – which sits just across the Ashton canal from the Etihad Stadium. A life-long Aston Villa fan, Paul understands what it means to be a football supporter, and what it takes to create venues that excite and unite.

Ian Slater (Assistant Director, Major Regeneration Manchester City Council)

Ian Slater is Assistant Director of Major Regeneration at Manchester City Council, where he leads some of the UK's most ambitious regeneration programmes. With more than 35 years' experience, he has played a central role in transforming Manchester through large-scale housing, infrastructure, and place-making projects. Ian leads the continued regeneration of Manchester's Eastern Gateway, including the transformation of the Holt Town neighbourhood, creating a vital link between the city centre and the Etihad Campus. Known for delivering complex public-private partnerships, he has helped shape the city's long-term growth by creating sustainable communities and delivering lasting social and economic impact.

Hotel recommendation

Conference delegates will be able to discover the brand new 'The Medlock', where contemporary style meets true Manchester warmth.

Set in the heart of Manchester’s newest Entertainment Destination, steps away from the iconic Etihad Stadium and next-generation live entertainment arena, Co-op Live. 'The Medlock' blends modern design with an inviting, down-to-earth feel that makes every stay effortless.

The rate of GBP 150 is bookable until 31/08/2026
Once booked individual rooms can be cancelled online up to 3pm the day prior to arrival without charge.

To book your room:
Please contact the hotel directly on info.medlock@radissonblu.com quoting IAKS26 and the team will be delighted to make your booking for you.

Agreed rate of GBP 150 per night for this conference includes:

Full breakfast served in the hotel brasserie
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Access to hotel amenities

IAKS UK & Ireland Conference: Sports-led regeneration

Header subline IAKS UKI Manchester Event - 22 and 23 September 2026

22.09.2026 – 23.09.2026