Facilities & Event Management 2017 Prime Site Awards 24
2017
BEDROCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 152 Madison Ave., Ste. 802, New York, NY 10016
TM
SUPERBOOK
For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers
7 Takeaways from a PAC Renovation 78
An Inside Look at the New Wintrust Arena 14
Premium Seating Goes Mainstream 77
Southwest Spotlight 34 36
PERFORMANCE DRIVEN
40 Years and Still Growing Senior leadership reflect on the company’s past and future 18
It’s Only Getting Better
More than a gaming resort company. A LEADING FORCE IN LIVE ENTERTAINMENT! T-MOBILE ARENA
T-Mobile Arena opened in April of 2016, becoming the first sports and entertainment centerpiece of Las Vegas. Hosts 100-150 events annually: • Home of the Golden Knights NHL team – 17,500 capacity • Basketball – 18,000 capacity • UFC®/Boxing – 20,000 capacity • Concerts – 20,000 capacity (center stage), 18,000 (end stage) • 50 luxury suites and more than 2 dozen private loge boxes • Toshiba Plaza – a two-acre outdoor space – available for pre-and post-event functions
MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA
The 16,800-seat iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena has played host to hundreds of events from spectacular concerts, championship fights, premier sports action and special events.
MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER
This modern 12,000-seat sports and entertainment complex has hosted everything from massive headliners, to fights, to award shows.
PARK THEATER
Park Theater’s state-of-the-art technology is built to break boundaries and produce truly unforgettable experiences. • 5,300-seat theater with 14,000 sq. ft. of flexible configurations • 240’ x 50’ immersive, high-definition projection surface • On-stage 80’ x 40’ LED wall with 4K resolution
THE THEATER
MGM National Harbor’s 2,800-seat The Theater meets the demand for a premiere venue in the Washington, D.C.-metro region and redefines entertainment in the area.
LAS VEGAS VILLAGE
Las Vegas Village is a 15-acre entertainment, sports and festival destination on the Las Vegas Strip accommodating up to 25,000 fans located across from Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
LAS VEGAS FESTIVAL GROUNDS
Las Vegas Festival Grounds is a multipurpose outdoor venue on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, spanning 35 acres and accommodating up to 85,000 fans.
To book your event, contact: Sid Greenfeig at sgreenfeig@mgmresorts.com or 702-692-5307 Paul Davis at pdavis@mgmresorts.com or 702-692-5308
MGMResorts.com /mgmresorts
@mgmresortsintl
@mgmresortsintl
editor’s note
Facilities &Event Management TM
SMG: A success story that began in the big easy
Superbook 2017
For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers
Volume 25 No.1 Chief Operating Officer David Korn
F
&EM congratulates SMG on its 40th anniversary, which the global venue management firm is celebrating this year. Just as commendable as this milestone is the company’s steady growth since 1977. President and CEO Wes Westley established Stadiums + Arenas + Theaters as one of four SMG divisions in 1993, and that division continues to expand with new additions to its management portfolio, such as U.S. Bank Stadium, Citizens Business Bank Arena and the Greek Theatre. New partnerships in Europe include Hull Venue and Bristol Arena in the United Kingdom. But there is one venue that is perhaps emblematic of SMG’s long-term success: the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The New Orleans, LA stadium was SMG’s first account, known at the time as the Louisiana Superdome. Today, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome continues to reach new heights thanks in part to SMG management. From this first account, SMG now manages five other NFL stadiums plus 69 industry-leading arenas, such as the Manchester Arena, which is continually ranked in the top 3 arenas worldwide. Seventy-three theaters and amphitheaters as well as 76 convention centers round out SMG’s current portfolio, unmatched in the industry. That’s quite an anchievement, but what’s most fascinating are the executives, strategic vision and internal business practices that made it happen. Learn about the drivers of SMG’s success in this issue’s cover story (page 18). It’s a case study in realizing the potential of private facility management.
– George Seli Editorial Director, Facilities Media Group gseli@facilitiesonline.com
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 2017 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. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Printed in U.S.A.
CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS In Brief...............................................................................................................4 Forum David Kennedy, Wintrust Arena/Arie Crown Theater......................................14 Scott Sloman, RP Funding Center....................................................................16 Perspectives The Gathering Place, by John M. Bernardoni..................................................74 Up on the Roof, by Renee Barker....................................................................76 Premium Seating Is Everywhere, by Bill Dorsey...............................................77 A Renovation in Retrospect, by Nick Zazal......................................................78 F&EM A-List: PAC Executives...........................................................................80
Features SMG: Four Decades of Growth........................................................................18 2017 F&EM Prime Site Awards........................................................................24 SPOTLIGHT: Southwest....................................................................................34 Facilities Directory...........................................................................................43 Advertiser Index..............................................................................................79 2
ON THE COVER Since 1977, SMG’s business has grown from its initial client — the Mercedes-Benz Superdome — to 239 facilities worldwide, including convention centers, stadiums, arenas and theaters. President and CEO Wes Westley has been a major catalyst for the SMG’s achievements since the early ‘90s, along with a team of dynamic executives. They discuss the state of SMG and venue management on the occasion of the company’s 40th anniversary (p. 18).
Facilities & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017 superbook
MOHEGAN SUN ARENA - PROUD TO BE THE WINNER OF THE 2017 FACILITIES & EVENT MANAGEMENT PRIME SITE AWARD
“ BEING VOTED A PRIME SITE IS A TRIBUTE TO OUR SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING, OUR BRAND AND OUR TALENTED TEAM THAT RUNS IT” THOMAS L. CANTONE SR. CORP. VICE PRESIDENT SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT tcantone@mohegansun.com
In Brief
Concert watch
Chris Schwegler
CLARKSTON, MI In recognition of surpassing 500,000 tickets sold at DTE Energy Music Theatre, Palace Sports & Entertainment’s (pictured right, l-r) Bryan Szlaga, Derek Boczkowski and Elmer Straub presented Jimmy Buffett with a Naish Paddleboard before his sold-out show July 11.
Jim Hill
GRAND RAPIDS, MI SMG Regional General Manager Richard MacKeigan presents Tim McGraw and Faith Hill with a certificate of donation to Neighbor’s Keeper as a thank-you gift for playing Van Andel Arena on June 15.
EVANSVILLE, IN Jeff Dunham with Walter at the Victory Theatre, July 13.
MOLINE, IL Brantley Gilbert’s The Devil Don’t Sleep Tour visited the iWireless Center on March 3.
Gregg Martin
PHOENIX, AZ Bruce Dickinson on stage with Iron Maiden at Talking Stick Resort Arena, June 28. (See the Southwest Spotlight on page 34 for more news on the arena.)
Dwayne Larson
4
Michael Anthony
COLUMBIA, SC Colonial Life Arena staff presented a custom “Kill The Lights” sign to Luke Bryan before his show on Feb. 23. (L-r): Sid Kenyon, General Manager; Shannon Motley, Box Office Manager; Bryan; Lexie Boone, Senior Assistant General Manager & Director of Operations; and Curt Derrick, Assistant General Manager & Director of Ticketing.
WINNEPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA Comedian John Mulaney gave two outstanding performances at Burton Cummings Theatre on June 3.
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR THIRTY 2017 PRIME SITE WINNERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, IL Bellco Theatre, Denver, CO BOK Center, Tulsa, OK Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, Concord, NC CenturyLink Center, Bossier City, LA Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Hato Rey, PR Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH DCU Center Arena, Worcester, MA Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, RI Florence Civic Center, Florence, SC George M. Sullivan Sports Arena, Anchorage, AK Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL
PRIME SITE WINNERS Worldwide Entertainment and Convention Venue Management
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To inquire about SMG managed facilities call 1.866.BOOK.SMG or visit smgworld.com 16. Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, TX 17. Meridian Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, CA 18. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes Barre, PA 19. North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC 20. Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE 21. Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA 22. Rogers K-Rock Centre, Kingston, ON
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, MD Santander Arena, Reading, PA Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA SNHU Arena, Manchester, NH Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA Times Union Center, Albany, NY Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
In Brief INDUSTRY PULSE
Venuworks’ Joseph Romano
Delaware North’s Rick Abramson
Delaware North’s Jim Houser AMES, IA — VenuWorks appointed Joseph Romano as Executive Vice President in June. Romano brings almost 40 years of experience in the management and operation of North American and European public 8
assembly facilities, in both the public and private sectors. The past 30 years of Romano’s career have been spent in executive leadership roles within the private management sector of the public assembly facility industry. “I have known Joe for 35 years. We spent 14 years working together and then nearly 20 years as fierce competitors,” said VenuWorks President Steve Peters. “Joe’s demonstrated track record as a successful business leader and his scope of the industry make him the perfect candidate to support our business strategy and growth initiatives. I am excited to have Joe on our VenuWorks team.” BUFFALO, NY — Delaware North has appointed a pair of long-tenured company executives — Rick Abramson and Jim Houser — to new roles as of June 1. Abramson, who had previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer. Houser, who most recently oversaw three Delaware North subsidiaries (Delaware North Sportservice, Patina Restaurant Group and Delaware North’s parks and resorts business) as a Group President, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. CLEVELAND, OH and LOS ANGELES, CA — AEG Presents, LLC has entered into an agreement with Chris Zitterbart to acquire the operating rights to the historic Agora Theatre and Ballroom in Cleveland. The acquisition adds the Agora to AEG Presents’ portfolio of over 60 theaters and clubs. FRAUENFELD, SWITZERLAND — In July, Live Nation Switzerland GmbH became the majority shareholder of Openair Frauenfeld Festival. Live Nation Switzerland will partner with festival founder Wolfgang Sahli and First Event AG Managing Director Rene Götz. Openair
Live Nation Switzerland recently became the majority shareholder in the Openair Frauenfeld Festival Frauenfeld, held annually on the Allmend in the city of Frauenfeld, is considered Switzerland’s largest music festival as well as one of the most prestigious urban music festivals in continental Europe. GRAND FORKS, ND — In July, The City of Grand Forks selected Spectra by Comcast Spectacor to provide its network of integrated services to enhance the customer experience and increase the number of events to Alerus Center, a 13,500-seat multipurpose arena. As part of this agreement, Spectra will provide Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality and Corporate Partnerships. “We realized that we needed a company that could help us increase event bookings at both the arena and the conference center, improve our sales and marketing, and enhance the culinary experience, and Spectra can do all of that for us,” said Julie Rygg, Executive Director, Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau. LOS ANGELES, CA — AEG continues its venture into esports with a recent strategic investment in Immortals, a global esports franchise. As part of the investment, Immortals will host their Los Angeles-based tournaments and events at AEG’s sports and entertainment district, L.A. LIVE. Last September, the company entered a long-term global partnership with ESL, the world’s largest esports company, which enables ESL to utilize AEG’s global network of more than 120 clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums for qualifying events, tournaments and world championships. NASHVILLE, TN and LOS ANGELES, CA — Per a recent agreement between AEG and Southwest Value Partners (SWVP), AEG has purchased a
four-acre parcel of land to develop a new mixed-use entertainment district at SWVP’s Nashville Yards in downtown Nashville. The planned mixed-use entertainment district will be anchored by a 4,000-capacity music venue, a flagship Regal Cinemas luxury theater complex, a 600-700capacity live entertainment club, an approximately 240room boutique hotel, and a variety of other entertainment and dining establishments. NEWARK, NJ — The Madison Square Garden Company and Prudential Center have entered into a booking and marketing partnership to attract even more top concerts and attractions to New Jersey. “New Jersey has an incredible, rich history in entertainment and is home to some of the greatest performers and artists to ever live,” said Scott O’Neil, Chief Executive Officer at Prudential Center, which marks its 10th anniversary this fall. “It is our mission, responsibility and priority to celebrate that history and further the legacy of this state by bringing the world’s top entertainers and attractions to Prudential Center. By forging this relationship with the innovative team at the iconic Madison Square Garden, we believe Prudential Center will continue to serve as a community cornerstone not only for Newark, but for the entire state of New Jersey, unifying the area through the power of sports and entertainment.” Darren Pfeffer, recently appointed Executive Vice President, MSG Live, The Madison Square Garden Company, commented, “We look forward to leveraging MSG’s unique stature and strong, longstanding relationships with industry leaders, along with a common membership with the Continued on page 10
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
Wintrust Arena Opening Fall 2017
CHICAGO’S NEWEST ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION. Opening in the fall of 2017, the Wintrust Arena, a 10,000 seat arena, will join the Arie Crown Theater and McCormick Place to create a one-of-a-kind entertainment, sporting and meeting destination, all within minutes of downtown Chicago.
wintrustarena.com
Arie Crown Theater
For more information, contact:
David Kennedy
Asst. General Manager - Entertainment Wintrust Arena, Arie Crown Theater, McCormick Place 312-791-6423 dkennedy@mccormickplace.com
ariecrown.com
In Brief INDUSTRY PULSE
Continued from page 8
Prudential Center in Oak View Group’s Arena Alliance, to help bring an exciting array of events to the Prudential Center, while also serving the market with more options.” TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA — In July, AudienceView acquired TheaterMania, including the OvationTixTM software as a service product as well as the TheaterMania.com and WhatsOnStage media brands. The acquisition extends Audience View’s market reach to more than 2,000 arts and culture, sports, live events and education organizations globally. “AudienceView and TheaterMania have long shared a common vision and passion to help entertainment organizations
build devoted communities and fulfill their missions,” says Gretchen Shugart, formerly CEO of TheaterMania and now President, Arts and Culture of AudienceView. “We are truly thrilled to be aligned with an organization that understands the industry that we serve and has aggressive plans to invest in our products and offerings to drive even more success for our clients.” AudienceView will serve its customers from its Toronto and London offices as well as the New York TheaterMania offices. In other AudienceView news, Karen Hogg has been appointed Vice President of Customer Success. Her background includes roles of increasing responsibility with leading vendors including PeopleSoft, SAP, Sierra Systems, NexJ
Systems and Longview Solutions. In addition, Michael Burnett, former Director of Sport at Ticketmaster/Live Nation, is AudienceView’s new Managing Director, UK and Europe, as of this spring. WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — SAVOR... is the new F&B provider for the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center as of July 1. “We saw an opportunity to tailor our operations, menus and our supply chain to support the local producers and partner with the businesses who share the PA Farm Complex’s commitment to ‘PA Preferred’ suppliers for quality, sustainability and freshness,” says SAVOR Senior Vice President Scott Campanella. SAVOR will introduce Executive Chef Stephanie Gelberd, who featured Pennsylvania farm products at the café at Phipps Botanical Garden in Pittsburgh, recognized as one of the most sustainable cafés in the country.
AudienceView’s Michael Burnett
AudienceView’s Karen Hogg
NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR OUR REHEARSAL HALL Rehearse for your next tour in the heart of Music City! EQUIPPED WITH
– 13,000 square feet of space – Riggable steel at 25 feet – Fully operational production office
– (2) 400 amp circuits of dedicated show power – (2) direct access loading docks
VISIT BRIDGESTONEARENA.COM OR CALL 615.770.2096 FOR MORE DETAILS
10
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
The Premier Destination for Sports & Entertainment in the Carolinas
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
2017 Facilities & Event Management Magazine Prime Site Award Winner spectrumcentercharlotte.com
In Brief
CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION Rendering of the transformed Philips Arena
ATLANTA, GA — The $192.5 million transformation of Philips Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, began on June 20 and will be completed during the 2018-2019 season, coinciding with the basketball team’s 50th Anniversary in Atlanta. The renovation is reportedly the largest in NBA history behind the recent renovation of Madison Square Garden. The project will include major changes to the current arena configuration, including removing the six-level wall of suites on the west side of the arena, allowing for a new seating configuration and better sightlines; installing a new state-of-the-art, center-hung scoreboard and video displays; and revamping the concourses with 360-degree connectivity and a reimagined eating and drinking experience featuring new open food stalls and bars. The technology throughout the building will also receive a major reboot, incorporating the most modern video capability in sports. New video pavilions
will be added in each corner of the arena, featuring cutting-edge 6mm resolution. New venues will include the Hawks Meeting and Conference Center, a Zac Brown-inspired restaurant, a custom suites experience designed by Topgolf and one of Killer Mike’s signature SWAG Shop barbershops. BUFFALO, NY and DETROIT, MI — Delaware North Sportservice has been awarded the contract to serve as the food, beverage and retail partner at Little Caesars Arena, scheduled to open in September in downtown Detroit. The $635 million, approximately 20,000-capacity arena will be the home of the NHL Detroit Red Wings and NBA Detroit Pistons, and is the centerpiece of The District Detroit entertainment district currently under development. The arena will reportedly feature the world’s largest, seamless center-hung scoreboard at 5,100 ft. Kid Rock is the first scheduled show, Sept. 12-20.
Rendering of Little Caesars Arena, debuting in September 12
FORT WORTH, TX — Dickies Arena is scheduled to open November 2019 on the campus of the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The 14,000seat arena will be home to the month-long Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and host concerts, sporting events and family shows. Other features of the Main Arena include 86,932 sq. ft. of meeting space (including various multipurpose rooms, two dining areas, two clubs and four lobby spaces), six loading dock bays and an attached 2,210-space parking garage. A 98,040-sq.-ft. climate-controlled Exhibit Arena will also be available, including a 10,450-sq.-ft. pavilion.
Dickies Arena, opening in 2019 bathrooms and concessions. New amenity spaces for fans include an event-level VIP Club and The Blue Moon Beer Garden. Behind the scenes, the venue’s Artist Quarters presented by Apollo Jets provides residential style
The new exterior of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Presented By New York Community Bank
HOLLYWOOD, CA — In July, the 1,200-seat John Anson Ford Amphitheatre completed a multiyear, $72 million renovation — the most significant in the venue’s 75-year history. LONG ISLAND, NY — NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Presented By New York Community Bank, was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 31. Originally opened in 1972, the Coliseum underwent a $165 million renovation and has since hosted major acts including Billy Joel for the grand opening, Stevie Nicks on April 6, Marc Anthony on April 9, Barbara Streisand on May 4 and Metallica on May 17. The arena’s exterior was transformed with an intricate enclosure of 4,700 brushed aluminum fins, designed by SHoP Architects. Gensler’s design vision for the interior of the 416,000-sq.-ft. arena added enhancements including a new exterior glass storefront to infuse natural light into the refreshed concourse, a redesigned main entrance, all-new seating, improved bowl circulation, and revamped
BS&E’s Brett Yormark living spaces for performers and talent management. “I am beyond proud to say we have collectively succeeded in delivering to Long Island the venue it has long deserved,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “We have replicated the best aspects of Barclays Center, like its renowned customer service and culinary program, and infused it with the spirit of Long Island. The combination has yielded a premier venue with a first-class experience that will become a vital part of the fabric of the community.”
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
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FORUM David Kennedy
Assistant General Manager/Entertainment Wintrust Arena/Arie Crown Theater
By George Seli
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pening this fall, the 10,000-seat, SMG-managed Wintrust Arena is a newcomer to downtown Chicago’s vibrant live entertainment market. Connected by skywalk to McCormick Place, the arena will be home to DePaul University men’s and women’s basketball as well as diverse entertainment programming. David Kennedy, a 25-year events industry veteran, was appointed in December as Assistant General Manager/Entertainment for the arena and accompanying Arie Crown Theater. Kennedy is no stranger to overseeing live events in Chicago, previously serving as the Director of Special Events for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. He has coordinated numerous outdoor festivals, from Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parades to Lollapalooza.
Q A
How did the Wintrust Arena project originate?
Q A
Which amenities would you like to highlight for incoming acts and patrons? We’ve got two hospitality lounges that can be easily turned into volunteer spaces or staff lounges. And then we have a courtside lounge that can be used for ancillary purposes, such as a green room or meet-and-greet room. Everybody really did their homework on the design, and the tech capabilities are state of the art. The access points for Internet and Wi-Fi are superb. Many venues are now having to add access points and retrofitting, but this was all in the construction plan.
“Walking the
concourse level, you can see the basketball court at all times. . . . At the end of the day it is a very intimate arena.”
From my recollection, the impetus was to provide an additional asset for McCormick Place. We’re also adding a new hotel: the Marriott Marquis, which is owned by McCormick Place, will open Aug. 30 here on campus. And the stars were kind of aligned with DePaul: They were looking to potentially invest in a stadium on their campus, but they are in a very residential neighborhood, so to find an entire city block could have been challenging. SMG, the McCormick Place folks as well as DePaul have all been sitting at the table in terms of figuring out the operations that are needed for a concert, everything from the location of loading docks to multipurpose ancillary rooms.
Q A
The arena is being billed as “architecturally unique.” What are some of its standout features in this regard?
One feature that most visitors won’t be able to see is the inventive roof: It’s kind of a fifth façade that swells upward like a wave and matches some of the other Chicago spaces, such as the auditorium, Navy Pier, Grand Ballroom and Union Station. Also, the building has a lot of glass, so natural light comes in from three sides, especially the main entrance, which is entirely glass. Walking the concourse level, you can see the basketball court at all times, three quarters around the bowl. And the upper deck, 200-level sections have this feeling of floating above the lower levels. So at the end of the day it is a very intimate arena. 14
Q A
What are your goals for the entertainment content?
We’ll have 23 DePaul games [annually], and we hope to book 25-30 other events, whether it be an opening session for an existing convention, family show, concert or additional basketball such as a local high school game. We have a lot of interest [from promoters] as we get folks out to take a look at the building. So it’s definitely a game changer for the McCormick Place campus and a wonderful addition to the McCormick Place collection.
Q
You are relatively new to SMG, but can you comment on the value of being part of the company’s network of facilities?
A
A wide array of resources is available, from financing to budget to operations to policies and procedures. Everybody is able to pick up the phone or shoot an email to 12-15 different venues. It’s refreshing, but unless you’re used to it, you have to train your brain to do it. In my previous job working [for the Chicago Department of Special Events], rarely did I call up the city of Boston or New York and say, “Hey, we’re trying to do a beer festival.” But I could easily do that here and send an email to similar-size venues — “Ever try to do a beer festival?” — and get immediate responses and even supporting documentation, marketing plans and [case studies on] what did go well and what didn’t. Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
FORUM Scott Sloman
Assistant Director/Booking Manager RP Funding Center
T
By Anthony Bilden
he Lakeland Center has been a bastion of the Central Florida entertainment scene since 1974, hosting a who’s who of classic performers. But this year its patrons are getting used to a new name for the venue: RP Funding Center. Finalized in May, the naming rights deal was brokered by the Orlando Magic and its partner Robert Palmer, President/CEO of Maitland, FL-based RP Funding, a direct mortgage lender. As part of the deal, the RP Funding Center will serve as home court for the Lakeland Magic, the Orlando Magic’s D-League team. Per the contract between the city and the Magic, RP Funding will pay $2.5 million for the building’s naming rights, with the city receiving $150,000 per year. Scott Sloman, longtime Assistant Director of the facility, discusses the deal, the current renovation project and other RP Funding Center developments.
Q A
Apart from the financial aspect of the agreement, what makes RP Funding the ideal organization to take over the naming rights?
Q A
Will your current $14 million renovation include new elements to accommodate the Lakeland Magic? The renovation was planned and started before the basketball team was even a thought. We knew we had to do some work on the arena as well as our convention space. Our arena for the most part was going to receive some ADA improvements and just made a little nicer for clients such as cheer and dance competitions. When the basketball team came along it somewhat changed the direction because now we have a league that has regulations that the team has to follow, and that we have to follow. So now we have a bigger scope on the locker room build out, and we’re adding two LED r. Palmer ribbon boards that were not part of the $14 million [budget]. We’re also [President/CEO of buying a new basketball court, which RP Funding] is from we had no intent to do prior. And we have to build office space for them. Lakeland and has It remains to be seen what’s left over from the $14 million for all the arena an interest in making improvements to fill out the rest of sure the building the vision with more meeting rooms, a bigger service corridor, a loading succeeds.” dock, etc.
“M
We’re a regional building as far as our audience, and right now RP Funding is more of a regional mortgage company that fits in the marketplace that we exist. The other thing that worked in our favor is that Mr. Palmer grew up in Lakeland and went to Lakeland High School. [Ed. note: Palmer’s graduation ceremony took place at the Lakeland Center]. That helps to take some of the sting out of selling a building after 44 years to “Corporate America.” The naming rights go to an individual that is from the area and has an interest in making sure the building succeeds. And we can put a face together with the name, as opposed to selling it to Kodak or Pepsi, for example.
Q A
Will the partnership with Palmer help to enhance your programming or the audience you reach?
The man is successful; I don’t think he wants to attach his name to anything that isn’t. So we believe that, where he can, he will help us with his marketing clout, such as his TV advertising campaigns, which are ever present in our region. The entertainment market that we focus on is probably a little bit older than the demographic for his companies. We’re very strong in the 60 and over demographic, which maybe isn’t in the market now for refinancing and buying new homes. His market may not be the Paul Ankas of the world, but it might be the classic rockers or even younger, and he may help connect us to that market. 16
Q A
Has the RP Funding Center recently welcomed any new events of note?
We just finished our second year of the Miss Florida pageant, which had been in Sarasota for 15 years. We have a fiveyear agreement on the pageant. The pageant director grew up in Lakeland and felt the desire to bring it back to her hometown.
Q A
How would you describe the RP Funding Center’s value proposition for touring acts?
We’re multipurpose. In the life of this building there hasn’t been anything we haven’t done, from baptisms to ice show rehearsals to graduations to major concerts to Broadway theater to conventions. So flexibility is paramount here. [Ed. note: The RP Funding Center includes the 8,000-seat George Jenkins Arena, the 2,200-seat Youkey Theatre and 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space.] Our location between Tampa and Orlando is ideal. It’s in the center of the state, so you’re not penalizing anybody travelling from Miami or Pensacola. There are two major airports within an hour or so, as well as a plethora of hotel rooms. Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
the premier entertainment venue in central illinois
101 South MadiSon Street, BlooMington, il 61701 • ContaCt lynn Cannon at 309.434.2661
www.grossingermotorsarena.com
Four Decades of Growth
SMG has evolved from trailblazer to a market leader in public facility management By George Seli
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Diego, CA-based Premier his year, global venue Food Service and Englandmanagement company based CGC Food. SMG celebrates its 40th “Client focus, relentless For Gregg Caren, anniversary, a milestone Executive Vice President of pursuit of excellence, for any organization. But more Convention and Exhibition important than longevity is the encouraging an Centers, what is most steady growth the company has significant on the occasion achieved. SMG has developed entrepreneurial spirit, of SMG’s 40th anniversary on many fronts: a maturation of is “the very fact that one can an unmatched leadership services and internal processes, an even inquire specifically about expansion in lines of business, and team, and an emphasis SMG’s Convention Center a proliferation of new clients over Division.” The realignment the years. SMG’s first account — on hospitality — these “has allowed us to build a which it retains to this day — is the are the attributes that got us to leadership team and action Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and plan that focuses on the by 1993 the company had nearly 30 where we are today and will carry us unique needs of meeting clients. SMG was ripe for further and exhibition venues, expansion, and that’s when EVP, into the future.” and the communities they Finance and Administration Wes —Wes Westley, President, CEO serve,” Caren explains. The Westley became President and community focus displayed CEO. Today, SMG’s top executives by SMG’s leaders is another look back on that moment as a factor that has made turning point for the company. the company successful, adds Maureen Ginty, Executive Vice Westley established four major divisions: Convention + President, Marketing Services and Human Resources. “As much as Exhibition Centers, Stadiums + Arenas + Theaters, SMG Europe our growth is remarkable, our retention of clients is as well. We’re and SAVOR. Under his visionary leadership, the reorganized SMG at a 92 percent retention rate,” she says. “And it’s attributable to our achieved dramatic business development, reaching the total of 239 general managers; they do a really good job of becoming part of their facilities worldwide in its portfolio today. Fortifying and expanding communities and taking on their vision and objectives.” SMG’s international presence, including establishing a foothold in Although SMG’s four divisions specialize in different lines of Europe, was also fundamental to the company’s growth strategy. business, they are certainly not silos. Best practices are shared among “Those four divisions now contribute almost equally to the bottom them to optimize client service. For example, the Convention Center line, so I think that was a big move in the right direction,” says Doug and Stadium/Arena divisions “communicate constantly, sharing and Thornton, Executive Vice President, Stadiums and Arenas. “That learning from each other,” Caren explains. “This is a must in our world, move allowed us to focus more specifically on the best practices that especially considering that at least 40 of our locations are multipurpose involve our subject matter experts in those particular disciplines.” venues, drawing on the support and expertise of both of our operating Also instrumental to SMG’s growth were various acquisitions, units.” John Sharkey, Executive Vice President, European Operations, including Leisure Management International, Ogden Corp., San 18
Facilities & Event Management 2017 superbook
“There are still a number of buildings out there [in secondary and tertiary markets] that need to be part of a broad network like SMG to be successful.” —Doug Thornton, Executive Vice President, Stadiums and Arenas adds, “There are synergies that come from the management of these buildings that are common in terms of F&B, environmental [initiatives], etc. The clients are different, the customer experience is different, but trying to deliver on these common objectives is pretty much the same.” Westley, who has been President and CEO of SMG for more than two decades, acknowledges the growth has been dramatic and that the company continues to evolve. “We have a strong base of business that is well balanced. We manage all types of facilities, in all size markets, and we value each one of them,” he says. “The diversity of our portfolio is an essential strength for SMG. Couple that with a management team steeped in the industry, with decades of company and industry experience to draw upon, and you have the ideal recipe for growth and stability for an organization.”
STADIUMS, ARENAS AND THEATERS: RECENT WINS
During the last couple of years, this division of SMG has made significant strides, with the Los Angeles market being a prime example. The company was recently awarded management of the historic Greek Theatre, formerly contracted with Nederlander for about 40 years. “That was a big one for us because it gave us more of a presence in the L.A. market with an iconic venue,” remarks Thornton. “We do 74 concerts a season out there. Another one in the L.A. market was taking over the operation of the Ontario arena, which is called Citizens Business Bank Arena, formerly run by AEG. We manage the convention center in Ontario, and the city asked us to come in and take over the operation of the arena, which we did last summer.” On the stadium side, SMG’s partnership with the new U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, was a major milestone. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority hired SMG when ground had just been broken on the stadium. “We had no GM or staff; it was a startup operation,” Thornton recalls. “And it was the first NFL stadium that had been bid out to private management probably for 10 years up to that point. We opened it last July and are about to close out our first full fiscal year, and we’ve exceeded our expectations there and the client’s expectations.” Bringing value to new facilities is a “differentiator” for SMG, according to Thornton, as the company has opened 20 new buildings in the last 10 years and has been involved in about 40 transitions. Soon after U.S. Bank Stadium opened, SMG took over management of the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, from Spectra. “And we really improved the financial picture in just one year,” says Thornton. “That was another big win for us, because it gave us a total of six NFL stadiums.” SMG’s service to its stadium, arena and theater clients is facilitated by knowledge sharing among its general managers and directors of operations, via a widely used intranet system called OSCAR (Operations Support through Communication And Resources). “They can pull down procurement documents, RFPs for security services, and so on. It’s a repository for best practices and code compliance,” Thornton explains. “It also has a chatroom where Facilities & Event Management 2017 superbook
you can send a question to the field and get 30 responses. It’s a great communication tool for all of our buildings across the network.” Another internal process that ultimately benefits SMG’s clients is a new customized survey program provided by Turnkey Sports & Entertainment. “It’s tied to our ticketing database, so now we’re extracting that information from our customers on a more regular basis, for every event that we do. It helps us focus on areas that we need to improve,” Thornton explains. “The information now comes back to us in a more granular sense, so it’s not just about the quality of the food, but about the location of the stand. We are able to fix that more rapidly than we were before.” Over the last three years, SMG has greatly refined its data collection across its facilities, enabling it to compare the performance of a given venue to those in its peer set, per caps for a given act in venues throughout a certain market, and so forth. “That level of detail is available to all of our GMs,” says Thornton. Such benchmarking helps managers both improve their operations and bring the right acts to their buildings. “Many arenas and theaters in secondary and tertiary markets are struggling for content,” Thornton observes. “They’re having to be more creative with a smaller staff and fewer resources.” It’s a market segment where Thornton sees opportunity for SMG’s value proposition. “There are still a number of buildings out there that are self operated, that need to be part of a broad network like SMG to be successful,” he says.
“As much as our growth is remarkable, our retention of clients is as well. We’re at a 92 percent retention rate.” —Maureen Ginty, Executive Vice President, Marketing Services and Human Resources
HOSPITALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ALL LEVELS AND ALL LINES OF BUSINESS
One goal that various kinds of facilities share is to excel in customer service, and to that end SMG offers the k’nekt Training Program, which covers sales, customer service, event management, culinary service skills and leadership. The program was the brainchild of Ginty, who explains the value proposition of one of the programs, the three-day sales training course: “People mistakenly think that if you have a nice personality, you’ll be good at sales, but there are techniques. By offering that class, we make sure that everybody has access to the information and is trained in sales. Recently, k’nekt sales and event training classes were approved for CMP education credits by the Convention Industry Council. This summer, we launched a sales class exclusively for our DMOs/ conventions and visitors bureaus — like our other k’nekt products, the class received high marks from the attendees.” “We offer an entire portfolio of training classes from customer service to leadership,” she adds. “Plus, we conduct webinars, disseminate newsletters — all in an effort to keep the focus on our performance. Our employees rate the programs so highly because of our holistic approach, which underlies each program. We are training work skills and life skills.”
A DIVERSE CONVENTION CENTER PORTFOLIO
SMG’s first convention center account was a top-tier facility in the meetings industry: Moscone Center. Since then, the company has added over 70 convention centers — and facilities that include 19
“It is certainly is a ‘one SMG’ policy to [the Asia and Middle East] markets, to be able to provide the firepower that we’ve got across our business.” —John Sharkey, Executive Vice President, European Operations
“SMG was the first to look at major public venues through the eyes of a luxury hotel manager and guest.” —Gregg Caren, Executive Vice President, Convention and Exhibition Centers
convention venues — to its portfolio. “There are so many success a venue feel more like a boutique hotel than a stark open space.” stories, with success being noted in different ways ranging from cus- California’s Long Beach Convention Center is a case in point. The tomer service to financial performance,” says Caren. “And success is venue has been transformed into “a hip series of surprising spaces, as vital to the municipal owner of a venue with less than 100,000 sq. inspired by the very first TED conferences,” says Caren. “Meeting ft. of space as it is to those over 500,000 sq. ft.” planners and attendees are blown away by large sofas, Restoration The division’s philosophy of client service is to focus on what Hardware chandeliers and unique turnkey event spaces. The entire Caren calls “our three varieties of ‘client’: event organizer, exhibitor LBCC campus can serve as a venue design learning laboratory. and attendee. Given our Hyatt roots in hospitality [SMG was originally founded by the Pritzker family], SMG was the first to look EUROPEAN EXPANSION at public venues through the eyes of a luxury hotel manager and SMG’s European business is over 20 years old, yet still “in a guest. This perspective helped build our culinary services, as well as growth phase,” according to Sharkey. “We want to grow our exhibia more concierge approach to working with meeting planners and tion portfolio, conference portfolio and live entertainment portfolio, their guests,” he explains. Eventually, the team also began to focus on and underpin that with a very strong F&B offering. I think if we look the experience of the exhibitor and general services contractor. “This back in a couple of years’ time, the one thing I’d like is to be a strong has been especially helpful in our larger tradeshow venues where the image of our business in the U.S.” exhibitor experience is critical to The division is en route to the event’s success,” he adds. achieving that goal. Last year, The comprehensive approach SMG Europe was awarded to addressing the needs of various management of the £36 million “We don’t take a stakeholders has made SMG a Hull Venue (opening next year) “truly recognized brand in the chef from point A and, in partnership with Live minds of event hosts and industry Nation, the 12,000-capacity and put him in partners,” says Caren. “Whether Bristol Arena (opening in association, corporate, trade or point B; we would 2020). Another major new client consumer show organizer, our is the Aberdeen Exhibition & much rather find clients have confidence in the Conference Center, which is high level of consistent service moving to a newly built home the best talent they receive in booking one of near Aberdeen International our venues.” And sourcing those in the local market.” Airport in 2019. venues is a centralized process. —Shaun Beard, Senior Vice President, Sharkey discusses “The fact that event organizers SMG Europe’s competitive Food & Beverage can research and book any or all advantage: “We’ve got the of our 75 venues with one email benefit of a group with or phone call is a huge value to strength and depth that we can not only the planner, but also to call on, whether it’s convention the venues and destinations we business in the U.S., or theaters serve. I think that the fact that in the U.S. or stadiums and we have been able to secure arenas in the U.S., as well as preferred national relationships our facility management teams with firms like Experient and in the U.K. and food service SmithBucklin speaks volumes to teams in the U.K.” what the SMG brand represents, An events industry veteran and the value proposition to our who was Group CEO at mutual end users,” says Caren. Scottish Exhibition Centre Overseeing so many Ltd prior to joining SMG in convention facilities, Caren has a 2014, Sharkey himself has vantage point to observe trends a depth of understanding Darran Coulson, Scott Campanella, in their design. In general, they Senior Vice President, Division Senior Vice President, when it comes to trends in the are becoming “less institutional,” CGC Food and Beverage SAVOR Food & Beverage convention center experience. he notes. “Personalizing spaces “Increasingly, there has to be a for human interaction can make closer connection between the Continued on page 22
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40 years
SMG is Celebrating of success!
40 years is a milestone moment in the life of a company. From our very first account, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, an account we still manage today, to our portfolio of more than 230 accounts, we celebrate them all. All year long we will remember and celebrate our terrific employees and clients. It’s been an amazing history, and we look forward to a fantastic future.
Worldwide Entertainment and Convention Venue Management
SMG’s ARENA SUCCESS STORIES
Following are just a few recent examples of how SMG has helped transform arenas large and small: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
The BOK Center is Tulsa’s state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue. Owned by the City of Tulsa, the BOK Center was part of the Vision 2025 project to grow economic and community infrastructure for future generations. The 19,199-seat arena hosts the top touring concerts and family shows and is home to the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock and the CHL’s Tulsa Oilers. SMG has been a part of the BOK story since 2006 and has helped the BOK Center become a premier sports and entertainment facility. ng loss from $1.1 million in 2013 to an average loss of $417,000
• Nominated by Pollstar for 2008 Best New Concert Venue • Nominated by Pollstar for Arena of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) Oklahoma’s Best Concert Venue by Oklahoma Magazine • Named (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) • Hosted nearly four million people since opening in 2008 Raising Cane’s River Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Operated by SMG since renovation began in 1996, the Raising Cane’s River Center sits on the banks of the Mississippi River and has grown over the years to encompass five buildings/event spaces. The complex consists of an Arena, Theater and Convention Center. The Arena has hosted top touring acts, and this year has hosted Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performers Sir Elton John and James Taylor, among many other headliners. : City of Baton Rouge has begun a $18.1 million refurbishment project, with • The work tentatively scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2018. led the City’s effort to obtain a naming rights sponsor. In 2016, a formal • SMG 10-year agreement was reached with Raising Cane’s, representing an annualized value of approximately $400,000.
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
SMG has served Van Andel Arena for more than 20 years, during which time it has become the must-play destination in Michigan’s fastest-growing market, and helped thrust Grand Rapids into the forefront of the entertainment industry. The Arena was a catalyst for economic development in the surrounding area, leading to the revitalization of downtown Grand Rapids including the development of over 100 restaurants, bars and retail establishments.
Today ranked Van Andel Arena as #4 in North America and #11 worldwide • Venues on its Top Stops list for venues with a capacity between 10,001 and 15,000 in 2016. ranked Van Andel Arena #35 among arena venues of all sizes in the United • Pollstar States and #69 worldwide on Pollstar’s list of Top 200 Arena Venues in 2016. Andel Arena came in at #3 on Billboard’s rankings for venues in North America • Van with a capacity between 10,001 and 15,000 in 2016. The arena was #8 worldwide. Continued from page 20
conference organizer services and the delegate experience. [Part of that is] trying to make sure the digital experience and the connectivity is intuitive, so that we cut down as many barriers between us and our clients’ delegates as we possibly can,” he explains. “Meeting opportunity is more time-light than it’s ever been because people are so busy, so it’s trying to make the most out of meetings for delegates and for people who are coming to meet those delegates.” Essentially, there has been a “switch to delegate catering from account catering,” Sharkey observes.
ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
The next international frontier for SMG, Asia and the Middle East, is also under Sharkey’s oversight. “We’re not going to be successful in these parts of the world unless we can add value by understanding 22
the culture and applying our best practices,” he says. “But it certainly is a ‘one SMG’ policy to these markets, to be able to provide the firepower that we’ve got across our business.” Thornton considers those regions “poised for growth.” “The prediction is that in the next 10 years there will be an explosion of growth in those communities, and there is going to be an increased desire for improved facilities and greater interaction with sports,” he says. “We could certainly see ourselves moving into those opportunities.” On the meetings side, this summer SMG achieved a major “win” in China with the agreement to manage the new Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Currently under construction and targeted to open in the first quarter of 2019, the facility will anchor a vibrant new business and lifestyle district near the Shenzhen International Airport. The design of Shenzhen World Facilities & event management 2017 superbook
calls for 4.3 million sq. ft. of exhibition space and another 500,000 sq. ft. of convention meeting space. The venue will be roughly twice the size of the SMG-managed McCormick Place in Chicago. “While we have entertained many inquiries from China in recent years, we were waiting for the right project and partner, and believe we have found both in Shenzhen,” comments Westley. “As we expand our global footprint, this agreement will propel our international growth strategy.”
LOCALLY FOCUSED F&B
In 2007, food & beverage service became a standalone offering to SMG’s clients: SAVOR & Premier Food Services. “Wes [Westley] saw it as a growth opportunity,” says Shaun Beard, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage. Beard joined SMG in 2009, prior to which he held Vice President positions with Levy Restaurants and Centerplate. “Just in my short tenure we’ve basically doubled the F&B revenue because of the right vision and the right people,” he relates. “Since 2009 we’ve really grown that SAVOR-only segment [of the clientele]; about 28-30 percent of our [agreements] now don’t include facility management. Twenty years ago it would have been 100 percent combined services.” Beard considers the hallmark of SAVOR’s food service to be a focus on local food culture. “That’s how we began, that’s how we’ve grown and that’s how we’ve succeeded — by being in touch with the local environment in the cities that we serve,” he says. The approach is part of a broader emphasis on the locale that is “reflected in the appearance of the building, the amenities, and so on. If [guests] don’t have a sense of place in these buildings, I think they are disappointed,” Ginty adds. SAVOR’s work at McCormick Place is a stellar example of not only expressing the destination, but also involving the community and its organizations in F&B initiatives. “Prior to 2011 the [convention center culinary garden] trend was well in play, but McCormick did not have the marketability of having a garden; it was a big miss. We won that contract in 2011 and within the first 18 months transformed the roof to an over 20,000-sq.-ft.
Facilities & event management 2017 superbook
garden to supply our chef tables,” says Beard. “We aligned with the Chicago Botanic Garden to make sure we’re growing in a proper, responsible way. So I think what makes us special is that we look at every business from a community standpoint first.” Drawing upon the talents of a city’s chefs and restaurateurs is another part of that approach. “We don’t take a chef from point A and put him in point B; we would much rather find the best talent in the local market,” says Beard. Not all markets are enamored with the idea of a celebrity chef, he adds. “In some markets, the celebrity chef is looked at as a very good thing. In other markets, it’s the local chef that went to high school there, left and went to the Culinary Institute of America; we found him, brought him back and he’s the celebrity.” For additional local flavor, SAVOR often brings in local restaurateurs to ensure that the experience reflects the community. Ultimately, it’s about how the venue can create an F&B experience that is both indigenous and marketable. “The convention center segment, the smaller, localized arenas, stadiums and the university venues, they’re all looking for differentiation, how they fit into their local and regional ecosystem,” he says. “That’s our sweet spot.”
FORWARD-THINKING LEADERSHIP
SMG’s senior executives are the catalysts for the company’s ongoing growth, and they each bring considerable career achievements to the table, including corporate citizenship. In commemoration of its 40th anniversary, SMG is encouraging its employees to be great citizens by recognizing their acts of kindness in their professional and personal lives. The company’s Gift of Kindness Contest, launched in March, accepts submissions from employees throughout the year, with a winner announced each quarter and an overall winner announced in December. Each winner will receive cash prizes and special limited edition Waterford “2017 The Gift of Kindness” signature ornaments. Says Ginty, “We want to celebrate the kind of character that has set SMG apart for our first 40 years and will continue to drive our success in the future.”
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2017 Prime Site Awards F
&EM is proud to see many of this year’s Prime Site Award winners giving agents, promoters and tour managers even stronger reason to consider their venues. Several are investing in improvement projects. Examples include the SMG-managed Florence Civic Center, undergoing a major expansion that broke ground in January (see p. 56), and RP Funding Center, investing $14 million in upgrades (p. 16). Others are debuting venue options for clients, such as Arie Crown Theater, which will be accompanied by the new Wintrust Arena this fall (p. 14), and Greensboro Coliseum Complex, opening the
Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in 2019 (p. 57). Given the quality of facilities and services that our Prime Site Award winners are known for, we are confident that their new and improved products will also exceed clients’ expectations. F&EM readers nominated venues based on numerous criteria, ranging from promotional support and event staff proficiency to physical aspects such as seating versatility, AV and staging quality, and back-of-house amenities. We congratulate this year’s winners, and look forward to nominations for the 2018 Prime Site Awards.
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Fac i l i t i e s & Ev e n t M a n ag e m e n t 2 0 1 7 P r i m e S i t e Awa r d W i n n e r s Northeast Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA Barclays Center
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DCU Center Arena, Worcester, MA Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, RI Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes Barre, PA PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA Prudential Center, Newark, NJ Santander Arena, Reading, PA SNHU Arena, Manchester, NH Times Union Center, Albany, NY Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Citizens Business Bank Arena is a state-of-the-art entertainment facility that hosts a variety of sporting competitions, concerts, family shows, special events, and community activities as well as private events. • Centrally located in Southern California • 11,000 seats • 36 Luxury Suites • Exceptional food and beverage • Ample parking and easy freeway access • Over 4.3 million fans call this Arena their home for entertainment Our mission is to provide the best entertainment experience for our guests and entertainers. Citizens Business Bank Arena 4000 E. Ontario Center Parkway Ontario, California 91764 | 909.244.5500 CBBankArena.com Worldwide Entertainment and Convention Venue Management
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Fac i l i t i e s & Ev e n t M a n ag e m e n t 2 0 1 7 P r i m e S i t e Awa r d W i n n e r s Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Richmond Coliseum
Mid-Atlantic EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, VA Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, MD
Southeast AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL Amway Center, Orlando, FL Bancorpsouth Center, Tupelo, MS Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, Concord, NC CenturyLink Center, Bossier City, LA Florence Civic Center, Florence, SC Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, NC Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA
VIRGINIA’S HOME FOR THE BIGGEST NAMES IN CONCERTS FAMILY SHOWS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
For Booking: Dwight Johnson, General Manager (804) 780-4970 djohnson@smgrichmond.com Jackie Naparlo, Director of Booking (804) 592-3334 jnaparlo@smgrichmond.com RICHMOND COLISEUM | 601 E. LEIGH ST., RICHMOND, VA 23219 | RICHMONDCOLISEUM.NET 26
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Venue size, quality facilities, marketplace buyers and experienced facility management contribute to any great performance. We’ve got them all, on one property, in the middle of the east coast, in the heart of North Carolina, including a newly renovated seating bowl with all new seats, video-board and hospitality spaces. For booking information contact: Scott Johnson at 336.373.7449, Scott.Johnson@greensboro-nc.gov or Gerry Duncan at 336-373-7459, Philip.Duncan@greensboro-nc.gov • Web: GreensboroColiseum.com
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Fac i l i t i e s & Ev e n t M a n ag e m e n t 2 0 1 7 P r i m e S i t e Awa r d W i n n e r s
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL KFC YUM! Center, Louisville, KY
Legacy Arena at the BJCC, Birmingham, AL North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC RP Funding Center, Lakeland, FL Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL
The Meridian Centre A world-class venue, bringing you world-class sports and entertainment in the heart of Niagara To book an event contact Ken Noakes: knoakes@meridiancentre.com Visit us at MERIDIANCENTRE.COM for exclusive discounts and offers! @MeridianCtre
@meridian_centre Photo: Vaughn Ridley
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Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
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
Fac i l i t i e s & Ev e n t M a n ag e m e n t 2 0 1 7 P r i m e S i t e Awa r d W i n n e r s
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Midwest Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, IL Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH
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2017 F&EM Prime Site Award 1/4 PG (3.5’’x4.75’’) Color
Ford Center, Evansville, IN Iowa State Center, Ames, IA iWireless Center, Moline, IL Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend, IN Nutter Center at Wright State University, Dayton, OH Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE Resch Center, Green Bay, WI Rushmore Civic Center Plaza Arena, Rapid City, SD Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Topeka Performing Arts Center, Topeka, KS
Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
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
Fac i l i t i e s & Ev e n t M a n ag e m e n t 2 0 1 7 P r i m e S i t e Awa r d W i n n e r s Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA West ASU Gammage, Tempe, AZ AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX Bellco Theatre, Denver, CO Golden 1 Center
BOK Center, Tulsa, OK Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX George M. Sullivan Sports Arena, Anchorage, AK Gila River Arena, Glendale, AZ Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA Grand Canyon University Arena, Phoenix, AZ Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, TX Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV 32
Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, CA Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA Smart Financial Center, Sugar Land, TX STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX Canada Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba Budweiser Gardens, London, Ontario Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario General Motors Centre, Oshawa, Ontario Meridian Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario Rogers K-Rock Centre, Kingston, Ontario Puerto Rico Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Hato Rey, PR
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Coliseo de Puerto Rico Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
SPOTLIGHT
THE
SOUTHWEST A trio of dynamic markets makes this corner of the country a live entertainment hub By George Seli
F
or tours making their Beckerman in a statement. way through the first-tier “We have always enjoyed a markets of the American strong relationship with the “We designed many Southwest, Las Vegas, Los Recording Academy and aspects of STAPLES Angeles and Phoenix are among have a tremendous amount the “must plays.” The first two are of respect for [Recording Center in partnership known for their entertainment Academy President/CEO] Neil industries, which are among the Portnow, who has always been with the Recording most robust in the United States. a collaborative partner to AEG. Academy, and look And the Valley of the Sun offers a We look forward to welcoming collection of stadiums and arenas back the GRAMMYs when forward to extending that regularly demonstrate their abilthey return to Los Angeles in ity to secure big draws for top acts. 2019.” Lee Zeidman, President this important Las Vegas has long been a of STAPLES Center and L.A. trendsetter in live entertainment, LIVE, added that “We designed relationship for years to come.” featuring performers as radically many aspects of STAPLES —Lee Zeidman, President, diverse as Wayne Newton and Blue Center in partnership with STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE Man Group at its casino hotels, as the Recording Academy, and well as residencies by legendary look forward to extending this names in music. Both Caesars important relationship for years Entertainment and MGM Resorts International offer vibrant venues to come.” Los Angeles itself looks forward to the award ceremony’s devoted to major concerts, sporting events and other spectacles. Last return, which is estimated to bring $82 million in economic benefit year, MGM made headlines in the entertainment industry with the to the city each year of the event, for a projected revenue of $328 opening of T-Mobile Arena in April and the Park Theater at Monte million over the four-year deal. Carlo Resort & Casino in December. See below for specs on these new Two GRAMMY-winning bands are making Phoenix part of venues and some of the top-tier events they are bringing to Las Vegas, their trek through the Southwest with stops at the 63,400-capacity including more Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contests. University of Phoenix Stadium. Metallica’s WorldWired Tour Peter Dropick, UFC Senior Vice President of Event Development 2017 took place on Aug. 4, and U2 brings the Joshua Tree Tour to & Operations, details the benefits of the company’s new status as an the stadium on Sept. 19. The original Joshua Tree Tour has a strong anchor tenant of T-Mobile Arena (p. 38). connection to the Valley of the Sun, beginning April 2, 1987, at ASU It doesn’t get more top tier than the GRAMMYs, and in 2019 University Activity Center (now Wells Fargo Arena) and ending Music’s Biggest Night returns to Los Angeles. This June, The Dec. 20 that year at Sun Devil Stadium. Recording Academy announced that it has signed a four-year Back in 2010, University of Phoenix Stadium hosted agreement with AEG for STAPLES Center to host the GRAMMY WrestleMania XXVI, and World Wrestling Entertainment telecast. “We are thrilled that STAPLES Center will continue to be (WWE) has recently made use of several other venues to tap home to the GRAMMY Awards,” said AEG President & CEO Dan the Arizona market. The Tucson Convention Center hosted
Contined on page 36
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Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
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Smackdown on July 4, and Gila River Arena in Glendale will host the show for the first time on Sept. 26. In addition, WWE has partnered several times with Talking Stick Resort Arena, which “has proven to be one of the better choices in terms of size, location and marketing appeal,” notes Kosha Irby, Regional Director, Live Events, WWE. “We’re pleased with every event that we have there; we’ve never left disappointed.” Talking Stick Resort Arena’s proficiency in handling WWE’s shows (see the Q&A with Irby on page 40) speaks volumes about the facility and production staff, given the nature of those events. “We’re a unique touring entity; we’re a rock concert mixed with theater mixed with in-ring wrestling action. We take up a lot of backstage space, so our footprint is bigger than most,” Irby explains. The size and complexity of an event never precludes finding a venue partner in the Southwest. While known for the Mojave and Sonoran, the region is no desert of routing choices thanks in large part to its first-tier markets.
all have upcoming shows in 2017. Operated and managed by AEG Presents, the venue was built with world-class features to enhance every performance and viewing experience. The focus remains on intimacy of viewing, with the furthest seat from the stage being only 120 feet away. CAPACITIES: Stadium style seating for over 4,200. STAGING: 22,450-sq.-ft. stage, measuring more than half an acre. Ten motorized stage lifts.
Don Ross
Vice President of Catering, Conventions & Events Caesars Entertainment
ASU GAMMAGE
Tempe, AZ asugammage.com The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed ASU Gammage, located on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University, is a top venue for Broadway and major performing arts tours. Upcoming this year are Natalie Lafourcade, Oct. 7; Malpaso Dance Company, Oct. 28; Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane Company, Nov. 18; and Broadway shows including Fun Home, Sept. 5-10; Something Rotten!, Oct. 31-Nov. 5; The Bodyguard, Nov. 28-Dec. 3; and Cinderella, Dec. 19-24. CAPACITY: 2,800 STAGING: Stage depth, 32 ft. (can be increased); proscenium width, 64 ft. maximum, 42 ft. minimum; proscenium height, 30 ft.; orchestra pit, 76 ft. wide by 11 ft. deep. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Two star dressing rooms, two principal rooms, one men’s chorus room for 18; one women’s chorus room for 18. Lower level: three rooms of varying size, one dressing room for three. Upper level: laundry/wardrobe room. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Dining options include the Portico Patio, open 90 minutes before Broadway shows, and The Wright Place, a new cocktails venue.
THE COLOSSEUM AT CAESARS PALACE
Las Vegas, NV thecolosseum.com The Colosseum has hosted marquee entertainers since it opened in 2003, and that tradition continues this year. The Who began their six-show limited engagement show on July 29. Jeff Dunham, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Rod Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Elton John and Reba and Brooks & Dunn 36
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is one of the busiest venues in the world, featuring resident artists Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Reba McIntyre and Brooks and Dunn. Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Van Morrison and The Who are among the major artists who have played the venue in the past few years. What is the history of the venue? The Colosseum was originally the brainchild of Celine Dion’s managers. The success has been around these headline artists. Now, other theaters have tried to replicate this. Is The Colosseum also an asset for convention groups? Several convention clients use the venue for business meetings and presentations annually. Every year, we convert the room into a state-of-the-art movie theater for the National Association of Theater Owners’ largest gathering, CinemaCon. Convention customers have also used the venue for a private concert, for example, Queen Extravaganza and One Republic. These events were very well received as the venue is built for these types of shows. What are some of the standout AV features? Certainly the staging, sound, lights and the large Mitsubishi videowall have [contributed to] the venue’s success. With the best in concert sound, amazing lighting, and proximity from the seats to the stage, the way the entire venue was designed really draws the guests into the stage and makes them feel a part of the show. What kind of production team can promoters look forward to working with? The Colosseum team, led by H.C. Rowe and Technical Director Bob Sandon, is the best in the business, and any client that has ever utilized this venue is amazed at the knowledge and professionalism that the team shows. Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
SOUND/LIGHTING: The venue’s 120-by-40-ft. LED screen is the largest LED screen in North America; 200 acoustic panels to control the amplified sound; state-of-the-art light and sound board; humidity air control system; 180,000 watts of amplification with 139 speakers; 45 ft.-by-120-ft. proscenium arch.
LOCAL AREA: Phoenix population is over 1,300,000 people. Glendale, the city Gila River Arena is located in, is part of the Northwest Valley of the Greater Phoenix Area. Located about 12 miles from Downtown Phoenix, the Arena is right off the 101 freeway, making it a quick and easy destination for anyone in the Valley.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: 1,500-sq.-ft. Green Room, along with two dressing rooms for the stars and seven additional dressing rooms. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Nineteen points of sale throughout the venue for beverages; numerous restaurant options steps away throughout Caesars Palace. MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS: The target market for The Colosseum is the tourists visiting Las Vegas from all over the world.
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ARENA
GILA RIVER ARENA
Glendale, AZ gilariverarena.com Gila River Arena is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose facility that anchors the 223-acre, $1 billion development Westgate Entertainment District. Owned by the City of Glendale, and managed by AEG Facilities, Gila River Arena is home to the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and has hosted major acts and numerous sell-outs such as U2, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Eagles. Upcoming shows include WWE SmackDown Live, Sept. 26; Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oct. 18; and Katy Perry, Jan. 19. The Arena has recently completed several improvement projects, such as new carpeting and an upgraded security camera system, and will be adding a new catering kitchen, remodeling the media lounge and more. CAPACITIES: Hockey and lacrosse, 17,125; basketball, 18,300; concerts, about 19,000. STAGING/RIGGING: StageRight, minimum height 48 in. to maximum height 78 in. Total rigging capacity, 125,000 lbs. Four computercontrolled hoists at center of building, maximum load 6,000 lbs. each. BACKSTAGE AREAS: 3,800-sq.-ft. team locker room, 1,300-sq.-ft. officials locker room, three auxiliary locker rooms, three star dressing rooms, 500-sq.-ft. green room, 600-sq.-ft. production office. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: Suite, Club and Valet guests receive red carpet treatment as they enter their exclusive VIP entrance at Gate 1. New mothers nursing their babies are treated with a private Mothers Nursing Room. Gila River Arena partners with In Stadium Solutions (ISS) to provide an in-game/event texting service, allowing guests to text issues to building management anonymously and discretely without having to leave their seat. EVENT PROMOTION: Marketing Department handles social media, ad buys, trade deals, database communication and anything else a promoter may need. Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
Phoenix, AZ gcuarena.com Arizona’s premier private Christian university, Grand Canyon University debuted its Arena on Sept. 1, 2011. In August 2014, GCU expanded the venue with 2,000 additional seats. With only 42 steps from event level to concourse level, every seat in the house has a good view. The 135,000-sq.-ft. Arena hosts GCU athletics, University and community events, and national concert tours. Upcoming shows include Big Daddy Weave, Sept. 14; Movement Day Arizona, Sept. 16; Jeremy Camp, Oct. 7; and the 2018 Southwest Gospel Music Festival, Feb. 18. CAPACITY: 7,000 STAGING: StageRight, 60 ft. by 40 ft. maximum BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four dressing rooms, green room, two visiting team locker rooms, two coaches offices within the home team locker rooms. AV FEATURES: One 15 ft.-by-35 ft. high-definition video board, two 10 ft.-by-18 ft. high-definition video boards, high-resolution digital ribbon board, and high-definition lobby video board. The JumboTron can be moved with the touch of a finger via a trolley beam. L Acoustics house sound system. OTHER FEATURES: Five concession stands (including three pizza ovens), portable basketball floor, large windows providing natural light.
MGM RESORTS: ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LAS VEGAS, NV
mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment.html MGM Resorts International is known for more than just hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. The company offers touring acts four major venues: the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Park Theater at Monte Carlo and T-Mobile Arena. Among the many upcoming events of note at these venues are Shakira, Feb. 10, MGM Grand Garden Arena; Marc Anthony, Sept. 16, and Janet Jackson, Oct. 14, Mandalay Bay Events Center; Bruno Mars, Sept. 2-3, and Cher, multiple dates in November, Park Theater; and Mayweather vs. McGregor, Aug. 26, and George Strait, multiple dates in September and December, T-Mobile Arena. Both the Park Theater and T-Mobile Arena opened last year, greatly contributing to MGM Resort’s entertainment offerings in the city. The former is a dynamic part of The Strip’s newest neighborhood, The Park. T-Mobile Arena, jointly developed by MGM Resorts and AEG, is state-of-the-art in every respect. It recently became the first sports and entertainment 37
facility in Las Vegas to achieve LEED® Green Building Certification. The following overview focuses primarily on these two new venues.
MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER CAPACITIES: 12,000 maximum; end stage 240°, 9,860; end stage 220°, 9,333; end stage 180°, 8,693; basketball, 10,891; boxing, 11,413; hockey, 7,535. BACKSTAGE AREAS: 11 functional spaces, eight dressing rooms, green room, two production rooms. AUDIENCE AMENITIES: 12 premium suites
Peter Dropick
Senior Vice President of Event Development & Operations Ultimate Fighting Championship
MGM GRAND HOTEL & CASINO
MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA CAPACITIES: 16,800 maximum; end stage 240°, 13,303; end stage 220°, 13,158; end stage 180°, 12,242; basketball, 12,522; boxing, 13,434; hockey, 11,316. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four dressing rooms, 10 studio rooms (some may be combined to provide larger space). AUDIENCE AMENITIES: Loge seating, VIP food and beverage options on concourse level.
MGM Resorts’ marketing reach is very valuable. Las Vegas becomes a destination for UFC fans, and MGM allows us to reach fans all over the world and bring them in for our events.
This spring, the UFC and T-Mobile Arena entered into a multiyear agreement that names the martial arts organization as an anchor tenant. The partnership establishes T-Mobile Arena as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. It also marks the first time that a global sports brand, other than a professional sports franchise, has been named as an anchor tenant for a sports and entertainment venue. The UFC is well accustomed to working with MGM Resorts International, having hosted events at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Mandalay Bay Events Center for over a decade. The move to T-Mobile Arena has yielded the attendance record in Las Vegas (18,533 at UFC 207, Nunes vs. Rousey, Dec. 30, 2016) and top gate in Las Vegas ($10.7 million for UFC 200, Tate vs. Nunes, July 9, 2016). Most recently, the UFC hosted International Fight Week at T-Mobile Arena, Toshiba Plaza, and Park Theater at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. UFC 216 is next up at the arena, Oct. 7.
Are T-Mobile Arena’s AV and tech capabilities a good fit for your production style? They’ve got the latest technology with their center-hung scoreboard, LED ribbon, and the connectivity within the building. It’s on par with the best venues in the world. We have an in-house production team that takes full advantage of the AV capabilities within a venue so the in-arena experience is great for the fans. We think our presentation and production is some of the best in the world for any sports or entertainment event. We focus on making sure the fans feel like they got their money’s worth. And so the entertainment that we provide outside of what happens in the octagon is important to us as well.
How many events does UFC bring to Las Vegas per year? We’re averaging about 60 events — four of those would be our “numbered” events, the marquee pay-per-view events that we hold at T-Mobile Arena. And typically we’re doing two additional Fight Nights or TUF [The Ultimate Fighter] Finale events, which are being held at the Park Theater.
How has your team made use of the two-acre Toshiba Plaza? During International Fight Week, we took over Toshiba Plaza and the Park Theater. We created a two-day fan festival in the Plaza with athlete autograph signing, F&B options and music. Many venues don’t have the space to allow our sponsors to activate that fan experience.
What did the opening of T-Mobile Arena mean for UFC? Las Vegas is the fight capital of the world and the UFC headquarters, so to have this new arena is very exciting. We’ve had a great partnership with both MGM and AEG. For them to come together and build the arena in Las Vegas was great for everybody.
What are your goals for future events at the arena? We’re very pleased with where we stand today, but we’re always looking to enhance our fan experience and our production and how we deliver our events. The building is still new, so every event we find a way to make the experience that much better. We’re also excited to have the Vegas Golden Knights NHL team start their season in a couple months, and there will be opportunities to work with them as well.
How does MGM Resorts assist your organization on the promotional side? 38
Bryan Steffy for Mandalay Bay Resort andCasino
Twenty One Pilots at Mandalay Bay Events Center, Feb. 18, 2017
What is your team’s impression of T-Mobile Arena’s back-ofhouse facilities? We have a very large footprint from a production standpoint, and they have a great loading dock and truck parking area. Back of house has all the amenities and plenty of space for dressing rooms, the media and catering needs. They’ve also got great premium seating and lounges.
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
measuring 45 ft. by 210 ft.; center-hung scoreboard and LED ribbons. Scoreboard: all-aluminum frame and LED screens on all four sides of the scoreboard; four additional LED screens installed on the underbelly for viewing by guests sitting on the event floor; scoreboard sits 35 ft. off the event floor; 27 ft. high by 47 ft. long at its widest point. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Two NHL locker rooms; two NBA locker rooms; four 1,200-sq.-ft. dressing rooms that can serve as auxiliary team locker rooms; officials’ locker room; four green rooms with air walls; media/production rooms.
PARK THEATER AT MONTE CARLO CAPACITIES: 5,200 maximum. Intimate seating with farthest seat from the stage only 145 feet away. 1,052 seats are located on a cutting-edge telescopic seating system freeing up to 14,000 sq. ft. of the Theater’s floor to accommodate a wide range of events. STAGING: 7,640 sq. ft.; one of the largest stages in the United States
AUDIENCE AMENITIES: Levy Restaurants is the official food and beverage partner of T-Mobile Arena. Wide variety of food and beverage options at every level including specialty drinks by master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim. Premium seating products include Event Level Suites, Luxury Suites, Opera Boxes, Terrace Tables and Club and Event Level seating programs. Four dedicated VIP entrances and VIP parking adjacent to the arena. Six premium VIP clubs including two Tower Clubs, which are cantilevered over the upper bowl offering unique views. Premium balconies on all VIP and public levels with views of Toshiba Plaza, The Park and the Las Vegas Strip.
AUDIOVISUAL: Seven HD 30K video projectors, capable of projecting a 230 ft.-by-50 ft. image, provide an immersive experience; two 4K projectors; two 23 ft.-by-14 ft. screens; 80 ft.-by-40 ft. LED display with 4K resolution; 240-ft.-wide immersive projection surface with 3D motion graphic capability. First-of-its-kind proscenium arch designed to feature immersive projection, becoming an ever-changing signature look for the venue. Projections are customizable based on artists, sponsors and event needs; in-house content also available. State-of-the-art integrated audio system engineered specifically for the venue by L’Acoustics. BACKSTAGE AREAS: Meet and greet area for artists, green room, dressing rooms, in-house broadcast control room. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Seven bars are located throughout Park Theater. Guests in premium VIP seats can enjoy bottle service provided by a dedicated cocktail server.
ORLEANS ARENA
Coldplay at T-Mobile Arena, Sept. 1, 2016. (Left): The UFC hosts a fan festival at T-Mobile Arena’s Toshiba Plaza during International Fight Week
Las Vegas, NV orleansarena.com The Orleans Arena hosts more than 200 events each year, with a variety of entertainment options for a local and national audience. In 2014, the Orleans Arena received the IAVM’s Venue Excellence Award. The venue has been home to a number of firsts: the first casino-owned venue to host an NCAA basketball game, the first venue in America to host the EnduroCross motorsports event, the first venue in Nevada to achieve LEED Gold Certification and the first Nevada arena to fly an indoor drone during a publically ticketed event. Upcoming events include Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, Sept. 15-16; Andre Rieu, Oct. 20; and Harlem Globetrotters, Oct. 27.
CAPACITIES: End stage concert, 8,921; 360° concert, 9,500; three-fourths house concert, 6,849; one-half house concert, 5,519; one-fourth house concert, 4,193; boxing/wrestling, 3,500-9,500; hockey/soccer/football, 6,500-7,000; rodeo/equestrian, 5,736; basketball, 7,500-8,500; general admission floor – end stage, 7,536.
Bryan Steffy
T-MOBILE ARENA
CAPACITIES: 20,000 maximum; boxing/ UFC, 20,000; end stage concerts, 12,000-18,000; center stage concert, 19,500-20,000; hockey, 17,500; basketball, 19,000. TECHNOLOGY: Free public Wi-Fi provided by COX Business; 820 Toshiba LCD video displays; COX Business provides programming throughout the arena; exclusively designed $1.6 million JBL by HARMAN facility sound system; 4G LTE T-Mobile network. Toshiba and Daktronics provided LED board technology: outdoor video mesh wall
Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
STAGING: In-house mobile deck stage system measures 60 ft. by 48 ft. (varied). BACKSTAGE AREAS: Six arena meeting rooms and one press room totaling over 11,600 sq. ft. of space, five locker rooms, three star rooms with showers, restroom and vanity mirrors, and one green room. AV TECHNOLOGY: The audio system is a custom-build EAW 39
system. Stadium lights have a shutter system for instant on/off capabilities. AMENITIES: Nine convenient food outlets, a full service Catering Department and in house kitchen facility. There are more than 100 LED TVs throughout the concourse and the club/suite level. Premium areas include 248 Club Seats and 22 Luxury Suites. Three parking lots include the Harmon Lot, which is 240,000 sq. ft. and fully fenced and lighted for outdoor event use; East Parking Lot with over 500,000 sq. ft.; and the West Parking Lot, which is over 200,000 sq. ft. — all adjacent to the venue. Additional public parking for arena events can be found in the 2,500-space parking garage next to the facility. EVENT PROMOTION: The Orleans Arena marketing team is available to promote events through unique arena and casino marketing opportunities. In addition, the team can assist with local media buys, public relations initiatives, street marketing efforts and much more. Drawing from both a local and tourist database, the Orleans Arena has a vast database to market shows. With an adjoining full-service casino/hotel, the daily patron traffic on the property is another source of constant marketing for events.
TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA
Phoenix, AZ talkingstickresortarena.com Opened in 1992 as America West Arena and known as US Airways Center from 2006-2015, Talking Stick Resort Arena is a hub of entertainment in downtown Phoenix. The venue is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers. In 2004, the arena completed a $70 million expansion and improvement project that introduced the 14,000-sq.ft. Casino Arizona Pavilion, serving as a grand entrance. On the east side, the Coors Light Cold Zone provides a flexible outdoor entertainment venue covered by a football field-length canopy and complemented by state-of-the-art AV. Upcoming events include Dierks Bentley, Aug. 26, Marvel Universe Live!, Sept. 8-10; Janet Jackson, Sept. 21; Scorpions, Oct. 8; and Jay-Z, Nov. 3.
Kosha Irby
Regional Director, Live Events World Wrestling Entertainment During Kosha Irby’s seven years with WWE, the company has brought numerous events to Talking Stick Resort Arena. Most recently, he oversaw two back-to-back shows, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, July 3 and 4, at the downtown Phoenix venue. In addition, an Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on Feb. 12 sold out. What has made Talking Stick Resort Arena a good routing choice for your shows this year? We felt that Talking Stick was competent, astute and in a robust enough market to host two shows back to back. It’s a great venue, one that we always keep on our radar for hosting live events. How would you describe the local market? It’s a very trendy market, meaning that there are a lot of transplants from other parts of the world. It’s also a really generational city. You do find an older demographic because of the retirees, but it’s still a young, vibrant city, so it’s the perfect blend. Has Talking Stick been an effective marketing partner? We lean on their marketing staff to help us navigate the local 40
CAPACITY: 18,000 STAGING: Sico staging, 64 ft. by 40 ft. maximum (8 ft. by 4 ft. decks); height adjusts from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in increments of six inches; two sets of stage stairs available. BACKSTAGE AREAS: 13 dressing rooms/offices, 12 of which include private shower/restroom facilities. A 2,194-sq.-ft. multipurpose area features movable walls, shower/restroom facilities, telephone lines, high-speed Internet and plasma TVs with cable. Two 320-sq.-ft. production offices are available with amenities. AV FEATURES: 900-ft. LED ribbon; center-hung scoreboard with HDTV; sound reinforcement system consisting of Martin line array configured (in the round), and controlled by Crown IQ software. AMENITIES: 900-space attached garage (1,500-space garage next door), catering lounge (catering provided by Arizona Catering), two event-level club spaces, 87 luxury suites and six party suites, 16 concession stands operated by Levy Restaurants. EVENT PROMOTION: Full-service, in-house marketing staff.
market. They do a phenomenal job and have great relationships with a plethora of local businesses and media outlets that allow us to, one, buy media at the best and most aggressive rate and, two, expand our reach beyond what we normally would do. At WWE we like to say we’re a global company with local reach. They assist us in that local effort better than a lot of other facilities out there. Do you feel the facility staff go the extra mile in helping you put on a quality show? The thing that sets them apart, candidly, is the people. They have a never-say-no attitude, and they’re committed to that from the top down. One time we were going to have an outside marketing event for the Royal Rumble, and we had the ring set up in their plaza area. We would charge admission for it, and had this whole plan for an extravaganza that was going to precede the Royal Rumble. It typically never rains in the desert; Phoenix gets about five days of rain a year. And it seemed like those five days came during our event. We had already sold tickets, and didn’t want to cancel. So they figured out a way to allow us to use their atrium area to host the outdoor event, and then took the event we were hosting in the atrium and put it on their practice court. And we made the decision just two hours before th`e show started. They did it no questions asked, once again making our vision a reality. But it’s also the simple things, like having welcome gifts for our superstars once they arrive. Those small touches go a long way when you spend 300 days or so on the road. Facilities & Event Management 2017 Superbook
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Facilities & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017 SuperBook
INDIANA
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
W
4000 Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 482-9502 memorialcoliseum.com
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ith the opening of the Conference Center, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum now includes more than 1,000,000 sq. ft. under one roof. It is one of only 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 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 now has the state’s second-largest public assembly facility, in the Memorial Coliseum complex. 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 (NBADL) and annually hosts major concerts and family show events. It features a four-sided, center-hung video scoreboard, nearly 360 degrees of ribbon boards and a custom curtaining system to reduce capacity when needed. In 20132014, the concourses underwent a complete overhaul and renovation with new restrooms and expanded concessions offerings. Expo Center The Coliseum Expo Center is 152,000 sq. ft. of multipurpose space with two portable walls and flexible 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.
Conference Center
The 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 airwalls. Over 20,000 sq. ft. of luxurious pre-function lobby space and the state-of-the-art CREATE Tasting Kitchen provide an impressive venue for banquets, meetings, tradeshows and other events. Built-in screens, projectors and intelligent LED lighting make audiovisual easy and convenient. Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
䄀氀氀攀渀 䌀漀甀渀琀礀 圀愀爀 䴀攀洀漀爀椀愀氀 䌀漀氀椀猀攀甀洀 䄀爀攀渀愀 ⴀ 䔀砀瀀漀 䌀攀渀琀攀爀 ⴀ 䌀漀渀昀攀爀攀渀挀攀 䌀攀渀琀攀爀
䘀漀爀 戀漀漀欀椀渀最 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀㨀 刀愀渀搀礀 䰀⸀ 䈀爀漀眀渀Ⰰ 䌀䘀䔀 ㈀㘀 ⸀㐀㠀㈀⸀㤀㔀 ㈀ 漀爀 爀戀爀漀眀渀䀀洀攀洀漀爀椀愀氀挀漀氀椀猀攀甀洀⸀挀漀洀 ⼀愀挀眀洀挀 䀀愀挀眀洀挀
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 46
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 Superbook
I am the IAFE.
Bryan Schulz, CFE Red River Valley Fair
Education is the lifeblood for continued growth in a person’s quest for job advancement and the Red “River Valley Fair Association board and management believe this whole heartedly. We see the courses
offered through the IAFE as being major factors in our staff’s advancement and our boards overall knowledge of the Fair industry. In the past 8 years we have had three graduates from the Institute of Fair Management with two of us going on to get our CFE’s. In addition to the aforementioned graduates, we also have 4 additional staff members enrolled in the Institute Course and one more that will begin shortly. We have had a total of 8 board and staff members take the Consumer Protection course from which major changes were implemented in how we handle livestock events on our grounds. We are a midsize Fair with a limited budget for education but believe if we want to keep good people, we need to invest in their future by giving them all of the necessary tools to perform their daily duties and work for possible advancement. Thanks to the IAFE Staff and instructors for their continued commitment to the Fair Industry.
www.fairsandexpos.com
”
new york
Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial
B
lue Cross Arena at the War Memorial opened as the
is 60 feet. One drive-in truck ramp with 15-foot clearance leads
Rochester Community War Memorial in 1955, and under-
straight to the Arena floor. Backstage areas include three locker
went a $41 million renovation and expansion in the late ‘90s.
rooms, four dressing rooms (including a 30 ft.-by-12 ft. Star’s
Managed by SMG, the Arena has hosted acts such as Barry
Dressing Room), an officials room, green room and nine ft.-by-25
Manilow, Harlem Globetrotters, Monster Jam, the Gala of the
ft. promoters office.
Royal Horses, WWE Live, Nancy Kerrigan’s Halloween on Ice, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Festival of
The area is known for the War Memorial and Veteran’s Memo-
Praise Tour.
rial Plaza. Accessible to the public, the shrine is designed to be a lasting tribute to all those from the Rochester area who gave
The 12,428-seat arena accommodates 6,052 in its upper bowl,
their lives for our nation’s liberties. Veteran’s Memorial Plaza
4,696 in its lower bowl and 1,680 on the floor. An 80 ft.-by-80
overlooks the Genesee River. Nearby points of interest include
ft. StageRight concert stage is available; heights from 4 ft. to 6
the George Eastman House, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester
ft. can be built in any 4 ft. by 8 ft. dimension as well as tiered in
Museum & Science Center and National Museum of Play. Hotel
different heights. The Arena utilizes four covered loading docks
options include the Radisson Hotel Rochester Riverside, Roches-
off Court Street. Approximate distance to the upstage center
ter Plaza Hotel and Hyatt Regency Rochester.
1 War Memorial Square, Rochester, NY 14614 • (585) 758-5300 • bluecrossarena.com 48
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
Tennessee
Bridgestone Arena
S
erving as the home for numerous worldclass events, Bridgestone Arena has the distinction of being one of the busiest venues in the United States since its doors opened in 1996, hosting more than 20 million guests. The National Hockey League’s 2017 Western Conference Champions, the Nashville Predators, have been the primary tenants of Bridgestone Arena since 1998 and boast one of the most raucous atmospheres and best fan experiences in the NHL. The list of acts and events that have called Bridgestone Arena home is lengthy and includes the Country Music Association Awards, the Country Music Television Awards, NCAA and SEC Basketball Tournaments, and entertainers such as Eric Church, Bon Jovi, Adele, Carrie Underwood and the Rolling Stones. Seating capacity is approximately 20,000 for concerts, 19,395 for basketball and 17,113 for Nashville Predators games. The arena also houses more than 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space and a 13,500-sq.ft. rehearsal hall. Bridgestone Arena is equipped to deliver the latest in user-friendly features, including a 30,000-sq.-ft. loading dock capable of accommodating 14 trucks and an impressive main bowl that features a 43,000-sq.-ft. exhibit floor with 110 ft. of vertical clearance. In addition to being nominated for Pollstar’s 2015 and 2016 Arena of the Year, Bridgestone Arena continued to rack up awards in the first seven months of 2017, including the 2017 Academy of Country Music Venue of the Year and the 2017 Facility of Merit Award by the NHL.
501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 770-2000 bridgestonearena.com
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Name, Title ____________________________________________________________________________ Company _____________________________________________________________________________ Street Address (City, State, Zip) ___________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________________________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________________________ Which of the following categories (I, II, or III) best describes your business classification? Please check the one box that applies. I. Facilities ❑ 1AR Arena/Stadium ❑ 1CC Convention/Expo Center ❑ 1CI Civic Center ❑ 1HO Hotel/Conference Center ❑ 1PA Performing Arts Center ❑ 1FG Fairground ❑ 1AM Amphitheatre ❑ 1EH Exhibit Hall ❑ 1TH Theatre ❑ 1MP Multi-Purpose ❑ 1OT Other (please specify) ____________________ Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
II. Entertainment Management ❑ 2A Concert Tour Promoter ❑ 2B Booking Agent ❑ 2C Business/Personal Manager ❑ 2D Talent Buyer ❑ 2E Special Event Planner ❑ 2F Sports Agent ❑ 2G Other (please specify) ____________________
III. Others Allied to Field ❑ 3A Architect ❑ 3D City Manager/Government ❑ 3F Exhibit Designer/Producer ❑ 3M Independent Meeting Planner ❑ 3Pv Show/Event Production Company ❑ 3X Other (please specify) ____________________
49
NORTH CAROLINA
TT
he Cabarrus Arena & Events Center is the region’s newest and most innovative exhibition center he Cabarrus Arenafloor & Events Center is the region’sfeatures. newest and most centerof offering a flexible plan and state-of-the-art With the innovative 5,000 seat exhibition arena, in excess offering a flexible plan and state-of-the-art the 5,000 seatThe arena, in excess of 150,000 square feet offloor temperature-controlled eventfeatures. space andWith an 11-acre lawn, Cabarrus Arena 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. 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 Situated in Concord, North Carolina,ofthe Cabarrus & Events Center is inisthe heart of an area with colorful history and a tapestry both the oldArena and the new. The facility only moments awayrich with history and a tapestry bothitsthe old and the new.homes The facility is only moments away from colorful the historic downtown district,ofwith stately antebellum and specialty shops, and only from the historic downtown district, with its stately antebellum homes and specialty shops, and only minutes from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills Mall, the most visited tourist attracminutes from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills Mall, the most visited tourist attraction in the state of North Carolina. tion in the state of North Carolina. 4751 Highway 49 North 4751 Highway 49 North Concord, North Carolina 28025 Concord,704.920.3976 North Carolina 28025 704.920.3976 CabarrusArena.com CabarrusArena.com
Debbie Shields 704.920.3988 Debbie Shields dshields@CabarrusArena.com 704.920.3988 dshields@CabarrusArena.com
50
Kenny Robinson 704.920.3986 Kenny Robinson klrobinson@CabarrusArena.com 704.920.3986 klrobinson@CabarrusArena.com Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
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 Superbook
Debra Polselli, Booking Assistant (p) 401.331.0700 ext.7112 (e) dpolselli@dunkindonutscenter.com
51
MASSACHUSETTS
DCU Center
S
ince 1982, the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, has been recognized as the gathering place to experience the finest in entertainment, sporting events and public functions. The DCU Center is celebrated as one of the most successful entertainment and convention facilities in the nation. With a capacity that’s scalable from 5,500 to 13,840 by the use of an innovative curtaining system, the arena features annual appearances by popular family shows, sporting events and today’s top touring acts. The facility is the proud home to the newly announced ECHL expansion franchise, the Worcester Railers HC, which will play 36 regular season home games at the DCU Center when the puck drops in October 2017. Attached to the Arena is a state-of-the-art Convention Center featuring panoramic views of downtown Worcester. The Convention Center adds 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space to the facility, 11 meeting rooms, the largest ballroom in Central Massachusetts and a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. With 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, the facility is occupied year-round by consumer shows, tradeshows, conventions, conferences, rallies and many other public and private functions. Recent improvements and projects well underway include: a dynamic Wi-Fi system improving patron interactivity; front and back-of-house touring needs and increased bandwidth for media; a brand-new, high-definition center-hung scoreboard in the Arena; and a capital lighting project that re-lamped 3,487 individual lighting fixtures across the complex with LED lights and the adoption of a new sports lighting system for the Arena (Ephesus Serious by Eaton). Continuing to provide the best possible experience for the promoter, performer and patron, the DCU Center is owned by the City of Worcester and managed by SMG. Celebrating its
40th anniversary and founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million sq. ft. of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming; construction and design consulting; and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place and Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information, visit www.smgworld.com.
50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608 • (508) 755-6800 • dcucenter.com 52
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME
NEW ROBUST WIFI THROUGHOUT FACILITY
NEW LED LIGHTS THROUGHOUT FACILITY
NEW HIGH DEF ARENA SCOREBOARD
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
54
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
INDIANA
Ford Center and Victory Theatre
E
vansville, IN is being nationally noticed for a new branding campaign, and VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC is providing support to make this a success for the Illinois–Indiana–Kentucky tristate area. Evansville business leaders, Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Southwest Indiana Chamber, Evansville Regional Business Committee, Growth Alliance of Greater Evansville and other entities have teamed up with local brand and marketing experts to launch “Evansville – e is for everyone.” According to organizers, the objective of this campaign is to help make Evansville and the tristate area an “even more attractive place to live, work and play.” Ford Center and Victory Theatre created their “e” from event tickets to represent the entertainment they bring to the tristate area for “Evansville - e is for everyone.” According to a press release from the campaign, “The people of Evansville are proud of what they’ve built together. It’s up to us to keep the energy going. When we connect, contribute, and celebrate all that is Evansville, our community thrives.” Evansville’s Mayor, Lloyd Winnecke, states, “We think [Evansville – e is for everyone] sends a strong message to residents and visitors that Evansville is an inclusive, fun place. Advertising comes and goes; this will be a three-year, multi-platform effort, funded entirely with private money, telling the stories that make Evansville unique. It won’t just be a flash in the pan,” but a sustained effort to increase community pride, economic growth, and celebrate the resources available in the Evansville area for people of all ages, interests and educational levels. In 2016, VenuWorks made a commitment to the city of Evansville to keep professional hockey in the Ford Center and started VW Sports, L.L.C., which acquired the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) affiliation as majority owner of the Evansville Thunderbolts. In 2017, VenuWorks has taken on the challenge of becoming the sole owner of the SPHL Evansville Thunderbolts. “Evansville has quickly become a hockey town, and securing a team that will belong to Evansville was a no-brainer when the opportunity presented itself,” said Scott Schoenike, Executive Director of Ford Center and VW Sports, L.L.C. “The SPHL is pleased to continue its relationship with VenuWorks and supports their efforts to enhance the hockey experience in Evansville. We look forward to all the positive changes on and off the ice from now and into next season to provide a top-notch product,” stated Jim Combs, President of
SPHL. “We applaud the efforts of Scott Schoenike and his staff. They always work hard to improve the experience at the Ford Center.” Managing Ford Center, Victory Theatre and now the SPHL Evansville Thunderbolts, VenuWorks has made quite the footprint in Evansville. Just in 2017, Tesla, Clint Black, America, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Ron White and Jeff Dunham have performed at Victory Theatre. Kansas, Dwight Yoakam, Olivia Newton-John, Billy Ray Cyrus and Blues Traveler are set to perform in 2017 at the theater. Ford Center secured an ACM Honors Venue of the Year – Medium Capacity nomination in only its sixth year of operation, and has also seen a busy 2017 with high-caliber events such as Blake Shelton, Journey, Justin Moore and Lee Brice’s “American Made” tour, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Willie Nelson and WWE RAW, just to name a few. Ford Center also held the 10th Annual Theatre on Ice Competition, which is the largest amateur competition that has been hosted in Evansville. The Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament was played at Ford Center for the third time since the venue’s opening in 2011. To finish out 2017, Ford Center has already announced Alan Jackson in August, Kid Rock and Thomas Rhett for September, Mercy Me in October and Elton John in November to mark the six-year anniversary of Ford Center. Ford Center has proven itself not only to promoters bringing concerts, but also has made its mark on hosting conventions. Jehovah’s Witness Convention has been hosted at Ford Center multiple times, and in June 2018 Ford Center will host the Indiana State Republican Party Conference. Another big opportunity is the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, which will be coming to Ford Center in March 2018. It will be the first time for an Indiana city to host this tournament. With the collaboration of the Evansville Sports Corporation, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the excellent and hard-working staff of VenuWorks, Evansville is becoming increasingly attractive to these high-caliber events. The city’s innovative branding, the city administration and the relationship VenuWorks has established with Evansville can only bring greater things in the future for Evansville, Ford Center, Victory Theatre and the Evansville Thunderbolts. It’s only getting better. For booking information for Ford Center, visit www.fordcenter. com or contact Scott Schoenike at (812) 436-7050. For booking information for Victory Theatre, visit www.victorytheatre.com or contact Scott Schoenike at (812) 436-7050. For more information on the SPHL Evansville Thunderbolts, visit www.evansvillethunderbolts.com. For more information on Evansville – e is for everyone, visit www. eisforeveryone.com.
SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd • Evansville, IN 47708 • fordcenter.com • victorytheatre.com Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
55
SOUTH CAROLINA
Florence Civic Center
T
he flourishing city of Florence, SC, along with the award-winning Florence Civic Center, is positioned conveniently at the intersections of I-95 and I-20, precisely halfway from New York to Miami. Florence, famous for its contemporary Southern belle atmosphere, offers the amenities of a sophisticated metropolitan area, with over 5,000 quality hotel rooms, unique boutique shopping, national chain retailers, and an extensive variety of local and worldrenowned restaurants, all served up with a relaxed, easygoing style. Although the area has seen steady continued growth for the past two decades, Florence has recently begun booming immensely with new businesses and development over the past several years. An economic surge has propelled an astonishing number of new corporations, firms, restaurants, hotels, shopping locations, nightlife, entertainment and more to the already-thriving region. The SMG-managed Florence Civic Center is part of that trend and is currently going through a major venue expansion that broke ground in January 2017. Construction continues as the venue expands its meeting and conference space to accommodate regional and national conference needs. The expansion (see rendering) includes several new meeting rooms, junior ballroom, pre-function space, an outdoor plaza, as well as a new catering kitchen. The existing ballroom, meeting rooms and lobby area will also undergo renovations to seamlessly tie all spaces together for an all-new and improved venue. Progress is well underway with an expected completion date of early spring 2018. • 25,000 sq. ft. of new constructed space • 28,000 sq. ft. of renovated meeting space • 60,000 sq. ft. of total event space • 10,000-seat capacity arena • 1,700 adjacent hotel rooms • 75 percent of nation’s population within a day’s drive • #1 South Carolina and East Coast destination for your next event
The SMG-managed Florence Civic Center is already the largest convention, entertainment and exhibition facility in northeast South Carolina. The expansion project is adding another 25,000 sq. ft. to the facility, offering planners more options when it comes to break out meeting spaces, more flexible room layouts and larger capacities. The expanded spaces will include approximately 8,000 sq. ft. of sub-dividable meeting space, 12,000-sq.-ft. lobby and prefunction space, as well as a 5,000-sq.-ft. kitchen to keep pace with increasing demands. For over 20 years the Center has offered a range of entertainment options to the Pee Dee region including family shows, sold-out concerts, sporting events, expos, carnivals, tradeshows, ice skating, ice events and much more. The Center has the advantage of a prime location on a spacious, manicured complex just a few miles from the airport and Amtrak station, and is close to dozens of restaurants and national chain hotels, several of which are within walking distance. The prime location also translates to visitors assembling just a few short miles from many parks, museums, special attractions, sports fields, boating lakes, recreational activities, exciting nightlife and a bustling downtown. Venture out a little further and one can spend a day in the sand at Myrtle Beach, just an hour away, or experience the adrenaline at the famous Darlington Raceway, just a few minutes down the road.
3300 West Radio Drive, Florence, SC 29501 • (843) 679-9417 • florenceciviccenter.com 56
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
North Carolina
Greensboro Coliseum Complex
T
he Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multi-building facility designed to serve the citizens of Greensboro and the surrounding area through a broad range of activities, including athletic events, cultural arts, concerts, theater, educational activities, fairs, exhibits, and public and private events of all kinds such as conventions, convocations and trade and consumer shows. It is both a primary center of activity for the community and a leading economic generator for this region. The Coliseum Complex is one of the most actively booked facilities in the country, hosting more than 1,100 events on an annual basis. With its incredible versatility, the Complex has gained worldwide acclaim from promoters, producers, event planners and patrons. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex consists of eight venues including the 22,000-seat Greensboro Coliseum, which has a long and distinguished history of hosting ACC and NCAA basketball championships as well as concerts by some of the top names in the recording industry including Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Jay-Z. The Coliseum Complex also includes the 300-seat Odeon Theatre and the 167,000-sq.-ft. Special Events Center that includes three exhibition halls, a 5,000-seat mini-arena and eight meeting rooms. The Complex expanded dramatically in 2011 with the addition of four new venues — the ACC Hall of Champions, Greensboro Aquatic Center, White Oak Amphitheatre and The Terrace. Located in the western portion of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex’s Special Events Center, The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Hall of Champions celebrates past, present and future conference success through the design and use of interactive displays, unique institutional exhibits and multipurpose program space that showcases the league’s storied history.
The 78,323-sq.-ft. indoor Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) has emerged as one of the top aquatic venues in the nation since its opening. Built at a cost of nearly $19 million, the state-of-the-art, multipurpose, three-pool facility has provided the City the opportunity to host high school and collegiate events, USA Swimming meets, Masters swimming and U.S. Water Polo events, as well as many local, regional, national and international competitions. The venue operates 15 hours per day, and the estimated economic impact of GAC events to date has exceeded $100 million. White Oak Amphitheatre is an outdoor venue with a seating capacity of over 7,000, including more than 2,000 reserved seats. The venue hosts a diverse selection of concerts, community events, fairs, arts and crafts and festival-type events. The Terrace is an upscale, three-level, column-free, 12,900-sq.-ft. banquet facility ideal for hosting speaking engagements, hospitality functions and dining events in a functional, richly decorated setting. The Fieldhouse (formerly known as the Pavilion) debuted at the Coliseum Complex in 2016. The newly renovated, state-of-the-art structure is the home of the Charlotte Hornets’ NBA Development League franchise, the Greensboro Swarm. The Fieldhouse features a 30,000-sq.-ft., column-free area along with 8,500 sq. ft. of support space that includes locker rooms, dressing rooms and its own box office. Scheduled to open in 2019, The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts will be a state-of-the-art facility with a seating capacity of approximately 3,000. The venue will be located in downtown Greensboro and will be managed by the staff of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Tanger Center will host a diverse variety of events including concerts, touring Broadway productions, Guilford College’s Bryan Series, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra performances, comedy shows and all types of family entertainment.
1921 Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC, 27403 • (336) 373-7400 • greensborocoliseum.com Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
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18,000 Seats With CrossWalk To Hotel
3,000 Seat Concert Hall
190 Seat Forum Theater
220,000 Sq. Ft Exhibit Space
1048 Hotel Rooms 54 Suites
2 Elegant Ballrooms
90 Meeting Rooms
ALABAMA’S FOREMOST CONVENTION & MEETING DESTINATION. The BJCC is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham, just 10 minutes away from the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The complex includes two luxury hotels and eight restaurants and bars in the adjacent Uptown Entertainment District. Global entertainment leader Topgolf is opening its first Alabama location in Uptown in December 2017. The BJCC features covered, convenient parking and climate controlled crosswalks to the hotels.
bjcc.org | #BJCC |
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877 THE BJCC
Mention this ad to receive 10% off
of your next meeting when booking before 12/31/18. Some restrictions apply.
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 60
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
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
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
61
nuttercenter.com Near I-75 and I-70, the “Crossroads of America” Dayton, Ohio, a Top Ten “90-minute market” | Access to 53% of the U.S. population Outstanding on-site support and customer service
To book, call (937) 775-4726 or email NutterCenterArena@wright.edu.
World-class entertainment has continued to make SNHU Arena,
We’ve consistently received high marks with a Top 5 Ranking
formerly Verizon Wireless Arena, one of the top ranking arenas
in the Americas from a leading industry magazine, for arenas
in its class. When performers take to our stage, they provide New
of 15,000 or less seats. They also ranked us within the Top
Hampshire with the highest quality entertainment and our fans
10 in the world. SNHU Arena, the area’s premier sports and
turn out, providing Granite State support that is unmatched.
entertainment facility is conveniently located halfway between
SNHU Arena remains a bright spot on the entertainment horizon
Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine.
and is the perfect venue for concerts, sporting events and shows.
Call today to learn more.
555 ELM STR EET, MAN C HESTER N H 03101 / 603- 644- 5000 / S N H UA R E N A .C O M
North Carolina
Spectrum Center
T
he home of the Charlotte Hornets, Spectrum Center, Charlotte is the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas. Located in the heart of uptown Charlotte, NC, Spectrum Center hosts nearly 200 events annually, including professional and collegiate sports, major concerts, family shows and conventions. Since opening its doors in October 2005, Spectrum Center has played host to the biggest names in entertainment, including the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, Beyoncé, U2, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Prince, Billy Joel, Elton John, Widespread Panic, Jay Z and Coldplay. Over the years, Spectrum Center has also hosted multiple visits from family shows like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney on Ice, Monster Jam and the Harlem Globetrotters. College basketball is a staple at the venue, with the CIAA, Southern Conference, ACC and NCAA all bringing their tournaments to the building, along with a bevy of regular season games. Spectrum Center was also the proud host of the Democratic National Convention in September 2012. In the coming years, Spectrum Center will host the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in 2019, first- and second-round NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament action in 2018, and the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2019. “Our goal is to make Spectrum Center the epicenter for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & Chief Operating Officer Fred Whitfield. “We do that by attracting world-class performances to this world-class facility, and we will have an excellent opportunity to showcase Charlotte on the international level when we host the NBA All-Star Game in 2019.” Designed to represent Charlotte’s diverse urban culture as well
as the city’s strength and stability, Spectrum Center incorporates contemporary design elements that focus on creating an exciting future for the Queen City’s residents. Fans and visitors alike find familiar reflections of their community in the form of public art and unique displays that pay tribute to the region’s rich sports and commercial history. Ticket holder comfort is the hallmark of the Spectrum Center experience. The arena features 60 percent of its seating from baseline to baseline, providing guests with a unique feeling of closeness to the court, stage or ice. Generous seating and legroom is standard in every seat, and seating configurations for Spectrum Center were developed by incorporating the best elements from other NBA and NHL facilities. In the summer of 2016, Spectrum Center added one of the largest and most unique center-hung scoreboards in the NBA. The two sideline boards are the tallest in the NBA at 25.2 ft. high by 42.8 ft. wide, while the two baseline boards are 18 ft. high by 31.3 ft. wide. In terms of square footage, the sideline boards are 180 percent larger and the baseline boards are 50 percent larger than the screens on the previous scoreboard, which measured 16 ft. high by 24 ft. wide on all four sides. Additionally, the new scoreboard has two underbelly screens measuring 9.8 ft. high by 16.5 ft. wide, the largest in the NBA, to provide a better view for those fans sitting in courtside and lower-level club seats. The scoreboard’s Hornets-branded elements make it one of the NBA’s most unique designs. The open-faced structure allows fans to see through to the scoreboard’s “hive,” the cell pattern cladding and branding within the board that connects the screens and serves as an artistic expression that represents the home of the Hornets.
333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 • (704) 688-9000 • spectrumcentercharlotte.com 64
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
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
New York
Times Union Center
O
wned by Albany County and managed by SMG, Times Union Center opened in 1990 and is home to the Division I Men’s College Basketball Siena Saints. The arena has hosted such prestigious artists as the Rolling Stones, U2, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney and Bruno Mars. The state-of-the-art curtaining system allows capacities to be adjusted between 6,000 and 17,000 seats. In the fall of 2017, the Center will complete $30 million in renovations to the front exterior, front atrium, concourse, suites, restrooms and parking garage entrance. Renovations will include new LED screens to the outside of the facility, an enclosed and temperature-controlled atrium, new escalators and stairs, and live landscaping. Upgrades to the interior include renovations to all suites, bathrooms and concession stands. Backstage areas include three team-sized locker rooms and seven star dressing rooms. There are over 1,200 hotel rooms and nearly 22,000 parking spaces in the downtown area, 1,000 of which are located in the attached parking garage. The Times Union Center is located within minutes of the Amtrak station, Greyhound Terminal and Albany International Airport. The arena is also easily accessible via Interstates 787, 90 and 87. Easy access to the capital region is key since Times Union Center draws patrons from all over New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut. There are more than 20 colleges and universities in the Greater Capital Region, with nine of them located within the Albany city limits. This large population of students adds to the diverse culture of Albany. The Times Union Center’s marketing department has access to media outlets throughout New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. The in-house department also offers complete coordination of advertising production and placement, group sales, promotions and publicity. The Times Union Center has an email database of more
than 138,000 members and more than 30,000 fans on social media. The Times Union Center has a rich history of bringing concerts, family shows and sporting events to the Capital Region of New York. More than 17 million fans have seen artists ranging from Frank Sinatra, who opened the building in 1990, to Garth Brooks in three sold-out shows in 2017. In between, the arena has seen the likes of Metallica, Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood and many more. In addition to the best in music, the Times Union Center has seen a number of sports milestones, including Boston College winning their first-ever NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in 2001, Cael Sanderson completing his career undefeated at the 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Syracuse University winning their first-ever NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional in 2003, and the UCONN Women winning their 22nd Basketball East Regional in 2015. In March 2017, the Times Union Center celebrated the grand opening of its sister facility, the Albany Capital Center. Together with the Empire State Plaza, the buildings will make up what will be known as the Capital Complex, offering 159,000 sq. ft. of combined event space, making it the largest in Upstate New York. Situated in the midst of historic downtown Albany, the Times Union Center continues to stay on the pulse of Capital Region excitement and improvements as the years go on.
51 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207 • (518) 487-2000 • timesunioncenter-albany.com
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Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
f a c i l i t i e s illinois
Arie Crown Theater
2301 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 (312) 791-6196 ariecrown.com Director: David Kennedy
Arizona
ASU Gammage
PO Box 870105; Tempe, AZ 85287-0105 (480) 965-1749 asugammage.com Rental Coordinator: Betsy Callahan betsy.callahan@asu.edu
D i r e c t o r y The Arie Crown Theater is located in Lakeside Center at McCormick Place, just 2.5 miles south of downtown Chicago. Opened in 1960, the 4,267-seat venue can be curtained to 2,759 seats or 2,052 seats. The proscenium opening is 90 ft. wide by 40 ft. high, with a stage depth of 58.4 ft. Backstage areas include two weather-protected berths on the loading dock adjacent to the stage, nine two-person dressing rooms, two 40-person chorus rooms, one star dressing room, one full-size wardrobe room, and two 50 ft.-by-50 ft. rehearsal rooms. The theater’s catering is offered in conjunction with SAVOR Chicago McCormick Place. McCormick Place/Arie PAGE 9 Crown Theater offers convenient underground parking for all performances. For more than 50 years, ASU Gammage has been a top cultural destination in the Valley. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed performing arts center located on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University is one of the largest university-based presenters of performing arts in the world and a top touring market for Broadway. Home to the Desert Schools Broadway Across America – Arizona and Beyond series, ASU Gammage and its mission of Connecting Communities goes beyond the stage and programs and impacts the community through shared experiences in the arts. PAGE 35
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
Alabama
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena
2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203 (877) THE-BJCC; (205) 458-8400; Fax: (205) 458-8438 bjcc.org Executive Director: Tad Snider 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
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. 73 Complemented by a new Uptown Entertainment District, the BJCC accommodates events of all types in its Arena, Concert Hall, Theatre, Exhibition Halls and Ballroom. The 18,000-seat Arena has hosted top-name artists, Disney on Ice and major sporting events, including the Southeastern Conference, Sunbelt Conference and NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments. A half-house curtaining system allows a number of seating possibilities within the Arena, with 3,500 being the smallest configuration. The BJCC keeps its patrons up-to-date with traditional and social media; its email database includes more than 251,000 addresses. The complex is located in the heart of the PAGE Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area, home to 1.136 million people. 59 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. 33 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 50
OKLAHOMA
Chesapeake Energy Arena
100 West Reno, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 602-8700; Fax: (405) 602-8505 chesapeakearena.com General Manager: Gary Desjardins
ONTARIO, CA
Citizens Business Bank Arena
4000 E. Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764 (909) 244-5500; Fax: (909) 244-5510 CBBankArena.com The Entertainment ICON of the Inland Empire
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
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. 31 Citizens Business Bank Arena, built and owned by the City of Ontario, operated by SMG, can accommodate over 11,000 guests. The 224,000-sq.-ft. venue includes 9,500 fixed seats with additional “portable” seating risers to accommodate capacities of 11,089 for concerts, 9,736 for ice hockey or arena football, and 10,832 for basketball. Both an upper bowl and half-house curtain system are available. Four team dressing rooms, two official’s lockers rooms, star dressing room, large green room/catering area, tour production offices. Upgraded WiFi, Premium Seating includes over 700 Club Seats and 30 Luxury Suites. PAGE Over 4.3 million fans reside in the region known as the Inland Empire. 25 67
MassachuseTts
DCU Center
50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608 (508) 755-6800; Fax: (508) 929-0111 dcucenter.com General Manager (Arena Bookings): Sandra Dunn New England’s Premier Arena & Convention Complex 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
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 south carolina
Florence Civic Center
3300 West Radio Drive, Florence, SC 29501 (843) 679-9417; Fax: (843) 679-9429 florenceciviccenter.com General Manager: Kendall Wall Celebrating 20 Years of South Carolina Events!
indiana
Ford Center
1 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47708 (812) 422-8000; Fax: (812) 436-7001 thefordcenter.com Ford Center Executive Director: Scott Schoenike
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
Arizona
Gila River Arena
9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, AZ 85305 (623) 249-2615 gilariverarena.com General Manager: Dale Adams
ARIZONA
Grand Canyon University Arena 3300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85017 (602) 639-8979 gcuarena.com VP of Booking & Marketing: Cathy Moses
For over three decades, the DCU Center in Worcester has been recognized as the gathering place for people to experience the finest in entertainment, sporting events and public functions. Capacities: 240° end stage concert, 11,625; 360° end stage concert, 14,526; 180° end stage w/curtains, 5,460 (expandable up to 9,915). Backstage areas: four large rooms with showers, two medium rooms, one small room, production room, catering room, meeting room, officials locker room. Located in the heart of Massachusetts, Worcester is New England’s second-largest city, located 40 miles west of Boston. PAGE 53
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. 51 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 54
Multi-time recipient of the Prime Site Award, the SMG-managed Florence Civic Center is conveniently located just a few miles from the regional airport and next to dozens of national chain hotels and award-winning restaurants. Northeastern South Carolina’s largest convention and entertainment venue features 50,000 sq. ft. of multipurpose space including a 10,000-seat arena (backdrop scaling 2,500-7,500 capacity) and a 15,000-sq.-ft. grand ballroom (1,400 theater, 800 banquet). Fiber optics and Wi-Fi throughout. New HVAC systems, LED lighting upgrade, added arena reduction curtain system. Generous supplemental PAGE marketing efforts. 17,000+ Facebook fans; 22,000+ email club. C4 The region’s center for sports and entertainment is designed to host basketball, hockey, concerts, exhibitions and shows for audiences as large as 11,000. The multipurpose facility works with downtown attractions to create a vibrant atmosphere for sports fans, music lovers and conventioneers. Seating capacities: basketball – 9,800; hockey – 9,100; concerts – 10,500 total (9,066 permanent seats and 1,700 floor chairs); half-house – 3,500-5,700. Exhibition space: 20,468 sq. ft.; two star dressing rooms, two locker rooms, green room, multipurpose room; 137 high-definition flat-screen televisions throughout; highPAGE C2 definition video board with upper and lower displays and ribbon board. 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. 30 Gila River Arena is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose facility that anchors the 223-acre, $1 billion development Westgate Entertainment District. Managed by AEG Facilities, Gila River Arena is home to the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and has hosted major acts and numerous sell-outs such as U2, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Kenny Chesney. Capacities: Hockey and lacrosse, 17,125; basketball, 18,300; concerts, about 19,000. Backstage areas: 3,800-sq.-ft. team locker room, 1,300-sq.-ft. officials locker room, three auxiliary locker rooms, three star dressing rooms, 500-sq.-ft. green room, PAGE 600-sq.-ft. production office. 15 Arizona’s premier private Christian university, Grand Canyon University debuted its Arena on Sept. 1, 2011. In August 2014, GCU expanded the venue with 2,000 additional seats. The 135,000-sq.-ft. Arena hosts GCU athletics, University and community events, and national concert tours. Capacity: 7,000. Staging: StageRight, 60 ft. by 40 ft. maximum. Backstage areas: Four dressing rooms, green room, two visiting team locker rooms, two coaches offices within the home team locker rooms. Five concession stands (including three pizza ovens), portable basketball floor, large windows providing natural light.
PAGE C3
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North Carolina
Greensboro Coliseum Complex 1921 Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27403 (336) 373-7400 greensborocoliseum.com Deputy Director: Scott Johnson
illinois
Grossinger Motors Arena
101 South Madison Street, Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 434-2843; Fax: (309) 434-2667 grossingermotorsarena.com Executive Director: Lynn Cannon Associate Executive Director: Terry Dederich
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
illinois
iWireless Center
1201 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265 (309) 764-2001; Fax: (309) 764-2192 iwirelesscenter.com Executive Director: Scott Mullen
Ontario
Meridian Centre
1 IceDogs Way, Saint Catharines, Ontario (905) 684-8400 meridiancentre.com General Manager: Kerry Painter
CONNECTICUT
Mohegan Sun Arena
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT 06382 (888) 226-7711 mohegansun.com Sr. Corp. VP Sports & Entertainment: Thomas L. Cantone
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! VIRGINIA
Richmond Coliseum
601 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 780-4970 richmondcoliseum.net General Manager: Dwight Johnson
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multi-building facility hosting athletic events, concerts, theater, fairs and more. It consists of Greensboro Coliseum (with seating capacity over 22,500), the 2,400-seat War Memorial Auditorium, the 300-seat Odeon Theatre and the 167,000-sq.-ft. Special Events Center that includes three exhibition halls. The Complex is one of the most actively booked facilities in the country, hosting more than 1,000 events on an annual basis. City leaders recently authorized $24 million in improvements, including new, upholstered arena seating, widening of the Coliseum’s upper-level concourse, addition of new concession PAGE cooking stands and a new, larger, higher-resolution video scoreboard. 27 Grossinger Motors Arena opened in 2006 and is home to Bloomington Thunder hockey, Bloomington Edge arena football and Bloomington Express basketball tenants as well as concerts, family shows and conventions. Recent events include: Steve Miller Band, Keith Urban, Championship Ice Racing (ICE), Lee Brice & Justin Moore, Sesame Street Live and WWE. End stage capacity, 8,000; theater with one third- or half-house curtain system, 2,000-4,000; hockey, 5,757; basketball, 6,221; football, 6,057. Two loading docks with level access to arena floor, one Elephant door with two-trailer capacity. Six dressing rooms and two production offices. PAGE Staff offers both in-house and co-promotional marketing services to event partners. 17 Iowa State Center, which comprises Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater and the Scheman Building, regularly features quality entertainment programming. Hosted acts include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Bill Maher and Moscow Festival Ballet Presents Sleeping Beauty. Stephens Auditorium seats 1,584, Orchestra; 467, First Balcony w/Loge; 354, Second Balcony w/ Loge; 204, Third Balcony; 2,609, 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 at stage level and two chorus rooms. Fisher Theater seats 450 and is supported by a PAGE loading dock, freight elevator, truck parking, dance floor and two dressing rooms. 29 The iWireless Center has hosted the top artists and touring acts in the country including The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Cirque du Soleil, Disney On Ice and more. The arena has a 12,000-seat center stage capacity (11,500 end-stage, multiple lower-bowl and theater capacities that range from 3,000-6,000; 10,700 for basketball; and 9,500 for hockey and indoor football). Seven dressing rooms include four team rooms, one training room, one small room, three production offices and a VIP promoter office. Food service by Levy Restaurants. Full-service marketing and PR department. Centrally located between PAGE Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Omaha. 30 Owned by the city of St. Catharines, the Meridian Centre contributes to the growth and health of the Niagara community by hosting a wide range of sporting and family events, musical concerts and gatherings of all sorts. This 5,300-seat arena is located in the heart of the downtown core with multiple city access points to local dining and entertainment. In-house staff assists with event setup, catering, AV and marketing. The Meridian Centre includes the St.Catharines Sports Hall of Fame, founded in 1990 to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of both men and women, athletes and builders who have PAGE contributed to the development of sport in St. Catharines. 28 The 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena, located in Connecticut, hosts the biggest names in live music and entertainment and premier sporting events. Hosted performers include Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Jay Z, Keith Urban, Bon Jovi and Kenny Chesney in addition to championship boxing and MMA, top-touring standup comedy, WWE, NCAA Division 1 and professional basketball. Mohegan Sun Arena has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. In PAGE 2015, Mohegan Sun took home the IEBA award for “Casino of the Year.” 3 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.
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The SMG-managed Richmond Coliseum hosts over 130 events annually, attracting over 600,000 visitors. The Coliseum’s capacity is over 13,500 patrons and roughly 11,000 for hockey and basketball. The arena also features 50,000 sq. ft of exhibition space and 23,000 sq. ft. of arena space. Richmond Coliseum is home to the annual CAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and the AIFA Richmond Raiders indoor football team. Past sporting events include ECHL and SPHL hockey, cheerleading exhibitions, WWE, monster trucks and the Coliseum has also hosted NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball games including PAGE Men’s 1st and 2nd rounds, Women’s East Regional and Final Four. 26 69
Located between Tampa and Orlando, the RP Funding Center is composed of the George Jenkins Arena, 2,296-seat Youkey Theatre and Sikes Hall. The arena can accommodate up to 10,000 for a concert or indoor festival as well as an 85 ft.-by-100 ft. permanent ice floor. Capacities: 6,400, basketball; 5,432, indoor football and hockey; 6,700, end-stage concert; 4,800, arenatorium (half-house). The arena has a 60 ft.-by-40 ft. Sico stage with 12 ft.-by-8 in. wings. The theater has a 78 ft.-by-42 ft. stage and a 55 ft. 6 in.-by-20 ft. 2 in. Arena backstage areas: four team rooms, two star dressing rooms, show office, washer/dryer, four meeting rooms. Theater backstage areas: two chorus PAGE rooms, four artist rooms, green room, catering room, production office. 43
Florida
RP Funding Center
701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815 (863) 834-8100 thelakelandcenter.com Assistant Director: Scott Sloman
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. 5
california
California Theatre San Jose Theaters
345 S. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.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. 5
california
Center for the Performing Arts San Jose Theaters 255 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.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. 5
california
City National Civic San Jose Theaters
135 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.org
california
Montgomery Theater San Jose Theaters
Northeast v1
1/13/09
7:52 AM
271 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 792-4542 sanjosetheaters.org
NEW HAMPSHIRE
SNHU Arena
555 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 644-5000 verizonwirelessarena.com Regional General Manager: Tim Bechert
North Carolina 333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 688-9000; (800) 745-3000 timewarnercablearena.com The premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas
VERIZON WIRELESS ARENA
Exhibition Sp
24” Wenger de
front of house mixer riser 12 ft. deep X 16
CENTER and hosts the hung scoreboar ft. wideinX 2005, 1 ft. tall, ft. from the down is the homeGIANT Opened the100Spectrum Center ofWest the Charlotte 550 HersheyparkHornets Drive Company; nort stage edge. Charlotte Checkers (AHL), college basketball (NCAA), thePAJordan Hershey, 17033 Classic all-star game, 555 Elm Street boards; Mitsub FoodBasketball & Beverage: 4 permanentNASCAR concessionall-star pit(717) Fax: (717) 534-8996 Manchester, NH 03101 CIAA Tournament, crew534-3911; challenge, American Idol and Leader board. www.giantcenter.net stands; 12 portable concession stands; VIP (603) 644-5000; Fax: (603) 644-1575 top-rated concerts. NBA capacity – 20,200; AHL capacity 14,100. Concerts vary around Broadcast: InComplex – Managing Director, Event Lounge; 2 specialty bars located on upper Regional General Manager: Tim Bechert 14,000+ capacity. 180°back– 13,376; end-stage 270°Ticketing, – 15,236;and end-stage 360° – full edit/studio Bookings, Marketing: www.verizonwirelessarena.com level; Full catering End-stage services offered Vikki Hultquist 18,249; theater – 4,000-7,000. Floor size: 85 ft. by 200 ft. Six production offices; four Star throughout are stage and to suites. New Hampshire’s Premier Sports & throughout; 15 A Sweet Placesuites, to Play! dressing rooms. Suitesuites, seating includes 22-people and access to Entertainment Facility Amenities: 34 luxury 5 party suites, 16-, 18-, and PAGEtions all patcha Snapshot: The GIANT Center, a VIP entrance. In-house marketing and promotions staff available. 11 Exclusive Club Lounge, 542 Club Seats, Snapshot: New Hampshire’s premier interconnect ro
sports and entertainment facility, the Verizon Wireless Arena, managed by SMG, has attracted more than 4.4 million Straz Center for people, hosted more than 830 sports and the Performing Arts entertainment events, including more than 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602 120 sold out shows, since opening seven (813) 222-1000; (800) 955-1045 years ago. The arena was designed to strazcenter.org accommodate a wide variety of events— including concerts, wrestling, figure skating, hockey, basketball, family shows, as well as convention and trade shows. florida
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5,400; Theatrical Stage – 3,000.
Exhibition Space: 25,348 NH sq. ft.; 277 10’x8’ The City of Manchester, opened the SMG-operated SNHU Arena in 2001. The arena Backstage Are booths in typical trade show configuration. duction room, can accommodate a center-stage concert of more than 11,000 attendees as well as a star dressing ro Backstage Areas: main dressing room, 3The venue has featured such prestigious artists as theater-style performance for 2,500. auxiliary locker rooms, visiting team locker 100 p Bruno Mars, Dave Mathews, Elton John, Cher, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, to name a Staging: room, 2 officials locker rooms, press office, variable configu few. Six dressing rooms/team locker rooms and five production rooms round out backstage 3 production rooms, lounge, catering room. Stage/Gray car with the ability to configure mostisstaging needs. Take the versatile design of the arena, 80’ x 40’, adjust Staging: Stageright equipment,to setup 48 72” in 2” increm a successful thewide Manchester Monarchs and a state that loves ft. deep X 60hockey ft. wide franchise X 4 ft. tall,in 8 ft. PAGE entertainment and you have theSR, perfect X 24 ft. deep sound wings SL & and a stop for any tour. 63 Front of house
new Hampshire
Spectrum Center
San Jose Theaters, a division of Team San Jose, is responsible for the management, marketing, operations Page 20 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. 5 PENNSYLVANIA
Capacities: Center Stage in the round –11,700; End Stage (360) – 10,655; End Stage (270) – 9,337; End Stage (240) – 8,931; End Stage (180) – 8,536;
Wireless connection, Flat Screen TV’s
state-of-the-art arena, opened its doors
in October of 2002, with in a performance Atthroughout the Straz the Center, it’s more than just a show. Located on the Riverwalk Downtown concourse. by aCher. From that GIANT Tampa, the Straz Center’s nine-acre campus boasts performing artsmoment, conservatory and Marketing: Group Sales; Email been the area’s leading Marketing; Grassrootstheaters: Marketing; Media Hall (2,600Center five state-of-the-art Morsani seats),has Ferguson Hall (1,000 seats), sports and entertainment venue. Buying; Media(300 Promotions/Trade; Public (200 seats) and Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats). Jaeb Theater seats), TECO Theater GIANT Center is also home to the Relations. Morsani Hall has been ranked in the Top 5 venuesAHL in theHershey world, Bears. 5,000 Because seats and of under, the by Demographics: New England Market— constant(813) support of its many Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today. For avails, contact 222-1272 or fans, mainly from New Hampshire, as well as GIANT Center continues to be ranked Chrissy.Hall@strazcenter.org. MA, ME, and VT.
camera positio
Food & Bever Stands, 7 Port Lounge. Demographic Lancaster-Leb family oriented household inco
as one of world’s best concert venues inPAGESee ad on page 65 Billboard and Pollstar. Located just minutes from GIANT Center is the 1,928Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook seat Hershey Theatre. Capacities: 12,500 (in-the-round concerts); 10,000 (end staging);
Times Union Center is a full-service entertainment and sports facility featuring a wide variety of family shows, sporting events, tradeshows and concerts. Owned by Albany County and managed by SMG, Times Union Center opened in 1990 and is home to the Division I Men’s College Basketball Siena Saints. Curtaining system allows the capacity to fluctuate between 6,000 and 17,000. Three team-size locker rooms as well as seven star-sized dressing rooms make up the backstage area. With ribbon boards, a center-hung LED scoreboard, and a $30 million upgrade nearing completion, Times Union Center draws patrons PAGE from all over the Northeast. 66
New York
Times Union Center
51 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207 (518) 487-2000; Fax: (518) 487-2020 timesunioncenter-albany.com General Manager: Bob Belber
Upstate New York’s Premier Sports and Entertainment Facility
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.
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
PAGE 1
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. 28
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
Van Andel Arena and Grand Rapids offer the perfect combination of cosmopolitan flair and Midwestern hospitality. Managed by SMG, the 12,000-plus capacity arena opened in 1996 and has attracted the biggest names in family shows, concerts and sporting events. Concert highlights include Elton John, Neil Diamond, Kenny Chesney, Eric Clapton, Michael Bublé, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Who, The Eagles, Bob Seger, Kid Rock and Taylor Swift. Among the major shows hosted at the arena are World Wrestling Entertainment, Disney On Ice, Blue Man Group, The Harlem Globetrotters and Cirque du Soleil.
michigan
Van Andel Arena
130 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2601 (616) 742-6600; Fax: (616) 742-6197 vanandelarena.com Regional General Manager: Richard MacKeigan
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FIRE SAFETY & CODE COMPLIANCE We offer essential public/fire safety services for public and private sector businesses, corporations and special events. Our experienced staff of experts will ensure that your business or event is within all applicable fire safety codes and regulations, and we can assist with obtaining certain permits from your local fire jurisdictions. Event Fire Safety will consult with business owners, management, staff and event organizers to ensure proper understanding of fire code requirements. Event Fire Safety can further assist with the training of management and staff in Fire Code safety as well as with the creation and implementation of plans to ensure compliance during business operations. Introducing Active Shooter Protection Protocol Dynamic planning and training for today’s threats Unfortunately, the times we live in have necessitated us to develop an Active Shooter Protection Protocol for the public and private sector. Our staff of public/fire safety experts has made it our #1 priority to assist in readying your business in the event of an Active Shooter Incident. If we can assist your company or place of business in the education and training of your management and staff, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
8880 Rio San Diego Drive • Rio Vista Tower 8th Floor Suite 864 • San Diego, CA 92108 (866) 601-5322 • info@eventfiresafety.com
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
71
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
152 Madison Avenue, Suite #802, New York, NY 10016 or Fax it to: (212) 213-6382; or email ballots@facilitiesonline.com
72
Facilities & event management 2017 Superbook
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
The Gathering Place From town squares to modern-day stadiums, communal venues are cultural staples By John M. Bernardoni
Q
uestion: What do Stonehenge, Teotihuacan, the Greek agora and Madison Square Garden have in common? Answer: They are all “gathering places.” As such, they are critically important cultural venues that shaped our history. Before the world began to create fantastical billion-dollar stadiums for sports events, concerts, tradeshows and political events — with more bells and whistles than an eye-popping George Lucas movie — humans came together in many kinds of places. The “rock stars” who took the stage millennia ago were rulers waxing poetic about the coming harvest and rain, celestial events, what it is to be king to their subjects, and what it means to be a loyal follower. In fact, the first method for delivering tributes to the kings from their subjects might be considered the forerunner of Ticketmaster. Just sayin’! There would, in fact, be no communal congregations without gathering places. The historical evolution of events utilizing these buildings and sites led to the interconnectivity of myriad media on many planes. Let’s rewind through the last 100 or so years to explore some of these venues: Town Squares, both great and small all over the world, provided a community home for neighbors and travelers to come together to trade wares, buy fruits and vegetables, quibble over political leaders, and discuss current events, from wars to prize fighting and other sports. World Fairs, which included the Olympic Games in the early 20th century, were hugely impactful on national, state and local coffers. The St. Louis World’s Fair of 1904 alone drew 21 million people in a four-month span. Circuses and their “big tops,” courtesy of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, defined a new kind of movable venue. A perennial crowd pleaser, their shows astounded children and their parents with death-defying trapeze artists, clowns, elephants, and lions and tigers. Sadly, The Greatest Show on Earth closed this May after 146 years in operation, but smaller-scale traditional circuses continue, as well as non-traditional ones such as Cirque du Soleil. Movie Theaters began to play host to an explosion of silent films, giving birth to a totally different kind of gathering place during WWI America in the form of fantastical movie palaces. Hollywood movie factories churned out a virtual tidal wave of westerns, epics, musical extravaganzas and love stories. For 10 cents, a man could get out of the cold and away from the Great Depression to lose himself in the make-believe world of atmospheric theaters such as the Fox in Atlanta, the Majestic in San Antonio and the Pantages in Hollywood. Radio Drama and Comedy began to take over living rooms, a time-honored gathering place for families, in the 1930s and 1940s. People were glued to their Philco’s while reveling in programs like The Shadow, Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger and the Colgate Comedy Hour. Radio shows had their own theater studios that were jammed to the rafters with fans doubling over in laughter at Bob Hope, Jack Benny and Abbott and Costello. Football and Baseball Stadiums throughout the country began 74
springing up via FDR’s “New Deal” based on the 3 R’s: Relief, Recovery and Reform. Programs such as the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Work Progress Administration were designed to get Americans off relief and back to work to heal the country. The byproduct was millions of fans attending college and professional football games. No less than the vaunted Yankee Stadium made rock ‘n’ roll history when The Beatles performed there during their 1964 Ed Sullivan Show tapings. Over 50,000 female fans and 1,000 boys screamed their brains out at what would be a harbinger of things to come in the marriage of stadiums, ballparks, concerts, motocrosses and a lot more. Broadway was flexing its own muscle, and had been for decades. The Shubert and Nederlander dynasty dominated the Great White Way, with a few dozen theaters hosting the world’s greatest plays and musicals featuring the biggest names in entertainment. Today, a new theatrical device called the “Jukebox Musical” has captured a younger audience of theatergoers with musicals based on the songbook of both rock and pop stars. So hungry is the public for this uniquely American art form that national touring editions of Broadway musicals are now generating deep six- and even seven-figure grosses. We wouldn’t be surprised to see mega Broadway musicals with Olympic stadiumsized production featured in arenas one day, providing a new source of revenues and blockbuster programming. I would add that while television caused many theater operators to fear “The End Has Come,” it never did. Instead, this sensational new invention created a “crosspollination” between the various arts — both live and film. Smartphones, while not a gathering place per se, have created an audience of billions with yet another delivery system for tapping into entertainment of every variety, particularly in countries where access to traditional sports and entertainment is virtually impossible. One must recognize that these users are often engaged with their live audience counterparts at concerts and sporting events. In the digital age, one hundred million iPhones do not even have to be on the same continent for there to be a “community,” and so the boundaries of the live event venue have effectively become blurred. In an age when face-to-face connections are often eschewed in favor of virtual connections, our need to come together for a communal experience has taken on a profound and visceral dimension. It is this need that truly makes us human, and ensures that physical gathering places will continue to play vital cultural roles. John Bernardoni is the owner of Austin, TX-based The John Bernardoni Production Group. Since 1985, he has worked as an independent producer in the live entertainment industry, producing hundreds of major concert touring stars throughout the U.S. and abroad. He is also a writer who penned a Broadway musical about the life of the legendary Hollywood musical film director Busby Berkeley, which was optioned by Radio City Music Hall. Bernardoni has served on a distinguished entertainment panel with Ray Bradbury for The President’s Commission on Moon, Mars & Beyond, a project to redefine NASA’s future space program initiatives. Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
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.
Up on the Roof An inside look at Music City Center’s rainwater catchment system By Renee Barker
F
and weeding, with an annual checkup to track rom construction to the present day, plant inventory, coverage, biodiversity, soil the Music City Center has focused on condition and the overall health of the green roof sustainability initiatives. Shortly after system. opening in 2014, the Music City Center achieved LEED Gold for New Construction. Conferred by the U.S. Green Building Council, Underneath the vegetation lies a layer of this certification identifies our venue as a waterproofing membrane that allows storm water to showcase example of excellence in green flow into our rainwater catchment system. Because building and sustainable design. One of the the sedum is low growing, the roots of these species most successful features is our green roof’s will not push into this protective membrane past the water catchment system that was integrated layer of soil. Water filters through the vegetation and into the design of the building. With help from into our underground 360,000-gallon cistern, which is TVS Design, the lead architect, Roofmeadow, then reused throughout the facility. In other areas of responsible for design and construction, the roof, rain is directed to drains in low spots between and Greenrise Technologies, responsible for the rolling hills. This captured construction and maintenance, Music City rainwater is sent from the cistern Center is now home to the largest green roof in the to over 500 toilets and urinals, side from the great Southeast. In the past fiscal year, water collected from and irrigates the surrounding rain plus condensation collected from HVAC equipment outdoor landscaping as well. environmental effects, accounted for 48 percent of our overall water usage. A To save even more water, total of 3,244,788 gallons of rainwater was saved from our facility uses low-flow and this system has also becoming storm water runoff! Aside from the great sensor technology in all toilets, produced significant environmental effects, this system has also produced urinals and faucets. This type significant cost-savings every year by reducing our need of system reduces the amount cost-savings every year for metro-supplied water. of contaminated storm water in by reducing our need for urban areas, and when partnered Storm water is water that does not soak into the ground. As it travels along, storm water runoff picks with other technology can metro-supplied water. up pollutants and deposits them directly into our minimize any venue’s municipal local bodies of water without being treated. Like many water usage. venues, we are located in an urban area surrounded by many impervious surfaces. A lot of storm water runoff in Nashville SHOWCASING THE GREEN ROOF eventually reaches the Cumberland River, which is a source of An educational aspect is also important to show guests why a green our drinking water. One way that we are lessening the amount of roof is beneficial. Although it is not accessible by the public, our contaminated water reaching our rivers and streams is by using green roof is viewable from a set of windows on the highest floor. a green roof on our facility. We also have signage in every restroom about using water from the catchment system. Showing the facility’s commitment to managing THE ADVANTAGES OF NATIVE SEDUM the sustainability of the building is important, and can be done by Native sedum plants cover over four acres of the wavy rooftop informing our visitors about how these initiatives lead to a cleaner designed to evoke the rolling hills of Tennessee. Choosing the and healthier environment for everyone to enjoy. With the right right vegetation is important to ensure the plants will thrive in design and planning, converting to or building a green roof can be the climate they are in. Native plants often require much less a great cost-saving measure with many long-term benefits for the maintenance since they are more adapted to local conditions. surrounding region. Our green roof supports 14 different types of native sedum that require a depth of soil of only three inches and are heat and drought tolerant. Thin pre-vegetated mats were used for Renee Barker is the Sustainability Coordinator for the Music installation, which are especially useful for positioning plants City Center in Nashville, TN. She is responsible for coordinating on sloping areas. Although they may not look as exciting as and implementing sustainability initiatives, including waste showy flowers or tall meadows, the makeup of sedum species and recycling goals, donations, tracking data, community results in a color-changing landscape depending on the season. outreach and engagement, and collaborating with clients to Summer displays a bright green with small white or yellow plan green meetings. Barker is a LEED Green Associate with a flowers scattered throughout, while fall and winter bring a deep Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and burgundy and red color. These plants also provide habitat for Management from the University of Minnesota. insects and wildlife. Ongoing maintenance involves watering
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Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
Premium Seating is Everywhere After 30 years, the trend in venue gentrification is still going strong By Bill Dorsey
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buildings. Translation: Banks would lend money to id you know that in 1990, premium seating have them built. accounted for an average of only 3 percent Once this precedent was established, the trend of all seats in the house? One generation spread like wildfire, and 30 years later, premium later, premium seating in a new venue usually seating is everywhere. Even the few teams that don’t approaches 20 percent of the total seating bowl, have new venues (Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and and that 20 percent can often represent 40 Lambeau Field, for example) have virtually been percent of the total ticketing revenue. transformed with renovations far superior to the But even that does not represent the full ROI original model. of premium seating. The 40 percent of the ticketing revenue often does not include higher per caps on the F&B From Exclusive to Mainstream side of the equation. And it does not include, for Yes, premium seating is everywhere. And it is certain sporting teams such as the NFL, personal morphing into something that it was not 30 years ago. seat license revenue and ancillary streams from There are fewer suites, more loge boxes, larger club the “corporate ownership” side of the sports and seat areas and greater accessibility. And the reason entertainment business, e.g., naming rights. is not just the money generated; it’s the When all these items are accounted for, premium demand for fan experience that creates the seating is estimated to be a $20 billion business in marketplace. Whereas corporate America orm follows function. the United States. No one really knows exactly how once stepped up to buy suites, now, what the breakdown goes; PwC suggests that leasing The design of these was once somewhat exclusive has become alone in the five pro leagues accounts for $7.3 billion. more mainstream. buildings and the But that does not include 500 colleges, Premium today is expected in almost several hundred minor league baseball teams, customer service is the entire venue. In the past there were all the racing venues for horse and auto, golf and perhaps two stadium clubs per venue; now morphing into what tennis tournaments, boxing and wrestling events, there can be upward of a dozen catering performing arts centers, and backstage passes at to all kinds of needs, including areas to might be expected at music festivals. It does not include the literally billions breastfeed babies, cigar bars, outside venue of dollars of revenue for the big F&B companies a high-end hotel. clubs that turn into nightclubs before and created by premium seating. Merchandising sales, after the game, fantasy football lounges and too, are much higher in premium seating. The $7.3 billion fine dining clubs. Loge boxes (four-person suites) are perhaps the does not take into account major events such as the Super Bowl, hottest new commodity in the venue sales space. The new venues Masters, Kentucky Derby, the various all-star games and the finals for have areas for corporate meetings, and high tech is prevalent all major sports. It does not account for the huge secondary market throughout; just a few years ago, Wi-Fi was not offered in many sales or the online emergence of enormous fees for the most wanted buildings. Even the venue exterior is getting into the act with the of seats, such as the Cubs/Indians World Series final (when a single emergence of Premium Seating Tailgating areas. Uber and a variety premium seat for the seventh game could go for $15,000 to $20,000). of companies are providing concierge door-to-door service here and These bucket-list events command enormous sums. “tailgating villages.” What was once a luxury is now a necessity. And so form follows function. The design of these buildings and the customer service is How Did Premium Seating Begin? morphing into what might be expected at a high-end hotel. There are several places where premium seating emerged, but The trend will continue as long as fans want premium for my money, the true origin was at the Palace of Auburn Hills experiences at their venues. And with the escalating price of tickets, in Detroit in the late ’80s. The privately financed building needed the demand for quality — e.g., high-end customer service, five-star what is called contractually obligated income (COI) to finance a design, easy access and egress — shows no sign of slowing down. new home for the Detroit Pistons. While several buildings before had suites, the Palace went all in with 180 suites located close to the floor (not “skyboxes,” as was the term). There were also 10,000 Bill Dorsey is Chairman of the Association of Luxury Suite club seats, and it’s important to note that club seating accounts for Directors, a 27-year-old association he founded in 1990. The 60 percent of the market now — a percentage that will probably ALSD holds a conference and tradeshow each year. Next year’s increase as time goes on. The demand was enormous from the event is scheduled for July 24-28, in Atlanta, GA. corporate side, and these signed multiyear leases securitized the
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A Renovation in Retrospect
7takeaways from a PAC director’s first-time experience By Nick Zazal
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function or become storage closets while you find n the fall of 2013, I embarked on a major work-arounds to make your building optimal from an career move, leaving behind a very operations standpoint. Speak up. Ask questions. And comfortable position in Illinois running do it often and throughout the process. Which brings the Events Department (touring production/ me to my next point . . . artist services) at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to become Director of Events & Patrons Services at the Walton Arts Center and Involve your front-line Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Northwest teams in the process. Arkansas. In my new role I oversaw front-ofhouse operations and the volunteer program, Not only do the architects and consultants not have among other duties. These were areas I never the full picture of how each space needs to work would have even considered working in prior to operationally, but sometimes we as senior managers this opportunity. I was a back-of-house guy, not don’t know either. We see our events executed from the a front-of-house guy. But Walton Arts Center 30,000-foot level, but we don’t necessarily understand offered me a couple of opportunities I could not the burden placed on our front-line pass up. In 2014, they would be opening a brandteams when we make bad design new facility, the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion. On choices. So involve your front-line s with any group the horizon was also the renovation of the Walton Arts staff in the process. There is perhaps Center, a project that was realized and completed in no more important voice at the project, designing a the fall of 2016. Open a new building and be a part of table with regard to ensuring the a major renovation? That was two checkmarks on the facility is a negotiation. functionality of your design than career bucket list. And so off to Arkansas we went. that of the boots on the ground. You Be reasonable about Now, I don’t claim to be an expert in opening may think the layout of your new or renovating performing arts facilities after these concession stand is brilliant — but where you stand experiences, but I cannot overstate the depth of your team has to work in it, and they your ground. learning that can occur. I now have a much greater may be able to offer up very impactful, appreciation for our facilities because I understand positive suggestions. the sacrifices that have been made to bring them to fruition. There are sacrifices of blood, sweat and tears on behalf of Pick your the contractors, consultants, architects and venue staff. But there are battles. also the sacrifices of the ideas that, for better or worse, got left on the cutting room floor during value engineering. You won’t win them all. There will be times when form will overrule I’d like to share a few of the more important things I learned function. The best you can do is be as informed as possible during these past few years, in the hope that maybe it will help about the wants and needs of your stakeholders, and give great prepare others who are headed into their first major venue consideration to the items you choose to fight for throughout construction or renovation project. the process. As with any group project, designing a facility is a
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negotiation. Be reasonable about where you stand your ground.
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Shocking, right? But it’s true. These individuals are crucial collaborators on your team, and they can spend months to years analyzing your needs in preparation for design, but they do not live in your building the way you do. They don’t know the intricacies of how you intend to use each space. Sure, they can make the systems in your facility function, but without your very specific and detailed counsel, the functionality they design may not make sense operationally based on how you choose to operate. You have to articulate and overexplain more than you think you do. What are the lighting presets? How do we change them? Where is the light switch? Does the chair cart fit in the elevator? What is the best service route from the kitchen to the event spaces? All of these things, and much more, will determine whether your new spaces get utilized for their intended
Seriously. Start early. New shiny buildings are great, but if you delay the analysis of the furniture, fixtures and equipment needed to make the new building operational, you risk being stuck with an inadequate budget to get the things you need. Start making lists and getting quotes early. There will be time to revise or get new quotes, but creating the FF&E budget blind leaves you very vulnerable to value engineering. If the FF&E budget is merely a placeholder and there are not tangible items associated with those dollars, it becomes a convenient place to grab extra money for other aspects of the project. Also, consider an FF&E buyer who can take advantage of bulk discounting and greater purchase power versus individual purchases done by the venue.
Architects and theater consultants cannot read your mind.
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It is never too early to start working on FF&E.
Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
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You did not plan enough storage.
Even if you think you did, I promise you didn’t. Another reason to get your FF&E process started early is that you have to think about where you will store all of this stuff, and real dimensions and quantities are much more helpful to work with. There will be a game of chess that all of the departments will engage in to jockey for ownership of storage areas, and this is another area where compromise is key. Consider the most frequent usage of a space when deciding what FF&E needs to be stored in proximity. Sure, it would be nice to have the lobby audio mixer in that closet for the two events per month we do in that space; but the carpet needs to be cleaned every day, so maybe it makes more sense to store the vacuums there. Decisions should be made based on workflow.
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Getting to opening day is just the beginning.
And it’s not even the hard part. The process of ringing out the systems in a new facility can be quite tedious and a burden on the staff. A new house can have just as many things that don’t work as a fixer upper, and it takes time to discover all of them. It also takes time to discover efficient new workflows for your staff. Keep staff motivated by reminding them there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that this is a learning process that you all must go through together as a team.
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The building will tell you what it wants to be.
We design spaces with specific intentions, but once the doors are open, other opportunities present themselves that will be dictated
Advertiser Index Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.......................................................................................................................45 ASU Gammage............................................................................................................................................................35 Bell MTS Place............................................................................................................................................................73 Birmingham CVB.........................................................................................................................................................58 Blue Cross Arena........................................................................................................................................................33 Bridgestone Arena......................................................................................................................................................10 Cabarrus Arena...........................................................................................................................................................50 Chesapeake Energy Arena..........................................................................................................................................31 Citizens Business Bank Arena....................................................................................................................................25 Coliseo de Puerto Rico................................................................................................................................................75 DCU Center.................................................................................................................................................................53 Dunkin’ Donuts Center................................................................................................................................................51 Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre..................................................................................................................................54 Event Fire Safety Consulting......................................................................................................................................71 Ford Center................................................................................................................................................................ C2 Florence Civic Center................................................................................................................................................. C4 Frank Erwin Center......................................................................................................................................................30 Gila River Arena..........................................................................................................................................................15 Grand Canyon University Arena................................................................................................................................ C3 Greensboro Coliseum..................................................................................................................................................27 Grossinger Motors Arena...........................................................................................................................................17 Iowa Rotocast Plastics................................................................................................................................................13 Iowa State Center.......................................................................................................................................................29 iWireless Center.........................................................................................................................................................30 Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.......................................................................... 59 Meridian Centre..........................................................................................................................................................28 MGM Resorts International........................................................................................................................................ 1 Mohegan Sun Arena.....................................................................................................................................................3 Morris Performing Arts Center...................................................................................................................................61 MTS Seating...............................................................................................................................................................24 Nutter Center..............................................................................................................................................................62 Richmond Coliseum....................................................................................................................................................26 RP Funding Center.......................................................................................................................................................43 San Jose Theaters........................................................................................................................................................5 SMG..............................................................................................................................................................................6 SNHU Arena................................................................................................................................................................63 Spectrum Center.........................................................................................................................................................11 Straz Center for the Performing Arts..........................................................................................................................65 Times Union Center.....................................................................................................................................................66 United Supermarkets Arena.......................................................................................................................................28 Van Andel Arena.........................................................................................................................................................23 Wintrust Arena/Arie Crown Theater............................................................................................................................9
Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
by how the room best functions operationally. We should be open to those opportunities. As much as the intended programming of the facility should direct the design beforehand, it can be the design itself that directs the programming after the dust settles. Successful events happen when a space is used effectively. It is harder to achieve that success when we shoehorn inappropriate events into spaces for which they are not well suited. Sometimes your vision has to change slightly once the building is built and you have lived in it for a while, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a part of the process. There will be times when you will want to throw in the towel or curse the name of everyone who has touched the project. Relax. Enjoy the ride. Stay focused on how important these facilities are to the communities we serve and how many wide-eyed faces will come through on opening day feeling the privilege of having this building here where they live. Then step back and remember what a privilege it was for you to get to be a part of something that will stand the test of time. Congratulations, you made it. Nick Zazal, CVP, is Director of Events & Patron Services for the Walton Arts Center/Walmart AMP in Northwest Arkansas where he oversees FOH operations, concessions, security, volunteers, client rental sales and resident companies. Zazal spent nearly a decade with the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Champaign-Urbana, IL, where he oversaw the Events team handling touring production, hospitality and artist logistics. He holds an MS degree in Sports, Recreation and Tourism and a BFA in Theater (Stage Management), both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A trained stage manager, his other past credits include Colorado Shakespeare Festival, International Festival of Arts & Ideas (New Haven, CT) and the Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts (Little Rock, AR).
Looking Ahead Facilities & EVENT MANAGEMENT 2017-2018 Booking Guide Featuring:
Luminary Awards for entertainment venue • The executives Forums: In-depth Q&As with industry • F&EM leaders on the move from the pros on booking and venue • Tips management strategies latest entertainment and event industry • The news, including concert coverage, facility renovations, executive appointments and much more. Also look for our new sports tourism focus.
To subscribe, see page 49 in this issue. 79
Frank Bradshaw
Executive Director Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts Ogden, UT rank Bradshaw, CFE, has worked in the public assembly venue management industry for over 35 years. Since his arrival at the Val A. Browning Center in 2014, he has overseen two major renovations/upgrades to the three theaters that comprise the complex and is currently gearing up for a third. Bradshaw is the 2016 recipient of the IAVM Chairman’s Citation Award.
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Mike Brand
Executive Director Wharton Center for Performing Arts Lansing, MI ike Brand oversees four venues: the Cobb Great Hall, Pasant Theatre, MSU Concert Auditorium and Fairchild Theatre. Since being appointed Executive Director in December of 2003, Brand has expanded and diversified the entertainment programming at the Center, and has collaborated with numerous local cultural institutions.
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David J. Fischer
F&EM -LIST
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Executive Director Broadway Center for the Arts Tacoma, WA avid Fischer has served as Executive Director for the Broadway Center for the Arts since 2006. Under his leadership, revenues have tripled and attendance has doubled, among other positive results. In September 2013, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Western Arts Alliance for his work in advancing PACs in the Western United States.
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Bob Klaus
General Manager Durham Performing Arts Center Durham, NC n February 2008, Bob Klaus was appointed General Manager of the Durham Performing Arts Center, which opened later that year. From 1997 to 2006, he served as General Manager of Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, formerly known as Alltel Pavilion, and his focus on the guest experience resulted in its winning numerous fan favorite awards.
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Bobby Rossi
CPO/Executive Vice President – Entertainment Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL n September 2015, Ruth Eckerd Hall promoted Chief Programming Officer Bobby Rossi to CPO/Executive Vice President – Entertainment, overseeing programming at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Murray Theatre, and Capitol Theatre, as well as Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road. Rossi joined Ruth Eckerd Hall in 1996 after eight years at Fantasma Productions in West Palm Beach, FL.
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PAC Executives Judith Lisi
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Senior Director Skirball Center for the Performing Arts New York, NY ay Wegman, former Artistic Director at the Abrons Arts Center in New York City, began in his current role last August. At the Abrons, he expanded the international programming, and has a similar goal for the Skirball Center. The 2017-18 season, the first curated by Wegman, includes over 45 presentations showcasing diverse and cutting-edge international talent.
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Director of Facilities Management Denver Center for the Performing Arts Denver, CO lay Courter, a theater aficionado, joined the DCPA in 2008 as the Director of Facilities Management. He previously served as the Director of Construction at a top architectural firm in Los Angeles. He has also managed the construction and facilities processes of a commercial portfolio of more than 3.2 million sq. ft. in San Diego, working for the Real Estate Investment Trust.
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Michael J. Fresher
President and Chief Executive Officer Tobin Center for the Performing Arts San Antonio, TX ichael J. Fresher oversees all facets of The Tobin Center’s operations and business plan. A venue management veteran, Fresher previously served as COO and CFO for the Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall Corporation in Hartford, CT. Before The Bushnell, he was the Vice President Finance and Controller for Madison Square Garden’s Connecticut operation for 10 years.
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Judy Mitchell
President, CEO Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa, FL hrough Judith Lisi’s leadership, the Straz Center has expanded its programming, established financial stability and met longrange goals. In 2002, she was honored with the Samuel J. L’ Hommedieu Presenter of the Year Award from the League of American Theatres and Producers. In 2008, she received the Patrick Hayes Award for Lifetime Achievement from the International Society for the Performing Arts.
Jay Wegman
Clay Courter
Chief Executive Officer Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts West Palm Beach, FL udy Mitchell has led the Kravis Center for over 25 years, and currently supervises a staff of 200 and a volunteer team of 700. She has received the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award from the local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, as well as the Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award from the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
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Denise Zigler
Director of Booking and Event Operations Morris Performing Arts Center South Bend, IN enise Zigler, CFE considers herself “proud to continue to work in the facility I literally grew up in.” She began in 1979 as an usher at the then Morris Civic Auditorium, working in various roles until she become an Event Coordinator in 1995. In 2003, she was promoted to her current role. Zigler graduated from the PAFMS at Oglebay in 1999, and earned her CFE in 2016.
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Facilities & EVENT Management 2017 Superbook
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