Two things venue managers must focus on in 2026 to attract top events

When show managers are looking at potential venues to host an upcoming event, many factors influence their decision. Some of the biggest ones, like location or weather, are outside the control of venue managers. It can be hard to compete if you’re not in a place like Los Angeles or London, right? But there are two important factors venue managers do control that are just as vital to attracting conferences and events to their convention centers: the latest connectivity technology and exceptional customer service.

What show managers expect from venues

Of course, those aren’t the only factors being evaluated by show managers. There’s also parking. Security. Catering. But connectivity can truly make or break an event. If it’s not up to par, it’s the first thing attendees and exhibitors will complain about. When it comes to connectivity, show managers demand four key things:

• Capacity: Bandwidth consumption has surged in recent years, especially at tech-focused events with lots of livestreaming or AI applications. Long gone are the days when it was just one presenter streaming. Show managers now need to deliver connectivity to thousands of people, each carrying multiple devices. While there might be 10,000 attendees, there are likely two or three times that number of devices.
• Flexibility: Show managers want to be able to bring connectivity wherever it’s needed. Not just in the main exhibition hall, but in outdoor spaces to power rooftop receptions, red carpet entrances, livestreaming and more. They don’t really care whether that’s achieved through Wi-Fi, a distributed antenna system (DAS) or private mobile network. They just know that eExtending connectivity beyond the four walls of the convention center can enhance the experience from the moment exhibitors and attendees arrive on site.
• Partner/sponsorship opportunities: Exhibitors and sponsors are a major source of recurring revenue for show managers. If they have a bad experience, they’re less likely to sign on for the same event next year. To deliver a better experience for their partners, show managers need a venue that not only offers high-capacity connectivity but also has easy access to digital signage, dedicated mobile apps and Wi-Fi sign-in portals. These all provide opportunities for exhibitors and sponsors to reach more people – while bringing in more revenue for the show manager and venues.
• Service: Show managers want responsive, proactive customer service if anything goes wrong with their connectivity or digital signage. That means knowing exactly who to turn to support at any time and having confidence that issues will be addressed quickly and efficiently.

Venue managers who can meet all these expectations will have the advantage when it comes to attracting top events.

Attracting events with better connectivity

For venue managers, there’s always the fear that even if they land a major event this year, with so much competition, next year is not guaranteed. When researching venues, show managers can easily compare the technology and infrastructure available not just in their geographic area but in other cities across the country. They’ll ask, “If Convention Center A can offer this capability, why can’t you?”

To avoid those unfavorable comparisons, venue managers must stay on top of the latest connectivity technologies and best practices. That includes:

• Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, both of which enable the massive capacity required for large tech and gaming conferences.
• On-site Wi-Fi purchasing (also called a captive portal), which allows attendees and exhibitors to buy enhanced Wi-Fi access, with service tiers tailored to the needs of each event.
• Private mobile networks, which deliver secure, low-latency performance and dedicated bandwidth across indoor and outdoor areas.

These make it possible to enhance every touchpoint – from registration to post-event engagement – for a frictionless attendee experience. They also enable next-generation applications like augmented and virtual reality, while allowing attendees to post, share and livestream without lag.

On the operational side, advanced connectivity infrastructure is just as important for day-to-day processes like payroll, or meetings with partners and clients. It also brings greater flexibility to ticketing, point-of-sales terminals and pop-up concession stands, making it possible to quickly and easily set them up anywhere inside or around the venue.

Attracting events with better service

While technology matters, over time, many venues will have installed the latest networks. And then the main thing that will set one convention center apart from another is the customer service supporting that technology.

A venue should work with a connectivity partner that offers on-the-ground support services during an event. That means somebody walking the show floor, conducting regular check-ins with show managers and exhibitors to make sure everything is running as expected. A trustworthy connectivity partner is proactively solving connectivity issues before they cause serious problems that affect the event experience.

“Reliable, fast, and secure connectivity is essential for the success of today’s events, particularly as we host more high-tech events. Partnering with Boldyn Networks ensures that our clients and guests benefit from world-class digital infrastructure that meets the evolving demands of large-scale events and conventions.”

~ Kimberly Weedmark, General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Ongoing network monitoring is a key in being able to offer that level of proactivity. By having 24/7 visibility into how many devices are connected at any time or how much bandwidth is being used, if a space goes offline, it’s easy to determine why. The connectivity partner can also alert the show manager if they’re about to reach their device or bandwidth limit, giving them time to bump up their service package to avoid disruptions.

After the event, the connectivity partner should provide detailed reports on bandwidth, devices and other data. Show managers can use this information in their planning for next year by getting a better understanding of their connectivity expectations and requirements. For venue managers, this data can help them prepare for similar events in the future and attract new business by offering concrete proof that they can handle events of certain types or sizes.

Top events pick venues powered by Boldyn Networks

Boldyn Networks provides both the technology and the service as part of our end-to-end process. We work closely with venue managers to install the best solutions for their building. Before an event, we reach out to show managers and exhibitors to clarify their needs and expectations, and attend site visits to answer any technical questions. Being part of the planning ensures we’re not figuring things out on move-in day – we’ve already prepared a service package tailored to the event. From there, we conduct daily check-ins and 24/7 monitoring during the event itself.

Our commitment to using the latest technology also helps make venues future-ready, capable of hosting the biggest events not just today but years down the line. That’s exactly what we did recently for the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). 

One of the busiest convention centers in the United States, LACC welcomes more than 2 million visitors each year, driving tourism and economic impact across Los Angeles. To support clients and event attendees with best-in-class technologies, in April 2025, LACC asked us to take over the management of its network. By August, we had fully deployed a new Wi-Fi 7 network – one of the first of its kind in a convention center – which has since helped the venue attract several major events. That included Adobe MAX 2025, attended by more than 10,000 people, each connecting multiple devices to the new network. Optimized for high-density environments, the Wi-Fi 7 network underscores LACC’s continued commitment to innovation, technology and customer service excellence.

“Boldyn was an incredible partner for Adobe MAX at LACC! From flawless planning to hands-on support on-site, they went above and beyond – always available and ready to tackle any challenge with us.”

~ Graham Hood, Internal Product Manager, Adobe MAX

We know this combination of technology and service is highly sought after by venue managers. Because it’s what elevates an event from good to great – with a better experience for organizers, attendees and exhibitors alike.