Play For Good Gala 2026
Event Details
Location: Hamilton Hotel
Date: December 6, 2025
About the Event
Play For Good was a high-energy, purpose-driven gathering that united professional athletes, philanthropic leaders, and change-makers around a shared mission: harnessing the power of sport to drive meaningful social impact.
Designed as both a celebration and a call to action, the event blended inspiring storytelling, dynamic program flow, and immersive production to spotlight athletes making a difference in communities across the country and around the world. From impactful stage moments to thoughtful guest experience design, every detail reinforced the core message that leadership extends far beyond the game.
As the producer of Play For Good, Stratus Firm led creative direction, production design, program flow, and on-site execution, ensuring the experience reflected both the prestige of the athletes involved and the heart of the organization’s mission. The result was an event that felt elevated yet authentic, energetic yet intentional, and fully aligned with the movement it represented.
Play For Good wasn’t just an event; it was a platform where sport, service, and storytelling converged to inspire action.
Scope of Services
Project Management:
Use of web-based project management software, including a comprehensive timeline of deliverables.
Reporting on project updates and scheduling and managing meetings with the Athletes for Hope team.
Logistics preparation, stakeholder updates, and quality control reports.
Hiring of additional vendors and contractors as agreed.
Venue Logistics Preparation:
Involves logistics, production, programming, attendee engagement, and speaker experience.
Creating and managing updates to the overall event timeline to ensure smooth event flow.
Coordinating production schedules and overall floor plans of all event spaces and offsite venues.
Negotiating final contracts with selected venues and vendors.
Budget Management & Tracking:
Creating, managing, and tracking event budgets with input and oversight from Athletes for Hope.
Tracking payment deadlines and facilitating all vendor invoicing and payment.
Continually updating the budget to reflect approved costs and expenses.
Event Discovery & Development:
Working with the client team to identify event timelines, themes, guest experience, event and set design, additional concepts, tone, and flow.
Working to enhance the event schedule to meet the desired guest experience.
Collaborating with the client team on guidance, input, and oversight on the design, planning, and implementation of the entire program vision for all production aspects.
Consulting on guest seating and placement alongside the client and importing all guest seating into seating software.
Hospitality & Food & Beverage Management:
Catering management, including gala dinner needs, ancillary attendee needs, and green room setups.
Compiling menu and vendor information needed for program collateral.
Coordinating food, beverage, and alcohol vendors while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Guest & Sponsor Management:
Working alongside Athletes for Hope (AFH) to fulfill event sponsorships.
Assisting with registration and providing guidance on table assignments and meal selection.
Overseeing on-site check-in.
Pre-Event Vendor Talent Services:
Providing non-production vendor services, including RFP processes, contract drafting, and contract review.
Liaising with VIPs, principals, and talent staff and security to ensure all needs are met.
Sending instruction packets/briefings to program participants/talent confirming all event details.
On-Site Logistics Management:
Coordinating production schedules and overall floor plans of all event spaces.
Managing the day-of-event timeline to ensure smooth event flow while in motion.
Acting as the primary liaison for venues, vendors, and on-site teams.
Managing and overseeing load-in and setup of decor, stage sets, etc., for activations and installations.
Resolving challenges swiftly during critical moments.
On-Site Technical Production & Show Direction:
Overseeing full show production, technical direction, and stage and floor management.
Managing all day-of technical production services, including rehearsal management, lead-up tasks, and advanced planning.
Arranging for necessary technical requirements, including sound, lighting, stage management, video, and graphics (A/V equipment costs not included).
Post-Event Project Management:
Ensuring final invoices are sent in a timely manner and all event contracts are closed out.
Evaluating vendor and contractor performance and providing recommendations on future plans.
Hosting a final post-event meeting inclusive of all project stakeholders.
Closing out the project across all areas of work.