Josh Barney

Why I Brought SEAT Back

I believe in the power of live experiences. I believe in the way a stadium can shake when a moment becomes a memory you’ll remember for the rest of your life. And I believe the people behind those moments deserve a place to learn from each other, push each other, and grow together.

That’s why I brought SEAT back.

I spent 12 years in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, where I led technology strategy during the 2017 renovation of the Delta Center. While I was with the Jazz, I attended SEAT as an industry peer — and that’s where I fell in love with this community. SEAT wasn’t just another conference. It was where real conversations happened, where problems were solved openly, where people showed up as humans first. I built friendships there that have lasted years, and relationships that shaped how I lead today.

Technology, at its best, is not just infrastructure. It’s the bridge between people, place, and emotion. When used well, it creates belonging. When overlooked or undervalued, the fan experience suffers. The heartbeat of any venue lives in the experiences we create through intentional, human-centered technology.

When COVID hit, SEAT went silent. And in those years, the industry changed — fast. Venues modernized, audiences evolved, expectations rose. But the conversations, the collaboration, the shared learning that SEAT once made possible… those didn’t have a home anymore.

So we brought SEAT back — not just as an event, but as a community with a renewed purpose.

SEAT exists so leaders can:

• Learn from each other without ego
• Share what actually works in real operational environments
• Shift technology from a cost center into a strategic driver of revenue, connection, and joy
• Show up as humans, not just titles or logos

This is the work I care about. And it’s personal.

My wife, Colette, and I have been married for 27 years. We’ve raised four incredible kids and two of the very goodest dogs. In 2024, we founded The Joshua Tree Project, a nonprofit focused on making accessible technology available to those who need it most, and advocating for public venues to be truly welcoming to everyone. Because everyone deserves that “I was there!” moment.

SEAT isn’t just a conference. It’s a living, breathing commitment to making the fan experience better — for all of us.

If you’re here to build, explore, collaborate, challenge assumptions, and elevate the experience for the communities you serve — you’re in the right place.

Let’s move this industry forward. Together.

— Josh