Semi-annual publication for Booking Agents, Promoters,Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners, and Venue Management. Featured in this issue: George Strait's Cowboy Rides Away Tour, Community Outreach at Feld Entertainment, Interview with SMG Entertainment's VP John Bolton, a look at venues in Florida and Texas, and more.
THE COWBOY'S LAST RODEO GEORGE STRAIT'S COWBOY RIDES AWAY TOUR VISITS RODEOHOUSTON, A CLASSIC THAT KEEPS GETTING BETTER 40 2014 152 Madison Avenue, Room 802 New York, NY 10016 Facilities & Event Management TM SuperBook For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers Community Outreach, Feld Entertainment Style 38 SMG Entertainment VP John Bolton on Venue Promotion 36 Spotlights: Florida 102 Texas 94 FACILITIESONLINE.COM 2014 Prime Site Awards 43
Transcript
The Cowboy's LasT RodeoGeorGe Strait'S Cowboy rideS away tour viSitS rodeoHouSton, a ClaSSiC tHat keepS GettinG better40
2014
152 Madison Avenue, Room 802 New York, NY 10016
Facilities&event Management TM
superbook For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners &
Venue Managers
Community outreach, Feld entertainment style38
sMG entertainment VP John bolton on Venue Promotion36
spotlights:Florida 102Texas 94
FaCILITIesoNLINe.CoM 2014 Prime site awards 43
A R I Z O N A ’ S P R E M I E R V E N U E
Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix,
is the city’s most dramatic multi-use space.
US Airways Center sets the stage for impressive
events from a small meeting to elaborate celebrations.
VISIT WWW.USAIRWAYSCENTER.COM OR CALL 602.379.7800
1Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
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superbook For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners &
Venue Managers
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2014 Prime Site AwardsThe Best of The Best .............................................................................................43-52Prime Site Awards Ballot ............................................................................................54ELITE Awards Ballot ....................................................................................................35
ColumnsViewpoint ...........................................................................................................................2Caffin’s Corner ................................................................................................................. 4Booking PerspectivesProducer as “Matchmaker,” by John Bernardoni ................................................28Agent’s AngleHow Do I Get the Hot Act?, by Andrea Johnson ............................................... 30Venue Strategies“Downtime” Can Be a Goldmine, by Charlie Neary ........................................... 32
UpfrontArena Watch, Catering Watch, Venue Security, Heard on the Street ..... 8-26Leading Edge: Wayne Zronik .......................................................................................11Leading Edge: Gary Wattie ..........................................................................................16
In Conversation With ...John Bolton, Vice President, SMG Entertainment ...........................................36Leroy Shafer and Jason Kane, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo .... .....40
Marketing Case StudyFeld Entertainment’s Community Outreach ........................................................38
State SpotlightsTexas ............................................................................................................................ 94-101Florida ....................................................................................................................... 102-110
Facilities Index ................................................................................................................56
Ad Index .............................................................................................................................111
Hot List: Fairgrounds ....................................................................................................112
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 Facilities, 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Printed in U.S.A.
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M E M B E R S O F :
ON THE COVER
(Clockwise) A) Charleston Civic Center;B) Giant Center (interior);C) Coliseo de Puerto Rico;D) Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza;E) River Center/Adler Theatre (interior);F) and Toyota Center.
FACILITIES: ESSENTIAL TOOL
FOR WORKING SMARTER IN ‘09
Compared to other industries, the live entertainment and event business was robust in 2008 and,according to most industry observers, ticket sales and audience attendance showed little-to-nodecline from the previous year. However, this assessment came with a qualification that many ofthe tickets had been purchased and the events had been held before the more dire economic news
came to the forefront in the 4th quarter of 2008.Even after this relatively strong year, the live entertainment and event industry will not be able to rest on
its past achievements. Our industry doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Rising unemployment, decreasing disposableincome and lack of consumer confidence have the potential to negatively impact ticket sales and the size of theaudience. Filling seats with effective entertainment during a time of economic uncertainty is causing anxietyamong venue managers and bookers. Two things are for sure: (1) Without question, 2009 will be challenging;and (2) in order to meet this challenge, everyone in the industry, from venue managers and their staff to theBooking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers and Special Event Planners, will have to work smarter—whichbasically means holding down costs while enhancing the audience experience.
Viewed through this work smarter prism, the 2009 Facilities SuperBook is more critical than ever. The cen-terpiece of this issue is the Annual 2008 Prime Site Awards (listed on page 16). Every year, the Facilities MediaGroup bestows the Prime Site Awards. This special designation—voted on by the readership (Booking Agents,Promoters, Talent Buyers & Special Event Planners) of Facilities—recognizes Venue Excellence, a criteria thatincludes the structural dynamics of a building, the level of technology of its sound, lighting, staging—and thequality of the venue staff. All these components are integral to the success of the performance and audienceexperience. The Prime Site Awards acknowledge those venues that have work smarter.
The other content in this issue—a regionalized directory of North American venues, a Product & ServicesDirectory, a spotlight interview with Greg Diekroeger, former Chair of the Board of the National Associationfor Campus Activities, and Industry Perspective columns on customer service and event service—are all focused
on enabling industry members to work smarter.In addition to print, facilitiesonline is the fastest growing website in
the industry. Facilitiesonline features news, industry links, a fun-to-read-blog, and the industry’s most extensive online database of Arenas,Theaters, Coliseums, Theaters, Civic Centers, PACs, Amphitheatres,University Venues, Fairgrounds, Convention Centers and SpecialEvent Venues. Thousands of Booking Agents, Promoters, TalentBuyers and Special Event Planners use Facilitiesonline every week tostay informed about industry issue and specific events
The way to meet the challenges of 2009? Work Smarter! The 2009Facilities SuperBook (and Facilitiesonline) has been designed to be yourfirst essential tool in achieving that goal.
ON THE COVERGeorge Strait on stage at NRG Stadium, March
17, 2013, when The Cowboy Rides Away Tour
visited the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Strait broke the Show’s paid attendance record.
This year, the country superstar broke the record
for largest attendance at an indoor concert.
Troy Blakely, Executive Vice President, Managing Partner at Agency for the Performing Arts, has been a promoter and tour manager since the late ‘60s, yet he is certainly attuned to trends in today’s concert
industry. In our interview with him for this year’s F&EM SuperBook, Blakely observed that the number of musical headliners playing the big venues has diminished. “For all artists, it’s more and more difficult to sell out arenas and stadiums,” he maintained. Consequently, “there is a sweet spot for buildings nowadays, the 5,000-7,000 seat range.” The Allen Event Center near Dallas, TX, where Blakely recently brought the legendary group BOSTON [page 97], hits that spot with a maximum capacity of about 7,000.
Among the shrinking circle of artists who are viable on the stadium circuit is George Strait. The final stop of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour set an all-time indoor concert attendance record with a draw of 104,793 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, on June 7. Along the way, Strait also broke the NRG Stadium and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo paid attendance record at 80,020 on March 17, 2013. Joined by Martina McBride and the Randy Rogers Band, Strait gave a performance that “was truly special for our fans,” said Leroy Shafer, Chief Operating Officer of the Show.
In this issue, Shafer and Jason Kane, Managing Director, Entertainment and Concert Production, give us an inside look at the programming that has made the Show special for fans of all generations over eight decades (page 40). One of the keys to success has been ancillary programming that broadens the Show’s appeal, including bar-b-que and horticulture competitions.
Indeed, the value of supplemental events, for both shows and venues, is a theme of the issue. Charlie Neary, Executive Vice President of Ovations Food Services, gives advice on maximizing facility revenue by creating special events to fill “dark days” (page 32), and John Bolton, Vice President, SMG Entertainment, discusses his creation of highly popular events like the Rock ‘N’ Rib Festival and Dodgebrawl at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK (page 36).
Some ancillary events have a marketing role, and we are pleased to feature a case study by Feld Entertainment’s Regional Communications Director for the Southeast Region, Crystal Drake, on how the company raises its profile through community outreach programs (page 38). In fulfilling social needs while showcasing its entertainment, Feld certainly hits the “sweet spot.”
ViEwpOiNT
AncillAry EVEnTS: nO lOnGEr An AFTErTHOUGHT
– George SeliEditorial Director, Facilities Media Group
DANIEL TOSHCOUNTING CROWSMARY J. BLIGEJERRY SEINFELD
THE BOOK OF MORMONMIKE EPPS
ITZHAK PERLMANIDINA MENZEL
STINGJON STEWART
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERALEONARD COHENJEFF DUNHAMBLACK STAR
HARRY CONNICK, JR.ALICIA KEYSBON IVER
BILL CLINTONCHRIS CORNELL
JOHN LEGUIZAMOMATISYAHU
DISNEY’S THE LION KING
RENÉE FLEMINGJUANES
BLUE MAN GROUPJ. COLE
JOHN FOGERTYTHE PIANO GUYS
WILCOJERSEY BOYSJOSH GROBANCESAR MILLANTHE WEEKND
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
Morsani Hall has been ranked in the Top 5 in the world by Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today.
STATE-OF-THE-ART 5-THEATER ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA
Facilities Magazine ad_7.10.indd 1 7/1/14 3:00 PM
4 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Caffin’sorner
A bUSy SUmmEr OF indUSTry EVEnTS
A special hello to all attendees and exhibitors at the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) 2014 VenueConnect Conference and Trade Show in
Portland, OR. Please come by Booth 1629 to say hi, and/or I will see you on the show floor and at other events. This will be my 22nd consecutive IAVM/IAAM annual conference . . . where has the time gone?
Separately, it was great seeing a large number of arena marketing executives from 2014 Facilities & Event Management (F&EM) Prime Site Award-winning venues and others at the recent Event & Arena Marketing Conference in New Orleans. From the captivating opening Q&A and presentation from SMG’s Doug Thornton, Mercedes-Benz Superdome GM, entitled “Katrina and the Superdome: Shelter of Last Resort,” to the very entertaining keynote address by Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer of the WWE, it was a very informative and productive gathering.
– Michael CaffinAssociate Publisher, Facilities Media Group
A record 114 F&EM Prime Site Award-winning arenas and theaters are announced in this, our 2014 F&EM SuperBook, with a number of new faces on this year’s list of winners (section begins page 43). Your cities, venue executives and staffs should be proud. And it’s not too early to vote for our 2015 Prime Site Awards; check out the ballot on page 54.
Speaking of award-winning venue staffs, please take the time to cast your vote for the ELITE Awards (see page 35). Nominate individuals in one or more of the following categories: Arena Executive of the Year, Theater Executive of the Year, Booking Agent of the Year, Promoter of the Year and Talent Buyer of the Year. The winners will be announced in the 2014-2015 F&EM Booking Guide appearing late this fall.
We know that our readers not only like to recognize their peers; they also like to hear their commentary on venues and industry trends. With that mind, we bring you a 2014 F&EM SuperBook that is highlighted by contributions from top agents such as Louis Messina (The Messina Group) and Andrea Johnson (The Agency Group), as well as pros from various other industry sectors.
Enjoy the issue!
ARENA THEATRE18,000 1,0002,800
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CONCERT HALL
Susette HunterDirector of Sales and Marketing205-458-8441 or [email protected]
THE PREMIER SPOT FOR
ENTERTAINMENTBIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON CONVENTION COMPLEX
@AIRCANADACENTRE
ARENA THEATRE18,000 1,0002,800
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CONCERT HALL
Susette HunterDirector of Sales and Marketing205-458-8441 or [email protected]
THE PREMIER SPOT FOR
ENTERTAINMENTBIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON CONVENTION COMPLEX
20 1 4PRIME SITEWINNERS
SMGCongratulations To Our Thirty-Two Prime Site Winners
American Bank Center (Corpus Christi, TX)
Baltimore Arena (Baltimore, MD)
Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, NY)
BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Cabarrus Arena (Concord, NC)
CenturyLink Center (Bossier City, LA)
Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)
Coliseo de Puerto Rico (Hato Rey, Puerto Rico)
Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Providence, RI)
Florence Civic Center Arena (Florence, SC)
Ford Idaho Center (Nampa, ID)
Hershey Centre (Mississauga, Ontario)
INTRUST Bank Arena (Wichita, KS)
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)
John Paul Jones Arena (Charlottesville, VA)
Laredo Energy Arena (Laredo, TX)
Macon Centreplex Coliseum (Macon, GA)
Mohegan Sun Arena (Wilkes Barre, PA)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, NE)
Rogers K-Rock Centre (Kingston, Ontario)
Santander Arena (Reading, PA)
Selland Arena (Fresno, CA)
ShoWare Center (Kent, WA)
Silver Spurs Arena (Kissimmee, FL)
Stockton Arena (Stockton, CA)
Times Union Center (Albany, NY)
Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, MI)
Verizon Wireless Arena (Manchester, NH)
Arie Crown Theater (Chicago, IL)
Bellco Theatre (Denver, CO)
Peery’s Egyptian Theater (Ogden, UT)
Saenger Theater (Pensacola, FL)
To inquire about SMG managed facilities call 1.866.BOOK.SMG or visit smgworld.com
American Bank Center
Cabarrus Arena
Dunkin’ Donuts Center
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Pinnacle Bank Arena
Silver Spurs Arena
Arie Crown Theater
Baltimore Arena
CenturyLink Center
Florence Civic Center Arena Ford Idaho Center
John Paul Jones Arena
Rogers K-Rock Centre
Stockton Arena
Bellco Theatre
Blue Cross Arena
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Hershey Centre
Laredo Energy Arena
Santander Arena
Times Union Center
Peery’s Egyptian Theater
BOK Center
Coliseo de Puerto Rico
INTRUST Bank Arena
Macon Centreplex Coliseum Mohegan Sun Arena
Selland Arena ShoWare Center
Van Andel Arena Verizon Wireless Arena
Saenger Theater
20 1 4PRIME SITEWINNERS
SMGCongratulations To Our Thirty-Two Prime Site Winners
American Bank Center (Corpus Christi, TX)
Baltimore Arena (Baltimore, MD)
Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, NY)
BOK Center (Tulsa, OK)
Cabarrus Arena (Concord, NC)
CenturyLink Center (Bossier City, LA)
Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)
Coliseo de Puerto Rico (Hato Rey, Puerto Rico)
Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Providence, RI)
Florence Civic Center Arena (Florence, SC)
Ford Idaho Center (Nampa, ID)
Hershey Centre (Mississauga, Ontario)
INTRUST Bank Arena (Wichita, KS)
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)
John Paul Jones Arena (Charlottesville, VA)
Laredo Energy Arena (Laredo, TX)
Macon Centreplex Coliseum (Macon, GA)
Mohegan Sun Arena (Wilkes Barre, PA)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, NE)
Rogers K-Rock Centre (Kingston, Ontario)
Santander Arena (Reading, PA)
Selland Arena (Fresno, CA)
ShoWare Center (Kent, WA)
Silver Spurs Arena (Kissimmee, FL)
Stockton Arena (Stockton, CA)
Times Union Center (Albany, NY)
Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, MI)
Verizon Wireless Arena (Manchester, NH)
Arie Crown Theater (Chicago, IL)
Bellco Theatre (Denver, CO)
Peery’s Egyptian Theater (Ogden, UT)
Saenger Theater (Pensacola, FL)
To inquire about SMG managed facilities call 1.866.BOOK.SMG or visit smgworld.com
American Bank Center
Cabarrus Arena
Dunkin’ Donuts Center
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Pinnacle Bank Arena
Silver Spurs Arena
Arie Crown Theater
Baltimore Arena
CenturyLink Center
Florence Civic Center Arena Ford Idaho Center
John Paul Jones Arena
Rogers K-Rock Centre
Stockton Arena
Bellco Theatre
Blue Cross Arena
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Hershey Centre
Laredo Energy Arena
Santander Arena
Times Union Center
Peery’s Egyptian Theater
BOK Center
Coliseo de Puerto Rico
INTRUST Bank Arena
Macon Centreplex Coliseum Mohegan Sun Arena
Selland Arena ShoWare Center
Van Andel Arena Verizon Wireless Arena
Saenger Theater
8 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
FrontUp FrontUpstadium WatCH
Set to open next month in Santa Clara, CA, Levi’s® Stadium is the new $1.2 billion home of the San Francisco 49ers and, in Febru-ary 2016, host to Super Bowl 50. Seating approximately 68,500 and offering an expected 165 luxury suites and 8,500 club seats, the multi-purpose facility will be able to host a wide range of events, including domestic and international soccer, college football, motocross, concerts and various civic events.
Centerplate will service the stadium, which will offer 370 concession points of sale. (See page 16 for a discussion with Gary Wattie, Centerplate’s Senior Vice President of Business Development.) Tech features include stadium-wide WiFi capabilities, mobile connectivity, IPTV and HD video boards measuring over 13,000 sq. ft. Sustainability features include
photovoltaic panels, a 27,000-sq.-ft. green roof, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, recycled building materials and more. The end result will be the first U.S. professional football stadium to have achieved LEED Gold certification. Visitors may view a live dashboard display featuring current energy measure-ments, water and air monitors, and other dynamic green features as the building operates daily. The dashboard is located inside Levi’s® Stadium in between the 49ers Museum Presented By Sony and 49ers Team Store. In addition, Levi’s® Stadium has been connected to the city’s recycled water system, making it the first stadium in California to utilize the drought-proof water source. Recycled water will account for about 85 percent of all water used in the stadium.
The new Alaska Airlines Center, a $109 million, 196,000-sq.-ft. multiuse facility, is scheduled to open this month, with a grand opening on Sept. 5. Two levels of stadium seating accommodate 5,000 spectators who can enjoy naturally lit views of the performance gymnasium. Other facilities include five hospitality suites, the Varsity Sports Grill, locker rooms and a training room. AV production is available.
In April, Delaware North Companies, owner and operator of TD Garden and Sportservice, announced a series of privately financed upgrades and renovations for TD Garden, the home of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, over the next two years. This $70 million arena-wide upgrade will feature the development of a new ProShop, redesigned modern concourses, comprehensive renovation of the Legends Club and an upgraded technology infrastructure and state-of-the-art digital solutions from Cisco.
“With TD Garden being nearly 20 years old, we recognize that these renovations are neces-sary and we are confident that they will transform the fan experience from the moment a patron enters the building,” said Charlie Jacobs, principal of Delaware North Companies and the Boston Bruins.
Construction on the ProShop will begin in early May with a targeted completion by year-end, and the existing store will remain operational during this time. Major construction on the loge and balcony concourses will take place in two phases, with the loge concourse slated for this summer and the balcony concourse for the following summer. The installation of high-density WiFi throughout the arena is in its final stages and will be fully implemented at the start of the 2014-15 NHL season.
11Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Vice President, Live Entertainment Maple Leaf Sports & EntertainmentFor about two years, Wayne Zronik has served as VP, Live Entertainment with MLSE, which owns and operates the Air Canada Centre, home arena of the
Maple Leafs and Raptors. He came from a film and television background to join the media group at MLSE, but his experience in producing music festivals led him to work on developing the company’s partnership with Live Nation. “I’ve always had an affinity for live entertainment,” says Zronik. Air Canada Centre's programming certainly reflects that affinity, with recent multi-date sellouts for Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé and Queen.
Behind Air Canada Centre’s success: We’ve had a few things go right for us. Patti-Anne Tarlton [now Ticketmaster’s COO Canada] came here and had a history in promoting. She built the appreciation for the market; it wasn’t always so. There was also a point in time when the Canadian dollar was very weak. Bands crossing the border would take a cut due to the exchange rate, so certainly currency parity has helped. But we also think Toronto is one of the strongest live entertainment
Leading Edge: Wayne Zronik
markets in North America, if not the world, and we have a tremendous amount of fans here that want to be part of a live experience. So we consistently rank in the top three of venues in North America in terms of selling tickets.
A developing metropolis: Toronto is by far the fastest-growing metropolitan area in North America. We’ve got more cranes in the sky developing property than New York, Chicago and Los Angeles combined. So the economy is very good, which obviously helps to sell tickets. We’re also trying to get across that we can sell country in this market. I think the country shows have traditionally worked around Toronto, but we see the strength of country in our building.
Stronger promotional support: We recently took our in-house marketing group and merged it with our larger MLSE marketing group. So now we have all of those resources available for our promoters with a marketing group of over 50 people.
Facility improvements: It’s a relatively new building, but we have invested about $50 million in expanding the west end with a new entrance atrium. We are also looking at major renovations to our bowl, and upgrading our scoreboard, seating and back-of-house amenities.
12 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
FrontUp FrontUparena WatCH
The $480 million Rogers Place will debut in Edmonton, Alberta in October 2016 as the new home of the Edmonton Oilers, replacing the 40-year-old Rexall Stadium. Appropriately designed to look like an oil drop, the 18,461-seat arena is part of a $605 million project that includes a community rink, public transportation links, underground parking and a Winter Garden. Among many special features is reportedly what will be the world’s largest high-definition arena scoreboard.
FrontUp FrontUp arena WatCHAlain Belsoeur (left), Président du Comité Stratégique des Stades de la LFP (French Foot-ball League), presents the New Venue of the Year Award on behalf of the Stadium Business Awards judging com-mittee to Ailsa Oliver (center), Assistant Gen-eral Manager, first direct arena, and Ben Williams, General Manager, first direct arena.
The first direct arena in Leeds, England, oper-ated by SMG Europe, was voted New Venue of the Year at the Stadium Business Awards, held June 4 at London’s Royal Air Force Museum. The
13,000-capacity entertainment venue opened last summer and has hosted performances by Bruce Springsteen, Sir Elton John and Prince. Among the contenders for the award were the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, the SSE Hydro in Glasgow and the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice.
“This award is the culmination of an amazing 12 months for SMG’s newest venue,” said John Knight, Senior Vice President UK Operations. “From Bruce Springsteen’s barnstorming test run to eight million viewers of BBC’s Sports Person-ality of the Year, the venue has shown its versatil-ity, and Leeds is now firmly on the map for the biggest events in entertainment and sport. We look forward to welcoming the world’s media to the venue for the opening ceremony of the Tour de France in a month’s time.”
“When the council chose to pursue our vision of providing a world-class entertainment venue for the city, we were sure we could deliver that,” said Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Keith Wakefield. “I’m delighted world experts agree that the SMG Europe-operated first direct arena means Leeds has a venue people in this city can be proud of.”
Facilities and Event Management Magazine Superbook1/4 Page (3.5” x 4.75”)ColorInsertion Date: July IssuePaid
16 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
FrontUp FrontUpCatering WatCH
Leading Edge: Gary Wattie Senior Vice President of New Business DevelopmentCenterplate
potential participants in our program. Some care has to be exercised because a small business may find itself stretched beyond its ability to service our venues. But we sometimes provide financial assistance to the partners that have all the prerequisites we establish but not the financial wherewithal to do it.
Centerplate’s business development: We spend a great deal of time renewing existing contracts. We just renewed with the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. In terms of new partnerships, we will be opening the new Levi’s Stadium (see page 8).
A wider scope of services: Going back 20 years when I started in this business there was an extremely segmented and focused effort by food-service providers. It was not unusual for one company to focus on concessions and another on premium within the same venue. Today, we are all able to do the premium at a level that rivals restaurants, but that’s not enough because now there are competitors that go beyond that to include ticketing, retail, construction manage-ment and more. So in order to survive we have to expand our scope of services.
Career reflections: What’s most rewarding about this busi-ness is that you’re working in a space that people are going to in order to have some fun, and you have the opportunity to add to that experience. While Aramark seemed like a nice place for me to get started in my career, I thought I certainly wouldn’t be in the food service business more than two years. Now, 20 years later, I want to stay in it as long as I can.
Gary Wattie is a 20-year veteran of the hospitality services industry. Prior to joining Centerplate in 2006, he was Vice President of Business Development with Aramark’s Sports and Entertainment divi-sion for 11 years. Wattie is also a member
of the National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) Board of Directors, and the NAC recently named him the 2014 Mickey Warner Award recipient. The award recognizes an individual’s leadership and significant accomplishments in the non-theater concession industry. Wattie is being honored on July 17 at the NAC Membership Luncheon during The Concession & Hospitality Expo at the Denver Marriott City Center.
Approach to client service: We try our best to ensure that each of our venues reflects the culinary and hospitality flavor of the community in which it operates. While we don’t market local celebrity chefs as part of our program, we do engage with chefs that have captured the essence and flavor of their communities, and tap into not only their expertise about the market but also their supply chain. Personally, I focus on the relationships with each venue’s key stakeholders and take the initiative to obtain candid feedback on how we’re doing.
Catalyzing small business: Within the proposals that we typically develop, we try to identify opportunities to give back to the local communities, including providing opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. So, for example, in Orlando close to 50 percent of our purchases are from local disadvantaged businesses. So part of my job is to identify
The Prime Site Award-winning Prudential Center and Legends Hospitality have en-tered into a multi-year partnership that will create a brand-new culinary experience for guests at the Newark, NJ arena. Legends took over concessions operations in early July, and a full rollout of new offerings is scheduled for the fall.
Based on the “Born & Bread” in New Jersey theme, the program will feature popular res-taurants built on local farm-to-table sourcing; a collection of locally born, award-winning chefs;
and unique cuisine that represents iconic locations around the state. Examples include: JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community kitchen and restaurant run by the Jon Bon Jovi Foundation in Red Bank, NJ; the Route 1 Diner, featuring the look and feel of a traditional Jersey diner; Ironbound District, honoring the Prudential Center’s environs with a wide variety of Peru-vian, Brazilian and Portuguese favorites; and the Boardwalk, the Upper Concourse outfit-ted with an actual boardwalk and serving pop-ular Jersey Shore classics such as fried clams and funnel cakes. In addition to an upgraded culinary experience for guests, the concept will feature new streamlined point-of-service operations for expedited transactions.
FrontUp FrontUpCatering WatCHThis spring, Levy Restaurants acquired Professional Sports Catering (PSC), who specialize in food and hospitality service to minor league ballparks around the country. According to Levy, PSC will continue to focus exclusively on mid-sized baseball stadiums, an area where the company has experienced significant growth over the past eight years. Most recently, PSC has established part-nerships with the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Single-A affiliate, Tampa Bay Rays), and PSC’s first spring training account, the Peoria Sports Complex (spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres).
Founder and CEO Tom Dickson “and his team have a wonderful knowledge of the
minor league baseball landscape, strong relationships and a unique depth of exper-tise,” commented Andy Lansing, President and CEO of Levy Restaurants. “Together, we are able to fuel that specialization with a high-powered engine of new culinary and hospitality resources, training programs, analytics and more to welcome fans with an exceptional experience.”
“In Levy, we found a partner that shares our core values of quality food, great guest service and a partnership mentality,” said Dickson. “Levy Restaurants not only aligns with all of these principles, but also helps us tap into the power of the leaders in sports and entertainment food and hospitality.”...........................................................
Last month, SMG Facility Management through its operating Food and Beverage Division, SAVOR, acquired San Diego, CA-based Premier Food Service, the exclusive food and beverage provider of the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Race Track and Univer-sity of California – San Diego Faculty Club, among other higher-education and business organizations in San Diego County.
“We are excited about this strategic acqui-sition which expands our premium catering and concession operations in California. This acquisition provides additional food and bev-erage expansion opportunities in the Univer-sity and B&I segments in San Diego County,” said SMG CEO and President Wes Westley. SAVOR Senior Vice President Shaun Beard noted, “The one-on-one client relationships and attention to service details will continue and be strengthened from the additional management and culinary resources of SAVOR for all of the Premier clients. SAVOR’s local Southern California resources will be an added benefit for major special events at Del Mar Fairgrounds and other Premier locations throughout the year.”
Brand new building.Hot Midwest market. Big sellouts.
L I N C O L N , N E B R A S K A
Meet Pinnacle Bank Arena.15,000 seat capacity Curtain System Experienced staff
www.coliseodepuertorico.comBook your event with us now!Call Wesley Cullen at 787.777.0800
Look!Thanks to all our clients and collaborators for recognizing the Coliseo as a Prime Site Facility.
20 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
FrontUp FrontUpVenue seCurity
Last fall, Scottsdale, AZ-based Guardian 8 rolled out its G8 Pro V2, an innovative, multi-function handheld security unit. Weighing just under nine ounces, the non-lethal device integrates an alerting siren, LED strobe light, laser spotter, camera, microphone, emer-gency notification and a pepper spray with a 10-ft. range. “We are starting to get traction in a number of different industries, but some early adopters have been hospital cam-puses and sporting venues,” notes Guardian 8 COO Paul Hughes. The Shreveport Convention Center and some casinos in Las Vegas have the unit deployed currently. Platinum Event Services, which handles security for the Dallas Cowboys, is among the organizations that have been trained on the device by Guardian 8.
The Pro V2 allows security personnel to select from three levels of response keyed to the activation of certain features, as appropriate to the perceived degree of threat or the gravity of the incident. Level 1 arms the unit, activating the laser spotter, digital camera, incident auto record and an audible notification. Level 2, a partial trigger pull, activates the alerting siren, strobe light and command center communication link functions. Level 3, the full trigger pull, deploys the unit’s pepper spray. All Level 1 and Level 2 features remain active during a Level 3 response.
“We wanted to build something specific to the needs of the security industry, as opposed to law enforcement,” Hughes explains. “Our idea was to address three key areas that we saw time and again in incident video that we were evaluating in the R&D phase. First, we wanted to create a protective bubble, if you will, around the security
staff so they could either protect themselves or intervene in criminal activity without having to go hands on with the perpetrator. Second, we want-ed to help them do a better job of telling others what happened in their reporting process. That’s
why we included the video and audio capabilities onboard the unit. The key question is, was my staff acting reasonably? The only way you can answer that is if you see from the staff’s perspective what they saw and what they were reacting to. Third, we
wanted to enhance the look and appearance of the security staff so we can de-escalate a situation simply by the way the security team is outfitted. So the design of the unit has some aggressive style points.
We want it to be seen on the duty belt so people will change or check their own behavior. They see the security staff has an ability to protect themselves.”
According to Hughes, the most significant features of the unit from clients’ perspectives are its Bluetooth communication module and high-definition camera. Not only are incidents in the vicinity captured by the camera, but the armed device also records every switch activation and trigger pull by the user. The detailed event log “keeps both sides of the incident or altercation honest,” says Hughes. “From the standpoint of litigation, if somebody wants to sue the team, the venue or the operator, the key thing is that we have all that digital evidence onboard the unit.” He adds that Guardian 8 can provide a six- to eight-hour instructor-training course for venue personnel who will then train their own staff, as well as a two-hour course at the venue for the frontline users. —GS
ASU Gammage outdoor and Wells Fargo Arena photos: Tim Trumble
For events big and small, ASU Gammage has a venue that’s just right for your needs!
For rental information call 480.965.1749 or [email protected] Box 870205 Tempe, AZ, 85287-0205 Fax: 480.965.7663
ASU GAMMAGE - 2,800 SEATS
SUN DEVIL STADIUM - 65,000 SEATS
WELLS FARGO ARENA - 10,000 SEATS
TM
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
Three convenient Tempe venues with easy access for the Phoenix Metro and ASU student populations.Phoenix Metro Area: 4.33 million ASU student enrollment: 73,378
22 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
FrontUp FrontUp Venue seCurity
In April, the security management team at MetLife Stadium selected Arecont Vision, an industry leader in IP-based megapixel camera technology, to provide comprehensive, undisrupted video coverage throughout the East Rutherford, NJ stadium.
“The Arecont Vision megapixel cameras installed at MetLife Sta-dium provide coverage of the stadium bowl, gates and plaza areas, with excellent cost-efficiency by using far fewer cameras versus legacy IP VGA or analog cameras,” explains Scott Schafer, Executive Vice President, Arecont Vision. “Because the number of cameras is reduced, the system can be more effectively managed. The key attributes
to a solution like this are excellent image quality to identify activity and people, frame rates to see the action, Day/Night video
capabilities, reduced network and storage expense via H.264 compression and Power over Ethernet (PoE) to reduce power
cabling costs.”Edison, NJ-based Corporate Security Services, Inc.
designed the new video surveillance system, and the Arecont cameras are managed using Genetec Secu-
rity Center, a unified video management system that is controlled from a centralized security command center in
MetLife Stadium. The cameras deployed include MegaVideo® compact 10-mega-pixel (MP) cameras located inside the bowl to monitor exterior seating areas, Sur-roundVideo® panoramic 8MP cameras to provide 180° coverage of all entrances, and MegaDome® 2 3MP cameras with remote focus, remote zoom and wide dynamic range located in the stadium’s security entrance areas.
www.� eSanfordCenter.net
Northern Minnesota’s Preferred Venue For Sports, Family Shows, Concerts & Entertainment!
Flexible Confi gurations & Easy RoutingSeating Capacities from 2,000 to 5,800Full-Service Marketing & Advertising DepartmentWide Range of Rental & Co-Promotional Opportunities
LakeLand, FL Bill Cosby shares a light-hearted moment with Scott Sloman, Assistant Director/Booking, at the Lakeland Center. Cosby’s Far From Finished tour visited the Lakeland Center on March 17. (For Sloman’s perspective on the Lakeland Center’s market, see the Florida Spotlight, p. 106.)
aLLen, tX Boston (below) and the Doobie Brothers (left) took the stage at a sold-out Allen Event Center on June 18. (For more on the Allen Event Center, see the Texas Spotlight, p. 96.)
Winnipeg, manitoba, Canada The Backstreet Boys performed at the MTS Centre on May 11. Kevin Donnelly (far right), Senior Vice President of Venues & Entertainment, and Eugenia Gorkowa (second from left), Event Coordinator, present the group with Winnipeg Jets hockey jerseys.
WiLkes-barre, paSMG General Manager Rebecca Bonnevier of Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza presents a custom Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins jersey and camouflage hat to Luke Bryan (right) and Live Nation Nashville President Brian
O’Connell (left) during Bryan’s sold-out show on Feb. 14.
SMG Management donated $1,000 to the Jake Owen Foundation on May 3. (L-r): Jake Owen and Rebecca Bonnevier, SMG General Manager at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
rapid City, sd The Band Perry performs at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Feb. 15.
FrontUp FrontUp Heard on tHe street
DealCenter, LLCTake the work out of trade show networking340 Royal Poinciana Way-Suite 317/#345Palm Beach, FL 33480(866) 430-3023; Fax: (201) 624-7316www.deal-center.com
The DealCenter is a turnkey product for trade show, conference or expo organizers. DealCenter, LLC works with trade show, expo or conference management companies to provide an online meeting system that enhances the peer-to- peer networking at the event for attendees and exhibitors. The DealCenter team also provides on-site management of the physical DealCenter or meeting area as well as all technical and customer support.
UrbanRide421 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001 (800) 525-5750; Fax: (212) 202-9638 www.urbanride.net
Chief Executive Officer: Jeremy MilikowSenior Vice President: Mitch Bornstein, SVP
‘Leading Global Provider of Meeting & Event Transportation’
UrbanRide is a global provider of ground transportation for meetings & events, and uses the top-of-the-line sedans, SUVs, vans, minibuses and motorcoaches. We provide our clients with IMS, our software that enables meeting planners to better manage transportation for their meetings, conferences, conventions, tradeshows & other events. We work exclusively with meeting & event planners and our customer service is the best in the business. UrbanRide is a one-stop solution for meeting & event transportation.
Keppler Speakers4350 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203(703) 516-4000; Fax: (703) 516-4819www.kepplerspeakers.comSenior VP for Sales and Marketing: John Truran
With Keppler Speakers, creating memorable meetings never felt so easy. With over 25 years of experience, we provide you solid, seasoned expertise, making speaker selection stress-free by managing all of the details. Keppler Speakers saves you precious time by matching you with speakers who are right on target. From proven performers to dynamic rising stars, our speakers bring fascinating, real stories and a gift for inspiring audiences.
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Yo u r P r o d u c ts & S e rv i c e s R e s o u r c eB u y e r’s G u i de
Don’t Get Stuck in a Fishbowl!The Facilities Media Group
Facilities LIVE • Booking GuideFacilities & Event Management
www.Facilitiesonline.com
POTHOS, Inc.2260 El Cajon Blvd. #474San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 546-0621: Fax: (413) 723-7838www.pothos.usPresident & CEO: Michael Patton, CMM
“Our company ethos is Integrity, Clarity and Reliability. POTHOS works in a forthright manner that considers transparent communication as the cornerstone to a successful relationship with our guests and travel partners.”
POTHOS, Inc. is a globally recognized strategic meeting management company and corporate travel agency that specializes in using cutting-edge technology and resources to compete with much larger companies at a value, offering clients cost savings and efficient personal event planning services. POTHOS, Inc. specializes in the following 3 core competencies: 1. Full Service Strategic Meeting Management; 2. Full Service Corporate/VIP Travel Management; 3. Logistics – Freight & People. POTHOS, Inc. is your ONE source for meeting, travel and logistics. Achievement of goals and objectives, ROI and ROO are the basis of our strategic approach.
The C.W. Allen Group, LLC 5130 Cyrus Circle, Birmingham, AL 35242(205) 263-0555 Fax: (205) 263-0557www.cwallengroup.comDirector of Industry Relations: Jackie Jones
Brighter Ideas… Better Results ™
The C.W. Allen Group is North America’s leading event marketing consultancy delivering the industry’s leading exhibitor education and training program, Exhibiting ROI-Q Academy™, which has consistently proven to greatly increase exhibitor success/ROI, to significantly increase exhibitor “retention rates”… and to dramatically increase event sponsorship sales. It is the exhibition industry’s leading and fastest growing exhibitor education, training, and full time/full service “consulting” solution and is fully supported by the International Economic Alliance – conceived at Harvard University, TSEA, BPA Worldwide and ECEF. The C.W. Allen Group delivers the exhibition industry’s leading network quality, global television productions on a risk-free and revenue-generating basis.
The Facilities Media Group
Don’t Get Stuck in a Fishbowl!The Facilities Media Group
On a typical Monday morning, I will find a query in my email inbox from
an event planner representing a corporation, sporting event, gala or other special event that basically says, “We’re looking for an entertainer for our upcoming event. Can you recommend someone, such as a well-known star?” And that’s it. This approach is rather like running an ad in American Architecture saying, “I’d like to build a house in Texas. How much would it cost?”
What is the budget? Sticker shock regarding artist fees and attendant costs occurs in almost every case. What is the host city and state? What is the venue? What are the demographics of the audience? What kind of entertainer and show is desired: a “sit and watch” show with a comedian, jazz artist or performance artist, or a “party and dance” with a classic rock, R&B or country artist where the audience is actively engaged in the entertainment? Addressing such questions is only the beginning of the dialogue a producer needs in order to make recommendations that truly fit the entertainment dynamic for the evening.
What I find curious is that event planners are prepared to invest tens of thousands of dollars and even more for entertainment, without understanding what their audience will like, as opposed to what they or the CEO likes. Moreover, 95 percent of the dialogue on this issue between producer and event planner takes place via email, a medium that will never communicate the subtleties of the dynamic the planner envisions. That takes a brainstorming session on the phone — preferably a conference call with the event planner and other key event staff who engage in a spirited conversation covering all the nuances of such an undertaking.
There are literally no fewer than two hundred to three hundred major entertainment concert touring stars working at any given time. We call them acts, stars or artists, and they come in
various forms: music, comedy, variety, electronica, cirque shows, performance art and more. There are also legendary cabaret acts in New York, Broadway stars, Las
Vegas headliners, and acts on the international scene from numerous countries. So how does one divine which of these acts is right for a particular event planner without an in-depth understanding of the kind of act that would match the audience? The answer is the producer. There are two kinds, theatrical and corporate.
Theatrical producers are experts in all manner of entertainment across the board, including Broadway touring plays, concerts, Las Vegas floor shows, comedy presentations, performance artists, variety acts, specialty acts, international acts and more. Having produced shows from scratch, a theatrical producer also has in-depth knowledge of how a show is created from the ground up, including designing and building sets, providing concert-quality lighting and sound, and working with performers, directors, choreographers, stage managers and theatrical unions. In other words, the theatrical producer’s expertise covers the breadth of the live entertainment industry. That
Producer as “MatchMaker”
B o o k i n g P e r s P e c t i v e s
Determining the best act for a special event requires experience and dialogue
By John Bernardoni
Event planners are often prepared to invest tens of thousands of dollars for entertainment, without an understanding of what their audience will like, as opposed to what they or the CEO likes.
29Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
far-reaching knowledge can give an event planner options that would otherwise never be brought to the table. Such creative choices go above and beyond typical corporate entertainment fare.
Corporate producers are, in most cases, originally offshoots of in-house AV companies that provided the bare essentials for an entertainment function, including local and regional acts, a modest stage setup, some AV projections, stage crew, pipe and drape, and so on. Over the years, AV companies began to delve into name acts in order to expand their businesses. It is easy to develop a list of star performers. It is also fairly easy to locate the agent for these acts. But what these producers often lack is a deep knowledge of the entertainment industry, based on far-ranging experience. What history does a corporate producer have with a given artist, which will enable the producer to judge whether the specific show will ring the bell of the corporate audience? Is that act still performing at 100 percent today? Does the producer know the fee history of a major star, and how far one can go in negotiating artist fees? Such insights can only be gleaned by producing thousands of shows of every type — not just corporate entertainment — in venues both domestic and international.
It is critically important that the event planner have numerous options beyond what is common for corporate events. The greatest performers of our time are unknown to many planners. Yet these performers can often give the audience a jaw-dropping experience that eclipses the overused act that bounces from one private event to another. Indeed, planners and producers rarely discuss how to create an atmosphere in the show room that transforms the space into a magical world of the imagination.
It is the obligation of the theatrical producer to expand the palette of creative options when it comes to deciding on a performer and performance dynamic. That’s where the magic starts.
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.
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I started in this industry in 2001 as a territorial agent with a company
then called ICM Artists (now Opus 3 Artists) and had the good fortune to work with some of the greatest classical musicians, dance companies and world musicians touring today. My days were spent discussing newly commissioned pieces for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and what concertos Midori would play with symphony orchestra. Having majored in classical voice and music history in rural Southern Ohio, spending my nights at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center was a dream.
But then something changed. Every year, booking tours for these illustrious artists got harder. This had nothing to do with the quality of the talent and everything to do with the changing definition of the performing arts in this country. Those presenting organizations that were once tent poles of annual tours went bankrupt and ceased to exist. When I started 13 years ago, it was possible to book a 50-city tour for a full 80-piece European orchestra. Today, you can count the number of venues who have the audience and money for such programming on one hand.
I bring this up not to depress those of us who still love the core performing arts, but to point out that the PAC marketplace — once able to sustain the money-losing proposition of presenting dance, theater and classical music — is now vying for the same headline entertainment that most commercial concert promoters want.
Consequently, the question I am asked most often by presenters at these organizations is “How can I get the hot shows, the ones that I see playing up the street, the ones that will make money at the box office?” For these
how do I Get the
HOt Act?
A g e n t ’ s A n g l e
Guidelines to help PAC managers and presenters pitch more effectively
By Andrea Johnsonvenues, getting shows that turn a profit at the box office isn’t just good business, it’s necessary for their continued survival. Yet I have found a shocking disparity in business-development experience from one general manager/executive director to the next. I do deals everyday with PACs that are top notch, 100 percent knowledgeable, and a dream to work with. On the flip side, I recently had a woman from a large
nonprofit theater in a major city ask me what a radius clause was and how to write up a show budget. Chances are, if you can’t structure a simple backend deal and write up a coherent professional ad plan, no agent in their right mind is going to sell you their biggest acts. As with most things, success comes with access, experience and education.
It is in this spirit that I share a short list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to getting a desirable act:
doN’t:•Plead your case about being a nonprofit and thus not able to offer a competitive guarantee/deal. Most artists give an inordinate amount of time and money to charities of different stripes. When they’re on tour, they need to be able to earn money.•Suggest that because you’ve never heard of an artist that they “won’t be able to sell tickets in your market.” I’m always open to the opinion of the presenters/promoters I trust and work with, but in this media landscape, they can’t make a blanket statement like that, especially when social media metrics show exactly how many fans an artist has on You Tube, Facebook and Twitter in their market. There are artists out there right now that few people on the
31Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
street have heard of, but they are selling out 2,000-seat venues regularly.
do:•Know an artist’s general market value and tour history before you call their agent. All of this information is easily accessible on Pollstar and CelebrityAccess. If you think a $20,000 offer is appropriate for an act that just grossed $200,000 up the street from you, it’s unlikely you’ll get the show.•Understand who the other players are in your market, whether they are fellow venue managers or promoters who rent buildings. If you want to book an established act that’s been touring for a while, chances are they already have a promoter in your market. Perhaps a better approach would be to try to negotiate a great venue deal with your local promoter to attract hot talent to your room.•Take a shot on an up-and-coming artist. By the time you’re getting fan email about them from your brochure subscribers, they’ve likely already played your market and someone else has the history.•Persist in seeking an agent’s attention. We all get 100 calls and 500 emails per day. If you are educated about the touring process and have a good pitch about why an artist should be playing your venue — one that makes sense from the perspective of the artist’s management
— then feel free to nudge the agent. They generally love meeting new promoters and venues, and sometimes getting on their radar is all about following up.
It can be easy to bemoan the loss of the “old days” when media was finite and formulaic, and the way in which shows were advertised and tickets were sold was cut-and-dried. But, as many of my clients know, it’s never been easier, cheaper or more democratic to get your message out to the fans, which is good news for artists, promoters and venues alike. Demonstrating a nimble, creative, well thought-out approach to presenting shows might not get you the artist every time, but it will go a long way toward establishing lasting, productive relationships with agents and managers — something that benefits us all.
Andrea Johnson is the Director of the Performing Arts Department in North America for The Agency Group, based in New York City. She represents artists such as Straight No Chaser, ThePianoGuys, 2CELLOS, Billy Ocean, Wilson Phillips, David Garrett, Lisa Loeb and Vanessa Carlton. Johnson has a background in classical music and the performing arts, and formerly worked as an agent at ICM Artists representing clients such as Yo-Yo Ma, The Chieftains and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
ALASKA
ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
HAWAII
IDAHO
MONTANA
NEVADA
NEW MEXICO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
TEXAS
UTAH
WASHINGTON
WYOMING
WE
STIDAHO CENTER16114 Idaho Center Blvd. Suite 2 Nampa, ID 83687(208) 468-1000; Fax: (208) 442-3312www.idahocenter.comGeneral Manager: Craig Baltzer
Crossroads of the NorthwestSnapshot: The Idaho Center, at theCrossroads of the Northwest, is one ofthe most versatile and accessible facilitiesof its kind in the West. Whether it’s aSporting Event, Concert, TheatricalProduction, Equestrian Event,Convention, Trade Show, or Conference,the audience experience at the IdahoCenter is first class. The Idaho Center iscentrally located between Seattle,Portland, Reno, and Salt Lake City.Seating: Maximum Arena Capacity -13,000; Full House 270 (0) - 11,016;180 (0) - 9,581; Half House - 6,480;Theater - 2,430.Backstage Areas: 4 Dressing/LockerRooms; Press Facilities available; 2 pro-duction offices; Office/Dressing Room
with Shower; Large Training Room;Private Club.Staging: 60 x 40 ft. stage; 16 x 16 ft.sound wings; Height adjustment 4 – 6ft. 4 Sets of stage stairs available.Sound: state-of-the-art PanarayLoudspeaker System designed andinstalled by Bose.Lighting: 4 Xenon Super Trouper fol-low spotlights; Arena Lighting Touch-plate MCP Operator Program; 160Arena down lights; 102 Event (TVLights); Full dimmer rack aroundperimeter of arena.Food & Beverage: onsite catering byThomas Cuisine Management; 4 perma-nent concession stands; 6 portable con-cession stands; total of 67 points of sale.Parking: 4,000 parking spaces; passen-ger Club Cartsshuttle patrons fromparking lot to arena doors.Marketing: Marketing Department;value-added marketing includes: listingsin Idaho Statesman, Idaho Press Tribune,event listing on LED screens in all ofour ICtickets outlets, event listing on 8 LED screens in Arena, event listingin Schedule of Events that is mailed out to all ticket buyers, e-blast option,event on Idaho Center and ICticketsweb pages.
IDAHO
West v1 1/13/09 8:34 AM Page 64
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the word is out and the stage is set for that special event your team has been diligently
planning, but now the setup is just sitting there, unused, until the guests arrive. Most venues experience downtime; it’s what is done with that time that matters. An empty space isn’t making memories for guests or money for clients, but resourceful booking agents and promoters can take advantage of downtime and unused spaces to host economical mini-events on the side. These events can increase revenue while building goodwill in the local community. To narrow down the possibilities, here are few preliminary questions to ask:•What is the timeline? Before you can determine whether
and what sort of ancillary event can be planned, you will need to determine timelines for both your event and the venue. •How will the event flow? The layout and the amount of space will dictate what sorts of secondary events are possible. Don’t discount parking lots, meeting rooms and other areas that are sometimes overlooked. •How are risks minimized? Keep the event simple and expenses very low by resisting the urge to expend capital on décor, unnecessary audiovisual and other upfront expenses.•What is the theme? Now it’s time to decide whether you want to cater to the same audience that would be drawn to the primary events or appeal to a different crowd. The key here is knowing your demographic.
Answering the last question will take a little creativity in addition to knowledge of the local market. As a source of inspiration for potential themes, consider the following examples of popular ancillary events Ovations Food Services has hosted alongside its clients.
Beer FestIvalsCapitalizing on the popularity of craft beer, Ovations and its sister company Global Spectrum created an outdoor beer festival in 2008 that now takes place each August in conjunction with the Larimer County Fair. The event has become one of the most popular annual festivals in Larimer County, CO, drawing about 2,500 beer lovers from around the state. The one-day sponsored event features more than 20 breweries, more than 100 different beers, live music, a brew master’s dinner and a homebrew competition.
Ovations’ The Ranch Events Complex Executive Chef Marco Olivo works with the featured brewery to create a variety of flavorful beer and food pairings for the brew master’s dinner portion of the event.
coMMuNIty outreachWith open dates looming on the calendar of Florida’s Lakeland Center, Ovations’ General Manager Steven Johnson concocted an event to appeal to dog lovers and beer lovers alike: Pints for Paws. The one-night event was held in the north parking lot to keep the event outdoors and pet-friendly. In all, the event featured samples from 13 microbreweries across the country and food from half a dozen local vendors.
More than 800 attendees enjoyed beer tastings, soft pretzels, live music, food trucks and logoed souvenir cups, resulting in $12,000 in ticket sales and a $3,000 donation to the Humane Society of Polk County. Not bad for a day that The Lakeland Center would otherwise have been unoccupied.
“dowNtIMe” caN Be a Gold MINe
v e n u e s t r A t e g i e s
Find ways to generate new revenue streams via ancillary events
By Charlie Neary
33Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
By pairing a popular hobby like craft beer and a popular cause like animal welfare, planners were able to execute an event that was fun for the public and beneficial to the community.
dINNer aNd daNcINGThe Mountain Winery, a one-of-a-kind special event and concert venue situated between the Pacific Ocean and San Jose in Saratoga, CA, truly brings to life events of all types. To fill “dark days” the team hosts a variety of thematically related, revenue-generating events, such as Havana Night, Zydeco Party on Bourbon Street, Wine & Jazz Brunch, Crab Feed, Thanksgiving Feast, Mother’s Day Brunch and Sangria Sunday.
INteractIve cookING deMoNstratIoNsIn an effort to keep the Pensacola Bayfront Stadium front of mind for the community during the off-season, Ovations’ culinary team developed an interactive cooking demonstration. The event, led by Ovations’ Executive Chef Chris Voorhees, featured hands-on demonstrations designed to teach culinary techniques. Attendees learned new skills and went home with a chef’s coat and a Pensacola Blue Wahoos minor league baseball team knife set. The event provided “regular” Blue Wahoos attendees, as well as a whole new demographic, a chance to experience something new at the ballpark.
kIckING uP the FuNDuring baseball season, Pomona, NY’s Provident Bank Park is home to the Rockland Boulders baseball
team. The park seats 4,500 people and hosts more than 123,000 fans every season. But until recently, the park sat silent during the off-season.
Ovations’ General Manager Matt Greene changed that by introducing the Boulder Adult Kickball League in 2013. The league has two short seasons scheduled around baseball; for the 2014 season, 16 co-ed teams are set up to compete,
up from eight teams in Summer 2013 and 12 teams in Fall 2013. A number of corporate partners have joined in the fun, gaining additional visibility by sponsoring teams. “It’s overwhelming how the league has grown, and I am thankful that our clients were open to it,” says Greene.
It’s always a good idea to take a fresh look at a venue to determine what other purpose it can fill in between scheduled events. Minimizing downtime will result in increased revenues and even more memories for guests.
Charlie Neary is Executive Vice President of Ovations Food Services. A 30-year veteran of the food service industry, Neary founded FanFare, now known as Ovations FanFare. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Neary attended the University of California, Berkeley, and San Francisco State University, and is an Executive Board Member of the National Association of Concessionaires.
Pints for Paws resulted in $12,000 in ticket sales and a $3,000 donation to the Humane Society of Polk County. Not bad for a day that The Lakeland Center would otherwise have been unoccupied.
Ovations has partnered with venues on various “downtime” events, including (clockwise from top left) a craft beer festival, kickball league, animal welfare/craft beer event and a cooking demonstration.
Products &
services Buyers’ G u i d e
34 Facilities & event management 2014 superBook
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Offered with a 12-year structural warranty, Omega leg-on-leg stackers are manufactured with advanced engineering technologies, including the industry’s best powder coat finish and a robotically welded frame.
MTS is artistically inspired and design-driven. We believe that a singular vision inspires every beautifully designed room. We thrive on relationships and collaboration and we’re completely committed to continuous sustainability improvement. Our unparalleled customer satisfaction originates from the constant inspiration we receive from our customers.
Find out more about MTS and the Omega Series at mtsseating.com.
Booking Guide For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners &
Venue Managers
What the industryis saying about us:
“Facilities has always been a great resource for our venue and also provides news and a wealth of information about industry trends.”
cheryl cohen, smg Director of marketing, Dunkin’ Donuts center, providence, ri
“The Facilities publications that we showcase our venues in get the job done for us. We see results on the client side and with promoters, show producers and agents.
Facilitiesonline.com keeps us up-to-date on industry happenings and gives VenuWorks a vehicle to get our news out across the industry as well.”
tammy koolbeck, senior vice president, venuWorks
Be a part of our upcoming issuescall or email michael caffin, associate publisher
Facilities & Event Management’s ELITE Awards, whose inaugural edition will appear in the 2014-2015 F&EM Booking Guide, are designed to foster recognition among the industry’s leaders and luminaries on an annual basis.
Consider who are this year’s ELITE, and take a moment to fill out the ballot below and nominate individuals in one or more of the following categories: Arena Executive of the Year, Theater Executive of the Year, Booking Agent of the Year, Promoter of the Year and Talent Buyer of the Year.
36 Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
As the new Vice President, SMG Entertainment, John Bolton, CFE, works with SMG
arenas and stadiums in presenting some 28,000 live events annually and oversees a national network of regional marketing directors. The last 11 of his 25 years in the industry have been with SMG, most recently as General Manager for SMG’s complex of venues in Tulsa, OK, which includes the Prime Site Award-winning BOK Center. He also acted as a Regional Vice President for SMG for its venues in Puerto Rico and the West Coast. In his new role, he works to “deliver as much content and programming as possible into all of our facilities, and then to make sure that our venues are marketed well,” explains Bolton, currently Chair of IAVM’s Board of Directors. The effort requires “making sure we’re on the cutting edge of information as far as tour routing and what promoters are up to,” as well as ensuring that SMG’s venues are top of mind among promoters, agents and ticket buyers. At the 2014 Event & Arena Marketing Conference, held June 11-14 in New Orleans, Bolton spoke on how to raise a venue’s profile, and he elaborates on today’s arena marketing challenges and trends in the following discussion with F&EM.
What is your overall philosophy of venue marketing?
Venues are really focused on having marketing plans for specific shows, but what I try to stress is
that they need to have a marketing plan for the venue itself, and it needs to be rather systematic in getting the right publicity. Agents and promoters are dealing with hundreds of facilities across the country and hundreds of different markets, and venues need to consider what they are doing to stand out.
Can you recommend a specific strategy for “standing out”?
Celebrate when you have success. If you’re a traditional country
market and you sell out Aerosmith or Jay Z, that’s something you want to promote because some agents may have a stereotype that you’re a certain type of market [and acts outside of that type will not draw]. If you’re a traditionally non-Hispanic market and Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias sell
very well or sell out, you want to say [in your marketing campaign]: You didn’t think we had a strong Hispanic population here, but we sold out this show so obviously there is a connection. So many of our efforts are focused on the show that’s happening next week, and we don’t even think about touting the venue’s successes or the changes in the local market. Suppose the unemployment rate last year in your city was 7.8 percent, and this year it’s 4.6 percent. Or suppose you just landed three new companies in your market that represent 7,000 employees who are going to be working in high-tech jobs. It’s important to communicate such positive changes, because most tour routers think about the last event in a given market, which may or may not have been successful. And that’s the mentality they carry forward.
What challenges did you have in “raising the profile” of the BOK Center?
The first event we ever put on sale at the BOK Center was Celine Dion, and the questions going
into that were: Can Tulsa support a 19,000-seat arena? Can Tulsa support $250 ticket prices? Those were strong stereotypes to overcome, and the situation was not unlike most of our markets: Will X market pay for this particular artist ticket price wise? And for us in Tulsa, the answer was yes, and we ended up doing multiple dates of [major acts such as the Eagles].
John BoltonVice President, sMG entertainMent
S t a t e o f t h e I n d u S t r y
Celebrate your Venue’S SuCCeSSeSBig draws and positive market changes should
figure in the promotional campaign
In Conversation With . . .
37Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
You are known for creating
new events and festivals in the venues you manage, including five new festivals and other special events in Tulsa that attract more than 200,000 people per year. What is the thinking behind these initiatives?
Two months after BOK Center opened in September we held our first Winterfest, and the
success of that event helped us grow and be able to do other special events. We added our Rock ‘N’ Rib Festival, Dodgebrawl, an Oklahoma Children’s Expo and Wingapalooza. You need a venue staff that’s committed to looking at their venue as a campus, not just within the four walls of the venue. And we are here not only to run our venues successfully, but also to contribute to the overall goals of the community, and in the case of Tulsa it was downtown development. The arena was there to spur that, and so we thought, let’s take advantage of these spaces that we have around our facility. Now, within the 40 days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, there is something happening downtown every night. The rest of the downtown picked up the holiday theme, and it’s become part of the tradition of Tulsa. And for us as a venue, when you’re perhaps not as hot as you were the first year you were open, five years later you have built in 40 nights of people coming downtown to your venue. It sustains our venue and keeps people excited about it. That kind of forward thinking is critical today because there are so many venues that need so much content, and only so many acts that are going to tour [domestically], especially with the lucrative business of playing overseas.
With the proliferation of venues, especially in urban markets,
what role does knowledge of the competition play in your approach?
You have to keep records of what other shows are playing in other
buildings, because a year from now a promoter may call you and ask what you think about a certain artist coming to your market. You can then reply: Well, he wasn’t in our building but six months ago he was in this building down the street. So you need to have an accurate history of what’s happening in your market area.
What are the biggest trends you’ve seen during your 25 years in the business?
Arenas have become more of a destination, where it’s about having good food and a comfortable
experience. The size of the seat is important, the temperature is important. And who would think you’d have items like sushi in an arena environment, where it used to be just hot dogs and French fries? There’s so much competition for that entertainment experience, and if a building gets a bad reputation for not having good parking, staff, food, cleanliness, etc., it will override people’s desire to see an act. Another change is in how we communicate with our customers. Our venues are more engaged with our fans than they ever have been, through our club and premium seat programs, but mainly with our email databases and insider clubs. We’re communicating with the venue fans every day through social media, whether they’re a Jay Z fan or a Justin Moore fan. So they’re engaged and know when tickets are going on sale, and when the presale might be. All of these things weren’t as important 15-20 years ago. —GS
“So many of our efforts are focused on the show that’s happening next week, and we don’t even think about touting the venue’s successes or the changes in the local market.”
The success of Winterfest (left) at BOK Center paved the way for new special events, such as the Rock ‘N’ Rib Festival (above).
38 Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
That makes it even more important to create events that are based in authentic connection, not stunts and gimmicks. The human spirit knows the difference. And so does the media.
Some events are large-scale and others more intimate, but our goals for all are the same. We want our participation to move the needle on the goals our partners are trying to accomplish in their communities. And we want to make a connection between the people at our events and the transformational ideas that our shows inspire.
Here are three examples of community events that fulfilled these objectives: This April in Fairfax, VA, during our Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® schedule at The Patriot Center, we hosted a very special spa day for women from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — and we invited some very special “ladies” of our own, elephants from our show. Held on a decorated plaza outside the arena, this event was a fun way to lift the spirits of a courageous group of people who could benefit from a suite of services from a local spa. It was also an opportunity to showcase the specialized foot care we provide our elephants as part of their extensive veterinary care. And, who knows, maybe the spa technicians learned something from watching our vet tech meticulously complete the elephants’ pedicures!
Last March in Raleigh, NC, the day before Monster Jam® opened at PNC Arena, we organized a pet adoption event with the SPCA of Wake County featuring our own “big dog” monster truck, Monster Mutt. More than 100 people learned about adoption options as well as what 66-inch tires and a 540 CI Merlin engine look like up
Crystal I. Drake is Regional
Communications Director for the Southeast Region of Feld Entertainment, producers of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Monster Jam®, Nuclear Cowboyz®, Disney On Ice and Marvel Universe Live. In this role, Drake is responsible for year-round media relations and community outreach strategy and execution for nearly 80 shows annually in 30 markets. In the following case study, she
explains Feld’s approach to creating community-focused events that convey the company’s values and approach to entertainment, while raising brand awareness.
At Feld Entertainment, our mission is to lift the human spirit and create indelible memories through live entertainment experiences we produce across six continents, in 71 countries, at more than 5,000 performances annually. It is truly our raison d’être, and what we work so hard to achieve every day. Part of that effort includes a dedicated step beyond our arena floors, into communities, to share the spirit of our shows.
In North America, Feld Entertainment participates in more than 200 community-focused events every year. Because we are in town for only a short time, it is critical that our outreach begin with a strategic effort to identify and address ideas and issues specific to that community. Part of our overall event marketing planning process includes local research to find the right partners and programs for this outreach. We seek out partners that are good stewards of resources, that do work not being duplicated several times over by other organizations, and that give us a platform to appropriately align and showcase our brands to improve the lives of others.
From a marketing perspective, because these events become brand ambassadors, they also make good business sense. They can begin an authentic word-of-mouth commentary and social media buzz that traditional advertising does not achieve. Community outreach can also result in much-coveted earned media and the third-party endorsement implied, which is harder and harder to come by as the marketplace grows ever more flooded with competing messages.
marketing case study
Feld Entertainment’s Community Outreach
39Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
The afternoon was a festive celebration in support of his recovery, and the squeals of joy when the children saw Lightning emerging from his specially created “garage” was a beautiful sound.
We can analyze these events in terms of marketing success. They all garnered extensive earned media — TV, print and social — and, by no coincidence, also delivered measurable, positive impact in support of the goals of the organization or initiative, increased awareness or advocacy for the partner and for us, and created new access to consumer activation channels for the partner and for us.
But on a deeper level, these events all fulfilled the mission of Feld Entertainment.
As hard as they work entertaining fans in arenas, our performers raise their hands time after time to volunteer to participate in and help create these events. These talented and dedicated professionals — and all of us at Feld Entertainment — know the power of the human connection. We also know that, sometimes, that connection is made by reaching out to people where they are. So we continue to find those special ways to share the Feld Entertainment magic outside arena walls.
close. We’re not sure which was cuter, the dogs or driver Whit Tarlton cuddled up with one of them in the driver seat! And the best news of all, five of the 12 dogs up for adoption found new homes.
Last May in Duluth, GA, as part of our Disney On Ice engagement at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, we found a way to uniquely add to an Atlanta-area groundswell of support for a local boy who had suffered a critical brain injury. After learning of his love for Lightning McQueen (his entire bedroom had been decorated in McQueen décor) and because our show featured Lightning McQueen, we created an event inviting the entire community to join us at the arena to sign giant get-well cards for him — and to meet Lightning McQueen himself.
Feld Entertainment’s Community Outreach
Community outreach can result in much-coveted earned media and the third-party endorsement implied, which is harder and harder to come by as the marketplace grows ever more flooded with competing messages.
Feld monster truck “Monster Mutt” at a pet adoption event organized with the SPCA of Wake County, NC.(Left): Spa Day for women of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was highlighted by pedicures for Feld’s elephants.
40 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
As the world’s largest livestock exhibition and rodeo, the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo “must be doing something right,” as the expression goes. But more accurately, it has been doing many things right across its over 80-year history, from marketing to production to entertainment content. Recent attendance numbers are especially impressive: General attendance broke two million in 2010, jumped 5.5 percent in 2011, and another 5 percent in 2013 to break 2.5 million. Granted, the 2013 installment added a day to welcome George Strait on his Cowboy Rides Away Tour, an 80,000-seat performance. But this year the show saw 2,485,721 people through the gate over the standard 20 days. “And had we not had three rain days on the weekend, we would have eclipsed the [2.5 million attendance over] 21 days with 20 this year,” says Chief Operating Officer Leroy Shafer, who just completed his 41st year with the show. Shafer gives a perspective on the show’s success that draws upon its history, while Jason Kane, Managing Director, Entertainment and Concert Production, discusses his approach to delivering well-targeted musical entertainment year after year. The 2014 RodeoHouston, March 4-23, saw headliners as diverse as Jake Owen, REO Speedwagon, Usher and Selena Gomez.
To what factors do you attribute the recent jumps in attendance?
Shafer: The first factor is the economic downturn of 2008. Attendance has been on a constant
uptick since the downturn, whose effects rippled
through the entertainment industry. There were many “staycations” during that time, and we took full advantage of it. Many people found us that hadn’t been to see us before, and they found a great value, a great entertainment buy. And I think that had a lot to do with starting this growth spurt that we’ve had since then. In addition, since the downturn Houston’s economy has been red hot. We’re the center of the energy industry
and the medical center of the Southwest. The second factor is that we are continually updating our presentation technology. For example, we have put in a new L-Acoustics K1 sound system, completely upgraded the video display system inside the stadium, and last year we completely upgraded the lighting. The third reason is that entertainer buzz: We’ve
been extremely fortunate in the last five years to be able to match the mix of entertainers with what the demographic is asking for at our show. We’re very research oriented and take a very hard look at what the various segments of our audience want to see and hear.
What is your process for determining the mix of musical entertainment?
Shafer: We sell about 60 percent of the rodeo concert tickets as season tickets. We have 42,000
seats sold for each of the 20 performances before we even announce who the entertainers are, so obviously that purchasing group is a big part of our research
Riding Tall in The SaddleaTTendance haS been on a long upwaRd TRend
aT The iconic houSTon Show
S t a t e o f t h e I n d u S t r y
Leroy Shafer, Chief Operating Officer, and Jason Kane, Managing Director, Entertainment and Concert Production,
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
In Conversation With . . .
Leroy Shafer
Jason Kane
41Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
“If it’s a social media outlet that’s working, we’re going to be there. We’re not being selective, we’re being inclusive.”
and analysis. Who does that 60 percent want to hear? When Jason [Kane] and his team sit down each year and start looking at this they know we need X percentage of country, X percentage of pop, X percentage of urban contemporary, etc. Not every year can you hit those percentages just because of what’s available on the market, and not every year can you get the top in those percentages. But we’ve been more fortunate in the last five years than in the previous 10-15 in getting a very ideal entertainment mix with performers who are at the top of their careers.
Kane: It is in our DNA that we’re going to be country dominant, but we’re also a reflection
of the general public. Every year when I look at the dates and I start to line it up, I go in with a target of about 60-70 percent country, and the leeway there is about what else may be available outside of that genre; although increasingly, particularly in markets like Houston, country is pop. There is not so much the strict division any longer; for example, when Taylor Swift or even Florida Georgia Line are enjoying crossover success, that’s good for us.
Does the concert scheduling throughout the show mainly depend on artists’ availability?
Kane: It is partly dependent on availability, but I will say that over the years we’ve been able to
compile data that will almost pinpoint what a certain artist will draw on a given date given that date’s history. When I’m looking at major entertainers, oftentimes I’m going to be able to use those major stars in the middle of the week where I need the most help to focus attention, as opposed to a Friday or a Saturday.
What have you found to be the ideal duration for your concerts?
Kane: We talk about this a lot with artists’ managers and agents: You really have to
remember that this is not a concert situation in the classic sense. Our fans have had two hours of great rodeo before we even put the stage out in the center of the arena. So our performance time runs 60 minutes, which we’ve found to be the optimum time. I think we’ve made a lot of progress in the last five years in educating managers and other agents as to what kind of show we produce.
You have developed your special event offerings, such as bar-b-que and horticulture
competitions, in recent years. Do such initiatives involve any trial and error?
Shafer: We have very few errors and very little trial. Everything is analyzed and planned out. We very
seldom drop something once we’ve tried it, because it usually works so successfully.
What ancillary events and exhibitions have seen the most investment?
Shafer: Probably the thing we call AGventure. We’re in a big urban market, the nation’s fourth-
largest city, and a great percentage of the population have never seen chickens being hatched, pigs being born or honeybees in their hives producing honey.
RodeoHouston attendance has been steady, while festival attendance (right) has seen the greatest increases in recent years.
Photos: H
ousto
n Livestock Show
and Rod
eo
42 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
And we do this in such a tremendous way that it draws this ever expanding and changing demographic into our show. Last year we partnered with the Texas Department of Agriculture to add Tour of Texas. We took the top regions and put together a major attraction where people could walk through a tour and see the different regions’ topography, crop production, etc. We’re continually looking at ways to increase the involvement of this urban audience in the show.
What is your social media marketing strategy?
Shafer: If it’s a social media outlet that’s working, we’re going to be there. We’re not being selective,
we’re being inclusive, and I think that’s what you have to be in social media today. I don’t think anything changes faster in our marketing world. The “in thing” with any segment of a demographic this month may not be the in thing three months from now. Our target audience is from age 3 to 80, and I mean that as literally as I possibly can. We’re going after the total family unit out there. So whether it’s traditional, new or emerging media, we’re going to use each one of those elements to go after the segment of the audience that we’re targeting. Obviously social media is hitting a broad segment of our audience, and I’m guessing that this coming year, the primary news gathering mechanism for about 70 percent of our audience will be some form of electronic new media.
You noted that the show’s improved presentation technology has contributed to its recent growth.
Have upgrades in that area always been a priority?
Shafer: My mantra is, continually change your product and presentation to meet a changing
demographic. In 1974, Elvis performed at the show
using the Houston Astrodome’s PA system; I can’t tell you how bad it was. His lighting was the sports gondola in the top of the Astrodome. He performed on a little 16-ft.-deep, 20-ft.-wide stage that was pulled out by a John Deere tractor. People in the upper levels of the Astrodome were watching him with binoculars. And that was the presentation technology in 1974. By 1979 we had a center-hung JAM sound system built
by McCune Audio from San Francisco. We also had a sports replay system in ‘79, the first one, and we were able to put an image up on a 42-ft.-wide screen, and people who were up in the top of the Astrodome were seeing the type of show that we’re presenting today. We’re doing it tremendously better today with LEDs, the new K1 sound system and eight center-hung video screens. But what we were doing in ‘79 was as cutting edge as our presentation this year, and that’s the key to what we’ve been able to do over the years. You give people unbelievable entertainment value for their discretionary dollar.
To what degree did your move from Astrodome to NRG Stadium [formerly Reliant Stadium] assist
with the presentation?
Shafer: It was a tremendous help for the presentation, just like it was a big help in 1966
moving from the Coliseum downtown with 9,000 seats to the Astrodome with 42,000 seats. We moved from an Astrodome that had been improved four times and had 58,000 seats in 2003 to the new 72,000-seat, state-of-the-art Reliant Stadium. And that’s another area where we’ve been extremely fortunate: We have been able to partner with great facilities to do this great presentation in. —GS
“Our presentation technology in ‘79 was as cutting edge as it is this year, and that’s key. You give people unbelievable entertainment value for their discretionary dollar.”
Presentation technology then and now: Presley in 1974 (left), Jake Owen in 2013 (above) and Brad Paisley this year (right).
Photos: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Arena construction is on the upswing, and we highlight several projects in
this issue of Facilities & Event Management, including Levi’s Stadium, Alaska Airlines Center and Rogers Place. In previous issues we have reported on the nearly $1 billion Minnesota Vikings stadium and the $375 million MGM/AEG arena in Las Vegas, both expected to open in 2016, as well as the just-opened Singapore Sports Hub National Stadium. And as this issue went to press, the Fort Worth City Council unanimously approved a proposal for a new 14,000-seat arena in the city’s Cultural District.
When entertainment venues of this size are introduced, they can signifi-cantly impact local economies and transportation infrastructures, not to mention routing decisions for touring shows that are on the arena circuit. Book-ing agents and tour managers are often confident these newcomers will deliver the latest in staging, rigging, AV, and amenities for both performers and ticket buyers. However, insofar as they have not brought their shows to the venues yet, they will perhaps be less confident in the quality of the staff, from management to
marketing to stage crew. That quality is only revealed through the experience of working together. A gleaming new build-ing in a viable market is a great basis for a successful show, but the service aspect is the third critical ingredient.
Our 2014 Prime Site Award winners — all 114 of them — have demonstrated the
service that makes for success-ful relationships with
agents and promot-ers. The proof is in
the award itself: Our readers’ votes are a sure sign that these arenas, civic centers, coliseums, multipurpose facilities
and theaters are desir-able partners in the live
events industry. A new facility can certainly acquire that
reputation within a relatively short time. Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, NE, a Prime Site Award winner that opened last August, is a case in point.
F&EM readers have been nominating their venue partners for the Prime Site Award since 1994, and we encourage you to continue to do so. It will be exciting to recognize first-time winners among the many dynamic venues opening in 2014 and the coming years.
2014 Prime Site Awards
43Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
New prospective winners on the Horizon
NortheastBarclays Center, Brooklyn, NYBlue Cross Arena, Rochester, NYCONSOL Energy Center,
Pittsburgh, PA
Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Giant Center, Hershey, PAMadison Square Garden,
New York, NYMassMutual Center,
Springfield, MAMohegan Sun Arena,
Wilkes-Barre, PAMullins Center, Amherst, MASantander Arena, Reading, PAStabler Arena, Bethlehem, PATD Garden, Boston, MATimes Union Center, Albany, NYVerizon Wireless Arena,
Manchester, NH
44 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Prime Site Award-winning Dunkin’ Donuts Center (SuperBook Directory: p. 57)
THE LAKELAND CENTER701 W. Lime St. • Lakeland, FL 33815
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Facilities & Event Management 2014 Prime Site Award Winners
WE CUSTOMIZE OUR VENUE TO FITYOUR EVENT NEEDS AND SIZE
Grand Canyon University Arena is a state-of-the-art, mid-sized facility in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. Our unique curtaining system allows us to customize our building to fit any small to mid-sized event.
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ARENA | 1,200 - 5,300 SEATING CAPACITY | 3300 W. CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85017
For booking and rental information call Cathey Moses, General Manager • 602-639-8052 or [email protected]
GCU_Pollstar_Feb2013_final.indd 1 1/16/13 5:44 PM
Prime Site Award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (SuperBook Directory: p. 57)
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
XL Center, Hartford, CT
Mid-AtlanticBaltimore Arena, Baltimore, MDCharleston Civic Center,
Charleston, WVAConstant Convocation Center,
Norfolk, VAJohn Paul Jones Arena,
Charlottesville, VARoanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA
SoutheastAmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FLBancorpsouth Center, Tupelo, MS
46 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Facilities & Event Management 2014 Prime Site Award Winners
Great routing with New Orleans,Birmingham, Atlanta, Jacksonvilleand Panama City
1,641 seats / 3,000 square feetof meeting space
Full-time, in-house marketingdepartment
15,000 Facebook followers
23,000 eNews subscribers
For booking information:Douglas Lee, General Manager
iWireless Center, Moline, ILINTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KSMorris Performing Arts Center,
South Bend, INNutter Center at Wright State
University, Dayton, OHParamount Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IAPinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NEThe Resch Center, Green Bay, WIRushmore Plaza Civic Center,
Rapid City, SDThe Sanford Center, Bemidji, MNSears Centre Arena,
Hoffman Estates, ILShow Me Center, Cape Girardeau, MOSprint Center, Kansas City, MOSwiftel Center, Brookings, SD
MidwestAdler Theatre, Davenport, IAAllen County War Memorial
Coliseum, Fort Wayne, INArie Crown Theater, Chicago, ILBlack River Coliseum,
Poplar Bluff, MOBridge View Center, Ottumwa, IABurnsville Performing Arts Center,
Burnsville, MNCenturyLink Center, Omaha, NEClay County Regional Events
Center, Spencer, IA Ford Center, Evansville, INHartman Arena, Wichita, KSHoyt Sherman Place,
Des Moines, IA50 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Facilities & Event Management 2014 Prime Site Award Winners
Prime Site Award-winning Allen County War Memorial Coliseum (SuperBook Directory: p. 67)
T H E A T E R
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The proscenium opening is 90 feet wide by 40 feet high, with a stage depth of over 58 feet, featuring an ample orchestra pit. The Arie Crown Theater is equipped with excellent lighting and sound systems. The spacious backstage area provides generous storage for scenery and props and offers two weather-protected berths on the loading dock adjacent to the stage.
Abundant cast and crew areas can be found backstage, with ten principle dressing rooms two large chorus dressing rooms, tech rooms, special storage areas and a generously proportioned "Green Room" for VIP and performers' use. In addition, the Theater has two large, strategically located rehearsal rooms that are equipped with mirrored walls, wood flooring, and dance barres.
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Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
Comcast Arena at Everett, Everett, WA
Event Center at San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Fair Park, Dallas, TXFrank Erwin Center, Austin, TXFord Idaho Center, Nampa, IDGrand Canyon University Arena,
Phoenix, AZ
Topeka Performing Arts Center, Topeka, KS
United Wireless Arena, Dodge City, KS
U.S. Cellular Arena, Milwaukee, WIU.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IAWells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IAVan Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MIXcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
WestAmerican Airlines Center, Dallas, TXAmerican Bank Center,
Corpus Christi, TXASU Gammage, Tempe, AZAT&T Center, San Antonio, TXBellco Theatre, Denver, COBOK Center, Tulsa, OKBroadmoor World Arena,
Colorado Springs, CO52 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Facilities & Event Management 2014 Prime Site Award Winners
Prime Site Award-winning U.S. Cellular Center (SuperBook Directory: p. 80)
Prime Site Award-winning Broadmoor World Arena (SuperBook Directory: p. 82)
Facilities & Event Management 2014 Prime Site Award Winners
53Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, TXOracle Arena, Oakland, CAPeery’s Egyptian Theater, Ogden, UTSanta Ana Star Center,
Rio Rancho, NMSAP Center, San Jose, CASelland Arena, Fresno, CAShoWare Center at Kent, Kent, WASpokane Arena, Spokane, WAStaples Center, Los Angeles, CAState Farm Arena, Hidalgo, TXStockton Arena, Stockton, CATaco Bell Arena at Boise State
University, Boise, ID
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Toyota Center/Windemere Theatre, Kennewick, WA
United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
Prime Site Award-winning US Airways Center (SuperBook Directory: p. 87)
Please Fill Out Form & Mail Your Vote To: Facilities152 Madison Avenue, Suite #802, New York, NY 10016 or Fax it to: (212) 213-6382; or email [email protected]
Booking agents, promoters, talent buyers and special event planners:
VOTE for the topEntertainment Venues (Arenas, Theaters, Stadiums; facilities you have booked in the last three years)
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
Prime Site Award-winning Air Canada Centre (SuperBook Directory: p. 89)
56 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Northeast
Blue Cross Arena ..............................................................................57
Dunkin Donuts Center ....................................................................57
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza ........................................57
Times Union Center .........................................................................57
Toyota Center ....................................................................................83
UH Sports and Entertainment ................................................... 87
United Supermarkets Arena ....................................................... 87
US Airways Center .......................................................................... 87
Canada
Air Canada Centre ..........................................................................89
Canadian Tire Centre ....................................................................89
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre ...........................89
Hershey Centre .................................................................................89
MTS Centre .........................................................................................89
caribbean
Coliseo de Puerto Rico .................................................................. 91
FACilitieS A-Z
57Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
29
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Meeting & Event Venues
23-46 11/10/08 5:28 PM Page 29
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The N
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easT ConneCtiCut
MassaChusettsMaine new haMpshirenew Jerseynew yorkpennsylvania rhode island verMont
Blue Cross Arena1 War Memorial Square, Rochester, NY 14614(585) 758-5300; Fax: (585) 758-5327bluecrossarena.comSMG General Manager: Jeff Calkins
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 officials room and a green room. A promoters’ office of about 10 ft. by 25 ft. is available. The Blue Cross Arena is also known for the War Memorial shrine, accessible to the public, and the Veteran’s Memorial Plaza overlooking the Genesee River.
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) – 3,500-14,000; 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 students annually within a five-mile radius of downtown.
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Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza255 Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702(570) 970-7600; Fax: (570) 970-7601mohegansunarenapa.comGeneral Manager: Rebecca Bonnevier
Home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, the SMG-managed Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza has played host to some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Elton John, Cher, Neil Diamond, The Eagles, and Simon & Garfunkel. End stage 360° – 8,930-9,100; center stage – 9,809-9,985; half house end stage – 4,227-4,575; one third house end stage – 3,421-3,481. 200 ft.-by-85 ft. hockey rink. StageRight decks and legs, 80 ft. by 48 ft. max. Four locker rooms, three dressing rooms, four additional multipurpose rooms. Thirty luxury suites, 624 club seats. A $3.6 million dollar expansion project to include additional food and beverage options and VIP lounge for club seat and suite members is planned for 2015.
peNNsYlvaNia
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Times Union Center51 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207(518) 487-2000timesunioncenter-albany.comGeneral Manager: Bob BelberUpstate New York’s Premier Sports and Entertainment FacilityOwned by Albany County and managed by SMG, Times Union Center opened in 1990 and is home to the Albany Devils of AHL hockey and the Division I Men’s College Basketball Siena Saints. The arena has hosted such prestigious artists as Rolling Stones, U2, Eric Clapton, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith. Curtaining system allows capacity to be adjusted between 6,000 and 17,000. New seats, ribbon boards and a brand new center hung video score-board equipped with led boards. Backstage areas include three team-size locker rooms and seven star dressing rooms. The arena draws patrons from all over New York as well as Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut.
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Verizon Wireless Arena555 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101(603) 644-5000verizonwirelessarena.com
Opened in 2001, the Verizon Wireless Arena is versatile enough to accommodate a center-stage concert of more than 11,000 attendees as well as a theater-style performance for 2,500. Hosts shows including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Monster Jam, Keith Urban, American Idol Live! and New Kids on the Block. Features a 60 ft.-by-48 ft. Stageright stage, six dressing/team locker rooms and five production rooms. Arena offers club and suite seating that allows access into a private lounge. Four permanent F&B stands, 12 portable. Promotional services and features include eblasts to a 300,000+ data-base, texting program, in-house video, exterior marquee and lobby display.
New hampshire
20 Facilities SuperBook 2009The Northeast
DUNKIN’ DONUTSCENTEROne LaSalle SquareProvidence, RI 02903(401) 331-0700; (401) 621-5987www.dunkindonutscenter.comGeneral Manager: Lawrence Lepore
Snapshot: The Dunkin’ Donuts Centeris a multi-purpose indoor sports andentertainment venue located in theheart of Providence, RI, and is home icefor the AHL Providence Bruins andhome-court for the Big East ProvidenceCollege Men’s Basketball Team. TheFacility has recently undergone an $80-million Renovation which was complet-ed the fall of ’08.Capacities: 13,000 seating; ConcertHall 3,500-6,000.Exhibition Space: Arena Floor:31,000 GSF; Exhibition Hall: 15,000GSF; Additional event level hospitali-ty/exhibit space: 4,000 GSF;Concourse: 25,000 GSF; Box OfficeLobby/Receiving Area: 9,000 GSF
Restaurant and adjacent hospitalityrooms: 6,000 GSF.Staging: 40’ wide by 60’ deep stage,with a 5’ 4” standard height; configura-tions can be customized.Lighting: Standard Quartz andHalogen lighting around the arenabowl.Backstage Areas: 2 Star DressingRooms, 2 locker rooms, 1 adjoininglocker room and 2 Home Team lockerrooms.Food & Beverage: 8 permanent concession stands, 5 portables, luxurysuites, loges, hospitality rooms and a restaurant.Audience Amenities: New state-of-the-art Daktronics video scoreboard.Marketing: Full-service, in-housedepartment offering coordination ofevent marketing campaigns includingadvertising production, media place-ment, media and retail promotions,sponsorships, group sales and publicrelations.Demographics: More than 400,000households; 9 colleges/universities;Boston is 45 miles away and Hartford,Conn. is 61 miles away.See ad on page 18
RHODE ISLAND
GIANT CENTER550 West Hersheypark DriveHershey, PA 17033(717) 534-3911; Fax: (717) 534-8996www.giantcenter.netComplex Managing Director, EventBookings, Ticketing, and Marketing:Vikki Hultquist
A Sweet Place to Play!Snapshot: The GIANT Center, astate-of-the-art arena, opened its doorsin October of 2002, with a performanceby Cher. From that moment, GIANTCenter has been the area’s leadingsports and entertainment venue.GIANT Center is also home to theAHL Hershey Bears. Because of theconstant support of its many fans,GIANT Center continues to be rankedas one of world’s best concert venues inBillboard and Pollstar. Located just min-utes from GIANT Center is the 1,928-seat Hershey Theatre.Capacities: 12,500 (in-the-round concerts); 10,000 (end staging);10,500 (hockey).
Exhibition Space: 306,000 sq. ft.Backstage Areas: 5 team rooms, pro-duction room, 2 management rooms, 2star dressing rooms, catering room.Staging: 100 pieces of 4’ x 8’ decking,variable configurations, with Black TechStage/Gray carpet surfaces—Max size80’ x 40’, adjustable heights from 48” –72” in 2” increments, Black skirting,Front of house mix in 4’ x 8’ x 6”, 12”,24” Wenger decks; Video Board; Centerhung scoreboard by Whiteway SignCompany; north/south building matrixboards; Mitsubishi Diamond VisionLeader board.Broadcast: In-house video control w/full edit/studio control; 125 TVs locatedthroughout arena; Radio broadcastthroughout; 15 media bulkhead loca-tions all patchable through centralinterconnect room on the first level; 10camera positions.Food & Beverage: 13 ConcessionsStands, 7 Portable, Bar and ClubLounge.Demographics: The Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York market isfamily oriented with a strong household income.See ad on page 19
PENNSYLVANIA
VERIZON WIRELESSARENA555 Elm StreetManchester, NH 03101(603) 644-5000; Fax: (603) 644-1575Regional General Manager: Tim Bechertwww.verizonwirelessarena.com
New Hampshire’s Premier Sports &Entertainment FacilitySnapshot: New Hampshire’s premiersports and entertainment facility, theVerizon Wireless Arena, managed bySMG, has attracted more than 4.4 millionpeople, hosted more than 830 sports andentertainment events, including more than120 sold out shows, since opening sevenyears ago. The arena was designed toaccommodate a wide variety of events—including concerts, wrestling, figure skat-ing, hockey, basketball, family shows, aswell as convention and trade shows.Capacities: Center Stage in the round–11,700; End Stage (360) – 10,655; EndStage (270) – 9,337; End Stage (240) –8,931; End Stage (180) – 8,536;3/4 Stage – 6,700; House Stage –
5,400; Theatrical Stage – 3,000.Exhibition Space: 25,348 sq. ft.; 277 10’x8’booths in typical trade show configuration.Backstage Areas: main dressing room, 3auxiliary locker rooms, visiting team lockerroom, 2 officials locker rooms, press office,3 production rooms, lounge, catering room.Staging: Stageright equipment, setup is 48ft. deep X 60 ft. wide X 4 ft. tall, 8 ft. wideX 24 ft. deep sound wings SL & SR, and afront of house mixer riser 12 ft. deep X 16ft. wide X 1 ft. tall, 100 ft. from the downstage edge.Food & Beverage: 4 permanent concessionstands; 12 portable concession stands; VIPLounge; 2 specialty bars located on upperlevel; Full catering services offered back-stage and to suites.Amenities: 34 luxury suites, 5 party suites,Exclusive Club Lounge, 542 Club Seats,Wireless connection, Flat Screen TV’sthroughout the concourse.Marketing: Group Sales; EmailMarketing; Grassroots Marketing; MediaBuying; Media Promotions/Trade; PublicRelations.Demographics: New England Market—mainly from New Hampshire, as well asMA, ME, and VT.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
WACHOVIA ARENA AT CASEY PLAZA255 Highland Park Blvd.Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702(570) 970-7600; Fax: (570) 970-7601www.wachoviaarena.comGeneral Manager: Rebecca Bonnevier
Facility Description: The WachoviaArena at Casey Plaza opened in the fall of1998 and is under the management ofSMG. With over 8,000 permanent seatsand a capacity of nearly 10,000 for con-certs, this horse-show configured arenahas played host to some of the biggestnames in entertainment, including EltonJohn, Cher, Neil Diamond, Janet Jackson,The Eagles, and Simon & Garfunkel. Thearena’s primary tenants are the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AmericanHockey League, affiliated with thePittsburgh Penguins, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the af2 ArenaFootball league.Capacities: 1/4 house - 3,900;1/2 house - 4,900; Extended 1/2 house - 5,900; 3/4 House - 7,300; End Stage
concert - 7,500; Hockey - 8,500;Center stage - 10,000.Backstage Areas: 2-12 6’x11’6’ dressingrooms ( w/facilities), 1-13’ x 12’Lounge, Visitors Locker room 20’x36’,Tournament rooms A-18’6”x26’, B-18’6”x26’, C-10’6”x24’, Meeting roomsA-24’6”x36’, B-20’6”x36’, C-19’x36’and press room 33’6”x 12’.Exhibition Space: 27,050 sq. ft. ofexhibition space throughout two floors.Lighting: 4-2k Super Troopers (fixed),4 portable 2k Super troopers.Food & Beverage: 8 concession standson the concourse plus a club lounge/catering area on the event level that canhold up to 100 people.Audience Amenities: 624 center iceclub seats and 32 luxury suites; eventlevel VIP club lounge, featuring: upscalemenu, televisions, casual yet elegantatmosphere.Parking: 3,500 spaces.Marketing: Web site, e-mails (65,000+in database), concourse posters, videoscoreboard and concourse TVs.Demographics: 650,000+ people in theWilkes-Barre/Scranton/HazletonDMA and more than 13 million peoplewithin 100 miles.See ad on page 17
PENNSYLVANIA
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rhode island
One LaSalle Square, Providence, RI 02903 (401) 331-0700; (401) 621-5987dunkindonutscenter.com
Providence 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 & 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 score-board, and concession 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, group sales, and public relations’ specialists, who in turn operate a full-service in-house agency. This in-house agency affords complete professional coordination of event market-ing campaigns including advertising production and placement, media and retail promotions, sponsorships, group sales, 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.
the SMG-managed Baltimore Arena has hosted the biggest names in both musical and family entertain-
ment, from Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncè and the Rolling Stones to Disney On Ice, Blue Man Group and WWE. Sporting events include gymnastics, tennis and closed circuit boxing.
The Baltimore Arena has 11,000 permanent seats (three levels in a horseshoe shape), facing a 58 ft. deep by 117 ft. wide by 42 ft. high wooden permanent proscenium stage. Temporary seating is used on the floor and/or the stage for various event configurations. With floor seating, concert or meeting capacity is 13,500; other shows and sporting events capacities range from 11,000 to 14,000. The Arena can also be curtained down to a 5,000-person capacity with a portable stage house center. Rigging ca-pacity in excess of 140,000 lbs. Ice rink measures 85 ft. by 195 ft. Backstage areas include two large dressing rooms (30 ft. by 30 ft.), 10 smaller dressing rooms (5 ft. by 7 ft. to 10 ft. by 8 ft.) and seven connecting meeting rooms for pre- or post-show events.
Over 5,000 parking spaces available within a five-minute walk of the Baltimore Arena, which is easily accessible via Interstates 95, 295, 83 and 395. The facility is located approximately seven miles from Baltimore/Washington International Airport, and the light rail and major bus lines stop alongside the facility.
The Arena offers a full-service marketing and PR department that has access to over 500 media outlets in the local and regional area, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Delaware. E-mail blasts can be sent out to over 30,000 members, and trade opportunities are offered to over 200 outlying publications and radio stations.
Baltimore Arena
Mid
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Baltimore Arena201 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201(410) 347-2020; Fax: (410) 347-20421stmarinerarena.comGeneral Manager: Frank Remesch“...Continuing to Make History...”Baltimore Arena, Baltimore’s largest indoor sports and entertainment facility, accom-modates audiences of 2,500-14,000 depending on each show’s needs, including mini-theater, in the round, family shows, etc. Backstage areas: two large team rooms, locker room, 10 dressing rooms. Eight 1,000-watt Xenon Super Troupers permanently located in four elevated baskets, two per basket. Two 2,500-watt Gladiator 2; Meyer Sound Lab speakers driven through a series of amplifying, pro-cessing and equalizing equipment. Core audience: six million+, includes parts of Delaware, West Virginia and Virginia.
Florence Civic Center3300 West Radio Drive, Florence, SC 29501(843) 679-9417; Fax: (843) 679-9429florenceciviccenter.comGeneral Manager: Kendall WallCelebrating 20 Years of South Carolina Events!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 ball-room (1,400 theater, 800 banquet). Fiber optics and Wi-Fi throughout. New HVAC systems, LED lighting upgrade, added arena reduction curtain system. Generous supplemental marketing efforts. 17,000+ Facebook fans; 22,000+ email club.
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Macon Centreplex Coliseum 200 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217 (478) 751-9152 (main); (478) 803-1604 (direct); Fax: (478) 751-9154www.maconcentreplex.com Arena and Theater Sales Manager: Brenda Thompson
The Macon Centreplex Coliseum is a 8,400-seat arena located in the heart of Georgia, a proven market more populated than any other metropolitan area outside of Atlanta. Most recent renovations include a complete replacement of seats and a new grid system. The Coliseum has hosted sell-out crowds for Elvis, The Jacksons, Billy Joel, Prince, Elton John, Kenny Chesney and Macon’s own Jason Aldean. Coliseum Arena end stage concert: 8,438 at 360°; 8,024 at 270°; and 7,418 at 180°. The Macon City Auditorium Theater seats 2,688. The Coliseum has six single and two VIP/Group rooms and three group/locker rooms. Onsite, dedicated parking for approximately 2,000 cars.
GeorGia
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Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard NorthBirmingham, AL 35203(877) THE-BJCC; (205) 458-8400; Fax: (205) 458-8438bjcc.orgDirector of Sales/Marketing: Susette Hunter
Part of the new Uptown Entertainment District, the BJCC includes an Arena, Concert Hall, Theatre and other venues. The 18,000-seat Arena has hosted performances by top-name artists, Disney On Ice, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and major sporting events such as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments. Half-house curtaining system; smallest configuration 3,500. Backstage areas include six dressing rooms, two locker rooms, VIP Reception Area. Patrons have access to more than 7,600 parking spaces. The Birmingham-Hoover MSA is home to 1.136 million people.
alaBama
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Saenger Theatre118 South Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502(850) 595-3882; Fax: 850-595-3886pensacolasaenger.comGeneral Manager: Douglas LeeThe Grand Dame of Palafox The SMG-managed, historic Saenger Theatre underwent a $15 million renovation in 2009, which proved to be resurgence for the Saenger as a competitive venue for Broadway shows, top musical acts, dance, comedy, drama and much more. Capacities: auditorium, 1,641 seats; orchestra level, 946; orchestra level without orchestra pit, 890; balcony, 695. Two star dressing rooms, two chorus dressing rooms, two principal dressing rooms, green room, musician’s warm-up room, two production offices, 18 ft.-by-26 ft. wardrobe room. 43 ft. 3 in. wide, 27 ft. high proscenium opening. Full-time marketing department. Mobile/Pensacola DMA is home to 450,000.
Florida
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The Lakeland Center701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815(863) 834-8100thelakelandcenter.comAssistant Director: Scott Sloman
Located between Tampa and Orlando, The Lakeland Center is composed of the George Jenkins Arena, 2,296-seat Youkey Theatre and Sikes Hall. Opened in 1974, the arena has hosted rock ‘n’ roll legends and can accommodate up to 10,000 for a concert or indoor fes-tival 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 rooms, four artist rooms, green room, catering room, production office. 2,500 parking spaces are available.
Multipurpose venue with 150,000 sq. ft. of temperature-controlled event space, plus 11-acre lawn, 28,000-sq.-ft.-arena seats: 5,000 concerts/4,390 boxing and wrestling, 3,800 arena football; 1,500–3,000 half-house; indoor/outdoor portable staging; two dressing rooms. Exhibition space - Event Center A: 40,000 sq. ft.; Event Center B: 30,000 sq. ft.; Gold Hall 1: 20,000 sq. ft.; Gold Hall 2: 10,000 sq. ft.; Cabarrus Room A: 2,400 sq. ft.; Cabarrus Room B: 1,200 sq. ft.; Cabarrus Room C: 1,200 sq. ft.; Audience: 313,700 within a 15-mile radius; 1,377,900 – 30-mile radius; 3,154,100 – 60-mile radius; 7 VIP suites; six onsite concession stands.
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61Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North Birmingham, AL 35203(205) 458-8400bjcc.org
the BJCC Arena is a highly versatile oval-shaped space that can be configured to seat audiences as
large as 18,000 or as small as 3,500. The Arena is part of a convention complex that also features 220,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, a Concert Hall and Theatre, a beautifully landscaped interior piazza, two attached full-service hotels and a vibrant onsite entertainment district.
Versatility: The BJCC arena is a multipurpose facility that adapts to host the Greatest Show on Earth or an NCAA Basketball Tournament, a top-drawing performing artist or an ice extravaganza. The 10-story Arena’s curtaining system creates a more intimate space for smaller shows.
Parking: More than 7,600 controlled parking spaces are onsite or contiguous, in addition to street parking and surrounding parking options.
Food and Beverage: The Arena includes 13 concession stands. An onsite caterer can provide a range of additional options, from casual box lunches to elaborate cocktail receptions and formal dinners.
technical: The BJCC offers video conferencing, satellite teleconferencing, in-house Ethernet for event use, microwave and satellite connectivity, wireless access to an exhibitor network, as well as a fully staffed, broadcast-quality studio with pre- and post-production capabilities.
accommodations: Two skywalks and an interior corridor connect the BJCC Exhibition Halls, Meeting Rooms and Arena with the adjacent 757-room Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. Alongside the Sheraton is the all-new 294-room Westin Birmingham Hotel, which also connects to the Sheraton via skywalk. These luxury hotels offer a total of 1,051 rooms convenient to BJCC conventions, meetings and events.
Uptown entertainment district: Completed in 2014, Uptown is a vibrant outdoor hub attached to the stunning new Westin Birmingham Hotel. Cuisines at Uptown’s seven restaurants range from upscale English pub to Southern home cooking, from gourmet coffee to Brazilian churrascaria. Since opening, Uptown has quickly become a popular gathering place for visitors and locals alike.
Birmingham: Livability.com recently named downtown Birmingham one of the nation’s Top 10 Best Downtowns, National Geographic Traveler tagged it “A City on the Upswing,” Forbes called it one of “15 Up and Coming Downtowns,” and Zagat dubbed it one of the nation’s “7 Up-and-Coming Food Cities.” Birmingham’s ascendance as a regional entertainment mecca makes the BJCC Arena an attractive location for conferences, arena shows and exhibitions.
BiRMiNGHAM-JeFFeRSON CONVeNtiON COMPleX AReNA
soUtheast / alaBaMa
62 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
4751 Highway 49 North Concord, NC 28025 (704) 920-3976cabarrusarena.com
the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center is the region’s newest and most innovative exhibition center, offering a flexible floor plan and state-of-the-art features. With
the 5,000-seat arena, in excess of 150,000 sq. ft. of temperature-controlled event space and an 11-acre lawn, the Cabarrus Arena offers more meeting, banquet and exhibition options than any other facility in Cabarrus County.
Situated in Concord, NC, the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center is in the heart of an area rich with colorful history and a tapestry of both the old and the new. The facility is only moments away from the historic downtown district with its stately antebellum homes and specialty shops, and minutes from the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills Mall, the most visited tourist attraction in the state of North Carolina.
Cabarrus Arena & events Center
soUtheast / Florida
63Facilities & eVent ManageMent 2014 sUPerBook
soUtheast / soUth carolina
3300 West Radio Dr. Florence, SC 29501(843) 679-9417florenceciviccenter.com
sMg Florence celeBrates with renoVations
the SMG-managed Florence Civic Center, located at the convenient junction of I-95 and I-20 in South Carolina, has recently reached its 20th successful year in existence. The
venue has publicly celebrated the benchmark in many ways, but to the ops crew and event promoters, there is no better way to celebrate than through upgrades and renovations.The Center is currently wrapping up a nearly $6 million renovation project to upgrade and revamp numerous facility assets. One major triumph for the venue includes the recent installa-tion of all new Trane HVAC systems with the Tracer building automation technology, replacing all previous outdated and inefficient units. In addition, all interior and exterior lighting have been upgraded to LED illumination supplied by Premier Lighting and includes Cooper Light-ing’s iLumin software integrated with Tracer BAS, allowing total control and scheduling through PC, iPad and smartphones. Another renovation feat for the Center is the replacement of its worn and dated roof. The entire roofing system has been revamped with the Garland Com-pany engineered SBS rubber modified bitumen system utilizing a Zero VOC adhesive with an aluminized roof coating.Paul Beard, Director of Operations, says, “These renovations have many key impacts for the venue resulting in better efficiencies, streamlined technologies, increased comfort and lower utility costs.” The Center has also arranged for rebates for its efforts to reduce power waste and increase energy efficiency, thus saving even more money. Additional projects currently under way in Florence include comprehensive resurfacing of the facility’s exterior with the latest nanotechnology coating application. Replacement of meeting space carpeting, recovering of vinyl partition walls, lobby and restrooms makeovers, as well as digital and scoreboard upgrades are a few more renovations in the works at the venue.Recent capital upgrades included 1,200 new Myti-Lite Ballroom chairs, new StageRight concert staging, and an arena reduction curtain system that includes a proscenium stage system. Furthermore, all eight arena suites have undergone a luxury transformation facelift.“We’re celebrating 20 years, which is a very exciting achievement, but the anniversary also symbolizes our aging venue and reminds us that it is time to modernize and revolutionize our facility,” adds Kendall Wall, General Manager.Although Florence has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, management is already looking ahead toward the next 20 years and planning for future growth and improvements. With such renovations and modernizations, the building is well on its way to looking and performing like new.
Florence Civic Center
64 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Straz Center for the Performing Arts1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602(813) 222-1000; (800) 955-1045strazcenter.org
At the Straz Center, it’s more than just a show. Located on the Riverwalk in Downtown Tampa, the Straz Center’s nine-acre campus boasts a performing arts conservatory and five state-of-the-art theaters: Morsani Hall (2,600 seats), Ferguson Hall (1,000 seats), Jaeb Theater (300 seats), TECO Theater (200 seats) and Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats). Morsani Hall has been ranked in the Top 5 venues in the world, 5,000 seats and under, by Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today. For avails, contact (813) 222-1272 or [email protected].
Florida
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Time Warner Cable Arena333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202(704) 688-9000; (800) 745-3000timewarnercablearena.comThe premier destination for sports and entertainment in the CarolinasOpened in 2005, Time Warner Cable Arena is the home of the Charlotte Hornets and hosts the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), college basketball (NCAA), the Jordan Classic all-star game, CIAA Basketball Tournament, NASCAR all-star pit crew challenge, American Idol and top-rated concerts. NBA capacity – 20,200; AHL capacity – 14,100. Concerts vary around 14,000+ capacity. End-stage 180° – 13,376; end-stage 270° – 15,236; end-stage 360° – 18,249; theater – 4,000-7,000. Floor size: 85 ft. by 200 ft. Six production offices; four Star dressing rooms. Suite seating includes 16-, 18-, and 22-people suites, and access to VIP entrance. In-house marketing and promotions staff available.
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soUtheast / Florida
soUtheast / north carolina
701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815 (863) 834-8100thelakelandcenter.com
Opened in 1974, The Lakeland Center is a classic Central Florida entertainment venue that hosts
hundreds of events each year, including concerts, sport-ing events and competitions. Top-selling acts and shows include Jeff Dunham, Bill Cosby, Classic Albums Live, Guys and Dolls and Flashdance. The complex’s Jenkins Arena and Youkey Theatre, which accommodate 10,000 and 2,300 patrons respectively, will undergo a major renovation in 2017.
Located just minutes from Tampa, The Lakeland Center is the premier entertainment venue and convention cen-ter for Polk County. The potential media reach is over 10 million residents, and the Center offers promoters social media marketing, digital production, media strategies/buys and design services.
The Youkey Theatre stage is 55 ft. wide by 40 ft. deep and features a full counterweight system and rigging capacities of one ton per point. Jenkins Arena features a 60x40 SECO concert stage with PA wings and is equipped with six Gladiator 3 spotlights. Youkey Theatre includes a full production audio pack-age, in-house lighting up to 120K plus additional theater-style lighting. Youkey Theatre also features a Myer M’elodie line array system with 16 Myer sound UM-1 stage monitors. Complete Shure micro-phone catalog is available. Arena and theater both feature multiple dressing rooms, team rooms, talent rooms and facilities.
Featuring service by Ovations Food Services, The Lakeland Center offers seven permanent conces-sion facilities along with multiple mobile vending areas. The complex’s lots are available for festival and ride and drive rentals.
Opened in 2005,
Time Warner Cable Arena is the premier destination for sports and en-tertainment in the Carolinas. The Rolling Stones christened the arena with its first-ever event. In 2008, the arena sold its naming rights to Time Warner Cable, and in 2012, the Democratic National Convention was held in the arena. Time Warner Cable Arena is the home of the Charlotte Hornets and will host the Hornets’ first season back this 2014-2015 season since they left in 2002. Since switching to the Charlotte Hornets, Time Warner Cable Arena has rebranded with the new Hornet’s logo, and buzz city logo.
The Arena also hosts the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), college basketball (NCAA), the Jordan Classic all-star game, CIAA Basketball Tourna-ment, NASCAR all-star pit crew challenge, American Idol and top-rated concerts. Its NBA capacity is 20,200; AHL capacity (hockey), 14,100; and concerts vary around 14,000+ capacity. Audience amenities include Frontcourt Club, Backcourt Club, and the exclusive Hardwood Club (52 clients) and Royal Box.
the Macon Centreplex Coliseum is an 8,400-seat arena in the heart of Georgia, a proven market more populated
than any other metropolitan area outside of Atlanta. In fact, over two-thirds of the state’s population lives within an hour’s drive. There are five major colleges and universities in the Macon area.
The Coliseum hosts concerts of all genres, family shows, sporting competitions, ice shows and more. Among the many memorable events held at the Coliseum include several sell-out crowds for Elvis, The Jacksons, Billy Joel, Prince and Elton John, not to mention Kenny Chesney and, of course, Macon’s own Jason Aldean.
The Macon City Auditorium is a beautiful theater nestled in the historic district of downtown Macon and is the per-fect place for more intimate concerts and events. Over the decades, the 2,688-seat Auditorium has hosted thousands of performances by entertainment greats such as Macon’s own Otis Redding, Little Richard and the Allman Brothers Band, as well as legions of other legends such as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, B.B. King and Loretta Lynn.
The Coliseum Arena accommodates 8,438 for an end stage concert at 360°, 8,024 at 270° and 7,418 at 180°. All seats are fixed except for 1,750 portable on the floor. With an extensive grid system that extends beyond center arena, half-house and other configurations are avail-able. The Macon City Auditorium Theater seats 2,688, which includes 988 fixed seats in the balcony and 1,700 portable seats on the floor. In the Coliseum, there are two stages with 16 ft.-by-16 ft. sound-wings; one is a 40 ft.-by-60 ft. Sico Roll & Set and one is a 40 ft.-by-60 ft. Wenger. In the Macon City Auditorium Theater, there is a fixed 50 ft.-by-24 ft. stage, extendable up to an additional 16 ft.
The Coliseum has six single and two VIP/group backstage rooms, three group/locker rooms and an additional locker/group room in the con-nected convention center with back-of-house access. The Auditorium has four dressing rooms, plus one VIP Green Room.
The most recent renovations in the Macon Coliseum include a complete replacement of seats and a new grid system, which allows for more sellable capacity, as well as a variety of aesthetic improvements. The Macon City Auditorium has also received a face-lift in recent months.
the Saenger Theatre truly is the Grand Dame of Palafox Street. Generations of Pensacola-area
residents have walked under her marquee to enjoy music, dance, comedy and drama. A night out at the ballet, symphony or opera naturally means the Saenger. The Spanish Baroque/Rococo style theater, which first opened in 1925, looks better than ever after a $15 million renovation and expansion. Today, the Saenger is the premier performance space on the Gulf Coast.
The Theatre can accommodate 1,650 with orchestra pit (1,594 without orchestra pit) and features a 71 ft.-by-38 ft. stage with 43-ft. proscenium. Backstage areas include two star dressing rooms (three persons each), two chorus dressing rooms (14 persons each), two principal dressing rooms (four persons each), Green Room, musician’s warm-up room near Orchestra Pit, 18 ft.-by-26 ft. wardrobe room and two productions offices.
Tech features include a Sound Yamaha M7cl Mixer, EAW Speaker System, patch bays for microphone, line level, Ethernet and video. Lighting system is an ETC Express Console 72/144, DMX nodes and taps via Ethernet patch bay. T-coil hearing loop system and FM-assisted hearing devices are also available.
The Mobile/Pensacola DMA, MSA population is 508,800. The Saenger Theatre has an in-house agency available to assist promoters in reaching the local market. The Theatre has a 20,000-subscriber email database, 5,000-plus venue Facebook fans, Twitter followers and venue website banner advertising.
Macon Centreplex
the Saenger theatre
1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 222-1000strazcenter.org
located along the east bank of the Hillsborough River, The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is the largest performing arts complex
south of the Kennedy Center. The 335,000-sq.-ft. Straz Center is the fourth largest performing arts institution in the country and home to one of the nation’s leading Broadway series, a grand opera and a wide variety of con-certs, performances and events. The Patel Conservatory, Florida Orchestra, Tampa Bay Symphony and Tampa Bay Theatre Festival are among the regular highlights. In addition to four theaters and one teaching theater, the Straz Center has three restaurants and a brand-new coffee shop, SteamHeat Café.
In a typical season, more than 600,000 patrons attend 4,000+ events at the Straz Center, which supports the Tampa Bay economy with $110 million annually. The Straz Center has an in-house marketing department to assist promoters in reaching local ticket-buyers, as well as a communications staff headed by Paul Bilyeu, Senior Director of Communications.
The Straz Center houses several venues with a variety of capacities. Carol Morsani Hall accommodates 2,610; Ferguson Hall, 1,042; Jaeb Theater, 300; Shimberg Playhouse, 130; and TECO Energy Foundation Theater, 150. The Carol Morsani Hall proscenium opening is 45 ft. to 60 ft. wide (Pro Mask Legs) and 30 ft. to 40 ft. high (Pro Mask Header). The stage is 70 ft. deep from plaster line to back wall. Ferguson Hall is 25 ft. to 40 ft. wide (Portable Legs) and 20 ft to 30 ft. high (Portable Header). The stage is 50 ft. deep from plaster line to back wall.
The Straz Center is well stocked with backstage areas for performers. Carol Morsani Hall has a 27-ft. wide by 37 ft. long wardrobe room. There are a total of 14 dressing rooms, one of which is a star dressing room furnished with a sectional sofa, chairs and tables. Ferguson Hall has a wardrobe area and seven dressing rooms.
Dining is available at the Straz Center’s Maestro’s Restaurant (fine dining), Maestro’s Cafe (full display buffet dining) or Maestro’s On The River (light fare, al fresco dining). There are numerous concession stands throughout the facility and SteamHeat coffee shop serves a variety of beverages and light fare. In addition, Maestro’s Catering offers complete banquet and catering service for weddings, luncheons, dinners, parties and receptions.
Onsite valet parking is available. Parking is also available in the city-owned Poe Garage and on several nearby privately owned surface lots. Some metered street parking is also available.
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Adler Theatre/RiverCenter136 East Third Street, Davenport, IA 52801(563) 326-8500; Fax: (563) 326-8505adlertheatre.com • riverctr.com Executive Director: Rick Palmer, CFE
A historic, Art Deco yet also state-of-the-art PAC, the RiverCenter Complex offers 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting, exhibit and event space, 2,411-seat Adler Theatre (renovated 2006); and Great River Hall – seats 3,200 for general admission/2,500 reserved. Mississippi River Hall can host 1,400 general admission/1,100 reserved. Backstage: two production offices, 800-sq.-ft. wardrobe room, eight dressing rooms, two star dressing rooms and soloist room. Facility is key anchor for live entertain-ment and cultural enrichment in downtown Davenport, serving the greater Quad Cities area and its population base of 400,000. Reach also extends out to a 75-100 mile radius on both sides of the Mississippi River.
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Allen County War Memorial Coliseum4000 Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805(260) 482-9502; Fax: (260) 484-1637memorialcoliseum.comGeneral Manager: Randy L. Brown
A multipurpose complex, the tri-state area’s leading sports, entertainment and event venue serves Northeast Indiana, Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan. With an MSA population of 411,000, Ft. Wayne is the state’s second-largest city, within a day’s drive of 55 million. Seating capacities: End concert-180: 8,843; End Concert-240: 10,006; End Concert-270: 10,297; End Concert-360: 12,045. Hockey/indoor football: 10,495; basketball: 11,083. 24 luxury suites, one super suite, 318 club seats. 148,000 sq. ft. of multi-purpose exhibition space, capable of hosting concerts up to 8,000 seats, as well as basketball and motor-sports events, with telescopic seating and floor chairs.
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Bridge View Center102 Church Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501(641) 684-7000; Fax: (641) 684-6305 bridgeviewcenter.comExecutive Director: Larry Gawronski Where Great Events Create Lifetime ExperiencesFast becoming the premier destination in southeast Iowa for concerts, theatrical events and conventions, The Bridge View Center opened in 2007, nestled on the banks of the Des Moines River. This 92,000-sq.-ft. complex features an Expo Hall (reserved seating – 2,617; festival – 3,000; boxing/mixed martial arts – 1,800; floor events – 1,500), adjoin-ing conference/meeting space (7,000 sq. ft., divisible into five rooms), 655-seat theater and a Grand Lobby (accommodates 2,500). Two star dressing rooms; choir dressing room with lockers and showers; 40 ft.-by-40 ft. studio adjoining theater, accommodat-ing up to 100 persons. Regional MSA 150,000 (75-mile radius).
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Clay County Regional Events Center800 West 18th Street, Spencer, IA 51301-3156(712) 580-3000; Fax: (712) 580-3003spencerevents.comGeneral Manager: Scott Hallgren Delivering Outstanding ExperiencesComplex opened in 2003, featuring a 2,664-seat arena; 7,600-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom, divisible into six individual meeting rooms; and a 24,000-sq.-ft., column-free exhibit hall. Boardroom, event office, dressing rooms, private green room are also available. Seating capacities: full concert – 2,664; wrestling/boxing – 2,700; theater – 2,160; open floor – 1,572; banquet – 1,400 (Exhibit Hall). Grand Ballroom: 750 theater style; 504 rounds; 450+ classroom style. Backstage: green room with private bath and shower; two dressing rooms. Co-promotes events; full marketing services; group sales. Spencer is the regional hub in northwest Iowa, serving a broad geographic region across NW Iowa/SW Minnesota.
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Arie Crown Theater2301 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616(312) 791-6196ariecrown.comDirector: Dulcie Gilmore
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-pro-tected 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 Crown Theater offers convenient underground parking for all performances.
Opened in January 2009, this state-of-the-art venue, managed by VenuWorks, features a Main Hall theater and Black Box Theatre. The Main Hall theater seats 1,014 while the Black Box Theatre seats up to 150. The Main Stage has an opening of 48 ft. by 28 ft.; Black Box Theatre space is 48 ft. by 45 ft. and fully adaptable to any configuration. Green Room seats up to 20; VIP conference room available. In-house marketing and sales team assist in all aspects of promotion and sales. The Ames Center serves the entire south metro area of the Twin Cities. The city of Burnsville is home to 60,000 residents with median age of 35.9 and median household income of $60,000
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MIDwest / InDIana
4000 Parnell Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805(260) 482-9502memorialcoliseum.com
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is one of only a few facilities in the United States to feature two arenas under one roof. 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, easily accessible from some of the Midwest’s major markets, including Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus and Cincinnati. The Memorial Coliseum’s non-metro location offers affordable local media, yet more than 55 million people live within a day’s drive.
During the summer of 2013, the Memorial Coliseum Arena underwent a $4 million expansion and renovation of its main 200-level concourse, including the rebuilding of eight restrooms. In 2014, renovation of the Arena’s 100-level concourse and rebuilding of all the remaining rest-rooms in the Arena, will complete a two-year renovation project.
arena The Memorial Coliseum is home to the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) and Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA D-League). It features a four-sided, center-hung video scoreboard and nearly 360 degrees of LED ribbon board. A scaled down arena setup of 4,000 seats is also available, with a customized curtaining system.
expo CenterThe Coliseum Expo Center is 152,000 sq. ft. of multipurpose space with two portable walls and flexible telescopic seating. The main Expo Center room can be used in its entirety of 108,000 sq. ft. or in increments of one-third or two-thirds. Ample loading docks and drive-through bays facilitate easy load-in and load-out. A 44,000-sq.-ft. lower level can be used separately or for those events that require more space. In 2015, a planned expansion of the Expo Center will increase the available exhibition space to over 181,000 sq. ft.
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
68 FaCIlItIes & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
From top touring talent to local arts organizations, the Ames Center brings premier entertainment to Burnsville and the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
The Ames Center hosts a wide variety of talent every year. Previous events include Michael Bolton, The Navy Band, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Scooby-Doo Live, Dream Theater, National Dance Competitions and many others.
For booking information, please contact Brian Luther:[email protected] | 952.895.4675
Hoyt Sherman Place1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309(515) 244-0507; Fax: (515) 237-3582hoytsherman.orgExecutive Director: Carol Pollock
Originally a grand manor home circa 1877, Hoyt Sherman Place opened as a theater in 1923. A beautiful and acoustically sound performing arts center, it is Central Iowa’s only mid-sized live event facility. Recent $5.5 million renovation included updated sound, lighting and technical capabilities. Year-round venue hosts 280+ events annually. Theater – 1,250 fixed seats (38 box seats); art galleries accommo-date up to 250 for receptions, meetings, etc. Large chorus with bathroom attached; medium-sized chorus room; three star dressing rooms. Full-service marketing depart-ment. The capital of Iowa, Des Moines is visited by 2.9 million+ each year – 562,000+ within 40-mile radius.
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FAIRFIELD ARTS ANDCONVENTION CENTER/STEPHEN SONDHEIMCENTER FOR THEPERFORMING ARTS200 N Main StFairfield, IA 52556(641) 472-2000; Fax: (641) 472-7890www.fairfieldacc.comExecutive Director: Brendon Wagner
Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorksand opened in the Winter of 2007, theFairfield Arts and Convention Center isa stunning building that is home to theStephen Sondheim Center for thePerforming Arts, two meeting rooms,an executive conference room, and anexhibition hall. The theatre is an inti-mate space equipped with some of themost modern theatrical equipment.The meeting rooms and exhibition hallare very flexible and can accommodatemost needs.Capacities: Theatre - 522; MeetingRoom (each) - 60 banquet, 120 theatrestyle, 60 classroom; ExecutiveConference Room - 20 at conferencetable, 20 additional around perimeter;Exhibition Hall - 400 banquet, 600
theatre style, 30 exhibition booths(10X10).Exhibition Space: 112’X64’hall. Canaccommodate approximately 30 10’X10’booths. Can be combined with meetingrooms to increase capacity; direct accessto kitchen available.Backstage Areas: 2 Star dressingrooms, 1 makeup room, 2 chorus dressing rooms, and green room.Staging: Various 4’x8’ platforms in avariety of heights availableSound/Ligthing: In theatre there is a40 channel mixer withcompressors/limiters/noise gates avail-able for 24 channels. Lighting in the-atre consists of an ETC Expression 3lighting console, 228 dimmers, and acomplement of ETC Source 4 lights.Food & Beverage: 1 concession standin lobby. Portable bars available for usearound building. Full commercialkitchen.Marketing: Partnership with the CVBto send email blasts about upcomingevents. Co-promotional opportunitiesavailable.Demographics: Community is verydedicated to the cultural arts. LargeTranscendental Meditation practicingpopulation in the area.
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CLAY COUNTYREGIONAL EVENTSCENTER800 West 18th StreetSpencer, IA 51301(712) 580-3000: Fax: (712) 580-3003www.spencerevents.comGeneral Manager: Scott Hallgren
“Delivering OutstandingExperiences”Snapshot: The Clay County RegionalEvents Center, which opened inNovember 2003 and is managed byVenuWorks, includes an 2,664-seatarena; 7,600-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom,divisible into 6 individual meetingrooms, and a 24,000-sq.-ft.arena/exhibit hall. Boardroom, EventOffice, Dressing Rooms, private GreenRoom are also available.Seating Capacities: Full concert set –2,664; Wrestling / Boxing (in the round)– 2,654; Theater set – 2,160; Open floorset (Circus, Bull Riding, LipizzanerStallions) – 1,572; Banquet – 1,400.Grand Ballroom: Theater style – 750;Rounds – 504; Classroom style – 450+
Exhibition Space: 24,000-sq.-ft.column-free exhibit hall.Staging: StageRight professional concert staging – 40’ X 84’ (or custombuild to your specs).Sound/Lighting: 40’ X 60’ grid locatedon east end of arena, above stage area;50,000 pound capacity; 1,000 – 2,000lbs. per hang point, depending uponconfiguration; Total of 800 amps 208v3-phase show power; 400 amp 208vservice and 200 amp 208v service withcamlocks located in arena.Backstage Areas: private green roomwith private bath and shower; 2 dress-ing rooms, each with its own lockerroom with sink, mirrors, toilets, andshowers.Food & Beverage: exclusive on-sitecaterer with full-service commercialkitchen; 2 permanent concession stands.Parking: 750+ spaces on-site; addition-al parking throughout Fairgrounds.Marketing: co-promote on events; full-marketing services; group sales.Demographics: Spencer is the regionalhub in NW Iowa—serving a broad geo-graphic region across NW Iowa / SEMinnesota. Clay County RegionalEvents Center serves a market areawithin 75-100+ radius of Spencer.See ad on page 43
clay countyregional centerevents
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HOYT SHERMAN PLACE1501 Woodland AvenueDes Moines, IA 50266(515) 244-0507; Fax: (515) 237-3582www.hoytsherman.orgExecutive Director: Carol Pollock
Snapshot: A grand manor home builtin 1877 by prominent businessman HoytSherman; the structure, managed byVenuWorks, is a world-class performingarts center, located at the cornerstone ofDes Moines’ historic Sherman Hill. TheHoyt Sherman Place Theater opened in1923 and is Central Iowa’s only mid-sized (1,251) performing arts venue andthe last remaining historical theater inDes Moines. Since reopening inNovember, 2003 after a $5.5-million,six-month renovation, including updatedsound, lighting and technical capabili-ties, this year-round venue has welcomedover 200,000 patrons. Newly renovated,adjacent galleries can be transformed fora unique sit down dining experience, asocial cocktail party or a theater-stylemeeting place.
Capacities: 1,251 seatsStage Dimensions: Back wall toProscenium 24’ ; SR Wall to SL Wall52’; Proscenium to Front of Pit Cover8’; Proscenium Height 22’6”;Proscenium Width 34’4”.Dressing Rooms: large chorus w/bath-room attached; medium sized chorusroom; 3 star dressing rooms.Sound: 2 Stacks of McCauly n-line SRand SL; 12 top boxes and 4 bottoms;All QSC Powerlite amplifiers; 1-Alanand Heath 2200 FOH desk; 2 sm 58; 2beta sm 57; 4 boom stands; 1 cd player;1 3rd octive EQ on the stacks.Lighting: 288 channels of etc sensordimming; 1 obsession 2 w/2 monitorsand keyboards; 16-19 degree S4 Lekos(on stage); 12-26 degree S4 Lekos (onstage); 11-36 degree S4 Lekos (onstage); 11-19 degree S4 Barrels (onstage); 48-S4 par 64 (on stage); 8-S4 12circuit mutipar strips (on stage); 24-15to 30 degree S4 zooms (FOH); 12-19Degree S4 Lekos (box booms HR andHL); 2- Lycian 1272 Starklite II.Audience Amenities: 28 Box Seats.Marketing: in-house marking services;co-promotions.Managed by Venuworks.See ad on page 44
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RIVERCENTER & ADLER THEATRE 136 East Third StreetDavenport, IA 52801(563) 326-8500; Fax: (563) 326-8505www.adlertheatre.com www.riverctr.com Executive Director: Rick Palmer, CFE
“The Center With It All”Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,the classic, 2,411-seat Adler Theatre is ahistoric, art-deco yet also state-of-the-artPAC originally built in 1931 and mostrecently renovated in 2006. The Adler ispart of the RiverCenter Complex,which features more than 100,000square feet of meeting, exhibit and eventspace. The RiverCenter includes theGreat Hall, featuring a seating capacityof 3,200 for general admissions and2,500 reserved seats and the MississippiRiver Hall, which can host 1,400 forgeneral admission and 1,100 reserved.Staging: 40’ deep from the plaster lineto the back wall, 80’ wide, 38’ stage left
of center and 42’ stage right of center.The proscenium opening is 59’-4” wide.The height from stage floor to the gridis 69’.Backstage Areas: 2 production offices;800-sq.-ft. wardrobe room. 8 dressingrooms, 2 star dressing rooms; soloistroom.Sound: 5 EV XLD281 Loudspeakersin the center cluster; Left and RightClusters are (8 each side) EV XLC-127+. Soundcraft MH2 24 channelconsole.Lighting: Balcony/Side House fillsthroughout the theatre. In-HouseDimmers are controlled by an ETCEmphasis Server with an Express 125faceplate.Food & Beverage: Adler Theatre has 2permanent concession stands and theRiverCenter has 3 permanent conces-sion stands.Audience Amenities: Premiere ClubSeating in loge; Broadway at the AdlerTheatre Subscribers; Accessible seatingon main floor.Marketing: Full service marketing/pro-motions coordination available.Parking: 750 coveredparking spaces availablefor Adler Theaterpatrons. More than2,300 additional spacesnearby.See ad on page 49
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Ford Center1 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard,Evansville, IN 47708(812) 422-8000; Fax: (812) 436-7001thefordcenter.comFord Center Executive Director: Scott Schoenike
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; high-definition video board with upper and lower displays and ribbon board.
Opened in 2009, the Hartman Arena serves the Wichita Metro Area. Managed by VenuWorks, it is an ideally sized, modern venue for concerts, sporting events, family shows, motorsports and more. Seating capacities: 5,000, football and soccer; 6,500, end-stage con-certs; 7,000, festival; 3,300, half-house; 1,200, theater. Features an 80 ft.-by-90 ft. floating grid suspended with 30 two-ton motors monitored by load cell system, and a 26,000-sq.-ft. arena floor. Stage: 40 ft.-by-60 ft. capacity. Up to seven dressing rooms; four additional pro-moter and production offices; locker rooms. Onsite parking, livestock friendly, easy highway access. Twenty loge boxes with in-seat service, two premium lounges/bars. Full in-house marketing agency; can promote in-house or co-promote.
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Morris Performing Arts Center211 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601(574) 235-9190; (800) 537-6415; Fax: (574) 235-5604morriscenter.orgExecutive Director: Dennis J. AndresThe Magnificent Morris Has The Hottest Tickets in Town!State-of-the-art PAC ($24.3 million renovation in 2000) originally opened as The Palace Theater in 1921 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, attracting 156,000+.
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Paramount Theatre123 Third Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401(319) 398-5226paramounttheatrecr.comGeneral Manager: Jason Anderson
Located downtown in the heart of Cedar Rapids’ entertainment district, this com-pletely restored and renovated historic 1928 movie/vaudeville palace reopened in November 2012 after a $35 million renovation that included new dressing rooms, state-of-the-art rigging systems, lighting, video, EV X-Array speaker system, plus expanded stage and reception spaces. The Theatre houses 1,699 seats with the pit, 1,673 without; seven dressing rooms all with private showers and restrooms; three chorus rooms; and up to five portable concession stands. High-tech features include Tessitura ticketing software, a leading enterprise-wide, fully integrated software system.
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iWireless Center1201 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265(309) 764-2001; Fax: (309) 764-2192iwirelesscenter.com Executive Director: Scott Mullen
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 dress-ing 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 Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Omaha.
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Pinnacle Bank Arena400 Pinnacle Arena Drive, Lincoln, NE 69508(402) 904-4444pinnaclebankarena.comGeneral Manager: Tom Lorenz
Opened in August 2013, the state-of-the-art, multipurpose Pinnacle Bank Arena offers year-round entertainment, including concerts by major artists such as The Eagles, Bon Jovi, Cher and Paul McCartney; family shows; and sporting events such as the NCAA Women’s Regional Basketball. The arena has a capacity of 3,800–15,000, more retractable seats than most arenas in the country, a rigging capacity of 160,000 pounds, and a power supply of 1,800 amps. 36 suites, 20 loges, 832 club seats; 1,300 paid parking stalls; 270 premium parking stalls, 85 concession points of sale. The concession stands are Nebraska- themed: Chimney Rock Cantina, Sandhills BBQ, Capital Terrace Grill.
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McGrath Amphitheatre475 1st Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404(319) 398-5211; (319) 731-4529; Fax: (319) 362-2102mcgrathamphitheatre.com Executive Director: Sharon Cummins
Managed by VenuWorks, McGrath Amphitheatre sits in the heart of downtown Cedar
Rapids along the Cedar River. The outdoor venue has hosted many concerts, festivals and
special events since its opening in the summer of 2013. The amphitheater has a permanent
covered stage and grassy seating for up to 5,000. Reserved seating – 4,000; general admis-
sion festival – 5,000. Permanent stage and roof structure. Cedar Rapids is easily accessible
to St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Omaha and Milwaukee.
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75FaCIlItIes & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
the MIDwest / InDIana
211 North Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601 (574) 235-9190; (800) 537-6415; Fax: (574) 235-5604 morriscenter.org
The MORRIS originally opened as The Palace Theater in November, 1921. The building was designed to combine many different eras in
architectural history: Italian Renaissance, Spanish Revival and Baroque. Architect J.S. Aroner of Chicago hoped that a trip through the theater would make patrons feel like they had just made a trip through Europe. The opulent interior décor was designed by Marshall Fields of Chicago. Patrons of the Palace enjoyed a magnificent ballroom and a theater that boasted the largest stage in the state and luxuries of the time such as a supervised nursery, a sitting room for women complete with an attendant, and a smoking room for men.
In August of 1959, with the advent of television causing low attendance records, the theater was almost demolished. Mrs. Morris purchased the theater for an undisclosed sum and sold it for $1 to the city, which then renamed it the Morris Civic Auditorium in her honor.
The MORRIS in February 2000 completed extensive $24.3 million renovation (soft and hard dollars) and was renamed THE MORRIS PER-FORMING ARTS CENTER. The MORRIS reopened boasting upgraded technical equipment, enlarged performance and backstage spaces, as well as a completely restored interior.
The MORRIS CENTER offers the best of the old and new, a combina-tion of opulent decor and rich history with upgraded technical equip-ment and expanded space. The MORRIS CENTER now hosts over 125 events per year including pops concerts, national Broadway tours, dance, symphony, comedians, rock concerts and ballroom events. The MORRIS CENTER welcomes over 156,000 guests yearly and has an economic impact of $5.9 million on the City of South Bend.
The MORRIS is the best-kept “touring” secret in the Midwest: a low-cost showcase for rehearsals and early performances of a tour.
In 2003, the MORRIS Bistro Restaurant opened on the lower level as “The place to go before the show.” Seats up 100, available for private parties.
THE MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
DESIGNED TO COMBINE MANy DIFFERENT ERAS IN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORy: ITALIAN RENAISSANCE, SPANISH REvIvAL AND BAROqUE.
MIDwest / wIsConsIn
400 West Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203 (414) 908-6000 (414) 908-6001wcd.org uscellulararena.com
The U.S. Cellular Arena is located in downtown Milwaukee across the street from the Wisconsin Center con-vention facility and attached to the 4,100-seat Milwaukee Theatre. The buildings are close to hotels, dining
and nightlife, and easily accessible.
hIstory: The U.S. Cellular Arena opened in 1950 as the Milwaukee Arena, and was later famous as “MECCA,” home to a vibrant Robert Indiana-designed basketball floor, champion teams and a raucous reputation. Com-prehensive improvements since 1997 helped land the U.S. Cellular Corp. wireless firm as a title sponsor in 2000. The building is now home to the 2012 (and four time) champion Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer team (MISL), the 2012 Horizon League Champion University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers men’s basketball team and the Brewcity Bruisers roller derby league, and hosts a wide range of entertainment events and other assemblies. The U.S. Cellular Arena’s connected sister facility, The Milwaukee Theatre, features 21st-century theater design and technology in a creative and architecturally spectacular “adaptive re-use” of the historic Milwaukee Audito-rium that created a hard-working but elegant 4,100-seat “destination” theater within the shell of the old building.
CapaCItIes: The arena’s maximum capacity is 12,700. Boxing/wrestling events can seat up to 12,200; basketball capacity is 11,366, and soccer/hockey capacity is 9,556. “Open floor” events use the 8,910 permanent seats, and concerts with an end stage and 180-degree sightlines can seat 8,697. Smaller theater and arena configurations are possible using curtains to mask off one end or the upper parquet. The 24,000-sq.-ft. floor can accommodate schoolroom setups for 1,000, banquets of 1,800 diners at five-foot rounds or 155 10 ft.-by-10 ft. exhibit booths.
Markets: The U.S. Cellular Arena is the only venue of its size serving the diverse Milwaukee metropolitan market of 1.7 million people. Some four million people live within an hour’s drive, including residents of Chicago’s most affluent suburbs. The contiguous complex of the U.S. Cellular Arena and The Milwaukee Theatre offers an outstanding setting for indoor, multi-stage “festival” events, and their proximity to the Wisconsin Center makes the campus as a whole an excellent convention destination.
box oFFICe/tICketIng: The U.S. Cellular Arena and the attached Milwaukee Theatre are Ticketmaster venues for remote, phone and online ticket sales. Group, Internet and fan club pre-sale arrangements may be made through the Box Office Manager.
lIghtIng, sounD & stagIng: The arena’s brawny ceiling can support 450,000 pounds of hanging gear—enough to suspend a tour motorcade of five loaded 18 wheelers and a five-ton merchandise truck! Rigging points on its main steel bays are rated to 8,000 pounds each, and secondary rigging points support 4,000 pounds each. Recent upgrades include the installation of six 600 amp power sources, new sports and flood lighting, new scoreboards, house sound and video systems, a built-to-suit portable stage, and ice-making equipment.
FooD & beverage servICe: Levy Restaurants, the exclusive cater-ing and concessions provider in the U.S. Cellular Arena, Milwaukee Theatre and Wisconsin Center, has forged unique local partnerships that contribute to a growing reputation for superior service and product.
U.S. CELLULAR ARENA
THE ARENA’S BRAWNy CEILING CAN SUPPORT 450,000 POUNDS OF HANGING GEAR.
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FaCIlItIes & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
Sales: (414) 908-6092ADA Ticketing: (414) 908-6035Box Office Fax: (414) 908-6011Rent: Call for ratesTax: 5.6% state/local sales tax;5.85% for food & beverageMerchandising: Five Star MarketingDressing rooms:Two star,Four team/chorusCo-promotes: YesParking: 276 spaces on-site;14,000 in a four-block radius
Maximum capacity: 12,700Permanent seats: 8,910End concert—120-degreesightlines: 7,910End concert—180-degreesightlines: 8,509End concert—270-degreesightlines: 9,858End concert—360-degreesightlines: 11,466Concert in the round: 11,848Open floor: 8,910Basketball: 11,119Soccer/hockey: 9,600Boxing/wrestling: 12,146Ice show w/end stage: 6,689
80 FaCIlItIes & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
U.S. Cellular Arena400 West Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee WI 43203(414) 908-6001; Fax: (414) 908-6010uscellulararena.comDirector of Sports & Entertainment Sales: Tony Dynicki
Opened in 1950, this major (12,700 capacity) sports and entertainment venue is home to decades of sports legend, rock & roll history and a variety of other events; $16+ million in improvements since 1998 keep it technologically state-of-the-art while retaining its legendary intensity and audience friendliness. Exhibition space: 24,000-sq.-ft. main floor/plus concourse. Backstage: 120 ft.-by-24 ft. media/catering room; two star dressing rooms; two team rooms; two chorus rooms; green room; traveling production office. Market: Milwaukee metro – 1.7 million people, extended market 4 million+ including Madison, Sheboygan and other outlying cities; Chicago metro area only 45 minutes away.
wisconsin
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center444 Mount Rushmore Road North, Rapid City, SD 57701(605) 394-4115/(800) GOT-MINE; Fax: (605) 394-4119GOTMINE.COM General Manager: Brian MaliskeTruly the Center of It All South Dakota’s premier full-service performance, exhibition, convention and event complex. Entertainment promoters, professional sports teams and business executives have all dis-covered that the Civic Center can meet their needs with professional service and competi-tive pricing. The Complex features a 10,000+-seat arena, 1,741-seat Fine Arts Theatre, and two large Convention Halls with 12 variously sized meeting rooms. New (2008) Ice Arena – 28,000 sq. ft. convention space; 5,127 seats – hockey; 7,450 seats – concerts. Arena has two star dressing rooms, five locker/dressing rooms; theater has two chorus rooms, four dressing rooms.
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62 Facilities SuperBook 2009The Midwest
ERVIN J. NUTTERCENTERat Wright State UniversitySuite 4303640 Colonel Glenn HighwayDayton, OH 45435-0001(937) 775-3498; Fax: (937) 775-2060www.nuttercenter.comExecutive Director: John Siehl, CFE
“Ohio’s premier spot for sports,concerts, and family events.”
Snapshot: This multipurpose entertain-ment and sports complex features1,000 – 12,000 seats. The venue openedin 1990 and has been renovated toallow hockey to be played and addedreinforced steel rigging along with newmotorized lower level seating, motor-ized center arena scoreboard, renovatedluxury suites and new-look concessionstands.Capacities: Basketball: 10,400;Hockey: 9,900; End-Stage Seating:11,500; Professional Wrestling/ In “TheRound” Seating: 11,500; Extreme
(Motorcross): 9,500.Staging: Stage right 60’ W x 40’ D x4’-7’ H; 2-12’x 24’ sound wings; Stageramping: ADA approved—floor tostage; Riser stock: Variable = 12” – 32”in height.Backstage Areas: Production Office:upstage left, floor level; DressingRooms: Two Star Dressing Rooms—upstage left, floor level; Four TeamDressing Rooms- upstage left.Sound: Center Cluster Unit.Lighting: 4 Lycain 1290 XLT, 2K.Food & Beverage: Ovations is theonsite concession and catering service; 8Concession stands (including the floorportable: limited menu); 2 Hot DogNation stands; 2 Black AngusHamburger stands; 1 Pizziola Pizzastand ; 1: Houssong’s Mexican Cantina;1 City BBQ; 1 Full Service Bar; 2Dippin’ Dots stands.Audience Amenities: Padded Seatingin first six rows; Video board in middleof the arena; Guest service booth.Parking: 4,238 spaces.Marketing: Marketing Departmentand a Group Sales Department.Demographics: 1.2 million people inthe Dayton area and the Greater MiamiValley.See ad on Page 47
OHIO
RUSHMORE PLAZACIVIC CENTER444 Mt. Rushmore Rd. N.Rapid City, SD 57701(605) 394-4115 or (800)-GOTMINEFax: (605) 394-4119www.gotmine.comSales and Marketing Manager:Steve Montgomery
The Center of It AllSnapshot: Rushmore Plaza CivicCenter is South Dakota’s premier full-service performance, exhibition, con-vention and event complex. Sinceopening its doors in 1977, entertain-ment promoters, professional sportsteams and business executives have alldiscovered that the Civic Center canmeet their needs with professional serv-ice and competitive pricing. TheComplex features a 10,000-seat Arena,1,752-seat Fine Arts Theatre, and 2large Convention Halls with 12 varioussized Meeting Rooms from 2,000 to 20.A new 6,500-seat Ice Arena was addedin Nov. 2008.
Exhibition Space: 180,000 sq. ft.Capacities: Arena—concerts and otherentertainment: 10,000; Sports eventsseating: 5,700-8,500; half-house settingwith seating up to 5,700 (Arena fea-tures 34,500 sq. ft. of uninterruptedspace); The Rushmore Plaza CivicCenter’s Fine Arts Theatre seats up to 1,752.Backstage Areas: Arena has 2 stardressing rooms on the 2nd level and 5locker/dressing rooms on the mainfloor; Fine Arts Theatre has 2 chorusrooms and 4 individual dressing rooms.Food & Beverage: 9 concession stands,club restaurant, and Food Court, multi-ple portable stands.Audience Amenities: Club Seating,Suites, Large Daktronics Video ScreensParking: 4,000 Free Spaces.Demographics: 250,000 in ADI.See ad on page 51
Midwest Hospitality at its Best!Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,the Swiftel Center is one of SouthDakota’s premier event centers formeetings and entertainment. With a30,000-square-foot Arena, state of theart Daktronics Banquet Rooms,Concourse, County Rooms, ConferenceRooms and In-House Catering service;the Swiftel Center can plan any eventthat you can imagine. Swiftel Centerfeatures a dedicated staff to make anyevent successful from conception toreality and provide superior service witha friendly smile.Seating Capacities: Basketball – 4,300;End-stage Concert (reserved) – 5,400;End stage Concert (festival) – 7,000.Exhibition Space: 30,000 sq. ft.Portable Staging: 40’ x 60’ x 4-6’ stage;(24) ME-500 supports, 48”-78”; (63)
4’x8’ decks, reversible tech; (12) 4’x8’decks, ground pepper carpet/ tech stage;(15) 8’ guardrails; (3) 4’ guardrails; (15)8’x48”-78” black skirting; (3) 4”x48”-78” black skirting; (8) 4’x8’x 18”-24”supports; (1) 21’x21’ dance floor.Sound: BOSE Quality Systems pow-ered by Crown Amplification.Lighting: Ruud Lights, (120) 400 WattMetal Halide; manually controlled.Backstage Areas: (4) Locker rooms;(2) Dressing room bathroom; (3) meet-ing Rooms.Food & Beverage: 2 Event level con-cession stands; full catering availableon-site.Marketing: full-service marketingdepartment.Demographics: The Swiftel Centerserves the tri-state region of SouthDakota, Minnesota and Iowa.See ad on page 53
SOUTH DAKOTA
ALERUS CENTER1200 South 42nd StreetGrand Forks, ND 58201(701) 792-1200; Fax: (701) 746-6511www.aleruscenter.comDirector of Administration: Vione Jordheim
Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,Alerus Center, built in 2001, is theregion’s premier, full service entertain-ment and event center and features both an arena and a conventioncenter. The Alerus Center Arena wasdesigned to serve as a multi-purpose,versatile facility capable of quick conversions while maintaining theintegrity of the “entertainment experi-ence”. Seating Capacities: Total –21,389; Arena Set End Stage: 11,029;Round: 12, 914; Half-House: 8,245;Standard Theater: 2,619.Staging: The stage right portable stageallows a maximum stage of 64’W x52’D x 4’ to 6’ H. Accessories includean accessible ramp, stairs, guardrails,and skirting. The standard mix stage isa 12’W x 24’D platform with heights
ranging from 1’ to 3’.Backstage Areas: 8 locker rooms;private offices, meeting rooms and startdressing rooms are available.Sound System: custom Bose system,powered by Crown amplification, andincludes corded microphones, wirelessmicrophones, CD and cassette players,mixing boards, and a variety of otheraudio-visual equipment.Lighting: mix of metal halide andquartz fixtures with a Douglas pro-grammable controller; full black-outcapabilities via an extensive half-housecurtaining system.Food & Beverage: 8 fixed concessionstands, 7 various portable stands,20 beer domes and 6 portable liquorstands; the Alerus Center also providesexclusive on-site catering service.Parking: 3,388 on-site spaces.Marketing: full in-house marketingdepartment.Demographics: more than one millionpeople within 2-hour driving radius.See ad on page 40
NORTH DAKOTA
Midwest v1 1/13/09 8:26 AM Page 62
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The Sanford Center1111 Event Center Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601(218) 441-4000; Fax: (218) 441-4099thesanfordcenter.netExecutive Director: Roger Swanson
Located on beautiful Lake Bemidji, managed by VenuWorks, The Sanford Center is northern Minnesota’s premier venue for sporting events, concerts and family shows, and offers high-tech meeting and ballroom space for conventions and conferences. Seating: 4,000 hockey, 5,500 for end-stage concerts. Exhibition space: 10,000-sq.-ft. ballroom (divisible three ways), 24,000-sq.-ft. arena/tradeshow floor; four breakout meeting rooms, pre/post reception area. Industry standard portable arena concert staging with risers. Two star dressing rooms, green room, meeting room, four locker rooms, produc-tion office. Twenty-five suites, 200+ club seats, state-of-the-art press box; in-house marketing department; 200,000+ residents within 75-mile radius of Bemidji.
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Swiftel Center824 32nd Avenue, Brookings, SD 57006(605) 692-7539; Fax: (605) 697-6393swiftelcenter.comExecutive Director: Tom RichterTreat yourself to Midwest Hospitality at its bestA multi-purpose facility: configurations range from 4,300 basketball, 5,600 end-stage concert (reserved), 7,000 end-stage concert (festival). 15,000 sq. ft. of banquet space, divisible into four rooms. Six dressing rooms. Full-service in-house catering and concessions. StageRight stage – 40 ft.-by-60 ft., adjustable height from 4 ft. to 6 ft. House sound system is a BOSE Quality System, center-hung powered by Crown Amplification throughout the facility. Full rigging grid and Daktronics Galaxy Message Center. In-house marketing department is full-service agency, specializing in creating customized marketing campaigns for events. The Center serves the tri-state region – South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa.
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Topeka Performing Arts Center214 SE 8th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603(785) 234-2787; Fax: (785) 234-2307tpactix.orgMichael SilvaEntertaining, Enriching & Educating through the ArtsState-of-the-art facility accommodates all events and functions – theater, dance, musical concerts as well as meetings, banquets and special events. Seating capac-ity – 2,546; main floor seats 1,168. TPAC also has a 2,000-sq.-ft. black box theater that seats 120. Exhibition space: 6,500-sq.-ft., carpeted banquet facility, as well as a 1,000-sq.-ft. foyer. Both areas can and have been used as exhibition space. Backstage areas: 1,975-sq.-ft. dance studio; 800-sq.-ft. green room; a 1,260-sq.-ft. room and two 600-sq.-ft. rooms available. Market – Topeka MSA (five counties) – 233,870; in-house marketing department.
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Wright State University’s Nutter Center3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435(937) 775-3498; Fax: (937) 775-2060nuttercenter.comExecutive Director: Jim Brown, CFE
Southwest Ohio’s premier sports and entertainment complex. Market population: 1.7 million; within a one-day drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population; 20,000+ college students in area. Capacities: 11,500 – in-the-round/end-stage; 2,000-7,500 – half-house; 9,500 – basketball. 70-ft. curtain and truss system. Total available flat space: 85,000 sq. ft. (main arena floor – 28,000 sq. ft.). Eight dressing rooms and production room. StageRight stage – 32 in.-by-8 ft. decks; 60 ft.-by-40 ft. stage with 12 ft.-by-24 ft. wings; adjustable height from 48 in. to 84 in. Ovations is the exclusive F&B provider; seven permanent stands.
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U.S. Cellular Center 370 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401(319) 398-5211; (319) 731-4529; Fax: (319) 362-2102uscellularcenter.com Executive Director: Sharon Cummins
The VenuWorks-managed U.S. Cellular Center reopened in spring of 2013 after undergoing extensive renovations including additional seating capacity, new backstage area and rigging grid. Reserved seating – 7,700; general admission festival – 9,000. Bud Light VIP Lounge, VIP Box Seating, Club Seating. Over 57 LCD and LED signs throughout the venue. Nestled in the highly populated corridor of Eastern Iowa, the U.S. Cellular Center draws event attend-ees from a population base of more than 1,500,000 people. The center of this population group is within a 60-mile radius, or a 45-minute drive from downtown Cedar Rapids.
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MIDwest
United Wireless Arena4100 Comanche Street, P.O. Box 1516Dodge City, KS 67801(620) 371-7390; Fax: (620) 371-7393Executive Director: Ralph Nall
State-of-the-art, $40.3 million arena opened in 2011 featuring a U-shaped seating bowl, 4,000 fixed seats, 5,200+ for concerts and other events (half-house: 1,800 with curtaining system). 12 suites plus 12 Club Seating sections; in-suite catering available; VIP level includes a walk-out balcony, tables and seating, large plasma TVs, lounge furniture and fully stocked and serviced bar. Backstage areas: four team locker rooms, two green rooms. Arena floor: 20,000-sq.-ft. exhibition/conference space; 6,700 sq. ft. in attached Magouirk Conference Center. Kansas has a popula-tion of three million; venue also draws from Oklahoma and Colorado markets. In-house marketing staff.
ASU Gammage Wells Fargo Arena600 East Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ 85281(480) 965-5062asu.edu/tour/tempe/wfa.htmlDirector of Operations: Terri Cranmer
Located on Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus, Wells Fargo Arena is home to a variety of Sun Devil sporting events as well as concerts and shows, and is one of the nation’s top collegiate arenas. The 14,000-seat basketball arena serves the Phoenix Valley, with a population of three million. It offers more than 8,000 parking spaces and is located two blocks from two light rail stations, and two blocks from a bus transportation center. Wells Fargo Arena recently added a multimillion-dollar center-court hung video scoreboard, along with four 8 ft.-by-12 ft. video screens. The venue also features an in-house marketing department.
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Grand Canyon University Arena3300 West Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017(602) 639-8099; Fax: (877) 532-3962gcuarena.comSr. VP of Campus Development & Arena Manager: Bob MachenEntertainment with a PurposeNewly opened Grand Canyon University Arena seats 5,500 seats for concerts, 4,600 for basketball; wall-to-wall curtaining system makes half-house configuration very intimate. Four star dressing rooms with bathrooms; four large locker rooms; green room located adjacent to dressing rooms; additional room on concourse level for crew meals; additional space on the concourse level backstage for VIP parties, meet & greets, etc. In-house mar-keting department. Phoenix MSA (4.2 million) as well as 4,300 students on campus. Four concession stands concourse level, one in lobby; catering by Sodexo.
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Frank Erwin Center1701 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701(512) 471-7744; Fax: (512) 471-9652uterwincenter.comExecutive Senior Associate Athletics Director: John GrahamAssociate Director: Jimmy EarlAn Austin Classic Since 1977The Frank Erwin Center, a multipurpose facility located on The University of Texas at Austin campus, hosts a variety of events including concerts, theatrical performances, family shows and sporting events. Features versatile arena setups from 9,000 to 16,000+, versatile the-ater setups from 5,500 to 7,200, basketball setup for 16,000. 110 4 ft.-by-8 ft. stage decks, and 55 bases. Four large dressing rooms; two office-size dressing areas; four star dressing rooms; four multipurpose rooms; 28 luxury suites. Surrounded by nearly one million Austin-area residents; many are highly educated with discretionary income.
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Broadmoor World Arena3185 Venetucci Boulevard Colorado Springs, CO 80906-4020(719) 477-2100; Fax: (719) 477-2199www.worldarena.comGeneral Manager: Dot Lischick
The Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs is the premier sports and entertainment venue in the Pikes Peak region. The 7,343-fixed-seat, multi-purpose arena has hosted hundreds of events, including Cirque Du Soleil, Disney On Ice, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Professional Bull Riders, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Tour of Gymnastics Champions and The Original Harlem Globetrotters. Other notable headliners include Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Jeff Dunham and Elton John. The arena also features over 19,500 ft. of floor space, enough to contain an additional 2,000 seats on the floor, as well as the elegant Penrose Club and Wigand Room.
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83Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
the WeSt / COLORADO
3185 Venetucci Boulevard Colorado Springs, CO 80906-4020 (719) 477-2100worldarena.com
The Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs will enter into its 16th season as the premier sports and entertain-
ment venue in the Pikes Peak region. The multipurpose arena plays host to a diverse variety of specialty family shows, concerts, comedy and sporting events, including Cirque Du Soleil, Disney On Ice, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Professional Bull Riders, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Tour of Gymnastics Champions and The Original Harlem Globetrot-ters. Notable headliners include Carrie Underwood, Alan Jack-son, Jeff Dunham and Elton John.
The Colorado College Tigers Hockey team claims the Broad-moor World Arena as its home ice. The adjoining World Arena Ice hall – a U.S. Olympic Training Site – serves at the home of The Broadmoor Skating Club. Between The Broadmoor World Arena and The World Arena Ice hall, there are sheets of ice, two Olympic-sized and one NHL-sized, which make the perfect location for hockey and figure skating functions. The arena has 7,343 fixed seats and over 19,500 sq. ft. of floor space, enough to contain an additional 2,000 seats on the floor.
The Broadmoor World Arena is home to the elegant Penrose Club, which was established in the tradition of the legendary Spencer Penrose, founder of the world-class Broadmoor Hotel. Members of the Penrose Club enjoy the best seats in the house, the finest dining and exquisite service in an elegant atmosphere. The Wigand Room is another feature of the arena, set on the top floor in open air while overlooking the arena floor.
The Broadmoor World Arena recently announced a multi-year agreement with Anschutz Entertainment Group to bring top entertainment and sporting events to Colorado Springs. This includes a rare preseason game on Oct. 2, 2014 featuring the Colorado Avalanche vs. the recent Stanley Cup Winners, the LA Kings.
World-class Venue. World-class Experience. World-class Value. Partner with The Broadmoor World Arena on your next event. Contact Dot Lischick, General Manager, at [email protected].
Broadmoor World Arena
Lloyd Noble Center 2900 South Jenkins Avenue, Norman, OK 73019 (405) 325-4666; Fax: (405) 325-4583 lloydnoblecenter.comDirector of Events: Loida Haffener-Salmond
Multipurpose facility serving University of Oklahoma and surrounding community, Lloyd Noble Center is 20 minutes from downtown Oklahoma City, with one million+ within an 80-mile radius. Capacities (including floor seating): in-the-round – 11,205; full arena – 8,519; expanded theater – 4,516; theater – 2,848. Six locker rooms; 850-sq.-ft. catering/media room; 1,140-sq.-ft. Media Work Room. House stage – 40 ft.-by-60 ft.-by-40 in. Stage area ranges from 48 sq. ft. to 2,400 sq. ft., made up of 8 ft.-by-4 ft. sections whose configuration can be customized for each performance. 12 fixed concession stands oper-ated by OU concessions. State-of-the-art retractable center-hung scoreboard and sound system features four high-definition video boards and four video boards.
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Laredo Energy Arena 6700 Arena Boulevard, Laredo, TX 78041 (956) 791-9192; Fax: (956) 523-7777learena.com General Manager: Xavier Villalon
The Laredo Energy Arena is a state-of-the-art, 178,000-sq.-ft. facility with a 10,000-seat capacity. Now in its 11th year of operation, it offers a diverse mixture of world-class entertainment for the region of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico. There are approxi-mately 320 ft. of in-house pipe and drape. Brand-new house curtain that is 120 ft. wide and 50 ft. tall. StageRight staging system; maximum of 72 ft. by 40 ft. and between 4 ft.-6 ft. high. The Laredo Energy Arena is equipped with 3 large team locker rooms with restrooms and showers, 1 Home Team Locker room with adjacent Training and Equipment Manager Rooms, 4 dress rooms, 1 green room and 1 show office.
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Toyota Center7016 West Grandridge Boulevard, Kennewick, WA 99336(509) 737-3700; Fax: (509) 735-9431yourtoyotacenter.com Executive Director: Corey Pearson
Formerly known as the Tri-Cities Coliseum, this 7,500-seat multi-purpose facility annu-ally hosts 180+ concert, sporting and other events. Seating features: three full sections with padded Broadway seating. 11 Executive Suites; full lounge facility upstairs. Eight concession stands. Complex includes The Three Rivers Convention Center with 75,000 sq. ft. of meeting/exhibit space, 13 spacious meeting rooms, 21,600-sq.-ft. Great Hall (accommodates 2,100), 14,000-sq.-ft. pre-function space. Tri-Cities MSA is fourth larg-est in the state with a population of 248,400. Marketing personnel assist with local media; Insider Data Base (15,000+) for event announcements; busy highway marquee; third-party advertising opportunities.
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Stockton Arena248 West Fremont Street, Stockton, CA 95203 (209) 373-1400stocktonlive.com Director of Booking: Jim Johnson
Built in 2005, the Stockton Arena, located in the California Central Valley between Sacramento and Fresno, defined the city’s downtown waterfront redevelopment program. Hosting concerts, family shows and ECHL hockey, the arena offers 8,600–12,000 seats, based on configuration; 24 Luxury Suites; the Record Press Club Level with 344 Club Seats; and four dressing rooms and four locker rooms. Features include full rigging and stage equipment, four-sided Daktronics video display and scoreboard, a distributed house sound system, easy load-in and load-out, and an NHL regulation ice sheet (85 ft. by 200 ft.). Supported by a computerized ticketing system. Provides email and social media support, as well as annual discounts with media partners on top of agency rate.
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84 FACiLitieS & event MAnAgeMent 2014 SupeRbOOk
7016 W. Grandridge Boulevard Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 737-3700; Fax: (509) 735-9431yourtoyotacenter.com threeriversconventioncenter.com
Three Rivers is the confluence of everything that makes for great events, from the versatility of the Toyota Center to the distinctive Three Rivers Convention Center
with our dedicated staff serving you all along the way. Centrally located between Seattle, Portland, Spokane and Boise in the Tri-Cities community of 250,000, Three Rivers is surrounded by world-class wine regions, top-rated golf, miles of riverfront parks and trails, and abundant dining, shopping and accommodation options.
tOyOtA CenteRComfortably seating 2,100 to 7,200 in multiple configurations ideal for concerts, comedy, Broadway, sports, tradeshows, and meetings. The facilities concourse provides access to concessions and amenities, with private suites providing exclusive viewing for VIP guests. A sepa-rate banquet room accommodates groups up to 250 and features a private entrance and full-service bar.
thRee RiveRS COnventiOn CenteRThe 75,000-sq. ft. convention center is ideal for meetings, tradeshows, and conventions. The great hall provides 21,600 sq. ft. and is easily transformed into a ballroom accommodating 2,000 or subdivided into smaller spaces. The convention center also features additional meeting rooms, a soaring glass foyer, private boardroom, and Cyber Café. A new attached SpringHill Suites by Marriott will open December 2014.
The Three Rivers Campus is managed by VenuWorks. VenuWorks provides full management services for arenas, theaters, and convention centers to more than 30 venues across the country.
FOR YOUR NEXT CONVENTION OR MEETING, LOOK TO THE CITY
THAT IS THE NBA’S NEXT JEWEL IN THE CROWN.
WHERE A STREAMLINED AIRPORT AND LACK OF TRAFFIC
MEAN YOU’RE IN FAST. AND WITH THE BEST
RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE JUST A FEW MINUTES’ WALK
FROM YOUR HOTEL, YOU’RE OUT EVEN FASTER.
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United Supermarkets Arena1701 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409-2200(806) 742-7362; Fax: (806) 742-7557unitedsupermarketsarena.comAssociate Director: Cindy Harper The Entertainment Showcase of West TexasState-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, Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle.
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US Airways Center201 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004(602) 379-2000; Fax: (602) 379-2002USAirwaysCenter.comDirector, Event Booking: Nick VaerewyckArizona’s Premier VenueAccommodating up to 18,000 guests, US Airways Center is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers and is one of the city’s most dramatic multi-use spaces. US Airways Center offers state-of-the-art audio/visual, innova-tive dining, and front door access to the Valley’s METRO light rail. Features a 900-ft. LED ribbon, a center-hung scoreboard with HDTV screens, and new sound system. Thirteen separate dressing rooms, catering lounge, two event-level club spaces, 87 Luxury suites and six party suites, 16 concessions stands operated by Levy Restaurants and 18 specialty stands. Offers a 900-space attached garage; 1,500-space garage next door.
arizona
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Cullen Performance hall154 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204(832) 842-3100; Fax: (713) 743-9495entertainhouston.comDirector of Booking & Sales: Beckye Levin Where Entertainment Lives on the University of Houston CampusCullen Performance Hall is a 1,612-seat theater located in the center of the University of Houston campus, just two miles from downtown Houston. Cullen opened in 1950 and renovations were made in the late 1980s. Since its opening, Cullen has held major touring concerts, symphonies and dance performances and competitions. The proscenium opening is 36 ft. wide by 27 ft. high. Total stage depth: 45 ft. 9 in. Stage lighting is controlled by an ETC Ion 2000 console. Four dressing rooms (each accommodating six to eight people), two dressing rooms with accommodations for 25-30 people, green room accommodating up to 80 people. Houston has an ethnically diverse population of 5.9 million.
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Facilities&Event Management TM
Booking Guide For Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Special Event Planners & Venue Managers
the WeSt / ARizOnA
201 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ (602) 379-2000usairwayscenter.com
From 30 guests to 18,000, US Airways Center sets the stage for impressive events. This remarkable facility is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the AFL’s Arizona
Rattlers, and is one of the city’s most dramatic multi-use spaces. Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, US Airways Center offers state-of-the-art audio/visual, innovative dining, and front door access to the Valley’s METRO light rail. Recent and upcoming shows include James Taylor, Paul Mc-Cartney, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Lady Gaga, WWE and Marvel Universe LIVE!.
The Center opened in 1992, and in its first full year of operation received every award a new venue of its kind was afforded, including Best New Concert Venue by Performance Magazine and Best NBA Facility by those who know best, the players themselves. US Airways Center completed a major $70 million expansion and improvement project in 2004. Gone is the block exterior, replaced with soaring glass walls. The outdoor ticket office is now enclosed inside the new 14,000-sq.-ft. Casino Arizona Pavilion, serving as a grand entrance highlighted by a 12 ft.-by-20 ft. video wall. The facility features a new Courtside Club, Blue Moon Club and Verve Energy Lounge nightclub, and the Greenhouse, a 7,000-sq.-ft. family-friendly active home to the Phoenix Suns Gorilla. At street level the US Airways Center now offers a Carl’s Jr., an expanded Team Shop and the Blue Moon Club. On the east side of the building is the Coors Light Cold Zone, a flexible outdoor entertainment venue covered by a football field-length canopy. The Coors Light Cold Zone features state-of-the-art sound and video projection systems as well as the stylish bar area and facilities that double as a television studio for Phoenix Suns telecasts and a performance stage for music events. There are 16 concessions stands, operated by Levy Restaurants, serving the lower and upper concourse, in addition to 18 specialty stands. Guests in the suite levels can choose from a variety of menu items for in-suite catering.
Tech features include a 900-ft. LED ribbon, a center-hung scoreboard with HDTV screens and a new sound system. Backstage, performers have at their disposal 13 separate dressing rooms/offices, 12 of which include private shower/restroom facilities. In addition, a separate catering lounge and two event-level club spaces are available. There are 87 Luxury suites and six party suites on two mid-level concourses.
A Ticketmaster building, the US Airways Center offers patrons a 900-space attached garage, and a 1,500-space garage next door. Promoters can partner with a full service, in-house marketing staff.
Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre 189 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 1M4(416) 325-4144; Fax: (416) 314-3583heritagetrust.on.ca/ewgManager of Bookings and Events: Kevin Harris
Originally built in 1913 for Vaudeville and silent films, this multi-usecomplex contains two distinct and separate theaters, one sitting atop theother, 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 dressings 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+.
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Air Canada Centre40 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada(416) 815-5500theaircanadacentre.comVice President, Live Entertainment: Wayne Zronik
Since its introduction in 1999, Air Canada Centre has hosted over 36 million fans at 2,500 events, and is consistently ranked among the top sport and music venue in the North America and the world. The venue is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club (NHL), Toronto Raptors basketball club (NBA) and the Toronto Rock Lacrosse team (NLL). Capacities: basketball: 18,639; hockey/lacrosse: 17,372; theater: 5,996; concert bowl: 8,607; 180° mode: 13,412; center stage: 18,959. Five restaurants and bars; 13,000 parking spaces within walking distance; e-mail list of 35,000 Live Insiders. One quarter of Canada’s popula-tion live within a 100-mile radius of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which features a broad ethnic diversity.
ontario
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hershey Centre5500 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada(905) 502-9100; Fax: (905) 615-3299hersheycentre.comGeneral Manager: Mike Hamilton
The Hershey Complex was built in 1998 with three community ice rinks, a main event arena, and a full recreational facility. It has since served over 3.5 million guests. Capacities: 6,260 (boxing); 3,832 (end stage concert); 6,493 (360° concert); 5,557 (ice event). StageRight Stage up to 40 ft. by 60 ft. between 4 in. and 6 in. high. Backstage areas include five regu-lar size dressing rooms (15 ft. by 30 ft.), one larger OHL dressing room and four small dress-ing rooms. Special features include a Daktronics Videoboard, premium club seats and 2,000 free, non-metered parking spaces. Mississauga has over 700,000 residents (sixth-largest city in Canada) and is an ethnic melting pot. A 200,000-sq.-ft. sports complex expansion was completed in 2007.
ontario
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mTS Centre300 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 5S4(204) 987-7825; Fax: (204) 926-5555mtscentre.ca Senior Vice President Venues & Entertainment: Kevin Donnelly
The geographic centre of North America, Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, a province of 1.1 million+. The MTS Centre 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’ X 48’ X 6’ with additional stage pieces and railings available upon request), standard arena house lighting as well as six Xenon 2K supertroopers. Catering by Centerplate, onsite restaurant.
manitoBa
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Canadian Tire Centre1000 Palladium Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2V 1A5(613) 599-0140; Fax: (613) 599-9283canadiantirecentre.comVice President | Executive Director: Tom Conroy
Canadian Tire Centre is Ottawa’s premier sports and entertainment venue. Located 15 minutes west of downtown Ottawa, the 19,153-seat venue is home to the National Hockey League Ottawa Senators and has played host to some of the world’s most popular perform-ers including Paul McCartney, Black Sabbath, Cher, Eagles, KISS, Oprah, Barbara Streisand, Fleetwood Mac and the best in family entertainment. Capacities: Hockey – 19,153; 360° concert – 17,855; 270° concert – 13,226; 180° concert – 12,000; theater setup – 2,500 to 7,140. State-of-the-art audio-video and full-service hospitality packages available. 6,500 parking spaces onsite. Serves an Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec and Upstate New York population of 1.6 million.
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90 Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
189 Yonge Street Toronto, ON (416) 325-4144heritagetrust.on.ca/ewg
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 vaudeville-era 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 Win-ter 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.
THE ELGIN AND WINTER GARDEN THEATrE CENTRE
Musicals | DramasConcerts | Film Premières
Town Halls | Product Launches
CAnADA / OntARiO
91Facilities & event ManageMent 2014 superbook
CAnADA / OntARiO
40 Bay Street, Toronto, ON (416) 815-5500 theaircanadacentre.com
Top rated among the top sports and music venues in the North America and the world, Air Canada Centre has
hosted over 36 million fans at 2,500 events, including concerts, family shows and festivals. The Centre is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club (NHL), Toronto Raptors basketball club (NBA) and the Toronto Rock Lacrosse team (NLL). The metropolis is a de rigueur routing stop in Canada, boasting five million potential ticket buyers. More than 90 different ethnic groups are represented in Toronto, speaking over 80 languages and hailing from 170 countries. Recent headliners at the arena include Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Billy Joel, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. The Air Canada Centre accommodates 8,607 in a concert bowl, 18,639 for basketball, 17,372 for hockey/lacrosse, 5,996 in theater mode, 13,412 in 180° mode and 18,959 center stage. The venue features a StageRight system with 34 4 ft.-by-6 ft. adjustable height supports, 95 4 ft.-by-8 ft. reversible decks, 15 8-ft. stage railings, six 4-ft. stage railings and three sets of adjustable stage steps with railings. Backstage areas include dressing rooms, catering and media rooms.The Air Canada Centre has two levels of seating in raked rows separated by a ring of private suites. There are five restaurants and bars: The Molson Brew House, The Platinum Club Restaurant, Air Canada Club Restaurant, Hot Stove Club and the Crown Lounge. Audiovisual features include a JBL/Klipsch audio system (all public address speaker management, bowl and back of house are powered by 52 Crown MA and CTS amplifiers – HiQnet Network Protocol) and a Mitsubishi 6mm center-hung LED videoboard.An event marketing team strategically and cost-effectively selects and places local and national media. Internal as-sets include digital signage, Websites, HD TV stations and outdoor videoboards. Air Canada Centre owns an e-mail list of 35,000 Live Insiders that receive announcements, pre-sale and contest information to on a weekly basis. Patrons have more than 13,000 parking spaces available within walking distance.
Air Canada Centre
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Coliseo De Puerto rico500 Arterial B Street, Hato Rey, PR 00918(787) 777-0800; (877) coliseo (265-4736)Fax: (787) 777-0809coliseodepuertorico.comGeneral Manager: Wesley Elizabeth Cullen
Opened in 2005, the Coliseo is the premier stage in the Caribbean. Capacities: concerts end-stage 240° – 15,694; end-stage 180° – 14,730; boxing or wrestling – 18,163; basketball – 17,024; hockey ice rink, size 200 ft. by 85 ft. – 15,635; half-house – 10,959; theater style – 3,093; 26 Corporate Suites, 1,000 club seats, two party suites, VIP Lounge with private elevator. StageRight 88 ft. by 48 ft. max, adjustable from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in 2-in. increments; four stairs units; 80 ft. StageRight barricade; 16 food concessions stands plus six onsite concessions restaurants and five bar concessions.
PUerto rico
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.
Youchecked us out…
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.
10The Coliseo Team is proud of creating great moments and experiences for all our guests.
Bringing Venues to the Meeting & Events MarketSince 1988
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Event ManagementBuyer’sGuideBuyer’s Guide For Public Assembly
The Lone Star State welcomes stars from all musical genres By George Seli
Texas
The Allen Event Center’s full-house concert capacity is over 7,000.
Texas
95Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
Live music is not just a tradition in Austin. From the northwestern town of Lubbock to cities that are over six times as populous, such as Dallas and Houston, Texans
have long enjoyed music that is performed with spontaneity and conviction, whether country, rock, R&B, pop or most any other style. Given the state’s musical legacy, promoters tend to know their Texas markets well. But there are always a few new twists, such as the introduction of the formidable Allen Event Center to the Dallas market in 2009. In addition, two of the state’s longer-running venues were reflagged earlier this year. The iconic Houston Astrodome, where Neil Armstrong celebrated his moonwalk, became Reliant Astrodome in 2000 and is now the NRG Astrodome (part of NRG Park). The stadium was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And in Lubbock, United Spirit Arena, located on the campus of Texas Tech University, became United Supermarkets Arena this spring. Officials announced that United has given $9.45 million to the university to extend its naming rights to the arena for another 10 years.
Massive venues such as NRG Stadium and the Cotton Bowl remind us that “everything’s bigger in Texas,” and even lesser-capacity venues such as the Allen Event Center and the Frank Erwin Center are big on performance, as top promoters note (pages 97 and 100). But let’s not overlook Texas’ small theaters, where much of the state’s creative talent is bred. In February, Texas State University in San Marcos dedicated its newest building, a $40.9 million Performing Arts Center covering 69,122 sq. ft. and including a 397-seat theater and 312-seat recital hall. Funding for the building came in part from a lead gift of $8 million from Dr. Patti Strickel Harrison, a longtime donor to the university.
“These extraordinary venues give students valuable stage experience, provide opportunities for them to work behind the scenes and discover how audiences respond to their work, and help them form their own professional identity,” said Timothy Mottet, dean of Texas State’s College of Fine Arts and Communication. No doubt, some of those talented young performers aspire to reach Texas’ larger stages in the future.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four locker rooms, two star rooms, two flex rooms, two meeting rooms. Loading dock features three bays for trucks and a fourth roll-up door with ramp.
OTHER FEATURES: Four built-in concession stands, two specialty bars around the concourse level, one Premium Level Bar (Jamison Lounge). Twenty-nine premium level suites, 184 Premium Loge Seats and a lounge overlooking the Village of Allen. The Center is surrounded by over 50 restaurants, free parking and multiple family-friendly amenities. Approximately 1,800 parking spaces.
EVENT PROMOTION: In-house marketing team works closely with promoters. Center is a member of the Venue Coalition.
LOCAL MARKET: The Allen Event Center serves North Central Texas, pulling from the entire Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and southern Oklahoma. The median age is 37, and the average household income is $109,846.
Allen Event Centerallenalleneventcenter.com
Opened in 2009, the Allen Event Center is situated in the heart of the vibrant Village of Allen and adjacent to the 228-room Courtyard by Marriott. The multiuse building has hosted a wide variety of events such as concerts, comedy, boxing and rodeos, and is home to the CHL back-to-back champion Allen Americans, PASL soccer Dallas Sidekicks and IFL football Texas Revolution. Allen is located just north of Dallas off of U.S. Highway 75 and is within 30 miles of two major airports, Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) and Dallas Love Field.
CAPACITIES: Full-house concert – 7,038; three-quarter concert – 5,237; half-house concert – 4,090; theater – 2,963; boxing/mixed martial arts – 4,943; hockey – 6,125; football – 6,057; soccer – 6,001.
STAGING: StageRight staging system with a PolyTrac surface. The stage is variable in height between 48 in. and 72 in. in 2 in. increments, and as large as 60 ft. by 48 ft. All decks are 4 ft. by 8 ft.
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Beaumont Civic Centerbeaumontdiscoverbeaumont.com
Conveniently located in Down-town Beaumont near IH-10 between Houston and New Orleans, the Beaumont Civic Center offers flexible floor plans and room configurations to accommodate a wide variety of events. The house services pro-vide qualified, uniformed staff familiar with the facility and event requirements. Complete, high-quality catering and con-cession services are available through arrangements with Treat America Food Services.
97Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
Troy Blakelyexecutive vice president, managing partneragency for the performing arts
Known as the agent for some of the top hard rock acts since the 1970s, Troy Blakely booked an artist at the Allen Event Center for the first time
in October 2011, roughly a couple of years after the venue’s opening. Legendary British heavy metal band Judas Priest took the stage with Blakely himself in the audience. “I had not had an artist in there before and didn’t know the building, so I wanted to go in and see how they did, and it went fantastic. Judas Priest really enjoyed the venue and the crew,” Blakely says. “I’ve got them going back there Nov. 6 this year.” More recently, BOSTON, another classic rock band on APA’s roster, enjoyed a sold-out show at the Allen Events Center with The Doobie Brothers on June 18. “Tom Scholz [BOSTON’s founder and guitarist] couldn’t be more concerned with anything other than the sound of his show, and he was very pleased with [the Allen Center sound],” Blakely relates.
What is your history of booking bands in Texas? Texas has always been a good rock and roll market. I’ve been booking bands in the state since the early ‘70s. Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, Scorpions and Triumph — those were all bands that broke out of Texas. It was their first big market. I also put a lot of shows into the Texxas Jam [1978] when Louis Messina was doing the concert at the Cotton Bowl. [See the interview with Messina, p. 100.]
How would you assess the Allen Event Center as a partner for your shows?It’s is a hidden gem in the Dallas market for me. I think the venue does a fantastic job, and I’m surprised a lot of other [agents] haven’t caught on to it. They worked very well with our marketing department within APA and sold a lot of tickets very quickly on this Boston date. In fact, they kept opening up new areas of the venue, and we sold many tickets [for seats that had] somewhat obstructed views, but people wanted them. And they knew how to sell them.
Did any aspects of the venue’s design stand out for you?One of the great things is that right next door there is a multistory parking facility where patrons park for free, just walk across the courtyard and, boom, they’re in the building. They make it seamless for the ticket buyer. And you always have to think about what it’s like for them, not just the band.
Fair ParkDallasfairpark.org
Fair Park is a 277-acre, national historical land-mark located just two miles east of Downtown Dallas. Hosting 1,200 events annually, Fair Park is home to the Cotton Bowl Stadium, which recently underwent a $25 million club level addition and a concourse redesign.
CAPACITIES: Cotton Bowl Stadium accommo-dates 92,000 for football, 88,000 for international soccer. Other facilities include Gexa Energy Pavilion (20,000), Band Shell (4,000), Fair Park Music Hall (3,400), Automobile Building (6,000) and Centennial Hall (6,000).
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Production offices, dress-ing rooms, etc., are located in each venue.
OTHER FEATURES: Cotton Bowl Stadium offers over 600 seats with club-level access. Fair Park offers 13,000 parking spaces. Guests can access the park through two DART light rail stations at Fair Park.
Event staff including ushers, ticket takers and security are provided for an additional charge.
CAPACITIES: Reserved seating capacity for concerts and performances is 6,500.
STAGING: Staging in all sizes is available.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four dressing rooms (17 ft. by 22 ft.), equipped with mirrors, showers and make-up counters.
OTHER FEATURES: Assistance with lighting, scenery and rigging is available. Onsite equip-ment includes six Xenon Super Troupers®, SICO staging, personnel lift and an electrical forklift with 5,000 lb. capacity. There are 850 parking spaces with limited RV hookups.
EVENT PROMOTION: A full-service marketing team is available to help promote shows and connect to local media representatives. The venue has an updated website, extensive social media engagement and weekly print and radio ads.
LOCAL MARKET: Primarily blue collar, refinery professionals.98 Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
Fair Park’s Cotton Bowl
EVENT PROMOTION: Media include a monthly newsletter, website, social media (Twitter, Face-book, Instagram) and promotional assistance from the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.
LOCAL MARKET: North Texas is home to 6.5 million people. Fair Park attracts visitors of all ages from all 50 states and internationally.
Frank Erwin Centeraustinuterwincenter.com
Since 1977, the Frank Erwin Center has fulfilled its mission of serving the greater Austin area with the most spectacular live entertainment. The multipurpose facility located on The University of Texas at Austin campus hosts a variety of events including concerts, theatrical performances, family shows and sporting events. It also serves as the home court for the Texas men’s and women’s basketball teams.
CAPACITIES: Versatile arena setups from 9,000 to 16,000+; versatile theater setups from 5,500 to 7,200; basketball setup 16,000.
STAGING: 110 4 ft.-by-8 ft. stage decks, and 55 bases. Of those bases, 11 can be set from 32 in. to 48 in. in height, 44 can be set from 48 in. to 60 in. in height.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four large dressing rooms with lockers, restroom and shower facilities that can accommodate 15 to 20 people. Two office-size dressing areas, four star dressing rooms, four multi-purpose rooms — all separated by moveable walls.
OTHER FEATURES: Digital console, audio con-sole, computer-controlled sound system, HD pro-jector and screen, and in-house broadcast cabling. Fifteen permanent concession stands and up to 20 portable locations. Twenty-eight luxury suites. Approximately 350 parking spaces in adjacent University lots as well as neighboring University and State lots and garages.
EVENT PROMOTION: In-house marketing staff that co-promotes or is sole promoter.
LOCAL MARKET: Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, has a population of nearly one million people. Residents are highly educated with discretionary income.
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The Frank Erwin Center, popularly known as “The Drum”
NRG Parkhoustonnrgpark.com
Rebranded from the SMG-managed Reliant Park in March, NRG Park comprises NRG Stadium, NRG Center and NRG Arena — encompassing 350 acres and providing 26,000 parking spaces. It is home to the NFL’s Houston Texans, The Hous-ton Livestock Show and Rodeo, SuperBowl 2017, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Champion-ship South Regionals 2015 and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Final Four 2016.
CAPACITIES: The 71,500-seat NRG Stadium is the only rodeo and NFL indoor/outdoor retractable roof, natural grass stadium that can be configured to utilize 125,000 sq. ft. of space for concerts and other events. NRG Arena has fixed seating in the main arena for 5,800 and about 25,000 sq. ft. of floor space.
100 Facilities & event management 2014 superbook
Louis MessinaFounderthe messina group
George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour visited the Frank Erwin Center on Jan. 10. The date was booked by none other than famed promoter Louis Messina, who also booked Taylor Swift at the Center in May of last year. Messina has quite a history with the venue, which opened in 1977. “There’s a reason why [Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director] John Graham has reserved parking spaces for me, and the sign says ‘The Moses of Rock and Roll’ — that’s how long I’ve been promoting shows there,” Messina quips. Next year, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Eric Church may each play the Frank Erwin Center. “I’m routing all their 2015s right now,” he adds.
How viable do you feel Texas is today for most country acts?Honestly, Texas is one of the weakest country areas in the U.S. unless your name is George or Strait. Houston is a hard country market, Austin is a hard country market. It’s kind of like Nashville: Music is everywhere and it’s free. Houston has the rodeo, Austin has its own rodeo. So you have to be on a top level to really pop Texas. If you play the Erwin Center, that means you made it big.
What has made your partnership with the Frank Erwin Center successful over so many years?John Graham and [Associate Director] Jimmy Earl and the entire staff, they always have the welcome mat out. They’re friends of mine, but I have a lot of friends that manage buildings, and if the building is not up to the standard of a major act we shouldn’t be playing it. But the Erwin Center is a special place. They know how to treat an artist, the artist’s road crew and the promoter. They have great ticketing and marketing departments. Everything is first class. It’s a well-run building.
STAGING: 40 ft.-by-80 ft. StageRight stage available in Arena and Stadium.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: NRG Stadium has 20,000 sq. ft. of marshaling space, locker rooms and five dress-ing rooms. NRG Arena has more than 25,000 sq. ft. of backstage space.
OTHER FEATURES: NRG Stadium has 58 conces-sions, end zone score-board displays, video LED boards, lamp matrix dis-plays, LED fascia displays, game-in-progress score-boards, HD video projec-tion screens and video wall. NRG Arena has lamp matrix display and game-in-progress scoreboards.
United Supermarkets Arenalubbockunitedsupermarketsarena.com
This 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 needs of the South Plains region. Since its opening in 1999, the United Supermarkets Arena has hosted a wide array of events, including record sell-outs for such headline acts as Elton John, KISS, Cher, Aerosmith, Taylor Swift and George Strait.
CAPACITIES: The arena has an in-the-round capacity of 15,290, 180° end stage at 10,026 and 270° end stage at 11,879.
STAGING: 60 ft.-by-40 ft. StageRight decking.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Six dressing rooms,
practice gym, media work room, press conference room, three offices.
OTHER FEATURES: House console Soundcraft Spirit 24 x 4 with Media Matrix DSP control; patch panels are located throughout arena. House lights are Sterner metal halide and Sportlite CFL fixtures, controlled by Watt Stopper architectural lighting system. The Arena also has a 12 instrument Cyberlight System controlled by a High End Road Hog console. Ten fixed conces-sions, one club area; portable concessions available. There are 2,824 onsite parking spaces.
EVENT PROMOTION: Marketing and promotion assistance available.
LOCAL MARKET: The arena is part of Texas Tech University, with a student population of 31,000; Lubbock population is 230,000, with a one-million market draw from West Texas, Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle.
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United Supermarkets Arena
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through those decades reads like a chronicle of the genre itself, from Elvis, Dylan and the Rolling Stones to Van Halen, Journey and AC/DC.
Today’s top-drawing bands have significantly larger options in Central Florida than the 10,000-seat Jenkins Arena, however. Lakeland is located between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4, and in 1996 the Ice Palace opened in Tampa. That venue underwent a $40 million transformation in 2011 and is now known as the Tampa Bay Times Forum, seating over 21,000 for a concert.
Similarly, Orlando has seen the debut of a larger venue that brought competition to the CFE Arena, which opened in 2007 with a seating capacity of 10,000 (an expansion of the UCF Arena, built in 1991 with a capacity of about 5,000). Operated by Global Spectrum, the CFE Arena’s amenities including 16 luxury suites, two loge boxes and club seating with lounge access. Yet it is now the second-largest live entertainment and sports facility in Orlando, after the October 2010
Over the years, long-established entertainment venues will typically receive
competition from newcomers to their market. These facilities may boast larger capacities and thus siphon away touring acts that have (or think they have) the drawing power to match those capacities. As a result, the older venues may need to redefine their niche in the market. It’s a common dynamic, and North and Central Florida have seen several instances among the regions’ many quality arenas and theaters.
When the Lakeland Center opened in 1974 as the Lakeland Civic Center, “we were probably one of the first multi-venue complexes to open in the state, and one of the largest concert venues back in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” remarks Scott Sloman, Assistant Director/Booking, at the Lakeland Center, which houses the Jenkins Arena and Youkey Theatre, as well as exhibit halls and meeting facilities. “And every major act that played Florida came through Lakeland.” Indeed, the list of classic rock concerts at the Lakeland Center
spotlight
FloridaFlorida
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opening of the Amway Center, which boasts a capacity of over 16,000 for an end-stage concert.
This competitive dynamic has also occurred on the theater front. In St. Petersburg, the Mahaffey Theater opened in the spring of 1965 as part of the Bayfront Center entertainment complex. Its first renovation took place from 1987–1988, when it was renamed The Mahaffey Theater for the Performing Arts; the facility was again renamed, as the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, in 2012. During its renovation, the 2,031-seat Mahaffey witnessed the arrival of a larger newcomer to area with the opening of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in 1987. That facility is today known as the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and accommodates an audience of 2,610.
In North Florida, the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center opened back in 1983 at Florida State University in the capital city of Tallahassee, and is now operated by Global Spectrum. The Center offers a 12,500-seat arena. However, major acts touring through North Florida these days cannot overlook a 14,500-capacity
venue that opened in 2003: the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Managed by SMG, the relatively new arena has welcomed numerous top-tier shows, and in October will host its first-ever full Paul McCartney headline concert.
Perhaps the most well known theater in North Florida is Pensacola’s nearly 90-year-old Saenger Theatre. Promoters interested in that venue will note that Southwest Airlines recently launched twice-daily nonstop service between Pensacola International Airport and Nashville, as well as daily nonstop service between the airport and Houston Hobby. Also of note, two of the region’s other international airports recently won Airports Council International awards. Jacksonville International Airport ranked among the top five airports in the Best Airport by Region: North America category as part of the 2013 Airport Service Quality Awards; and Tampa International Airport was awarded third place globally among airports serving 15 million to 25 million passengers, and third place among airports in North America.
Top arenas and theaters in the state’s vibrant north and central regionsBy Anthony Bilden
Morsani Hall at the Straz center
Photo: Nicole Kibert
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OTHER FEATURES: Two full-service restaurants including Jernigan’s, which overlooks the arena bowl, and Magic Grill at street level on the northwest corner of the building. There are 22 permanent stands and numerous other concession options on multiple concourses.
EVENT PROMOTION: Amway Center’s Marketing Department offers a complete range of services and support, including media buying, social media, promotions, graphic design and e-card distribution.
LOCAL MARKET: Orlando’s 2013 total population is 249,835 with a median age of 33.8 years. Orange County’s 2013 total population is 1,199,801 with a median age of 34.1. Orlando also welcomed over 59 million tourists last year.
Amway Centerorlandowww.amwaycenter.com
Opened in October 2010, the Amway Center is home to the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. The LEED Gold-certified facility has hosted milestone sporting events such as the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend, World Championship Boxing and NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championships. The Amway Center had 14 sold-out concerts in 2013 and has brought its audience top acts such as Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Elton John and the Eagles. A technologically superior arena with rooftop bars, best-in-class seating options and more, the Amway Center won the international “2013 Customer Experience Award” from The Stadium Business Awards.
CAPACITIES: End stage 360° – 16,300; end stage 270° – 14,100; end stage 180° – 12,000; half house – 9,100; center stage – 17,000.
STAGING: In-house standard size rolling stage measuring 60 ft. by 40 ft.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Four locker rooms, six star rooms, one green room and a conference room with two production offices
Photo
: Ben Tanner
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Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville EverBank Field Jacksonville Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonvillewww.jaxevents.com
Among the SMG-managed sports and entertainment venues in Jacksonville are the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, EverBank Field and Jacksonville Memorial Arena. The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is a state-of-the-art baseball stadium built in 2003 featuring a classic design with a brick façade, natural grass field and a grass seating area in left field. The field is home to the Jacksonville Suns, an AA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Home of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, EverBank Field is adjacent to St. Johns River in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. EverBank Field is the result of a $135 million renovation project and hosts the annual NCAA University of Florida vs. University of Georgia and Gator Bowl football games. Concerts held in the stadium include the Rolling Stones, U2, Kenny Chesney/Tim McGraw, Billy Graham Crusade, Shania Twain, N’Sync, and the George Strait Music Festival. The annual Monster Jam event at EverBank Field attracts 70,000 (standing room only) fans. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, built in 2003, is the current home to the Jacksonville Sharks AFL Football team, the Jacksonville University Men’s Basketball team, and the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame. Legendary entertainers including Elton John, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, The Eagles, Rod Stewart,
Prince, Aerosmith, Neil Diamond and Van Halen have all performed in the arena. The three venues share 6,604 onsite parking spaces, plus 100 handicap spaces. There is additional parking within walking distance.
CAPACITIES: Baseball Grounds: 11,000. Everbank Field: 76,000 (football), 86,000 (expanded football and concerts). Arena: up to 12,000 (basketball), up to 14,500 (west end concert), 5,500 to 8,000 (half-house concert), 3,000 to 6,500 (theater/concert), up to 13,000 (in-the-round concert).
Jacksonville’s trio of SMG entertainment venues: EverBank Field, Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville (right) and Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (below, right).
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and four party suites (seating for 32 guests) on the Suite level, where guests enjoy the use of a St. Johns Super Suite with seating for up to 100 guests. All food and beverage operations (including concessions and catering) are provided by SAVOR.
EVENT PROMOTION: A full-service marketing staff is available to support events through advertising planning, coordination, group sales programs, email marketing, military outreach and placement for print, radio and television. The staff is also able to support public relations efforts and onsite media coordination.
LOCAL MARKET: Jacksonville’s MSA population is 1.5 million per the 2011 census, making it the 14th most populous city in the United States.
The Lakeland Centerlakelandthelakelandcenter.com
The Lakeland Center is located minutes from Tampa and features a multipurpose arena, two exhibit halls, a 2,300-seat theater and several meeting rooms. With over 100,000 sq. ft. of available space, the venue can accommodate events from 10 to 10,000 persons. The Lakeland Center will undergo a major
STAGING: The Arena’s concert staging by StageRight ranges in height from 4 ft. to 6 ft. 6 in. Staging platforms are built to a variety of sizes in 4 ft.-by-8 ft. sections and, once built, can be rolled into final position.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: The Baseball Grounds has three dressing rooms, a media room, weight room, kitchen and a practice space. The Arena has four star/performer dressing rooms, four locker rooms, two production/promoter offices, and a variety of other spaces for event use.
OTHER FEATURES: The Baseball Grounds features a 112,000-sq.-ft. field, a 13 ft.-by-18 ft., state-of-the-art video screen scoreboard, 12 luxury skyboxes, four party decks, a children’s play area with putting green, and more. At Everbank Field, 55,000 sq. ft. of video boards, the largest of their kind in the world, are being installed. Additional enhancements include field seats featuring all-inclusive food and beverage options. Everbank Field currently offers 46 stationary and 96 portable concession stands managed by Ovations Food Service and Levy Restaurants. The North End Zone will feature an exclusive two-level lounge area with access to spa-type wading pools, cabana-style seating, and all-inclusive food and beverage. The Arena boasts 28 luxury suites (seating 16 guests each)
The Lakeland Center
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renovation in 2017 including significant structural improvements to Jenkins Arena and Youkey Theatre. This renovation will refresh the Jenkins Arena and provide improvements to the guest experience while enhancing the event opportunities available to planners and promoters.
CAPACITIES: The Lakeland Center accommodates hundreds of events each year including concerts, sporting events, tradeshows, banquets, competitions and more. The facility includes a multi-purpose arena, two exhibit halls, a 2,300-seat theater and several meeting rooms.
STAGING: The Youkey Theatre stage is 55 feet wide by 40 ft. deep and features a full counterweight system and rigging capacities of one ton per point. Jenkins Arena features a 60 ft.-by-40 ft. SECO concert stage with PA wings and concert barricades. Jenkins Arena is equipped with six Gladiator 3 spotlights.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Arena and theater both feature multiple dressing rooms, team rooms, talent rooms and facilities.
OTHER FEATURES: Youkey Theatre includes a full production audio package, in-house lighting up to 120K plus additional theater-style lighting. Youkey Theatre also features a Meyer M’elodie line array system with 16 Meyer sound UM-1 stage monitors. Complete Shure microphone catalog is available. Ovations Food Services is the official food and beverage partner of The Lakeland Center. Several concession areas are available within the Jenkins Arena, Youkey Theatre and Exhibit Hall Conference area. The Lakeland Center features seven permanent concession facilities along with multiple mobile vending areas. Five hundred parking spaces are available and The Lakeland Center lots are available for festival and ride and drive rentals.
EVENT PROMOTION: The Lakeland Center’s marketing team provides award winning marketing
Scott Slomanassistant Director/bookingthe lakeland centerlakeland, Fl
Scott Sloman has been with the Lakeland Center for 13 years. During that era, the center’s Jenkins Arena has been used primarily for sporting events as well as top comedians such as Jeff Dunham and Gabriel Iglesias. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, the 10,000-capacity arena was “a bastion of rock and roll for Central Florida,” Sloman remarks, whereas these days classic rock acts mainly play the 2,296-seat Youkey Theatre.
What kinds of acts are you most successful in attracting?The legends of country do well at our venue. We also do a series called Classic Albums Live, which is a group out of Canada; Manheim Steamroller, who are coming back after a few years for the Christmas season; and Last Comic Standing. The staple of our entertainment season is our Broadway series and our entertainment series: five Broadway shows a
year (Guys and Dolls, Flashdance, Million Dollar Quartet, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Sister Act), five touring national productions, and seven adult contemporary-style shows each year, and that forms the basis of our subscription series. Ours is a single-night market; we’re not really a week market.
Is there any recent improvement to the facility you would highlight?We added a Meyer sound system a few years ago. We feel confident that for most entertainment functions we can meet the sound specs in house, as opposed to having to go outside for equipment.
Is the local area’s senior population a significant demographic? It has its pluses and minuses; it makes us prime for the adult contemporary market. Our entertainment series includes acts like Rich Little, Michael Feinstein and Under the Streetlamp. The challenge that we have is then convincing promoters that we have that younger demographic and can still bring in the younger acts of today. Theresa Caputo did very well for us, as did Gabriel Iglesias. Two shows with Bill Cosby last season did well, and his demographic is much broader now with the resurgence of his Comedy Central special, and our market responded.
STAGING: Proscenium width adjustable from 44 ft. to 60 ft.; proscenium height fixed at 27 ft. 3 in.; stage apron 54 ft. wide by 7 ft. to house curtain line; stage height 3 ft. 7 in.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: The Mahaffey has a total of 10 dressing rooms and can accommodate multiple performers. Both the Green Room and the Star Dressing Room are elegantly appointed with modern finishes, and latter offers the latest technological amenities.
OTHER FEATURES: The theater offers the latest technology in sound and lighting, including a FOH sound console that is a Digi Design Venue with sidecar. Speaker components are all Meyer Sound Labs. Two ETC Ion lighting consoles have multiple sidecars, and there is a Grand MA lite control desk. The venue offers convenient onsite parking (1,106 spots), tour bus parking, an exclusive VIP lounge and newly renovated, European-style boxes featuring luxury seating.
EVENT PROMOTION: The Mahaffey Theater marketing team can serve as an in-house advertising agency, providing media buying, promotions and public relations services at no cost. Additionally, the group sales department has developed relationships
services to promoters and event planners each year. Social media marketing, digital production, media strategies/buys and design services are available.
LOCAL MARKET: The Lakeland Center is conveniently located between two major Florida metropolitan markets and is the premier entertainment venue and convention center for Polk County. More than a million visitors a year enjoy events at The Lakeland Center and the potential media reach is over 10 million residents.
Duke Energy Center for the Arts – The Mahaffey Theaterst. petersburgwww.theMahaffey.com
The Mahaffey Theater, conveniently located on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, boasts a regular rotation of A-List superstars, Broadway plays, comedy, family-friendly shows and award-winning symphonies. The 49-year-old Florida institution recently renovated its luxury boxes. This summer, the backstage dressing rooms and artist hospitality areas will undergo a full renovation featuring all-new amenities and a clean, modern design. The entertainment continues long after many headliners take their final curtain call, when live music and a bustling dance floor transform the atrium into a stylish nightclub featuring some of the best local bands and DJs.
The venerable Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg has recently undergone
renovations.
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with a large list of regional group leaders and tour and travel operators, and can sell group packages on behalf of promoters for a small commission. Venue marketing initiatives offered include lobby video displays, website and mobile app exposure, social media mentions, email campaigns, SMS messaging, rack card, poster and flyer distribution.
LOCAL MARKET: The Tampa-St. Petersburg DMA is ranked 14th in the United States, with 3.5 million residents. The median age is 43 and the average household income is $63,766. Tourism is the No. 1 industry, with more than $20 billion in revenue annually.
Saenger Theatrepensacolawww.pensacolasaenger.com
The Saenger Theatre, known as the Grand Dame of Palafox Street, has been welcoming generations of Pensacola-area residents since it opened in 1925. Today the venue is managed by SMG and is arguably the premier performance space on the Gulf Coast. Most recently, the Spanish Baroque/Rococo style theater completed a renovation of its Palafox entrance.
The venue has hosted performances by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., David Copperfield, John Tesh, Wynton Marsalis, Ziggy Marley and Sesame Street Live.
CAPACITIES: 1,650 with orchestra pit; 1,594 without orchestra pit
STAGING: 71 ft.-by-38 ft. stage with 43-ft. proscenium
Mark Johnsonpresidentstrut productionssnowmass, co
In March, Strut Productions brought “1964” The Tribute to the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, marking the fourth time the Beatles tribute
act performed at the venue. Formerly managed by SMG, the Mahaffey is now managed by Big3 Entertainment Group.
How has your experience been working with Big3?They’re very proactive in their programming. They try to hit every sort of genre of music and Broadway and bring in programming that’s going to appeal to the masses. What I’ve found surprising about them, and this tends to be the exception rather than the rule, is that as broad as they try to make their
horizons their concentration hasn’t slackened at all. They pay attention to all the shows they do, not only the ones that they themselves produce. For people like me that come in to produce a show, they help with the marketing and treat the show as if it’s one of their own. And in my experience you can’t go into a venue and count on being successful without their support; the local marketing and media knowledge is really important.
In what respect is their marketing assistance above par?They’re very successful not only in establishing media contacts but also utilizing them. I have worked with venues across the country who steadfastly refuse to share their media contacts.
What physical features of the theater would you highlight? It has a nice setting on the water, the lobby is spectacular and the seating is really comfortable. It’s very similar in the way Carnegie Hall is set up in terms of the sightlines; there really isn’t a bad seat in the whole room. In addition, the production people are absolutely top notch. It’s a really welcoming place, from my point of view and the patrons’.
The Saenger Theatre
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producing grand opera, as well as presenting a wide variety of concerts, performances and events. In a typical season, more than 600,000 patrons attend over 4,000 events at the Straz Center.
CAPACITIES: Carol Morsani Hall: 2,610. Ferguson Hall: 1,042. Jaeb Theater: 300. Shimberg Playhouse: 130. TECO Energy Foundation Theater: 150.
STAGING: Carol Morsani Hall proscenium opening is 45 ft. to 60 ft. wide (Pro Mask legs) and 30 ft. to 40 ft. high (Pro Mask header). The stage is 70 ft. deep from plaster line to back wall. Ferguson Hall is 25 ft. to 40 ft. wide (portable legs) and 20 ft. to 30 ft. high (portable header). The stage is 50 ft. deep from plaster line to back wall.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: The Carol Morsani Hall has a 27 ft.-by-37 ft. wardrobe room. There are a total of 14 dressing rooms, one of which is a star dressing room furnished with a sectional sofa, chairs and tables. Ferguson Hall has a wardrobe area and seven dressing rooms.
OTHER FEATURES: Dining is available at the Straz Center’s Maestro’s Restaurant (fine dining), Maestro’s Cafe (full display buffet dining) and Maestro’s On The River (light fare, al fresco dining). Maestro’s Catering also offers complete banquet and catering services for special events.
EVENT PROMOTION: The Straz Center has an in-house marketing and communications staff.
BACKSTAGE AREAS: Six dressing rooms, including two Star dressing rooms, Green Room, musician’s warm-up room near Orchestra Pit, 18 ft.-by-26 ft. wardrobe room, two productions offices.
OTHER FEATURES: Sound Yamaha M7cl Mixer, EAW Speaker System, patch bays for microphone, line level, Ethernet and video. One fixed and up to six portable concession areas. T-coil hearing loop system and FM-assisted hearing devices are also available.
EVENT PROMOTION: In-house agency available. Access to 20,000-subscriber email database for event promotion, 5,000-plus venue Facebook fans, Twitter followers and venue website banner advertising. In-house digital advertising system, lobbies and audience chamber. Poster display locations on Palafox and Intendencia Streets.
Straz Centertampawww.strazcenter.org
The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors in July 1987, and since that time has welcomed more than 10 million guests. The Straz Center is located downtown on a picturesque nine-acre site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River. As the largest performing arts complex south of the Kennedy Center, the 335,000-sq.-ft. Straz Center provides an environment for a wide variety of world-class events. It boasts one of the nation’s leading Broadway series and is nationally respected for
The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts on Tampa’s Hillsborough River
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Northeast
Blue Cross Arena ....................................................................... 26
Dunkin’ Donuts Center ............................................................ 58
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza ....................................4
Times Union Center ....................................................................31
1] ArkAnsAs stAte FAir Complex LittLe Rock, AR • arkansasstatefair.com
The Arkansas State Fair Complex comprises over 120,000 sq. ft. of event space, including a Coliseum with seating for 10,000 people. The versatile, 140-acre, six-building complex is located only five minutes from downtown Little Rock and a short drive from the Little Rock Regional Airport. The Complex features paved, controlled and lighted parking to handle the large crowds, as well as service and support groups for entertainment, sound, lighting, food and decorations. The complex has hosted the State High School Basketball Championships, rodeos, Arkansas State Horse Show, 5K runs, The Big Buck Classic, indoor and outdoor concerts, and various festivals.
2] indiAnA stAte FAirgroundsindiAnApoLis, in • in.gov/statefair/fairgrounds
Featuring more than $150 million in capital improvements since the 1990s, the Indiana State Fairgrounds is one of the most well-known landmarks in the state, annually attracting roughly two million visitors to more than 300 events. Home to the Indy Fuel hockey club of the ECHL and the NCAA Division One IUPUI basketball program, the Fairgrounds Coliseum recently reopened after a $63 million renovation that makes it one of the most unique, modern multipurpose arenas in the Midwest with a seating capacity of up to 8,100 people. The new Youth Arena has theater seating for 3,219, and the DNR Amphitheater offers seating for 157.
3] minnesotA stAte FAirgroundsst. pAuL, Mn • mnstatefair.org
The Minnesota State Fairgrounds has two year-round facilities: the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum and the History & Heritage Museum. The former is a 32,400-sq.-ft. arena with seating for 5,250 people (10,500-sq.-ft. concourse). It features an LED Internet connect display screen, digital audio system and private event Internet network through WiFi or direct connect. The 3,000-sq.-ft. Museum, currently under construction and set to open at this year’s State Fair, accommodates 100 people seated and offers a private event Internet network through direct connect. Top events include the Winter Carnival Snow Sculpting Competition, St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus, Minnesota Horse Expo, MSRA Back to the ‘50s, CBS Radio Pet-A-Palooza and the Car Craft Summer Nationals.
4] pimA County FAirgrounds tucson, AZ • pimacountyfair.com
The Pima County Fairgrounds comprise a 640-acre event complex that includes outdoor concert and stage locations, three exhibit buildings, equestrian facilities, animal and livestock arenas, motorized event arena (subleased to Tucson Speedway), storage facilities, 15 acres of asphalt display area, outdoor exhibit spaces, picnic areas, RV facilities and areas for outdoor camping. In the interest of increasing revenue at the Pima County Fairgrounds, the Southwestern Fair Commission, Inc., has begun producing several events at the facility including horse shows and concerts. These events have allowed the Fairgrounds to be in a position to maximize the usage of the facility for year-round purposes. xxxxxxxxxx
5] riChArd m. BorChArd regionAl FAirgrounds
Robstown, tX • rmbfairgrounds.comOwned by Nueces County and managed by Global Spectrum, the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds has enjoyed its most successful years since its grand opening in 2007. The Fairgrounds includes a 4,200-seat baseball stadium open since 2004, a Central Pavilion Arena (1,900 bleacher seats; 3,100 with floor seats), two exhibit halls (totaling 115,000 sq. ft.), an equestrian center, and a meadow. The facility can be used for rodeos, livestock shows, boxing, wrestling, concerts and more. The Fairgrounds is home to the Nueces County Junior Livestock Shows and Rodeo and will host many events as the year continues, including the Coastal Bend Boat and Outdoor Show, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville College Rodeo, and the American Cancer Society Cattle Barons Ball.
stAtus: HOTCAtegory: FAIRGROUNDSFyi: Known for their flexibility in accommodating a variety of live events, fairgrounds are home to everything from concerts to sporting events to car shows. They are true community hubs, where the local populace is typically well accustomed to gathering. The Indiana State Fair, for example,
is the nation’s sixth oldest, dating to 1852. But its fairgrounds are certainly up to date with a recent multimillion-dollar renovation. Also of note in this Hot List is the soon-to- open History & Heritage Museum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
F & DHOTL I S T
1 little roCk, Ar
3 st. pAul, mn
2 indiAnApolis, in
4 tuCson, AZ
5 roBstown, tx
A R I Z O N A ’ S P R E M I E R V E N U E
Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix,
is the city’s most dramatic multi-use space.
US Airways Center sets the stage for impressive
events from a small meeting to elaborate celebrations.
