Chicago Sports, Entertainment, and Retail Summit

Wed May 06, 2026

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Chicago Sports, Entertainment, and Retail Summit

Across shopping and stadiums, learn How leaders are envisioning and delivering the commercial opportunity for clients and customers

Wednesday May 6 2026 @ 8:00 AM CDT

$120.00

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Event Host

Village of Schaumburg

The Village of Schaumburg is excited to welcome Andretti Indoor Karting & Games to its first location in Illinois. The 90,000-square-foot facility, located at 1441 Thoreau Drive near the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, offers a wide range of attractions including multi-level electric go-kart racing, a state-of-the-art arcade, virtual reality experiences and simulators, a two-story laser tag arena, duckpin bowling, and a 7D motion theater, along with full-service dining and event space.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games will serve as a signature attraction within the Village of Schaumburg’s 90 North Entertainment District, a growing mixed-use destination focused on entertainment, dining, and visitor experiences. The entertainment district will feature new venues, restaurants, and hotels all designed to create a walkable hub for visitors and residents alike, with Andretti serving as a key experiential anchor that draws families and tourists year-round. Alongside the facility, a six-level, 900-space public parking garage has been completed to support the venue and other attractions in the district.

Speakers and Panels

Eric Nordness

Managing Principal, Marquee Development

Julie Giese

Julie Giese is President of the Chicago Street Course, spearheading a bold initiative to bring NASCAR racing to downtown Chicago in July 2023. Prior to her role in Chicago, Giese served as President of Phoenix Raceway, a role she held since 2018, overseeing the promotion and operation of the modernized facility that is a top motorsports and entertainment destination in the Phoenix market. Previously, Giese oversaw the marketing efforts for NASCAR’s 13 race track properties in her role as NASCAR Vice President, Track Marketing. She also previously served as the Managing Director of Business Operations for International Speedway Corporation’s (ISC) Design & Development, leading the coordination between ISC’s 13 race tracks, internal corporate departments and the Design & Development team on the Company’s significant capital investment and redevelopment projects. In January 2017, she began her tireless work on the design and project management of the $178 million modernization project at Phoenix Raceway. Joining ISC in 2001, Giese has taken on roles with increasing responsibility, from Director of Public Relations at Watkins Glen International to Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Daytona International Speedway where she spent 12 years overseeing all aspects of consumer marketing, branding, creative, advertising, digital, public relations and event entertainment for the “World Center of Racing”. Giese played a leading role in the redevelopment of the Speedway, managing the marketing and branding of the project as well its opening in 2016. In 2019, Giese was recognized as a Forbes Women in Sports to Watch, SportsBusiness Journal Game Changer, AZ Business Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Arizona and is also a 2019 Cynopsis Top Woman in Sports recipient. Giese, a native of Wisconsin, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Marketing Communications.

NASCAR's Chicago Street Course

President

Julie Giese

President, NASCAR's Chicago Street Course

John Vance

Principal, Stone Real Estate

Conor Bossy

CIO, Pine Tree

Deena Zimmerman

Principal, BaumRealty

Tom Walsh

SVP, Leasing, Abbell Associates

Molly Phelan

Partner, Siegel Jennings

Andrew Elmer

Director, Sports and Recreation, HDR

Andrew Totten

Vice President of Sports, Entertainment & Special Use, McHugh Construction

WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THIS CONVERSATION

Topics To Be Covered

Megadevelopments & Destination Placemaking
- How are the city’s sports and entertainment venues crafting engaging and successful experiences for visitors
Chicago as place to visit
- The experiences and offerings making the city world class
Municipal Collaboration and Public Private Partnerships
- Working with the city and local communities to delver something special
Construction and Engineering Challenges
- Building and designing a modern metropolis
Deploying Investment and Capital
- Financing shopping and entertainment venues

Why This Event is a Sellout:

Bisnow’s annual Sports, Entertainment, and Retail event convenes leaders across the city’s leading teams, venues, tourist attractions, and more for a conversation on making Chicago a place to call home. A program as star-studded as it is engaging and entertaining, we’ll explore everything from stadium development and destination placemaking to operating a retail brand in a complex economic landscape, and explore what lies ahead to make living, shopping, and playing in Chicago a home run.

The Other Players:

Chicagoland's top real estate owners, developers, investors, brokers, architects, engineers, designers, lawyers, accountants, bankers and city and government officials.

About the Team:

Bisnow events convene the biggest power players in the industry to help you grow your business across a complex market. With engaging discussions, exclusive networking opportunities and the largest and most equipped audience in the field, Bisnow’s unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the market makes attendance a value add for any CRE professional.

Questions about your ticket purchase or interested in sponsoring? Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support. For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our Chicago event producer Will Follett at will.follett@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact janet.fernandez@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Venue

Village of Schaumburg
1441 Thoreau Dr N
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Parking Information:

Free parking onsite

Get Directions

Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Breakfast and Networking
9:00 AM 9:45 AM	Stadiums, Evolving Neighborhoods, and Destination Placemaking Hear how the city is creating new experiences to work, live, and play
9:45 AM 10:45 AM	State of the Retail Market What's in store for owners, shoppers, and everyone in between in 2026?
10:45 AM 11:30 AM	Closing Networking