SVG All-Stars: Rene Riva, Senior Director, Game Presentation, NHL

SVG All-Stars: Ren e Riva, Senior Director, Game Presentation, NHLIn her role at the league, she brings together creativity, collaboration, execution to bolster the in-arena fan experienceBy Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 10:22 am

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As the pace of change in sports production shows no signs of slowing, a new class of innovators and decision-makers is shaping the industry's future. Now in its second season, our SVG All-Stars series spotlights the rising leaders driving that transformation, offering a look at their career paths, leadership philosophies, creative and technological contributions, and vision for what comes next. Each conversation introduces you to the people redefining the workflows, culture, and possibilities of live sports production.

From Alex Ovechkin's goal-record chase to the continued success of the Winter Classic and Stadium Series to the mammoth 4 Nations Face-Off, the National Hockey League's 2024-24 season was one for the ages. Tonight, the league drops the puck on a new year with a tripleheader on ESPN beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

When it comes to technical and broadcast innovation, the NHL is among the very best sports leagues in the world. It has also built quite a reputation for spectacular tentpole events. Few people are more central to shaping the league's live-entertainment identity than Ren e Riva. As senior director, game presentation, she sits at the intersection of creativity, collaboration, and execution - helping all 32 clubs elevate their in-arena productions and ensuring that the league's biggest moments deliver the energy and emotion hockey fans expect.

Ren e Riva calls shots at the 2024 NHL Draft, which was hosted at Sphere in Las Vegas. (All photos: NHL)

Now in her seventh year with the NHL following a decade in marketing with the Boston Bruins, Riva plays a vital role in the planning and production of events ranging from the Winter Classic and All-Star Weekend to the Global Series and the Draft, blending local authenticity with the NHL brand to create unforgettable fan experiences. She also leads the league's Game Presentation Peer Review Program, a behind-the-scenes exchange that encourages clubs to share best practices and fresh ideas with each other.

In this edition of SVG All-Stars, Riva shares how the NHL steps up in a unique way to deliver its special events, how digital workflow integration is changing her job, how her time in Boston has shaped her, and how her career has put her in a position to build memorable experiences for fans attending an NHL game.

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?

I serve as a liaison for all 32 NHL clubs, helping them unlock their full potential to deliver innovative, inspiring, and unforgettable moments. I build strong, trusted relationships with club counterparts, creating a culture of collaboration where best practices and fresh ideas flow freely to elevate the in-arena experience in every market, and help drive tune-in for NHL games. I assist in leading the NHL Game Presentation Peer Review Program, giving clubs a behind-the-scenes look at each other's productions to uncover new opportunities, share trends, celebrate wins, and spark innovation.

In my day-to-day, I also collaborate and coordinate with national NHL broadcast partners (in the U.S., Walt Disney Co./ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery/TNT Sports; (in Canada, Rogers Communications, Prime Video, and TVAS), regional sports networks, and streaming services (Hulu and ESPN+) to ensure timely execution of NHL club special ceremonies to maximize fan engagement and exposure.

Riva at the 2023 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.

In addition, I play a key role in the strategic planning and execution of live show production for NHL tentpole events, including NHL Global Series, NHL Winter Classic, NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Stadium Series, NHL Heritage Classic, and NHL Draft. My role involves strategically integrating local elements with the NHL brand, resulting in memorable and impactful productions that resonate with audiences. For scripting and run-of-show creation, [I work] with hosts, PA, DJs, mascots, and promo teams. I also work side-by-side with control-room and technical crews to deliver seamless, high-impact productions. I assist in bringing partnership activations to life by crafting engaging features that amplify both the fan experience and the partner's visibility. I help drive the creation and deployment of high-impact animated graphics - such as event looks, crowd prompts, and team interstitials - by ensuring that every visual hits with precision and is on brand. I ensure that every element is crafted to amplify the atmosphere, reinforce the event brand, and fuel the energy in the building - creating exciting, memorable moments that will stick with fans!

I'm constantly researching new technologies and creative approaches to enhance the fan experience and streamline workflows. Ultimately, my role blends creative vision, leadership, and strategic collaboration to ensure the NHL is delivering memorable, impactful experiences for fans while supporting the league, NHL clubs, and NHL partners.

What is one key industry trend that you believe is having a major impact on your organization right now?

One key trend I'm seeing is digital workflow integration, where we are striving to use connected platforms to bring project management, collaboration, and communication into one streamlined process. For my day-to-day, this means that both internal departments and our vendors are working from the same playbook in real time, making it easier to stay aligned from concept to execution. Content moves faster, and everyone is on the same page, which ultimately gives us more time and flexibility to create moments that

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