Session I – Alcohol Service Compliance & Liability in Live Event Venues – John P. Thomas
Alcohol service is a major part of the fan experience at stadiums, arenas, and festivals, but it brings notable regulatory and liability risks. In this session, John P. Thomas will outline key alcohol licensing requirements for large venues, highlight common compliance challenges, and discuss strategies for managing vendor relationships and reducing exposure under dram shop and premises liability laws. Attendees will gain practical guidance for maintaining responsible, compliant alcohol service across live event environments.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Alcohol licensing requirements
- Compliance and operational risks
- Vendor and concessionaire oversight
- Dram shop liability exposure
- Responsible service best practices
Session II – Seasonal Labor & Contract Staffing in Hospitality: Legal Risks and Compliance Strategies – Andria Lure Ryan
Stadiums, arenas, festivals, and large event venues increasingly depend on third-party contract food service providers to meet operational and seasonal demands. These staffing models bring significant legal considerations, including worker classification, wage-and-hour compliance, joint employment exposure, immigration verification, ICE-related risks, and vendor management obligations. In this session, attendees will gain practical guidance on minimizing legal risk, strengthening contracts with staffing vendors, and improving workforce compliance across high-volume food service operations. This session is designed for venue operators, procurement teams, in-house counsel, HR leaders, and risk managers navigating complex labor challenges in the contract food service environment.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Seasonal labor
- Third-party contractors
- Wage & hour
- Immigration compliance
- ICE audits
Session III – Beyond the Baseline: ADA Accessibility Challenges in Large Venues and Modern Stadium Operations – Jordan B. Schwartz
This session provides practical guidance on ADA Title III compliance for stadiums and arenas. Attendees will learn how to address accessible seating, routes, restrooms, concessions, ticketing, and service animal policies while minimizing legal risk. The discussion highlights common operational challenges, emerging enforcement trends, and actionable strategies to ensure a safe, inclusive, and compliant guest experience.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Accessible seating & routes
- Amenities & guest services
- Ticketing & service animal policies
- Enforcement trends & risk mitigation
Closed-captioning available