HCM pain points for Events & Stadiums organizations in the US and tech solutions to remedy them

Learn how Events & Stadiums Organisations can streamline workforce management, reduce turnover, and meet compliance obligations with innovative HCM technology.

1 October 2025

Events & Stadiums: An industry snapshot

For spectators, it’s simple: arrive, enjoy the show, and head back home.

But for the people behind-the-scenes, things are a whole lot more complex. The planning and organization of live events begins months in advance. For things to go as smoothly as possible, all parts need to be well-oiled and moving in tandem.

Two key components to consider are HR operations and workforce logistics. For any one of these events, there could be hundreds, or even thousands, of employees to manage, across different locations, departments and even organizations. Just consider the security, medical personnel, concession, janitorial and retail staff that are required for an NFL game or Taylor Swift concert.

The global events industry was valued at USD438.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD819.1 billion in 2025. North America was the fastest-growing region worldwide. This doesn’t come as a surprise, considering how lucrative the US entertainment & sporting industries are.

It’s more important than ever for Events & Stadiums organizations to optimize their human capital management (HCM) processes for the best possible employee experience (EX), and with a safe, comfortable, and clean stadium ranked as a core expectation for stadium-goers across the US, the customer experience (CX) becomes equally as important.

HCM issues faced by Events & Stadiums organizations

Events & Stadiums face similar challenges to organizations in other frontline (‘deskless’) industries, but especially those seen by the Hospitality sector. That is, high rates of employee turnover, staffing challenges, and the impact of economic fluctuations, to name a few.

Staffing is a major concern for these organizations. The ability to deliver exceptional service requires well allocated, skillfully scheduled and appropriately trained staff; for any given event, hundreds of employees, across a variety of departments, need to be managed and coordinated. If any zone or department is short-staffed, poorly allocated or inadequately trained, the venue risks inconveniencing fans with long queues, poor service and security risks.

Throw in economic pressures, and employers in the Events & Stadiums industry have it tough. Revenue fluctuates through the peaks and troughs of the events season, depending on who’s playing or performing; there’s also competing venues to worry about, as well as the need for constant renovations and set installations. And to address the elephants in the room: inflation and the rising cost of living. It has made the average household’s disposable budget unstable, and the decision to head to a Saturday night game isn’t as easy as it once was.

Of course, these pressures combine to create different HCM pain points for organizations, and the best ways to remedy them lie in a reliable HR technology solution.

Pain Point #1: Complex multi-role / multi-department scheduling

The service output for any event, whether it be sports, music and entertainment, or business-related, is the product of several different departments and organizations working together as a single unit. The challenge is scheduling across multiple departments, magnified if staff are working in multiple roles or areas of the business.

This becomes even more frustrating for managers and employees relying on dated workforce management software. Mobile-based solutions allow the user to update availability, tailor work preferences, and bid for shifts. Additionally, legacy systems don’t support the smooth attribution of multiple roles and pay rates to a single employee. Cloud-based systems, delivered via a modern mobile app, make this easy.

How Humanforce helps with complex scheduling

Rostering & Scheduling (available via mobile app)

Considering the limitations of many of the legacy platforms used by Events & Stadiums organizations, Humanforce’s Rostering & Scheduling solution becomes essential. Operations or guest experience managers can auto-generate optimized, FSLA-compliant rosters with a few clicks, even entirely via smartphone.

Employees can update their personal work preferences and availability, while the shift bidding and swapping features provide flexibility and work-life balance. Managers can view these preferences and use multi-view scheduling for predictable, stable work schedules.

Humanforce Mobile App

For larger venues, employees often work across several locations. The Humanforce Mobile App enables geo-fenced clocking, synchronized to specific events and departments, allowing employees to clock on and off from their designated zone.

Time & Attendance

Humanforce’s Time & Attendance solution enables more accurate clocking through features like wristbands that can be printed at check-in.

Pain point #2: Complex labor laws and pay conditions

Events & Stadiums organizations frequently hire contingent staff through third-party staffing partners or agencies, particularly for hospitality and security tasks. Managers must navigate a complex roster of employees, each with unique FLSA and CBA requirements for payroll compliance.

Labor unions influence pay rates significantly. Events & Stadiums must recognize the CBAs relevant to their staff. Managers often approve multiple timesheets and calculate varying payroll amounts, all through manual software. Without modern automation tools, this process is risky and time-consuming.

How Humanforce helps with complex labor laws and pay conditions

Awards & Compliance

Humanforce’s Awards & Compliance solution allows for accurate interpretation of CBAs and labor laws, tracking changes as they happen.

Pain point #3: Transient staff (high proportion of casuals)

Work in the Events & Stadiums industry is highly seasonal, leading to a reliance on casual labor. Many staff members are hired on an ‘as needed’ basis, encompassing a wide range of roles from concession and customer service to security.

How Humanforce helps you manage transient staff

Onboarding & Offboarding

The Humanforce Onboarding & Offboarding solution simplifies transitions for casual employees, streamlining necessary documentation to hasten onboarding.

Employee Engagement

Despite high turnover, prioritizing EX enhances engagement, ultimately improving CX. The Humanforce Employee Engagement solution strengthens connections through surveys, feedback, and regular check-ins.

Pain point #4: Labor shortages

Events & Stadiums employers face labor shortages similar to other industries, affected by burnout and workplace culture. Heavy reliance on third-party staffing agencies complicates recruitment and scheduling.

How Humanforce helps with labor shortages

Humanforce’s Talent Suite

The Talent Suite pools pre-qualified candidates and contractors, reducing reliance on third-party labor hire and giving venues more control over hiring.

Pain point #5: Communication

Large venues and multiple departments complicate communication. Without a unified platform, managers and employees may struggle to coordinate effectively.

How Humanforce helps you improve communication

Humanforce Work App

The Humanforce Work App serves as a centralized communication hub for managers and employees.

Conclusion

Events & Stadiums employees face several daunting HCM challenges, but there are tech tools available to help organizations mitigate these pain points.

About Humanforce

Humanforce is an all-in-one platform for frontline and flexible workforces, offering a comprehensive human capital management (HCM) suite. Founded in 2002, Humanforce serves over 2300 customers and has over half a million users worldwide. Our vision is to make work easier and life better by focusing on the needs of frontline workers.