Kevin Dannemann (pictured) was clear about how the sports, leisure, and entertainment insurance market shifted after COVID-19. “Obviously, post-pandemic, you had a lot of people that really wanted to get out and try a new sport,” he said. Many of those participants were inexperienced, and that inexperience brought new exposures.
Dannemann, the senior vice president at K&K Insurance Canada, adjusted its underwriting approach to match. “It’s important for us to understand the risk itself,” he said, adding that the company wrote 70 classes of business across the country, tailoring coverage to each exposure.
That work relied heavily on the company’s in-house loss data, which Dannemann said was crucial for spotting “coverage needs that are bubbling up to the surface.” The team also monitored headlines to track trends in litigation, participation, and safety issues. Close ties with independent brokers in every province and territory were central to the process. “Working with the independent brokers across the country is key for us,” he said.
Some sectors proved especially complex. Large festivals and venues, Dannemann said, required risk management beyond the event itself. He cited Toronto’s Rogers Stadium, where early concerts drew public complaints over crowd movement. “They’ve adapted,” he said. “That adaptability is really what we love to see from our clients.” K&K looked for clients who identified pain points and implemented changes rather than relying on “how things have always been done.”
Evaluating everything from tournaments to music festivals meant relying on “35 years of knowledge and experience” to view risks differently than newer entrants, Dannemann said. Event history remained a strong predictor, but the company also assessed social media feedback. “Just because there’s a negative complaint… that’s a good learning tool for the client,” he said. Those insights often led to discussions with brokers about improving layouts and safety before renewal.
Some risks stood out. Participant injuries remained a major concern as more Canadians returned to sports and recreation. “We offer… participant accident coverage, which is important for the client to have for their participants so that it mitigates any potential future larger losses,” Dannemann said. He pointed out that “some competitors may not offer participant accident coverage, where we at K&K Canada do.”
Cyber threats were also on the radar, particularly for event organizers storing personal data. Weather volatility had become harder to ignore, with wildfire smoke, heavy rain, and intense storms causing cancellations. “Volatile weather can really impact a lot of what we do because it’s outside,” Dannemann said. Adverse weather coverage was available with 14 days’ notice, providing a safeguard for outdoor venues in peak season. Smoke damage coverage depended on whether the site was directly affected or forced to shut down.
The financial impact of cancellations varied widely. A weekend baseball tournament might be rescheduled with minimal loss, but a one-off festival that could not move dates risked significant revenue loss. In those cases, Dannemann urged brokers to “inquire what options we have for coverage” tailored to the event’s model.
