Facilities & Event Management 2017 Luminary Awards 48
2017-2018
BEDROCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 152 Madison Ave., Ste. 802, New York, NY 10016
TM
BOOKING GUIDE
For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers
INTRODUCING
FIRST NATIONAL BANK ARENA
NEWLY NAMED VENUE SET TO RAISE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY’S PROFILE IN THE LIVE EVENTS MARKET 19
Counterterrorism Education for Venues 16
CVB Roundtable: Sports Business 22
Hosting eSports 45
Spotlight: Canada 24
Jim Brown, CFE Director
Terry Mohajir
Director of Athletics
Facilities &Event Management
EDITOR’S NOTE
TM
RIDING THE WAVE OF ESPORTS
Booking Guide 2017-2018
Volume 25 No.2
Chief Operating Officer David Korn
T
he sports business is a major economic stimulator for cities across the country. Examples include Anaheim, Reno and Atlantic City, whose CVBs are each focused on drawing more sports events to their respective communities (see page 22). And as Roy Edmondson, Vice President, Sports Development, Visit Anaheim, observes, esports is the fastest-growing segment of the sports market, one that is becoming a billion-dollar industry. It thus behooves many venue executives to explore the possibility of hosting esports events and investing in the facilities and technological infrastructure such events require. Golden 1 Center, for example, is currently building a dedicated esports facility for the Sacramento Kings’ new NBA 2K League team. Successfully entering that market is also about knowing the predilections of the esports crowd, in order to make their experience comfortable and engaging. For a little guidance, read Columbus Arenas Sports & Entertainment VP Bredan Buckley’s firsthand account of hosting Counter Strike: Global Offensive at Nationwide Arena (page 45). For deep and wide-ranging education on this niche, promoters and venue executives may consider participating in a future installment of the Global Esports Forum, recently launched by Intel and ESL. Taking place March 1 in Katowice, Poland, the Forum will feature presentations from leaders of many companies in the esports industry. This “new wave” in sports is also reaching college venues: More than 50 U.S. colleges currently have esports programs for student teams. Home to a Rocket League student club, Arkansas State University is mainly recognized for its prowess in the traditional sports market. The newly named First National Bank Arena, featured in this issue’s cover story, is prepared to host basketball, volleyball, tennis, indoor track & field, pole vault, rodeos and more. With its freshly signed naming agreement and newly appointed director, the arena is ready to play to these strengths in the sports market, as well as forge new partnerships with touring acts. At A-State, the wave of the future may not include more esports, but it will certainly bring a wealth of sports and musical entertainment.
Associate Publisher Michael Caffin Editorial Director George Seli Contributing Editors Anthony Bilden Rosa Laufer Creative Direction & Design Scott-Goodman Associates Circulation Manager Max Kimmel Editorial Assistant Gabriella Davino Business Operations Nadia Derelieva © Copyright 2018 by Bedrock Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in by-lined articles and advertising copy are not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertisers are responsible for all costs, damages and claims regarding advertising insertions. Facilities & Event Management is published twice a year by Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Telephone: (212) 532-4150. Fax: (212) 213-6382.
– George Seli Editorial Director, Facilities Media Group gseli@facilitiesonline.com
CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Printed in U.S.A.
ON THE COVER BOOKING GUIDE Arkansas State FIRST University’s NATIONAL BANK ARENA Convocation Center began the new year with a new name — First National Bank Arena — and a new Director — Jim Brown, formerly of Wright State’s Nutter Center. Arena and university leadership look forward to enhanced partnerships with promoters and bringing richer entertainment offerings to Jonesboro.
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Luminary Awards 48
2017-2018
BEDROCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 152 Madison Ave., Ste. 802, New York, NY 10016
In Brief.................................................................................................. 4 Photoview IAVM Annual Conference.................................................................... 12 Forum Melanie Pearlman, Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab............ 16 Perspectives A First Encounter with esports, by Bredan Buckley............................ 45 The Festivalization of Meetings and Events, by Kevin Underwood.... 46
Features
A New Era for Live Events at Arkansas State University..................... 18 CVB Roundtable: Sports Market......................................................... 22 SPOTLIGHT: Canada........................................................................... 24 2017 F&EM Luminary Awards.......................................................... ...48 Facilities Directory.............................................................................. 30 Advertiser Index................................................................................. 79 2
For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers
TM
For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers
INTRODUCING
NEWLY NAMED VENUE SET TO RAISE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY’S PROFILE IN THE LIVE EVENTS MARKET. 19
Counterterrorism Education for Venues 16
CVB Roundtable: Sports Business 22
Hosting eSports 45
Spotlight: Canada 24
Jim Brown, CFE Director
Terry Mohajir
Director of Athletics
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Arena - Expo Center - Conference Center
For booking information, contact: Randy L. Brown, CFE 260.482.9502 or rbrown@memorialcoliseum.com
In Brief Concert watch ARON COOPERMAN
SAN JOSE, CA Critically acclaimed electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling (center) sold out the City National Civic of San Jose on Dec. 20 with her Warmer In The Winter Christmas Tour. She was greeted by the venue’s General Manager John Ciulla and Jennifer Anderson, Marketing Manager, Nederlander Concerts.
FRANK MCGRATH
GRAND RAPIDS, MI SMG’s Hilarie Szarowicz (left) and Alison Goodyke (right) present Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant with certificates of donation to Compassion International as a thank-you for playing Van Andel Arena on Dec. 10.
4
ALBANY, NY Dropkick Murphys took the stage at the new Albany Capital Center on Feb. 25 — the second stop on the punk band’s St. Patrick’s Day Tour. Special guests included New York hardcore band Agnostic Front and Boston ska pioneers Bim Skala Bim. INDIANAPOLIS, IN Trans-Siberian Orchestra played to a near-capacity crowd on Dec. 20 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, as part of their 2017 World Tour. Representatives of Live Nation and Bankers Life Fieldhouse greeted TSO artists prior to the show. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
book your next show at bell mts place, Winnipeg, Canada. (formerly mts Centre)
BOOKING INFO:
Kevin Donnelly 204.926.5503 KDonnelly@TNSE.com BellMTSPlace.ca • BurtonCummingsTheatre.ca Winnipeg, Canada
NOW BOOKING FOR THE HISTORIC BURTON CUMMINGS THEATRE
In Brief
INDUSTRY PULSE
Tom Cantone Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
Peter Luukko OVG Facilities
Chris Verros Centerplate
BEVERLY HILLS, CA — In December, Live Nation Entertainment acquired an interest in the 9,000-seat Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (formerly Meadowbrook), in Gilford, NH. “We are thrilled to add the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion to our venue portfolio, and to welcome [President Robert “R.J.” Harding and his wife, Bridget] and their team to the Live Nation family,” said Don Law, President of Live Nation New England. “The Pavilion is a very unique and special venue, and we look forward to helping grow an already outstanding business to bring the people of New England a world class entertainment lineup for many years to come.” BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Live Nation Entertainment has partnered with Redrock Entertainment Services, a global event production company that focuses on large scale, live events and specialized production projects. Based in Burbank, CA and led by event production veteran Ford Englerth, Redrock Entertainment Services will expand its role nationally in festival and concert operations, as well as internationally across both live event and corporate specialty production partnerships. “Live Nation is always looking to invest in projects and partnerships that produce premium live experiences for audiences around the world, and joining forces with Ford on Redrock Enter-
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE 6
tainment Services definitely fits that bill,” said Bob Roux, Co-President, Live Nation, US Concerts. “[Englerth’s] industry expertise and talented team are known to create amazing events, and we’re sure they will deliver for a growing list of corporate clients and artist partners.” COPPELL, TX — IAVM recently announced that effective Feb. 1, 2018, the Certified Facility Executive (CFE) program will be rebranded as the Certified Venue Executive (CVE) program. “We talked at length to both current and past board members plus several respected IAVM colleagues both nationally and internationally,” said Jody Lake, CVE, chair of the IAVM Certification Board. “What quickly became clear by the majority was the term ‘facilities’ in any option of titles was outdated. Most comments were in favor of a reference to our industry title of ‘venue’ managers. It felt right, and the board supported the term CVP, or Certified Venue Professional, for this new program.” LOS ANGELES, CA — Oak View Group (OVG) has bought the 3-year-old Pinnacle Venue Services from Tom Paquette and Doug Higgons and rebranded it OVG Facilities. Pinnacle Venue Services has six management contracts and a security and operation assessment business. Peter Luukko, co-chair of OVG’s Arena Alliance, now leads OVG Facilities. Sims Hinds has been hired as SVP of Business Development, and Pa-
quette and Higgons became SVPs of OVG Facilities. PARIS, and GAITHERSBURG, MD, and LONDON — Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company based in France, and private equity firm Olympus Partners recently announced that Sodexo has signed an agreement to acquire Centerplate, Inc. for $675 million from Olympus Partners. Chris Verros, CEO of Centerplate, will lead the new combined business in the United States. Pierre Henry, Vice-President of the Group Executive Committee and CEO Sports & Leisure Worldwide for Sodexo, said: “This acquisition is another step in our longterm strategy to become a leading player in every market in which we are present. Centerplate is an ideal partner with highly professional, dedicated teams who bring a wealth of industry expertise. We look forward to working together with Centerplate to bring exceptional Quality of Life experiences to tens of thousands of fans and spectators around the world.” PORTLAND, OR — The Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC have entered into a 12-year partnership with Levy as the exclusive hospitality partner for all concessions, premium seating and catering at Providence Park, beginning in January 2018. According to Levy, the company will design menus and dining environments across all areas of the stadium, cultivating flavors that reflect the Portland dining scene; Continued on page 8
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2018 BOOKING GUIDE 6
THE WORLD IS OUR STAGE.
32,000 EVENTS
1.6 MILLION SEATS
63 MILLION GUESTS
$1BILLION TICKET SALES
THE WORLDWIDE LEADER IN VENUE MANAGEMENT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: JIM MCCUE Senior Vice President, SMG Entertainment jmccue@smgworld.com
BOB PAPKE Vice President, Theaters bpapke@smgworld.com
JOHN BOLTON Vice President, Entertainment jbolton@smgworld.com
1.866.BOOK.SMG
In Brief
INDUSTRY PULSE Continued from page 6
introduce technology to streamline payment and transactions; and play a key role in planning and designing spaces within the stadium’s new expanded sections.
UNCASVILLE, CT — In December, Mohegan Sun entered into an exclusive partnership with Webster Bank Arena, in Bridgeport, CT. The three year, multiple-
level agreement involves concerts, sporting events and sponsorships. Mohegan Sun is home to the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena. “This is an exciting day as two of the strongest entertainment venues in the state join forces,” said Tom Cantone, Senior Vice President of Sports & Entertainment for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE). “We have had an open relationship
with Webster Bank Arena for years, and this agreement is a further extension of the long-term partnership we look forward to having with them.” “Mohegan Sun will help secure concerts that will appeal to the local community, as well as become a visible sponsor in our first-class arena,” commented New York Islanders and Bridgeport Sound Tigers Owner Jon Ledecky.
Who’s News
8
Levy appointed Catherine Cronin as Division President of Rank + Rally, a subsidiary that develops custom merchandise and retail experiences for the sports and entertainment industry. Cronin has more than 20 years of experience leading sales and marketing efforts for major sporting goods brands.
The Madison Square Garden Company named Andrew Lustgarten the company’s President. Lustgarten joined MSG in 2014 as Executive Vice President of corporate development and strategy.
The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club hired Michael Drake as its Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Premium Sales. He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of Business Operations for AMB Sports & Entertainment.
Thomas Ovesen was named Vice-President – Programming at the AEG Ogdenmanaged Dubai Arena. Ovesen has a nearly 17-year background with Mirage Promotions, AEG Live and Done Events.
Eric Granger was named General Manager of KFC Yum! Center, in Louisville, KY, following the resignation of GM Dennis Petrullo. Prior to joining AEG Facilities and KFC Yum! Center, Granger spent seven years serving as Vice President and General Manager for the FedEx Forum, in Memphis, TN.
Hans Schafer has been appointed the Head of the newly formed Live Nation Latin, which will focus on increasing the company’s presence in the growing Latin live events market in the United States. Schafer most recently served as Director of Latin Talent for AEG Live.
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
In Brief
CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION
CLEVELAND, OH — The City of Cleveland, Cleveland Cavaliers, Destination Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are working on a $140 million renovation of Quicken Loans Arena. The project will add 40,000 sq. ft. on the ground level, expand social spaces, upgrade facades, modernize amenities and more. As part of the agreement for the renovations, the Cavaliers will extend their stay at the arena through at least 2034. FLINT, MI — The 90-year-old Capitol Theatre reopened in December following a $37 million renovation that included a modernization of lighting and technology. The Uptown Reinvestment Corp. conducted restoration of the 1,600-seat theater. GREENSBORO, NC — In December, the Greensboro City Council approved Barnhill Contracting Company as the Phase II contractor for the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. The $87.4 million, state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open in 2020 and will seat approximately 3,000 patrons. Managed by the staff of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the Tanger Center
is projected to host nearly 150 events annually. KNOXVILLE, TN — The University of Tennessee will be undertaking a twophase, $340 million renovation of Neyland Stadium. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2020, and the second phase (pending approval) in 2021. Phase I will expand and renovate south concourses, add restrooms and concession stands, add new entry towers/gates and plaza areas in the southwest and southeast corners, renovate the exterior, add open-air suites and a field-level club, and more. Phase II would include renovations to the east and northeast concourses, add an entryway in the northeast corner and upgrade technology throughout the stadium. Construction is scheduled to start this summer. NASHVILLE, TN — Music City is competing with 11 other cities for a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise, thanks to Metro Council’s approval of $275 million in financing for a new MLS stadium at the Metro fairgrounds. If the city gets the team, stadium construction would likely begin late this year.
The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts opens in 2020. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE 10
The Tampa Theatre recently completed a major renovation. PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ — Spectra by Comcast Spectacor has entered into a five-year agreement to manage and program the 6,000seat Prescott Valley Event Center, home to the NBA Gatorade League’s Northern Arizona Suns. Reportedly, Spectra will also be instrumental in the venue’s planned capital improvement projects. ROCKY MOUNT, NC — The Rocky Mount Event Center (RMEC), a 4,000-plus seat indoor sports center, is under construction and scheduled to open in October. The approximately $48 million RMEC is designed to host youth and amateur tournaments, dance competitions, concerts, family shows, convention and tradeshows and other types of events. SACRAMENTO, CA — The Sacramento Kings plan to create a dedicated eSports facility inside Golden 1 Center. Accommodating tournaments and events with a theater-style setup, the facility will be utilized for the team’s upcoming NBA 2K League team. It will feature state-of-the-art gaming technology, fullservice broadcast capabilities to produce livestreams, and amenities to serve games, artists and the community. For a perspective on hosting eSports
tournaments, see the column by Bredan Buckley of Columbus Arenas Sports & Entertainment on page 45. SEATTLE, WA — Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and Los Angeles-based Oak View Group to renovate KeyArena. The $600 million renovation is expected to be completed by October 2020, after which the city could attract NHL and NBA teams. Steve Mattson, formerly Vice President/General Manager of the Target Center, in Minneapolis, MN, will serve as Director of Operations for the rebuild. ST. JOSEPH, MO — The historic Missouri Theater has undergone nearly a half million dollars’ worth of improvements in recent weeks. Upgrades included a new sound system and green room, and dressing room renovations.
TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Theatre has completed a multi-million dollar renovation that includes a repainted lobby, new concessions stand, and new seats and carpets in the auditorium. Originally opened in 1926, the Tampa Theatre had not undergone a major renovation since 1976. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2018 BOOKING GUIDE 10
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
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PHOTOVIEW
VENUECONNECT 2017 IAVM’s 92nd Annual Conference took place Aug. 7-10 at Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Matt Pizzuti, Deputy Director, Oregon Convention Center
Donald Dethlefs and Jennifer Stephens, Sink Combs Dethlefs
Will Lofdahl, CEO Sask Tel Centre
John Wilborn (left), Curtis Culwell Center, and Oscar McGaskey, Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities
Darren Davis (right), Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and Pat Christenson, Las Vegas Events
(L-r): Jim Brown, Ron Beck, Jahmar Plummer, Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center; and Paul Cramer, Classic Center
Will Gorman (left), Show Me Center, and Terry Dederich, Grossinger Motors Arena
Matt Hollander, General Manager, Miami Beach Convention Center
Brad Mayne (left), President and CEO, IAVM, and Bobby Goldwater, The Goldwater Group Continued on page 14
12
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
PHOTOVIEW Continued from page 12
VENUECONNECT 2017
Larry Gawronski, Executive Director, Topeka Performing Arts Center
Craig Liston (left), SMG, Greater Columbus Convention Center, and Steve Mariakis, Edlen
Kerry Painter (left), Cox Business Center, and Karen Totaro, San Diego Convention Center
Dean Dennis (left), Atlantic City Convention Center, and Ken Lapponese, Paramount Equipment
Nicholas Langella, GM, Alamodome
Scott Mullen, Executive Director, TaxSlayer Center
Mark Haley, President, Smart City Networks
Becca Waters, Spokane Arena, and Howard Zuckerman, Rose Quarter 14
Todd Hunt (left), BancorpSouth Arena, David Kells, Bridgestone Arena
Terry Dederich (left), Grossinger Motors Arena, and Scott Schoenike, Ford Center
Ken Persson (right) and Gary Dallas of Maywood Furniture Corp. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
A Perfect Circle Anne Murray Amy Grant Ani DiFranco Ben Harper Bill Burr Blue Man Group Blues Traveler Bob Dylan Brian Setzer Orchestra Carlos Mencia Chicago Chris Tomlin Daniel Tosh Dave Chappelle Dave Matthews Emerson Lake & Palmer Experience Hendrix Fitz & the Tantrums Gabriel Iglesias George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars Glen Campbell Government Mule Harry Connick, Jr. Home Free Indigo Girls Jackson Browne Jars of Clay Jason Mraz Joe Bonamassa John Mellencamp John Prine Jonny Lang Kathy Griffin Little Big Town Lyle Lovett Mannheim Steamroller Matchbox 20 Melissa Etheridge Mercy Me Michael W. Smith moe. Moody Blues Natalie Merchant Norah Jones O.A.R. Prairie Home Companion Red Green Rick Springfield Rockapella Rodney Carrington Ron White Ryan Adams Santana Sarah McLachlan Second City Touring Co. Sheryl Crow Smashing Pumpkins Steven Curtis Chapman Tedeschi Trucks Band Third Day Tori Amos Tracy Chapman Weird Al Yankovic Widespread Panic Willie Nelson
AMES, IOWA
For booking information on 2,700-seat Stephens Auditorium, contact Tammy Koolbeck at 515-294-3347 or tkool@iastate.edu.
*Awarded by the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter in 2004
FORUM
MELANIE PEARLMAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COUNTERTERRORISM EDUCATION LEARNING LAB
T
By George Seli
he opening keynote at the 39th Annual INTIX Conference & Exhibition, held Jan. 23-25 in Baltimore, MD, focused on what is unfortunately a very timely topic: securing sports and entertainment venues from threats of gun violence and terrorism. Melanie Pearlman, Executive Director of the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), spoke to a worldwide audience of entertainment and ticketing professionals on preparedness strategies for venues and events. Founded shortly after 9/11, Denver, CO-based CELL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to preventing terrorism through education, empowerment and engagement. “We recognized how we as a citizenry need to understand terrorism for our safety,” says Pearlman. “If we have a better understanding of what policies are being debated in Washington and the things we can do out in the community, the better off we’re going to be.” Prior to joining CELL about 10 years ago, Pearlman was part of an organization that advocated for legislation against state sponsorship of terrorism.
Q A
What kinds of community and business partnerships has CELL established since its inception?
but also to collaborative partners that are part and parcel of that event. So we’ve created a program that helps roll out that training to vendors and staff — ticket takers, parking attendants, volunteers — so they understand what considerations need to be taken into account for that particular venue and that particular event.
Q
Is the idea to have as many eyes and ears as possible involved in the security effort?
The training program
delves deeper into understanding what suspicious activity looks like, rather than just saying, “If you see something, say something.”
We were created to work with private industry and also public [organizations]. So we work not only with the event industry, but also schools and other businesses as well as the public. It’s been a really wonderful partnership that we’ve had with the public safety community to mitigate possible threats to our communities across the country. Right now we’re partnering with the city of Minneapolis [on Super Bowl LII] and we’ve partnered with the state of Utah. In Denver, we partnered with PrideFest.
Q A
What overall response have you seen from venues in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Orlando, Manchester and now Las Vegas? One of the big trends that we’re seeing is the emphasis on preparedness training, not just to the security staff
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A
The training program delves deeper into understanding what suspicious activity looks like, rather than just saying, “If you see something, say something.” It takes it two or three steps further to suggest the vulnerabilities that a specific event or venue could have, and the kind of suspicious activity that might occur.
Q A
What kinds of venue security concerns have arisen in recent times?
Unfortunately, as we’ve seen in the last year, vehicles are being used as weapons. So, what types of vehicles are we actually asking people to look for? Are they in unauthorized areas? Has that vehicle been modified? What is your drone policy? Are there drones being flown over crowds that should not be? What have you done to enhance perimeter security?
Q A
Can you give an example of an effective information-sharing system among those involved in a security effort? [The objective is] to create a sustainable and consistent reporting protocol such that everybody involved in the event understands what to do with the information. One great example is our current work with the Minneapolis FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Unfortunately, in
host committee in advance of the Super Bowl to train more than 15,000 volunteers that are going to be stationed throughout the Twin Cities. The FBI, in conjunction with the Minneapolis Police Department, has set up a hotline, 1 (800) CALL FBI, along with 911. Some events and venues have apps that you download and allow you to take a picture of issues that might happen, and then send it in to the 911 center. There is a whole host of technologies out there that can be leveraged.
Q A
this day and age when you have an event, everybody who is in and around the event is a partner [in security] because they too share the risk.
Do the best practices CELL teaches apply to venues of all sizes?
This particular preparedness training, the Community Awareness Program that we created in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, can be customized to large-scale events or even smaller events. [In terms of types of events] how you secure a marathon or an international bike race is very different than how you go about securing a stadium or venue. We’ve worked with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, which was over 700 miles and multiple jurisdictions. All the jurisdictions needed to be on same page with reporting protocols.
in and around the event is a partner because they too share the risk. And they also, more importantly, want to share in making sure everybody is safe and secure. So we go through hotel protocols as well.
Q A
Would you suggest holding security meetings involving the event venue and neighboring hotels?
If that’s not happening, we highly encourage it. There are either operations directors or security directors of the hotels and businesses surrounding these large venues that I would strongly encourage the event staff to be in coordination with.
Q A
What would you say to venue managers who feel to some extent helpless after recent attacks?
Prevention and preparedness training in collaboration with an entire network of partners is essential. There are simple steps that any event or venue can take that ultimately enhance their security and help mitigate a lot of the risk.
Q A
Is it possible to empower a venue’s patrons to assist in security, without thereby creating an atmosphere of apprehension? I think there must always be a balance between the guest experience and that of alarming them, but there are ways [to achieve that balance] that are empowering. In today’s environment people understand that there is a reality that we face, and so the way you approach and empower a guest is very much the same way you do so with a volunteer. You’re suggesting, “You can help us be a champion for safety,” but you have to be very delicate with it. And just by imparting the information to the numerous vendors, subcontractors and volunteers, you already increased the education tenfold. For patrons and the guests, your empowerment message has to be short, concise and accessible; it can’t be threatening.
Q
The Las Vegas attack was conducted from a nearby hotel. Does that set an important precedent in terms of expanding the security effort beyond the event venue itself?
A
I think we’ll use the instance of the preparatory considerations that are going into Super Bowl LII. They’re enfranchising hotel security, airport security, the Uber drivers [and other parties]. Unfortunately, in this day and age when you have an event, everybody who is FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
17
2018 PRIME SITE AWARD BALLOT Name of Prime Site Award Nominee(s): __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
Booking agents, promoters, talent buyers and special event planners:
VOTE
for the top Entertainment Venues (Arenas, Theaters, Stadiums; facilities you have booked in the last three years)
__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Name, Title:_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Organization:______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Phone:____________________________________________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________________________________ Describe the Event __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA WHEN VOTING: ● LOCATION/MARKET ● FLEXIBILITY ● SEATING CONFIGURATIONS ● TICKETING ● LIGHTING, SOUND, STAGING ● FOOD & BEVERAGE ● INTERACTION WITH VENUE STAFF ● DRESSING ROOMS, BACKSTAGE ● ACCESS/EGRESS ● PROMOTION/ MARKETING
Name of Prime Site Award Nominee(s): __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Name, Title:_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Organization:______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Phone:____________________________________________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________________________________ Describe the Event __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ May we contact you? Yes____ No____ Please Fill Out Form & Mail Your Vote To:
Facilities Media Group
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FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
A New Era for Live Events at Arkansas State University
First National Bank Arena sets the stage for growth in 2018 and beyond
A
By George Seli
will provide additional rkansas State momentum … to further University’s “It’s really important develop the reputation of Convocation the arena to host nationally Center that we understand recognized and soughtmarked a that this is still a after exhibits, events and “first” last business for promoters, concerts.” Director of October with the agreement Athletics Terry Mohajir, to rename the facility First agents and artists. who personally worked on National Bank Arena. The So we want to be the naming rights agreement, Arkansas-based bank made a good business partners.” similarly feels that the $5 million contribution to the —Jim Brown, CFE, Director, First National Bank Arena affiliation with First National Red Wolves Foundation, and Bank will give the arena became the first donor of any “new opportunities to attract kind to have naming rights to events. It will also help rebrand our athletics department and the arena since it opened in 1987. The naming rights became our teams that play in it.” effective Jan. 1, and extend through the next 12 years. Also lending new life to the arena is the approximately $5 Several university leaders expect the new identity will be million that was spent on renovations over the last six years. a boon to A-State and to the arena, one of the most versatile “We put in new videoboards, retractable chair-back seats and in the state. “One of the great strengths of our university a new floor, renovated our locker rooms and redid our roof,” and region is the way they come together to support each Mohajir explains. “I think we’re in good shape.” other. First National Bank is one of our leading corporate A multipurpose venue, First National Bank Arena seats citizens, and the naming allows us to combine to the benefit 10,252 for concerts (up to 11,209 for concerts in the round) of all,” notes Dr. Kelly Damphousse, A-State Chancellor. and 10,038 for basketball games. The facility includes a According to Dr. Len Frey, Vice Chancellor for Finance 33,000-sq.-ft. arena floor and 30,000-sq.-ft. mezzanine area. and Administration, “Having a named center will enhance “In Eastern Arkansas from Little Rock over to Memphis, the visibility and credibility of our venue. The naming FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
19
Luke Bryan (Feb. 18, 2017) and Brad Paisley (below; Jan. 21, 2016) perform at the arena.
it’s the largest facility [of its kind],” says Mohajir. “It’s really multifaceted. You can do volleyball, indoor track & field, pole vault, monster trucks, rodeos, black-tie events and more.” The arena can accommodate three basketball courts, seven volleyball courts, one tennis court, or a seven-lane, 200-meter indoor track. Back-of-house facilities include four dressing rooms, four team dressing rooms and a production office with dedicated phone lines.
A DYNAMIC NEW DIRECTOR
Together with its new identity, the arena welcomed a new leader going into 2018. Last October saw the appointment of Jim Brown, CFE, as Director. A 25-year veteran of public facility management, Brown previously served as Executive Director of the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University, in Dayton, OH. His transition into the new position has been smooth for a couple of reasons. First, “there are many similarities between [First National Bank Arena and the Nutter Center]: both are on campuses of state universities, and the capacities are very similar in general. Both have an excellent, qualified staff,” he explains. Second is the fact that “the people are very hospitable down here, [as is] the campus administration. The athletic director is very open and receptive.” Brown recalls several highlights of his tenure at the Nutter Center. “One was a Wright State fundraising campaign where they had a kickoff reception in our facility. The closing reception featured Tom Hanks because there was 20
a building on campus named after Mr. Hanks, so that was a pretty high-caliber event for the university to host. Obviously, we’ve hosted presidential candidates throughout the years. And during the last couple years before I left, we had a lot of iconic Hall of Fame performers, such as the Eagles and Elton John.” “Jim’s proven success in booking a number of top acts in the entertainment industry was compelling in our decision to appoint him as the Director of First National Bank Arena,” Frey comments. “I was equally impressed that he had strengthened the relationship between the Nutter Center and the university and business communities. He is a proven, highly respected leader in the field, as demonstrated by his leadership roles in a number of professional organizations (specifically IAVM). FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Dr. Kelly Damphousse (top), ASU Chancellor, and Terry Mohajir, Director of Athletics. Rascal Flatts concert, Sept. 22, 2016 (background)
“The naming will provide additional momentum . . . to further develop the reputation of the center to host nationally recognized and sought-after exhibits, events and concerts.” —Dr. Len Frey, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Arkansas State University I am confident that his professional relationship with several individuals affiliated with leading entertainment companies and concert promoters will result in our facility hosting highquality and high-demand shows and events.” “I see a lot of potential here to continue to enhance [the arena’s business] with the promoter, agent and artist relationships that I developed in Dayton,” says Brown, citing Live Nation, Feld Entertainment, Police Productions, Nederlander Concerts, NS2, Outback Concerts, AEG, Red Mountain Entertainment, Harlem Globetrotters, Awakening Events, WWE as well as agencies like CAA and William Morris Entertainment (WME). Brown has also developed a longstanding partnership with Venue Coalition. “We’ve known and worked with Jim Brown for a number of years when he was up in Dayton,” says Jeff Apregan, President of Venue Coalition. “We’re especially pleased to continue working with Jim to bring exciting new events to the First National Bank Arena.” While Verizon Wireless Arena in Little Rock and FedEx Forum in Memphis handle their share of major live events in the region, “there are more acts out there than there are facilities, so it’s about putting the right deal together,” Brown says. “And I think the market is starving for some big-name entertainment as well.” FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
The end result of the new booking initiatives will not only be an economic benefit to A-State, but also to the surrounding community. “Three years ago, economic impact studies done by the Delta Center revealed that First National Bank Arena is the single largest driver of tourism and entertainment dollars in our area,” notes Damphousse. “Even so, we knew that the arena has the potential to significantly increase that impact with the right mix of new events and the enhancement of longtime regular events. We’re looking forward to where Jim can help us with that expansion.”
PROMOTER, AGENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Relationships are a key part of Brown’s plan to enhance the arena’s existing success. “The way we do business in the industry now has changed [compared to] 30 years ago, and there are a variety of factors that come into play, such as technology and social media. But I think it’s really important that we understand that this is still a business for promoters, agents and artists. So we want to be good business partners. They’ve done a good job over the years here. Let’s take it to the next level.” Establishing and maintaining strong community ties is another of Brown’s fortes. According to Frey, “He has a proven track-record in event management as well as in civic and community leadership, which will translate into improved relationships with Jonesboro and the Northeast Arkansas community.” Brown explains, “I believe no matter what community you’re in, you should get involved. The community has so much to offer us as individuals, so why don’t we contribute back to them? Sort of like what President Kennedy said: Ask not what your community can do for you, but what you can do for your community (he used the word ‘country,’ obviously). So we want to be an economic enhancer, and a quality-of-life enhancer.” As Mohajir remarks, the combination of a new name and new director will “infuse new life into this facility.” With Brown’s emphasis on community involvement and the economic impact of bringing more top-tier acts to First National Bank Arena, new life will be infused into Jonesboro as well. 21
CVB ROUNDTABLE
ON THE AGENDA: SPORTS MARKET How CVBs are catering to sports groups around the country Roy Edmondson , Vice President, Sports Development, Visit Anaheim Shelli Fine, Director of Sports Development, Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority Daniel Gallagher, National Sales Manager, Meet AC
F
By Gabriella Davino
or convention and visitors bureaus, the sports Fine: WiFi capability. We have recently added bigger pipes for industry represents a growing business opportunity. the Internet in all the buildings. The Reno Convention Center By targeting sports groups in their marketing and spent $1.1 million on upgrading the Internet so that 25,000 peosales efforts, many CVBs have bolstered their annual ple could be online at one time. The eGaming phenomenon is revenue as well as the tourism numbers for the cities on the rise, and the pipeline requirements for that are immense. they represent. Visit Anaheim is a case in point. “With the launch of Sports Anaheim, the sports division of Visit Anaheim, Edmondson: The explosive rise in esports is undeniable. We we have seen Anaheim’s traditional sports business grow 300 foresee this soon-to-be billion-dollar industry to become one of the largest growth areas in sports for the next few years. percent over last three years,” notes Roy Edmondson, VP of Sports Development for the CVB. In the discussion SPORTS BUSINESS that follows, Edmondson he explosive rise in esports GROWTH and two industry peers Gallagher: The Atlanis undeniable. We foresee highlight developments tic City Sports Comin the sports market and mission was formed this soon-to-be billion-dollar how their CVBs cater to Jan. 13, 2015 as a 501(c) industry to become one of the event organizers in that (3) organization with largest growth areas in sports segment. the support of Meet AC and the Casino Reinfor the next few years.” NEW TRENDS IN vestment Development —Roy Edmondson THE INDUSTRY Authority (CRDA) to Gallagher: One of the attract sporting events, biggest trends in the conventions and sports world is Stay-to-Play [the practice of requiring event parcompetitions to Atlantic City. Hosting TEAMS ‘16 Conference ticipants to stay in a “tournament-approved” hotel]. This concept, & Expo, an industry event with 1,500 sports rights holders in which sometimes can be viewed as controversial, mitigates a lot of Atlantic City, has certainly grown our footprint. The Atlantic risk for the event organizer when they go to contract their sleeping City Sports Commission has come a long way in its two-year rooms. This is especially important when the event organizer has infancy, attracting sports of various disciplines and sizes and arranged a rebate or commission with the property as a revenue that are of the highest caliber of competition. We believe that stream to reduce costs to host the event. this trend will only grow as the Atlantic City Sports Commission establishes itself in the Northeast.
“T
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“Throughout the
2008 recession, our sports business stayed strong.”
—Shelli Fine
Fine: Throughout the 2008 recession, our sports business stayed strong. We have many outdoor venues as well as a half millionsq.-ft. Convention Center. This has grown our indoor sports tremendously. From martial arts to volleyball, we can host almost any indoor sporting event. We also host the D League Basketball team (now known as the G League) and Reno Livestock events. Edmondson: With the launch of Sports Anaheim, we have seen Anaheim’s traditional sports business grow 300 percent over last three years. Our organizational commitment to focus resources into the sports industry, coupled with our prime location and attractive destination infrastructure assets, situate Anaheim as the ideal place for sports events. RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS Gallagher: We recently hosted the TEAMS ‘16 Conference & Expo, IRONMAN 70.3, Pro Watercross, National Xball League, the Progressive AC Boat Show, Red Bull Global Rallycross and the Jersey Surfside Festival, which is an indoor volleyball tournament. Fine: We most recently hosted a national baseball event called Athletx, where 110 baseball teams from all over the U.S. come here for the weeklong event. A few of our upcoming events are Jam On It, a 1,000-team basketball tournament and the largest basketball tournament in the nation; a dragon boat event where 20 paddlers ride across the Sparks Marina in a boat the shape of a dragon; and the USA Cyclocross Championship, where we host 2,000 athletes around the U.S. to participate in a steeplechase of cycling, mountain biking and road biking. Edmondson: In a five-month window, we have or will host USA Water Polo Junior Olympics, US Open Badminton Championships (35 countries participating), 2017 P&G Gymnastics Championships, USA Women’s Volleyball Cup – USA vs. Brazil, US Fencing North American Cup, CCA Division II Basketball’s Annual Tip-Off Classic Tournament, Wooden Legacy and IWF World Weightlifting Championship. Los Angeles was awarded the Olympics in 2028, and Anaheim looks forward to working with organizers. MARKETING TECHNIQUES Gallagher: Sports trade publications, attending sports tradeshows/conferences, site tours, social media. When you invite FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
potential clients to your destination for a site visit or FAM, it helps tremendously to sell the destination. Edmondson: There are several methods we use to attract sporting events. Most notably, we attend several tradeshows through the year to continue to nurture our longtime relationships with event organizers as well as forge new ones. CLIENT INCENTIVES Gallagher: We understand that when it comes to sports, you are competing with cities all over the country to win that piece of business. With that being said, we want to make sure that our customers and clients understand that we truly appreciate their business. This includes making sure they feel welcome through our Welcome Program, giving them the appropriate information so that they can have a successful event, and providing any additional support needed to assist in their process. “One and done’s” aren’t good for anyone, so we go above and beyond to make sure that is never the outcome. Edmondson: We offer incentives based on a number of factors, such as time of year, the size of group and media exposure.
“Stay-to-Play
mitigates a lot of risk for the event organizer when they go to contract their sleeping rooms.”
—Daniel Gallagher
DESTINATION APPEAL Gallagher: We have several dynamic meeting venues, including the Atlantic City Convention Center, Boardwalk Hall, Bader Field and the Boardwalk, along with our gaming and non-gaming properties. [Editor’s note: The convention center’s nearly half million sq. ft. of exhibit space works well for many types of indoor sporting events.] Fine: Because we are a small city, we are easily accessible for events such as the Duathlon; I spoke directly to the police chief to close off the roads. And we can host thousands of people in our large hotels, which have 1,700-2,000 rooms in each [16,000 total guestrooms]. Edmondson: Anaheim is in the center of Southern California, with 320-plus days of sunshine per year. Participants are housed in a safe and walkable campus-style setting, with over 20,000 hotel rooms in the Anaheim Resort district and four airports within a short driving distance. 23
SPOTLIGHT
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw brought their Soul2Soul tour to Bell MTS Place on June 7, 2017
Canada
The Great White North is a hot market for touring acts
W
By Anthony Bilden
hen it comes to live entertainment, Canada brings audiences far more than ice hockey. Some of today’s top-selling acts — from Justin Bieber and P!nk to Rod Stewart and Bon Jovi — are making stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and other vibrant markets. Country is also a strong seller, as Geoff Tanizawa, General Manager with Lethbridge, Alberta-based Sakamoto Agency, attests (see sidebar, page 29). It’s no surprise, then, that Elton John’s management routed his recently announced Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour through several Canadian venues. John, 70, said he is retiring from the road to spend more time with his family, and will be going out “with a bang” — a three-year global tour reaching nearly 50 venues. The North American leg will bring the iconic pianist to Toronto (Sept. 25-26, Air Canada Centre), Ottawa (Sept. 28, Canadian Tire Centre), Quebec City (Sept. 29, Videotron Centre) and Montreal (Oct. 4, Bell Centre). An over-the-top act like Elton John is a natural fit for a mega-market like Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America behind Mexico City, New York City and Los Angeles. But that same market also has a history of smaller-scale cultural performances at the Elgin and Winter Garden
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Theatre Centre, opened in 1913 as a vaudeville venue. Today, this pair of venues continues to bring Toronto’s audiences the finest in theater and opera, such as Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses upcoming in April. Following is a selection of major Canadian entertainment venues that have established the country as a “must play” for many of today’s foremost touring acts.
AIR CANADA CENTRE Toronto, Ontario aircanadacentre.com
Built on the site of the Canada Post Delivery Building, the Air Canada Centre held its opening hockey game, basketball game and concert on Feb. 20, 21 and 22, 1999, respectively. Owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the arena is home to the Maple Leafs and Raptors. MLSE has prioritized sustainability at the arena, establishing a committee to reduce the environmental footprint. Initiatives include utilizing deep-lake cooling, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, recycled paper products and reverse-osmosis filtration for the ice. Upcoming concerts and events at Air Canada Centre include Justin Timberlake (March 13, 15), Demi Lovato and DJ Khaled (March 19), P!nk (March 20, 21), Lorde (March 29), Bon Jovi (May 12) and Daryl Hall & John Oates and Train (June 5). FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Air Canada Centre
and dialects are spoken in Toronto.
BC PLACE STADIUM
Vancouver, British Columbia bcplace.com
CAPACITY: Hockey, 20,614; basketball, 21,870; various concert configurations available. STAGING: Configurable; roughly 48 ft. by 72 ft. by 7 ft. high maximum. Rolling and skirted, with steps and railings. SOUND/LIGHTING: Under-fill delay speakers timed to touring/event producer main PA. Six follow-spot fixtures: Strong Gladiator III, 3000W Zenon.
Since opening in 1983, BC Place has welcomed more than 30 million people and hosted historic events such as visits from Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and the world’s largest 10km race: the Vancouver Sun Run. The largest multipurpose venue of its kind in British Columbia, BC Place
Chris Martin of Coldplay, Sept. 29, 2017, at BC Place Stadium
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Twelve dressing rooms that can be used for offices and green room. Loading dock accommodates four trucks. Ten busses can park onsite. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Thirty-three concession stands, five onsite restaurants. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: A multitude of VIP viewing areas included in restaurants. Air Canada Club features an open side of the restaurant for directly viewing into the bowl, open for concerts, hockey and basketball. Platinum Club is members-only for Leafs and Raptors; Hot Stove Club is open to all fans with valid event tickets. The venue is also linked to Toronto’ Union station, the main hub for bus, streetcar and subway service. EVENT PROMOTION: Air Canada Centre has an in-house marketing and promotions team dedicated to concerts and special events. This includes one marketing manager, one marketing coordinator and one community manager. This team is able to act on behalf of the promoter to build a localized marketing plan and leverage preferred marketing rates. MLSE also owns a number of displays throughout the city that will run show listings at no charge as a part of an extensive internal asset marketing package. MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS: The Greater Toronto Area has a regional population of approximately six million. Famous for its diversity, Toronto may be the world’s most global city, with 50 percent of the population born outside of Canada. Some 130 languages FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
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is home to the BC Lions Football Club, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. In June 2013, BC Place celebrated its 30th anniversary by inviting British Columbians to share their favorite memories from events at the stadium over the last three decades. Memories included visiting the original construction site in 1982 and seeing Michael Jackson live in concert.
Bell MTS Place
CAPACITY: 54,500; 27,000 in lowerbowl configuration. AUDIOVISUAL: State-of-the-art sound system designed with 12 individually adjustable speaker arrays. Sports/field of play lighting meets requirements for HD television broadcast. Four-sided, centerhung videoboard may be raised to the roof or lowered to the ground, depending on event or game requirements. Two sideline center-hung videoscreens measure 68 ft.-by-38 ft. each, displaying HD quality. There are 1,150 digital screens integrated with customizable Stadiumvision control system. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Two home team dressing rooms (Vancouver Whitecaps FC and BC Lions), two visitors dressing rooms, dedicated VIP and/or officials’ locker room. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Seventy-six F&B concessions, two premium lounges, one premium club section, 55 private suites, four catered banquet rooms, one food court, 400 points of sale with specialty food options including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-friendly options. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: There are 800 Wi-Fi points throughout the venue. Upgraded, wider stadium seats are approximately 22 inches wide. Fifty private suites each feature two 55-in. LCD TVs, a private in-suite speaker system, climate control and a dedicated host. EVENT PROMOTION: BC Place works with clients to design customized marketing plans for every event. LOCAL AREA: Vancouver is conveniently located on the beautiful West coast of Canada, and is well connected to major destinations through the award-winning YVR Airport. Metro Vancouver currently has more than 24,000 hotel rooms, around 13,000 of which are within walking distance of the stadium. MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS: The population of British Columbia, with approximately 4.6 million residents, continues to grow in its size and cultural diversity. Residents are passionate about sports and enthusiastically support their teams and visiting entertainers. 26
BELL MTS PLACE Winnipeg, Manitoba bellmtsplace.ca
Owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment, Bell MTS Place is home to the NHL Winnipeg Jets and the AHL Manitoba Moose. Last May, the downtown arena was renamed after 13 years as MTS Centre, resulting from Bell Canada’s acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS). Upcoming concerts and events include Brantley Gilbert (March 6), Disney On Ice (March 8-11), Jeff Dunham (March 21), Rod Stewart (April 3), Steve Miller Band (April 24), Stars On Ice (May 9) and Slayer (May 22). CAPACITY: Configurations range from 3,500 to 15,000. STAGING: Valhoffer stage, up to 72 ft. by 48 ft. by 6 ft. high, with additional stage pieces and railings available upon request. LIGHTING: Standard arena house lighting as well as six Zenon 2K supertroopers. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four artist rooms, five team rooms, tour catering areas, offices. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Catering by Centerplate. A variety of onsite eateries, including Gourmet Burger, Tim Hortons, Bella Pasta, the Exchange Restaurant & Beer Market, Observation Deck and the Tower, a premium dining spot on the southwest balcony. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: Newly renovated Jets Gear store at the corner of Portage and Hargrave. LOCAL AREA: Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, a province of 1.1 million+. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
lighting; 10 Lycian M2 long throw 2,500-watt spotlights; EAW four eight-cluster system with automated signal processing; Cisco Stadium Vision 700 high-definition TVs. Four LED high-definition, 21 ft.-wide-by-16 ft.-high videoscreens with 6mm dot pitch. 360-ft. power ring video board on 200-level balcony face. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Three pro locker rooms, five star talent rooms, two utility TV production rooms and five loading bays, three with adjustable dock levelers. Canadian Tire Centre
CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE Ottawa, Ontario canadiantirecentre.com
Canadian Tire Centre opened in 1996 as The Palladium with a concert by Bryan Adams. The home to the Ottawa Senators became Scotiabank Place in 2006 and acquired its current name in 2013 following an eight-year deal with Canadian Tire. Among many memorable hockey highlights, the arena hosted Wayne Gretzky’s final game in 1999 and the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. Upcoming concerts include Carlos Santana (March 18), Harlem Globetrotters (April 7), Monster Spectacular (June 9), Shania Twain (June 25), Cirque du Soleil (June 27July 1), Bon Jovi (May 7) and Elton John (Sept. 28). CAPACITY: Twenty-six different configurations are able to accommodate from 3,000 to 20,000 guests. Half-house curtain 300 ft. by 65 ft. high (21 panels). Full 300-level seat masking curtain. STAGING: House staging maximum 72 ft. wide by 48 ft. deep, from 48 in. to 78 in. high AUDIOVISUAL: Ephesus LED 300- and 600-watt arena FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
FOOD & BEVERAGE: Canadian Tire Centre’s Executive Chef, Greg Ryall, has a distinguished career that includes culinary positions at Manoir Richelieu in Charlevoix, Quebec; Delta Pinestone Resort in Haliburton, Ontario; and the Crowne Plaza in Ottawa. Most recently, he served as executive sous chef at Ottawa’s Shaw Centre. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: 100-level VIP Club with private entrance and concierge, including three different seating categories: Victory Suites, loge seats and luxe seats. 200-level VIP Club with concourse access VIP seats and open bar area for all guests. There are approximately 6,700 parking spaces in nine different lots onsite.
THE ELGIN AND WINTER GARDEN THEATRE CENTRE Toronto, ON heritagetrust.on.ca/ewg
The Elgin Theatre opened in 1913 as Loew’s Yonge Street Theatre. The rooftop Winter Garden Theatre opened about a year later. In more recent times, the venue has undergone several changes and upgrades. In 1978, the Yonge Street Theatre was renamed the Elgin, and in 1981 The Ontario Heritage Trust purchases the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres to restore them for use as a performing arts complex. Completed in the late 1980s, the restoration implemented an architectural style that linked the nickelodeon, vaudeville and movie palace eras. The project also added 65,000 sq. ft. of new space that included cascading lobbies, dressing rooms, loading docks, rehearsal halls and other facilities for contemporary theater use. In 1995, a new marquee — reminiscent of the 1913 original — was installed, and in 2011 the terracotta façade and three arched windows overlooking Yonge Street were restored. In 2013-2014, The 27
MERIDIAN CENTRE
St. Catharines, ON meridiancentre.com
Built in 2014, Meridian Centre is home to the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League and the Niagara River Lions of the National Basketball League of Canada. In 2017, Meridian Centre attracted 846,248 spectators. The arena offers superior sightlines in an intimate setting. Upcoming events include the Johnny Reid Revival Live (April 7), Harlem Globetrotters (April 17) and the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship (June 9-16). CAPACITY: 5,300 seats for hockey, 6,500 seats in the round.
The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre celebrated its 100th anniversary. CAPACITY: Elgin Theatre, 1,561. Winter Garden Theatre, 992. Reception lobbies accommodate up to 900 guests. STAGING: The Elgin Theatre: Proscenium opening, 39 ft. 2 in. wide by 25 ft. high; stage depth, 29 ft. 9 in.; stage height: 3 ft. 7 in. The Winter Garden Theatre: Proscenium opening, 36 ft. 8 in. wide by 20 ft. high; stage depth, 22 ft. 7 in.; stage height: 3 ft. 4 in. RIGGING: The Elgin Theatre: Double purchase counterweight system. The Winter Garden Theatre: Combination hydraulic/hemp system. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Dressing rooms, stage management offices, crew rooms, wardrobe rooms, rehearsal studios, kitchen FOOD & BEVERAGE: Catering services are provided by approved caterers who rank among Toronto’s finest: à la Carte Kitchen Inc., Daniel et Daniel Event Creation & Catering, enVille Event Design & Catering and L-Eat Catering. LOCAL AREA: The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, near restaurants, hotels, shopping and public transit. Major area hotels include Chelsea Hotel, Pantages, Bond Place and Marriott Eaton Centre. 28
STAGING: Stage Right staging; performance stage with max setup of 40 ft. deep by 60 ft. wide by 4 ft.–5 ft. tall. Movable curtain for multiple cut-down modes. Fully accessible catwalk and fall arrest system. AUDIOVISUAL: Eight Super Trouper Spotlights in house. In the Club Lounge, there are four spotlight locations; there are also two fixed locations in the East side (AV Room) and two fixed in the West Side (Press Box room). Daktronics four-sided multi sport scoring and video center-hung display (12 ft. high by 17 ft. wide). The main PA system consists of 16 professional high-performance speakers hung from the ceiling structure and mounted around the perimeter of the rink, to provide even audio coverage to the audience. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Two star dressing rooms, one green room, one production office, one crew catering room, six dressing rooms FOOD & BEVERAGE: The Meridian Centre has five main concession stands, each selling unique and local items. A host of portable units offer items such healthy Buddha Bowls and craft beer. Chef prepares fresh specials using local produce wherever possible, such as peppers grown on the venue’s rooftop garden. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: Club seating (231 seats). Twentyfive owned suites with potential for four rental suites depending on venue configuration. EVENT PROMOTION: The Marketing team at the Meridian Centre can assist promoters with full ad buys and has relationships within the community to create grassroots promotional campaigns. The Meridian Centre has over 30,000 subscribers FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
in its email database and significant following on all social platforms. The venue works closely with radio partners in the community to create targeted campaigns. The marketing staff works with the sports tenants in the building as well as outside partners such as the Canadian Automobile Association to create targeted emails and offers to diverse audiences. LOCAL AREA: The Niagara region has a population of 443,888 and represents the sixth largest CMA provincially, and 12th nationally.
Geoff Tanizawa General Manager Sakamoto Agency
Sakamoto Agency represents a roster of Canadian country artists and offers a variety of event services, such as talent procurement, onsite production and marketing. A 25-year industry veteran, Geoff Tanizawa has mainly worked in Western Canada, and only in the past few years has spread out past Manitoba. His first show at the Meridian Centre was in March 2016. What artists have you recently booked at the Meridian Centre? Johnny Reid in 2016 and Old Dominion in 2017. And we are bringing Johnny Reid back in 2018. Do you consider St. Catharines one of the primary routing stops in Ontario? It all depends on the genre of the music and how well it
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Meridian Centre Director of Marketing Kay Meilleur and Elton John at his sold-out show on Nov. 15, 2017 MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS: The average age is 44. The area is home to both Brock University and Niagara College.
will sell. Unfortunately, with so many other arenas within a couple of hours’ drive (for example, Toronto, Hamilton and London), you are drawing from the same population base, so you need to be careful not to over extend and cannibalize your own ticket sales. Does the local market especially favor certain types of live events or musical genres? We have found country does well, but any great live concert will bring out the fans. Can you highlight any physical features of the Meridian Centre that you believe set it apart? Every building has its plus and minuses. Unfortunately, there is not one feature that makes it stand apart from other venues that are the same age and capacity. But the one thing that I really enjoy about the venue is their team. Please relate an example of how that team has gone the extra mile for you. One thing they have done for me is instead of typical artist dressing room signs, they make these big posters (either of the artist’s album or distinct artwork) that they put up on the artist’s dressing room door. I have never seen this done at any other facility. 29
ONTARIO
THE ELGIN AND WINTER GARDEN THEATrE CENTRE HISTORY: Toronto’s historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is a Canadian national historic site and the last operating double-decker vaudevilleera theater in the world. Originally built in 1913 by Marcus Loew, it contains two distinct and unique theaters, one sitting atop the other. Both theaters operated together for 14 years, but with the coming of “talkies,” the Winter Garden closed its doors in 1928 and remained boarded up for more than 60 years. RESTORATION: The ensuing years brought many changes to the building, but it gradually fell into disrepair. It was purchased by the Ontario Heritage Trust in 1981 and underwent a major restoration between 1987 and 1989 at a cost of $29 million (Cdn). A total of 65,000 sq. ft. of new space was added, including ample lobbies, lounges and an eight-story backstage addition housing spacious dressing rooms, crew rooms, a loading dock, freight elevator and two enormous rehearsal studios. The Elgin now sparkles with its gilded plaster details, rich damask wall coverings and domed ceiling. The Winter Garden Theatre, with its canopy of 5,000 branches of real beech leaves, painted sky and lit moon, is a dream fantasy come to life. The 1,561-seat Elgin and the 992-seat Winter Garden can operate simultaneously with services to patrons in the six separate bars and adjoining lounges. RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES: A multi-use complex, the center is able to accommodate a diverse range of presentations and events. The building can host live performances including everything from musicals, dramas, comedies, dance and opera to concerts, lectures, book signings and television broadcasts. The center also hosts film premieres complete with red carpet ceremonies as well as corporate and special events, one-night presentations and long-running engagements. Thanks to its meticulous restoration, combined with modern technologies and patron amenities, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre is a perfect venue for any presentation and ensures an enjoyable experience for patrons and performers alike.
189 Yonge Street Toronto, ON (416) 325-4144 heritagetrust.on.ca/ewg
Musicals | Dramas Concerts | Film Premières Town Halls | Product Launches
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FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
INDIANA
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
T
he Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana is now more 1,000,000 sq. ft. under one roof and has welcomed at least one million visitors annually for 27 consecutive years. It is one of a few facilities in the United States that can feature two arenas, connected by a shared lobby. The Coliseum Arena has a seating capacity of nearly 13,000 with newly renovated deluxe suites and club seats, while the multipurpose 108,000-sq.-ft. Expo Center has a potential seating capacity of 8,000. Located in Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne is the state’s second largest city and the Memorial Coliseum is the state’s second largest public assembly facility. Easily accessible from major Midwest markets, such as Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus and Cincinnati, the market offers affordable local media and easy, convenient routing for touring productions and events.
Arena
The Coliseum Arena is home to the Komets (ECHL) and the Mad Ants (NBA G-League) and annually hosts major concerts and family show events. A new four-sided, center-hung, high-definition video scoreboard and new LED ribbon boards are being installed in the summer of 2018. The arena features a custom curtaining system to reduce capacity when needed. Updated concourses and restrooms provide a modern feel. New and expanded concession areas offer a great variety of food and beverage options to guests.
Expo Center
The Coliseum Expo Center is 152,000 sq. ft. of multipurpose space with two portable walls and portable telescopic seating units. The main Expo Center room can be used in its entirety of 108,000 sq. ft. or in smaller increments. Ample loading docks and drive-through bays facilitate easy load-in and load-out for sports, concerts, trade and consumer shows.
4000 Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 482-9502 memorialcoliseum.com
Conference Center
The new, 50,000-sq.-ft. Conference Center includes 27,155 sq. ft. of multipurpose, carpeted event space that can be divided into five smaller spaces with portable walls. The luxurious prefunction lobby space and the state-of-the-art CREATE Tasting Kitchen provide an impressive venue for banquets, corporate meetings, tradeshows and other events. Built-in screens, projectors and intelligent LED lighting make audiovisual planning easy and convenient. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
31
ARIZONA
Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium
TIM TRUMBLE
A
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack
500 East Veterans Way Tempe, AZ 85287 (480) 965-2381 thesundevils.com 32
rizona State University is turning to an experienced leader of high-profile events to lead the effort to transform Sun Devil Stadium into a cultural hub available for use year round. As the stadium renovation project continues, President Michael Crow has named Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, ASU Vice President for Cultural Affairs and Executive Director of ASU Gammage, to lead the new Sun Devil Stadium into the future. Sun Devil Stadium has a proud history of being a premier venue for athletic events as well as a destination for worldclass entertainment. ASU’s goal is to recreate the concept of a football stadium and will introduce its innovative concept of the ASU Community Union. The revolutionary 365-day-a-year Community Union will set ASU apart as visionaries by converting a football stadium with a 2 percent utilization rate into Community Union, with the capacity to serve more than 10,000 stakeholders a day. The ASU Community Union will be a place where diversity and community are celebrated. It will be a place for students, staff and community members to eat, play, learn, connect, build relationships, create and innovate. Sun Devil Stadium has seen sold-out rock concerts, a Papal visit and many local events in the past, but in recent years it has been utilized almost exclusively on game days. Jennings-Roggensack said that the reinvented Sun Devil Stadium will host a variety of community and university engagements. “We want Sun Devil Stadium and the Community Union to weave together athletics, student life and the vibrant community that surrounds ASU,” she said. “The stadium-betweenthe-buttes can play host to competitions and celebrations of academics, the arts and community success. The stadium will be infused with life and learning as never before.” Sun Devil Stadium was constructed in 1958 and has played host to the Super Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and NFL games. Sun Devil Stadium was also featured in the Rolling Stones concert film Let’s Spend the Night Together and in U2: Rattle Hum as well as several movies, including the Oscar-nominated Jerry Maguire. In addition to her responsibilities at ASU Gammage, Jennings-Roggensack co-chaired the 2004 presidential debate at ASU, served as a Super Bowl XXX vice-chair, is a current Tony Awards voter and has held a host of leadership roles in local and national civic and arts organizations. “Sun Devil Stadium will always be known as a venue for elite student athletes and a high-caliber football program,” said Ray Anderson, ASU Vice President for University Athletics and Athletics Director. “The process of reconstructing this iconic gathering place for Sun Devils of all generations has opened our minds to the potential for this space to be reinvented in such a way as to serve as a resource for students, alumni and community activities when this real estate is not being used for football. Sun Devil Stadium can be an asset for much more than just football games.” Sun Devil Stadium is currently booking events for 2019 and beyond. For more information, please contact Victor Hamburger at (480) 965-1889 or victor.hamburger@asu.edu. FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
WELLS FARGO ARENA - 10,000 SEATS +
Phoenix Metro’s
Best Location
For events big and small, ASU Gammage has a venue that’s just right for your needs! SUN DEVIL STADIUM
ASU GAMMAGE - 2,800 SEATS +
For information about ASU Gammage, contact 480.965.1749
For information about Sun Devil Stadium, contact 480.965.1889
NORTH CAROLINA
CABARRUS ARENA & EVENTS CENTER
The Cabarrus Arena & Events Center is the region’s newest and most innovative exhibition center offering a flexible floor plan and state-of-the-art features. With the 5,000 seat arena, in excess of 150,000 square feet of temperature controlled event space and an 11-acre lawn, the Cabarrus Arena offers more meeting, banquet and exhibition options than any other facility in Cabarrus County. Situated in Concord, North Carolina, the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center is in the heart of an area rich with colorful history and a tapestry of both the old and the new. The facility is only moments away from the historic downtown district, with its stately antebellum homes and specialty shops, and only minutes form the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills, the most visited tourist attraction in the state of North Carolina.
4751 HIGHWAY 49 NORTH CONCORD, NC 28025 (704) 920-3976 CABARRUSARENA.COM For booking information call: Debbie Shields (704) 920-3988 dshields@cabarrusarena.com Kenny Robinson (704) 920-3986 klrobinson@cabarrusarena.com
Just a few laid-back miles from Charlotte and worlds away from the hassle of the city.
34
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Be Impressed 4,500 capacity arena 2,500 capacity outdoor covered pavilion 2,090 seat performing arts theatre
300 N. THOMAS ST. • ATHENS, GA • CLASSICCENTER.COM • 706.208.0900
PUERTO RICO
You
checked us out…
Ten years have passed since you first checked us out and liked what you saw. Now, the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot is the most acclaimed arena in the Caribbean. We offer world-class facilities and a team that cares about every detail of each event.
We are your Tropical venue of choice for a variety of concerts, major sporting events and acclaimed theatrical presentations; all because we have one goal: to provide an amazing experience on each and every event keeping our clients adrenaline always raising. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary we are proud of our passion and the enthusiasm we provoke in all of our visitors. We thank our staff for 10 years of emotions and our clients and collaborators for making the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot a Prime Site Facility.
10 The Coliseo Team is proud of creating great moments and experiences for all our guests.
36
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
RHODE ISLAND
Dunkin’ Donuts Center
P
rovidence mixes the urban sophistication of a big city with the graceful charm of a small town. At the heart of Providence’s bustling downtown is the Dunkin’ Donuts Center (DDC), part of the Rhode Island Convention Center & Entertainment Complex, which also includes the Rhode Island Convention Center (RICC) and The VETS. The 14,000-seat DDC offers 31,000 sq. ft. of arena space with a ceiling height of 86 feet, a 25,000-sq. ft. concourse, a 9,000-sq.-ft. lobby, 20 luxury suites and five additional meeting/hospitality rooms. Other amenities include a pedestrian bridge connecting the arena to the RICC, a state-of-the-art video scoreboard, as well as concessions and restaurant facilities. There are 5,500 hotel rooms in the Greater Providence area, 1,800 located within walking distance of the Center. The Center’s Marketing Department staff is comprised of advertising, marketing and public relations specialists, who in turn operate a full-service in-house agency. This in-house agency affords complete professional coordination of event marketing campaigns including advertising production and placement, media and retail promotions, sponsorships, public relations and publicity. Providence is known for its thriving arts scene and is recognized as one of the nation’s hottest culinary destinations. There are nine colleges and universities located in the Providence market, most of which are within a five-mile radius of the Center — Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, RI School of Design and Providence College, just to name a few. The students at these local colleges and universities add to the diverse population of the city.
One LaSalle Square Providence, RI 02903 (401) 331-0700 (401) 621-5987 dunkindonutscenter.com
Contacts: Cheryl Cohen, Director of Booking (p) 401.331.0700 ext.7123 (e) ccohen@dunkindonutscenter.com FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Debra Polselli, Booking Assistant (p) 401.331.0700 ext.7112 (e) dpolselli@dunkindonutscenter.com
37
NEVADA
T-Mobile Arena
T
he opening of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas heralded a new era of top-notch sports and entertainment for the city. Not only will the sleek arena play host to the newly arrived National Hockey League team, the Vegas Golden Knights, but it’s also drawn headliners such as Kanye West and Guns N’ Roses, major events like the Billboard Music Awards, sold-out college basketball matchups and record-breaking UFC and boxing fights. And 2017’s calendar is packed with even more can’t-miss events. The largest arena in Las Vegas, the $375 million venue had already booked 77 major events before it opened in April 2016. The Las Vegas Review-Journal called the arena’s opening one of the biggest business stories of the year.
• Basketball – 18,000 capacity • Hockey – 17,500 capacity • World-class Las Vegas-style design with unrivaled Premium Seating Products including 54 Suites and over two dozen private loge boxes • Toshiba Plaza – a two-acre outdoor space – available for pre- and post-event functions • Sustainable Design: Designed for U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification
Groundbreaking Design
3770 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109 • (702) 692-5308 • ParkTheaterLV.com • VP of Booking: Paul Davis Recently opened in the dynamic urban neighborhood near The Park and T-Mobile Arena, Park Theater’s stateof-the-art technology is built to break boundaries and produce truly unforgettable experiences. This revolutionary entertainment venue is a natural gathering point created to host world-renowned performers in a setting of unparalleled intimacy.
With dramatically sloping walls and unparalleled sightlines, the 20,000-seat arena manages to be both intimate and massive. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Populous architects’ curved exterior, lit with T-Mobile’s trademark magenta colors, sets a tone of modern elegance while blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Inside, thoughtful amenities like cell-charging stations and storage cubbies inside the suite benches make each visit easy. This being Las Vegas, designers also had to bring the party vibe. Guests can enjoy bird’s-eye views from one of several wellequipped bars that jut out over the arena, including the 18,000-sq.ft. Hyde Lounge, with cutting-edge decor. Perhaps the coolest design feature? Telescopic seats that can be adjusted to provide the best view for different types of events.
VIP Amenities
Want to party like a baller, or host a business meeting your clients will never forget? T-Mobile Arena’s luxury and event-level suites are unparalleled. With built-in bars, catering, VIP parking, private restrooms and complimentary club access, your guests will enjoy total comfort. Bunker suites under the stands allow for direct access to the best seats on the floor, and VIPs enter the arena through their own private porte cochere, perfect for guests who need discreet accommodations.
Features
• Hosts 100-150 events annually • Concerts – 20,000 capacity (center stage), 18,000 (end stage) • UFC®/Boxing – 20,000 capacity
PARK THEATER AT MONTE CARLO RESORT AND CASINO
Spaces:
• 5,300 seated, 6,300 GA, scalable from 2,600 to 3,500 • Flat-floor event space: 14,000 sq. ft. with flexible configurations • 5 outdoor terraces • 7 bars including reception areas • 1 private reception area (meet & greet room): 560 sq. ft. • Retractable orchestra seating • Banquet configuration with full-catering available for up to 1,100 guests
Technology:
• 240’ x 50’ immersive, high-definition projection surface surrounds the 135’ x 40’ proscenium opening • On-stage 80’ x 40’ LED wall with 4K resolution – the largest and highest resolution LED wall in a theatrical venue • Two 24’ x 13.5’ I-MAG projection screens with 4K resolution
3780 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89158 • (702) 692-1600 • t-mobilearena.com 38
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
A Rich History Of Legendary Performances Spanning Nearly A Century. Our landmark theatre has attracted prominent acts since 1922, including: Houdini, Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Marvin Gaye, Harry Connick Jr., Steve Martin & Martin Short and many, many more.
2,564 Seat Historic Venue Great Rates & Marketing Support Centrally Located, 90 miles From Chicago: 10 minutes from I-80/90 Toll Road & University of Notre Dame
BOOK YOUR SHOW
574.235.5901 South Bend, IN | MorrisCenter.org
JANET JACKSON WICKED DANIEL TOSH COUNTING CROWS MARY J. BLIGE JERRY SEINFELD THE BOOK OF MORMON MIKE EPPS ITZHAK PERLMAN IDINA MENZEL STING JON STEWART
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LEONARD COHEN JEFF DUNHAM BLACK STAR HARRY CONNICK, JR. ALICIA KEYS BON IVER BILL CLINTON CHRIS CORNELL JOHN LEGUIZAMO MATISYAHU DISNEY’S THE LION KING
RENÉE FLEMING JUANES BLUE MAN GROUP J. COLE JOHN FOGERTY THE PIANO GUYS WILCO JERSEY BOYS JOSH GROBAN CESAR MILLAN THE WEEKND MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
STATE-OF-THE-ART 5-THEATER ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA Morsani Hall has been ranked in the Top 5 in the world by Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today.
Contact for avails: 813.222.1272 or Chrissy.Hall@strazcenter.org STRAZCENTER.ORG
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FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
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41
f a c i l i t i e s INDIANA
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 482-9502; Fax: (260) 484-1637 memorialcoliseum.com General Manager: Randy L. Brown
MANITOBA
Bell MTS Place
300 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 5S4 (204) 987-7825; Fax: (204) 926-5555 mtscentre.ca Senior Vice President Venues & Entertainment: Kevin Donnelly
NEW YORK
Blue Cross Arena
1 War Memorial Square, Rochester, NY 14614 (585) 758-5300; Fax: (585) 758-5327 bluecrossarena.com SMG General Manager: Jeff Calkins
NORTH CAROLINA
Cabarrus Arena & Event Center 4751 Hwy 49 North, Concord, NC 28025 (704) 920-3976; Fax: (704) 920-3999 cabarrusarena.com Sales & Marketing Manager: Debbie Shields
D i r e c t o r y The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum has over one million sq. ft. of multipurpose event space, consisting of an Arena, Expo Center and Conference Center. With an MSA population of well over 450,000, Fort Wayne is Indiana’s second-largest city, within a day’s drive of 55 million. Arena capacities: End concert - 180: 8,843; end concert - 240: 10,006; end concert - 270: 10,297; end concert - 360: 12,045; hockey: 10,495; basketball: 11,083. 24 luxury suites, one super suite, 318 club seats. Expo Center has 152,000 sq. ft. of multipurpose space capable of hosting concerts (8,000) and tradeshows. Conference Center PAGE is 27,155 sq. ft. of carpeted space that can separate into five breakout rooms. 3 The geographic center of North America, Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, a province of 1.1 million+. Bell MTS Place is home to the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, and can accommodate a variety of configurations for 3,500 to 15,000 fans. Hosting events ranging from hockey and other sports to the music industry’s biggest-name concerts, the venue offers excellent sightlines and superb acoustics. Amenities include four premier artist rooms, five team rooms, venue and tour catering areas, offices, Valhoffer stage (up to 72 ft. by 48 ft. by 6 ft., with additional stage pieces and railings available upon request), standard arena house lighting PAGE as well as six Xenon 2K supertroopers. Catering by Centerplate, onsite restaurant. 5 Serving the Rochester market since 1955, the SMG-managed Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial has hosted acts as diverse as Ringling Brothers, Barry Manilow, Harlem Globetrotters and Monster Jam. The arena offers seating for 12,428 (upper bowl, 6,052; lower bowl, 4,696; floor, 1,680) and has a maximum capacity of 14,000 for general admission. Rolling 80 ft.-by-80 ft. StageRight concert stage with adjustable 4 ft. to 6 ft. height. Backstage areas include three locker rooms, four dressing rooms, an official’s room and a green room. A promoter’s office of about 10 ft. by 25 ft. is available. The Blue Cross Arena is also known for the War Memorial shrine, PAGE accessible to the public, and the Veteran’s Memorial Plaza overlooking the Genesee River. 13 Multipurpose venue with 150,000 sq. ft. of temperature-controlled event space, plus 11-acre lawn; 28,000-sq.-ft. arena with seating up to 5,000. Exhibition space: Event Center up to 70,000 sq. ft.; Gold Hall up to 30,000 sq. ft.; formal meeting and banquet space up to 5,000 sq. ft. with capabilities of using exhibition space for meetings and banquets. Seven VIP suites; six onsite concession stands. Audience: 313,700 within a 15-mile radius; 1,377,900/30-mile radius; 3,154,100/60-mile radius. PAGE 34
OKLAHOMA
Chesapeake Energy Arena
100 West Reno, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 602-8700; Fax: (405) 602-8505 chesapeakearena.com General Manager: Gary Desjardins
GEORGIA
The Classic Center
300 North Thomas Street Athens, GA 30601 (706) 208-0900 ClassicCenter.com Executive Director: Paul Cramer Be Impressed PUERTO RICO
Coliseo de Puerto Rico
500 Arterial B Street, Hato Rey, PR 00918 (787) 777-0800; (877) coliseo (265-4736) coliseodepuertorico.com General Manager: Wesley Elizabeth Cullen
Chesapeake Energy Arena attracts more than one million guests per year, conveniently located near the junction of I-40 and I-35 in downtown Oklahoma City, a metro area with a 1.2 million+ population. Seating capacities: 4,000-18,000. Concert (center stage) – 17,932; concert (endstage) – 16,698; concert (theater) – 3,736; basketball – 17,404. Arena floor – 34,074 sq. ft. Backstage – four dressing rooms, three locker rooms, two production offices, press lounge and green room with 906-sq.-ft. lobby and a 1,576-sq.-ft. pub. Recently renovated main concourse; 36 suites, two lounge areas, seven bunker suites, two VIP PAGE dining areas. Full service, award-winning marketing staff. C3 Located in the heart of downtown Athens, The Classic Center Theatre is northeast Georgia’s premier performing arts venue. This 2,090-seat venue hosts a variety of events, including Broadway, comedy and concerts. Capacities: Akins Ford Arena, 54,025 sq. ft. Arena-style seating for up to 2,000 attendees and concerts and shows for up to 5,000 attendees. The Classic Center Theatre: 2,100 seats. 440 Foundry Pavilion: 16,000 sq. ft.; 2,380 seats. Onsite catering by Levy. The Classic Center offers marketing services to all clients. Athens is home to the University of Georgia, PAGE with over 35,000 students. 35 Opened in 2005, the Coliseo is the premier stage in the Caribbean. Capacities: concerts end-stage 240° – 15,694; end-stage 180° – 14,730; boxing or wrestling – 18,163; basketball – 17,024; hockey ice rink, size 200 ft. by 85 ft. – 15,635; half-house – 10,959; theater style – 3,093; 26 Corporate Suites, 1,000 club seats, two party suites, VIP Lounge with private elevator. StageRight 88 ft. by 48 ft. max, adjustable from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in 2-in. increments; four stairs units; 80 ft. StageRight barricade; 16 food concessions stands plus six onsite concessions restaurants and five bar concessions.
PAGE 9
RHODE ISLAND
Dunkin’ Donuts Center
1 LaSalle Square, Providence, RI 02903 (401) 331-0700; Fax: (401) 621-5987 dunkindonutscenter.com Director of Marketing, PR & Booking: Cheryl Cohen Booking: Debra Polselli
42
The 14,000-seat Dunkin’ Donuts Center, part of the Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex, offers 31,000 sq. ft. of arena space with a ceiling height of 86 ft., a 25,000-sq.-ft. concourse, a 9,000-sq.-ft. lobby and 20 luxury suites. Concerts (various configurations) – 3,50014,000; basketball – 12,100; ice hockey – 11,300; family ice show – 7,400; ice show – 10,800. 60-ft.-by-40 ft. StageRight portable staging; 200 ft.-by-85 ft. ice rink. Six dressing/locker rooms; two media rooms; two production offices. Eleven permanent, 24 portable concession stands. Twenty-five percent of U.S. population lives within 500 miles of Providence. Over 38,000 PAGE students annually within a five-mile radius of downtown. 37 FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
ONTARIO
Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre
189 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 1M4 (416) 325-4144; Fax: (416) 314-3583 heritagetrust.on.ca/ewg Manager of Bookings and Events: Kevin Harris ARKANSAS
First National Bank Arena 217 Olympic Drive Jonesboro, AR 72401 (870) 972-3870 FNBArena.com Director: James Brown
TEXAS
Frank Erwin Center
1701 Red River, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 471-7744; Fax: (512) 471-9652 uterwincenter.com Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director: John M. Graham
IOWA
Iowa State Center
Scheman Building, Suite 102, Ames, IA 50011 (515) 294-3347; (877) 843-2368 center.iastate.edu Executive Director: Tammy Koolbeck Great Events Happen Here
INDIANA
Morris Performing Arts Center
211 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601 (574) 235-9190; (800) 537-6415; Fax: (574) 235-5604 morriscenter.org Executive Director: Dennis J. Andres The Magnificent Morris Has The Hottest Tickets in Town! CALIFORNIA
California Theatre San Jose Theaters
345 S. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.org
CALIFORNIA
Center for the Performing Arts San Jose Theaters 255 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.org
CALIFORNIA
City National Civic San Jose Theaters
135 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.org
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Originally built in 1913 for Vaudeville and silent films, this multi-use complex contains two distinct and separate theaters, one sitting atop the other, and hosts musicals, dramas, comedies, dance, operas, family shows, concerts and other events. Capacities: Elgin Theatre – 1,561; Winter Garden Theatre – 992. Cascading reception lobbies range from small intimate gatherings to 900. “Dinner on Stage” events – 80. Plentiful dressing rooms, stage management offices, crew rooms, wardrobe room, rehearsal studios, kitchen. Toronto is the largest city in Canada – 2.5 million+, Greater Toronto Area – five million+. PAGE 30
Opened as the Arkansas State University Convocation Center in 1987, First National Bank Arena hosts sporting events, concerts, rodeos, monster truck shows and much more. Capacities: 2,200-seat theater, 8,000 seat 180 degree setup, 11,000 seats in the round. The arena includes a 33,000-sq.-ft. arena floor and 30,000-sq.-ft. mezzanine area, and can accommodate three basketball courts, seven volleyball courts, one tennis court, or a seven-lane, 200-meter indoor track. Back-of-house facilities include four dressing rooms, four team dressing rooms and a production office with dedicated phone lines. The arena has undergone $5 million worth of renovaPAGE tions over the last six years. C2 Located in the heart of downtown Austin, the Frank Erwin Center has served Central Texans with the best in live entertainment since 1977. The multipurpose facility is conveniently located off of IH-35 for the more than two million people in the Austin metro area and is within walking distance of downtown Austin and the Texas Capitol. Staging: center stage or in-the-round setup, 16,737 seats; larger set up, 10,200 seats: theater setup, 6,200-8,600 seats. StageRight staging units of 4 ft. by 8 ft., usable in various configurations at levels from 4 ft. to 6 ft. Four large dressing rooms, two office-size dressing areas, three star dressing rooms, four multipurpose PAGE rooms and the multipurpose Lone Star Room. 17 Iowa State Center, which comprises Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater and the Scheman Buidling, regularly features quality entertainment programming. Hosted acts include Motown the Musical, Bob Dylan, Wizard of Oz and Moscow Festival Ballet Presents Giselle. Stephens Auditorium seats 1,588 Orchestra; 467 First Balcony w/ Loge; 354 Second Balcony w/ Loge; 204 Third Balcony; 2725 Total Capacity; 112 Additional Pit Seating. Proscenium opening is 70 ft. by 30 ft. Stage floor is 80 ft. wide by 50 ft. deep. Backstage areas include five 1-4 capacity stage level dressing rooms, two chorus rooms and PAGE two orchestra rooms. Fisher Theater seats 434 and houses two dressing rooms. 15 State-of-the-art PAC ($24.3 million renovation in 2000) originally opened as The Palace Theater in 1922 with a design that replicated Italian Renaissance, Spanish Revival and Baroque architecture. Seats 2,560. Backstage areas: eight dressing rooms, two chorus rooms in Lower Level Hair/Wardrobe Room (30 ft.-by-18 ft.); catering room. Brand-new stage, 45 ft. deep by 103 ft. wide, with a 72-ft. fly height and 70 fly lines. Expanded orchestra pit; full Wenger symphonic shell; fully updated utilities and HVAC system. One million within 40-minute drive; venue hosts 125+ events per year.
PAGE 39
San Jose Theaters, a division of Team San Jose, is responsible for the management, marketing, operations and maintenance of the 2,850-seat City National Civic, 2,608-seat Center for the Performing Arts, 1,122-seat California Theatre and the 468-seat Montgomery Theater — all conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Jose within walking distance of one another. Stage sizes are as follows: City National Civic, stage: 112 ft. by 35 ft. | proscenium: 49 ft. 9 in. by 30 ft.; Center for the Performing Arts, stage: 144 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 59 ft. 6 in. by 34 ft.; California Theatre, stage: 90 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 31 ft. 6 in. by 44 PAGE ft.; Montgomery Theater, stage: 50 ft. by 30 ft. | proscenium: 26 ft. by 14 ft. 1 San Jose Theaters, a division of Team San Jose, is responsible for the management, marketing, operations and maintenance of the 2,850-seat City National Civic, 2,608-seat Center for the Performing Arts, 1,122-seat California Theatre and the 468-seat Montgomery Theater — all conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Jose within walking distance of one another. Stage sizes are as follows: City National Civic, stage: 112 ft. by 35 ft. | proscenium: 49 ft. 9 in. by 30 ft.; Center for the Performing Arts, stage: 144 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 59 ft. 6 in. by 34 ft.; California Theatre, stage: 90 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 31 ft. 6 in. by 44 PAGE ft.; Montgomery Theater, stage: 50 ft. by 30 ft. | proscenium: 26 ft. by 14 ft. 1 San Jose Theaters, a division of Team San Jose, is responsible for the management, marketing, operations and maintenance of the 2,850-seat City National Civic, 2,608-seat Center for the Performing Arts, 1,122-seat California Theatre and the 468-seat Montgomery Theater — all conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Jose within walking distance of one another. Stage sizes are as follows: City National Civic, stage: 112 ft. by 35 ft. | proscenium: 49 ft. 9 in. by 30 ft.; Center for the Performing Arts, stage: 144 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 59 ft. 6 in. by 34 ft.; California Theatre, stage: 90 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 31 ft. 6 in. by 44 PAGE ft.; Montgomery Theater, stage: 50 ft. by 30 ft. | proscenium: 26 ft. by 14 ft. 1 43
CALIFORNIA
Montgomery Theater San Jose Theaters
271 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.org
FLORIDA
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 222-1000; (800) 955-1045 strazcenter.org
San Jose Theaters, a division of Team San Jose, is responsible for the management, marketing, operations and maintenance of the 2,850-seat City National Civic, 2,608-seat Center for the Performing Arts, 1,122-seat California Theatre and the 468-seat Montgomery Theater — all conveniently located in the heart of downtown San Jose within walking distance of one another. Stage sizes are as follows: City National Civic, stage: 112 ft. by 35 ft. | proscenium: 49 ft. 9 in. by 30 ft.; Center for the Performing Arts, stage: 144 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 59 ft. 6 in. by 34 ft.; California Theatre, stage: 90 ft. by 40 ft. | proscenium: 31 ft. 6 in. by 44 PAGE ft.; Montgomery Theater, stage: 50 ft. by 30 ft. | proscenium: 26 ft. by 14 ft. 1 At the Straz Center, it’s more than just a show. Located on the Riverwalk in Downtown Tampa, the Straz Center’s nine-acre campus boasts a performing arts conservatory and five state-of-the-art theaters: Morsani Hall (2,600 seats), Ferguson Hall (1,000 seats), Jaeb Theater (300 seats), TECO Theater (200 seats) and Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats). Morsani Hall has been ranked in the Top 5 venues in the world, 5,000 seats and under, by Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today. For avails, contact (813) 222-1272 or Chrissy.Hall@strazcenter.org.
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NEVADA
T-Mobile Arena
3780 South Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89158 (702) 692-1600; (702) 891-7059 t-mobilearena.com VP of Arena Booking: Sid Greenfeig
Opened in spring 2016, T-Mobile Arena is a state-of-the-art, 20,000-seat multipurpose event center owned by AEG and MGM Resorts International. Capacities: boxing/ UFC, 20,000; end stage concerts, 12,000-18,000; center stage concert, 19,500-20,000; hockey, 17,500; basketball, 18,000. Designed for U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification, T-Mobile Arena offers 44 luxury suites, two party suites, eight event-level suites, the two-acre outdoor Toshiba Plaza, multiple locker facilities, premium dressing rooms, green room and a 75,000-sq.-ft. loading dock.
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TEXAS
United Supermarkets Arena
1701 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409-2200 (806) 742-7362; Fax: (806) 742-7557 unitedsupermarketsarena.com Associate Director: Cindy Harper The Entertainment Showcase of West Texas
State-of-the-art, 15,000-seat multipurpose facility was designed to both showcase Texas Tech University basketball and volleyball and also help meet the growing entertainment and event needs of the South Plains region. 81,017-sq.-ft. concourse space/ 31,916-sq.-ft. arena floor; StageRight staging; four concourse-level meeting rooms; concourse level club area, six dressing rooms, practice gym, media work room, press conference room, 10 fixed concession stands, and 24 luxury suites. Lubbock, with a population of 230,000 and a campus of 29,000+ students, draws from a 1,000,000+ market including West Texas, PAGE Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. 41
Advertiser Index Allen County War Memorial Coliseum...............................................3 ASU Gammage..................................................................................33 Bell MTS Place....................................................................................5 Blue Cross Arena..............................................................................13 Cabarrus Arena.................................................................................34 The Classic Center............................................................................35 Chesapeake Energy Arena................................................................C3 Coliseo de Puerto Rico........................................................................9 Dunkin’ Donuts Center......................................................................37 The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre..................................30 First National Bank Arena................................................................C2 Frank Erwin Center............................................................................17 Iowa Rotocast Plastics......................................................................11 Iowa State Center.............................................................................15 MGM Resorts....................................................................................C4 Morris Performing Arts Center.........................................................39 San Jose Theaters..............................................................................1 SMG....................................................................................................7 Straz Center for the Performing Arts................................................44 United Supermarkets Arena.............................................................41 44
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
A FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH ESPORTS Counter Strike: Global Offensive comes to Nationwide Arena
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By Bredan Buckley
was vaguely aware that a community was strong. Given the possibility of a 16-hour local company in Columbus, day, they felt like they should be allowed to leave and come OH, Major League Gaming back in whenever they wanted. After some long and difficult (MLG), had opened an arena (a discussions with our partner, educating each other on why term the esports industry has this policy was in place and why this audience was reacting commandeered to describe any negatively, we agreed to allow re-entry to the event. Ultimately, space dedicated to hosting videogame very few people left the arena (hence the run on chicken competitions) somewhere out near the fingers!), instead choosing to stay for the duration of each day’s airport. So when they called in 2015 competitions. Apparently, they just did not want to be told they about renting Nationwide Arena to host some sort of Major could not leave, even though they had no intention of actually Championship event, I had just enough leaving throughout the day. information to be dangerous, and I made The videogame industry is huge all the same biased assumptions many and the competitive tournament he videogame industry people have made about how this kind of side of the industry is growing is huge and the competitive exponentially along with the rest of event was going to go. By the time we were done hosting the three-day tournament, we their business segments. I believe tournament side of the had sold over 10,000 tickets (good for all that much of the live entertainment industry is growing three days) with zero dollars in advertising, industry is ignoring this market as exponentially . . . I believe had more than 70 million individual live a fad or niche. The industry itself streams of the event, and nearly depleted is trying to figure out how to best that much of the live our supply of chicken fingers and energy deliver their live products to their entertainment industry is drinks. I learned that not only did I not fans. As impressive as the scale of ignoring this market as a know anything about this new market the overall business is, it is very segment, but that I needed to learn about it segmented by game type and fad or niche. as quickly as possible. controlled by the manufacturers as The tournament we originally hosted the intellectual property owners. was for the game Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). While the videogame industry is working to maximize the The distinction of which game is being featured at these value of esports to their overall business, there will be some events is huge. esports is best thought of as similar to the winners and some losers, some homeruns and some false Olympics, where each esports game is an individual sport. starts. In the end, these stakeholders, along with the fans Just as a fan of international soccer does not necessarily follow themselves, will determine the best ways to present their track and field, fans of CS:GO do not necessarily follow Call of live events and capitalize on their investments. Personally, I Duty or League of Legends. Valve, the manufacturer of CS:GO, am excited to see a new business segment for our venues to sanctions three Major Championships for the game annually, offer to our local communities. Adding these events to our similar to professional golf or tennis. Our event was the first traditional concerts, sporting events and family shows will ever CS:GO Major Championship to be held in North America. enrich our communities by bringing fans together to support Some of the stereotypes about this crowd are true. These their favorite teams that until now they have only been able fans ate chicken fingers and drank energy drinks like their to watch online. lives depended on it. While we never actually ran out of inventory, we were having our vendors make additional deliveries all weekend long. Initially, we were planning on Bredan Buckley is Vice President for Columbus Arenas enforcing our standard no re-entry policy, and MLG accepted Sports & Entertainment in Dublin, OH. He participated that policy and communicated it to their customers through in an IEBA panel on esports in 2016. their social media outlets. The pushback from the fan 45 FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
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THE FESTIVALIZATION OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS How to capitalize on this evolving form of corporate entertainment By Kevin Underwood
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ow more than ever, brands and organizations are fiercely competing for consumer attention and engagement. Yet there is another area of the business that demands the same amount of buy-in: employees and internal stakeholders. According to a Nielsen report, 32 million people attend a music festival in the United States each year. So it’s no surprise that companies are opting for this new approach to reach internal audiences at corporate events. Festivals are fun, inspiring and, in this day and age, technologically advanced. Most importantly, they are engaging and immersive — two things every company strives for when communicating to staff. As an agency that produces four ticketed music and arts festivals with attendance totaling over 250,000 people annually, we have seen various best practices in festival design, including accompanying technology and social media initiatives. These approaches can guide organizers and promoters in putting on the most effective event possible.
acts performing. We have been bringing art installations and live artists into the space, for example. Health and wellness, social justice programming and speakers can round out the experience as well. Multiple approaches to food, from tasting stations to food trucks, also augment the overall event. When guests arrive at an event, they are interested in exploring the space and finding out what activities they want to participate in. Often, they are then immediately focused on sourcing food and beverage. This is a great time to use a local band to create some energy, which does not greatly impact the budget. Comedy has also worked very well for us in festivals and at corporate events. There are some solid comedians that work very clean and are budget friendly, such as Henry Cho and Nate Bargatze, and a variety of headliners like Sebastian Maniscalco or Jim Gaffigan that bring great excitement. As your event builds to a climax, you can have a great party band or DJ to end the evening, or turn to a proven top act to end the night. At our festivals, we’ve worked with P!NK, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Michael McDonald, The Wallflowers, Flo Rida, The Chainsmokers, Gwen Stefani, Trombone Shorty and Sheryl Crow. They all cross over incredibly well to corporate events and represent a variety of fees for all budget parameters. Indeed, the festival approach to events can work for talent budgets of any size.
DESIGNING THE EVENT
TECH TOOLS
Clients are looking for a change from the traditional concert in the ballroom on the last night of the conference. They are also looking for interactivity, as attention spans have shortened. The festival model accomplishes this. You can have a traditional main stage for entertainment, but the use of multiple stages or performance areas allows audiences to stay engaged and active. The event can stay inside, move outside or take place in a nontraditional venue. The beauty of festivals is that there is music throughout the day of various genres. Solo artists, performance artists, interstitial talent and bands can all be featured. It works well to have spaces that appeal to different audiences. An area that is laid back with an acoustic artist appeals to those looking to have a drink and find a calm respite. However, a festival-type event is more than just multiple 46
It’s the tech age, and with that comes a constant need for information. Give it to your guests with a custom event app — it’s how we’re interacting with festivalgoers. Attendees can build their own schedule, access site maps and explore festival offerings, all from their mobile devices. The event app goes a long way in enhancing oftentimes overlooked, but core elements of any event. Take the food and beverage experience, for example. If someone at a festival is vegan, he or she can search for onsite vendors that meet that dietary need. Or, if the person needs help finding guest services, the app can assist. Another feature is push notifications. For example, if the guest’s favorite artist is about to take the stage, the app provides a notification to that effect. As for festival execution and operation, we use Beacons throughout the site. Beacons are able to pick up signals from mobile devices through Bluetooth. From the event FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
LEO Events has produced a variety of festivals for corporate clients. the company’s next event to make the experience better for attendees.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Then, there’s the social aspect. The events industry acted quickly in adapting and applying social media to programs when it first emerged. And, while it used to be enough just to have a social media presence, that’s no longer the case. You must interact with your guests through the channels they prefer. While creating social media groups to distribute details and teasers pre- and post-event management perspective, we are able is standard, you’ve most likely to track our audience’s journey. It lets us implemented that tactic already. Let’s lients are looking know things like how long it took them to take it to the next level. get from the parking lot to the entry point, for a change from the A fun and customizable activation and what path they took to get there. We traditional concert in the that’s great for any audience is the can also tell how long wait times are at Twitter or Instagram vending ballroom. . . . They are also gates and for other important activations. machine. the custom machine This information is paramount in fixing looking for interactivity, wrap and With themed vending items — issues in real time. as attention spans have like branded earbuds, sunglasses, Another tech element is the RFID, or cocktail shakers and gift cards — shortened. The festival radio frequency identification, wristband. patrons are able to come up and Once attendees enter the festival, they model accomplishes this. “Tweet for a Treat.” motion their wrist over readers to gain While it is highly successful at entry. At other points throughout the engaging passersby and promoting festival, the wristbands can be used to admit your brand, the social media vending machine’s most VIPs to special access points. exciting element is the reach it is able to generate as well as In addition, the RFID wristbands enable us to provide a track. When someone interacts with the machine, he or she cashless system. Guests can simply upload their preferred will be given the campaign hashtag. Once the guest posts, a payment option and motion their wrists over monitors specialized hashtag is also generated. This hashtag includes at all pay touchpoints of the event, for food, beverage, a unique user identifier, which is later used in tracking merchandise, etc. Patrons don’t have to carry cash or card impressions. And, of course, a branded item is dispensed for since they are essentially wearing their wallets with this the participant. device. And, for us, the information from this feature is very
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valuable as we can track spending back to age and gender. The event app and RFID wristbands are both things we’ve transitioned into the corporate world. With the use of RFID embedded into the name badge, we can track attendance down to the actual employee. Other than using it to track attendance at general sessions, we are able to analyze what add-ons they gravitate to. Knowing which food vendors see more traffic or which headline talent nabs the biggest following is data that can be used in the planning stages of FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE
Kevin Underwood is Senior Vice President of Events for LEO Events, an events production company with offices in Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville, TN. A 30-year industry veteran, Underwood has a broad entertainment background that includes concert promotion, artist management and corporate events. His corporate clients include Sherwin-Williams, ExxonMobil, Volkswagen and BlueCross BlueShield. 47
FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT
LUMINARY
E N T E R TA I N M E N T V E N U E E X E C U T I V E S 2017
O
ur country’s entertainment venues welcome the most talented performers touring today, and it takes considerable talent to ensure that these facilities provide the experience that artists, touring managers and patrons expect. A venue’s top executives are at the helm when it comes to delivering on those expectations. They are often the driving force behind venue promotion, community relations, business development, vendor partnerships, renovations and upgrades, staff performance and more. Following are the 19 entertainment venue executives who received a qualifying number of nominations from our readership of booking agents, talent buyers, promoters and facility managers, demonstrating recognition by both clients and industry peers. Look for biographical sketches of these executives in the inaugural F&EM Digital issue, publishing this summer.
CHRIS AYZOUKIAN
GENERAL MANAGER, BEAVERTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BEAVERTON, OR
NATHALIE BINETTE
DIRECTOR OF TICKETING ARENA, MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA, LAS VEGAS, NV
MARK BLAKEMAN
MARILYNN AND CARL THOMA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MCKNIGHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, NASHVILLE, TN
A.J. BOLESKI
GENERAL MANAGER, INTRUST BANK ARENA, WICHITA, KS
MARTIN BROOKS
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER, AMERICA’S CENTER COMPLEX, ST. LOUIS, MO
DAVE BROWN
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND GENERAL MANAGER, CENTER OPERATING COMPANY LP/AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX
BRIAN CAPUTO
GENERAL MANAGER, MULLINS CENTER, AMHERST, MA
PAUL CATHEY
GENERAL MANAGER, AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DALLAS, TX
LISA CHAMNESS
DIRECTOR, FREEDOM HALL CIVIC CENTER, JOHNSON CITY, TN 48 48
RICK COMEAU
GENERAL MANAGER, XFINITY ARENA AT EVERETT, EVERETT, WA
DAVID FARRAR
GENERAL MANAGER, SANTANDER ARENA & PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, READING, PA
LAWRENCE GAWRONSKI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TOPEKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, TOPEKA, KS
WIL GORMAN
DIRECTOR, SHOW ME CENTER, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO
NICHOLAS LANGELLA
GENERAL MANAGER, ALAMODOME, SAN ANTONIO, TX
PAULETTE LUKER
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, THE ORPHEUM THEATRE, MEMPHIS, TN
JEFF MERRITT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTENNIAL AUTHORITY/ PNC ARENA, RALEIGH, NC
SANDY RICHMOND
GENERAL MANAGER, THE FOX THEATRE – OLYMPIA ENTERTAINMENT, DETROIT, MI
XEN RIGGS
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, THE JEROME SCHOTTENSTEIN CENTER, COLUMBUS, OH
DOUGLAS THORNTON
SMG EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, MERCEDES BENZ SUPERDOME & SMOOTHIE KING CENTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2018 BOOKING FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 BOOKING GUIDE GUIDE
Year after year, Chesapeake Energy Arena outperforms its regional competitors. As Oklahoma’s largest metropolitan market, backed by NBA-caliber marketing support, Oklahoma City is a standing-room-only experience.
OKLAHOMA’S LARGEST MARKET | HIGH GROSS REVENUES
(405) 602-8700 | chesapeakearena.com
Our venues perform.
FOR BOOKING INFORMATION AND A COMPLETE LINE UP OF ENTERTAINMENT, VISIT MGMRESORTS.COM.