STMA to Host 34th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Salt Lake City, Utah

Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) – the professional organization for 2,700 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide – announces registration is now open for its 34th annual Conference & Exhibition on January 16-19, 2023, held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Leaders in the sports field industry will gather at the Salt Palace Convention Center for four days of industry education, networking events, technology displays and exhibitor demonstrations. The summit kicks off with a Seminar on Wheels event where attendees will visit the athletic facilities at Brigham Young University followed by a visit to Rio Tinto Stadium and Smith's Ballpark. Other events throughout the week include a variety of informational panel discussions, Women’s Forum & Lunch and the SFMA Awards Reception & Banquet where the prestigious Founders’ Awards will be presented, among others. 

The keynote address this year will be on field safety and player health. It will be delivered by DeMaurice Fitzgerald Smith, the Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) the Labor Union for Players of the National Football League (NFL).  

A full breakdown of the scheduled conference education sessions and activities can be found here.

“The SFMA Conference is a global gathering that allows members to connect, collaborate and learn from some of the top thought-leaders and innovators in the sports field industry,” says James Bergdoll, President of SFMA. “We’re very excited to have DeMaurice Fitzgerald Smith join us this year to talk about the very public and important topic of field safety. The conference is always a great learning experience and time to interact with the most brilliant minds in this industry to share best practices and learn from one another.”

Dozens of learning sessions are on the schedule for 2023 in addition to panels led by commercial representatives, renowned sports field managers and leaders from professional sports stadiums, universities, high schools, and parks and recreation facilities. Additional learning sessions throughout the week will include topics such as professional development, turfgrass and soil management, construction, environmental and pest management, facility management, water, industry developments and synthetic turf. 

Always one of the week’s highlights, sports field management programs nationwide can enter a team of up to four students in the SFMA Student Challenge for a chance of winning a cash award, trophy and medallions for each team member. The competition will test students’ skills and knowledge of the sports field management industry. Students will be challenged in a variety of areas including turfgrass identification, soils, fertility, irrigation and drainage, pest management, sports field maintenance practices and human resource management, among others.

The SAFE Foundation – SFMA’s charitable arm whose mission is to enrich communities by championing safe, sustainable sports and recreation fields – will once again host an array of fundraising events including a live auction, bowling competition and more. In lieu of a golf tournament this year, the SAFE Foundation will host a Backyard Games and Brunch event which will include a cornhole tournament. All proceeds will benefit the scholarship, research, and educational outreach programs.

Online registration for the Conference opened Saturday, October 15. Cost is $375 for the first SFMA member and $325 for any additional members from the same facility. For more information, please visit www.sportsfieldmanagement.org or call 800-323-3875.