Ike Richman, formerly VP of PR, Comcast Spectacor; now founder of Richman Communications.

After nearly 29 years at Comcast Spectacor, Ike Richman, the company’s vice president, PR, is creating Ike Richman Communications to assist professional sports teams and owners, arenas and stadiums, concert promoters and family shows with generating PR content. Comcast Spectacor will become his first client.

“I joined Spectacor in 1989 on my 23rd birthday,” said Richman. At the time, Spectacor was owed by Ed Snider and they owned The Spectrum, Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and WIP sports radio station.”

In 1992, Richman moved to the Spectrum, the building that preceded Wells Fargo Center, as PR assistant. In 1996, Snider and Comcast merged to create Comcast Spectacor. Richman became VP in 2001.

Richman has been with the Flyers his whole life, literally. He is named in memory of his grandfather, Ike Richman, who founded the Philadelphia 76ers after relocating the Syracuse Nationals to Philadelphia in 1963.

“I was inspired by the words of Ed Snider, who I became very close with,” said Richman about branching out on his own. “Ed had this mantra: ‘take what you do well and grow it.’ I always thought I could make it go on own with my experience and resources and knowledge, and finally decided now’s the time.”

Richman’s firm, Richman Communications, isn’t starting out empty-handed. “When I told Dave Scott, Comcast Spectacor’s CEO, about my plans, not only did he wish me well; he also immediately said he wanted to be my first client. I’m very fortunate to have such a gracious employer.” Richman’s deal with Spectacor is multiyear. “The company can lean on my expertise,” said Richman.

Richman’s strength is media relations, public relations, community relations and crisis communications. “If you look back over my 30 years I’ve worked with Live Nation, AEG, concert promoters, hundreds of Feld Entertainment events, every type of sporting event you can mention, two Olympic trials, both Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention events and I like to think I bring good insight to helping the field.”

Richman’s fans are many.

"Ike has been an integral member of the Comcast Spectacor team for more than 28 years,” said Scott. “His deep experience and contacts throughout the sports and entertainment industry have been invaluable to us as our business has grown and diversified. We are looking forward to working with him as an outside advisor in the years ahead." 

Frank Brown is the vice president of communications for the National Hockey League (NHL). "Ike really showed his professional stripes when Ed Snider passed away,” he said. “While there were so many details to track in preparing the celebration of Ed's life, and so many people to comfort, I thought Ike set aside his own grief and handled his duties impeccably."

Peter Luukko, executive chairman, NHL’s Florida Panthers and chairman of OVG’s Arena Alliance, said, “It’s a great move for Ike at this time. He has a wealth of experience from the leagues, teams, food services companies, private management companies, broadcasting and many other facets of our business. In Ike’s case, he owes it to himself to do this. He’s made relationships over the years with many people who can use his services. He’s respected and well-liked.”

“One of things Ike does very well is handle difficult situations,” he said. “There was a stolen car ring that went through town, and Ike handled this like a pro. Damage control is one of  his many skills.”

Frank Miceli, SVP, sales & franchise business operations, Spurs Sports & Entertainment and AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas, has known Richman for 30 years. “I used to work at Comcast and know Ike well,” he said. “He’s one of the best in business. He nurtures the team, the building, the band through exciting times and tumultuous times.”

“I think this a move that will be great for Ike and the industry,” he said. “This will give him a chance to spread his wings outside the Comcast Spectacor umbrella.”

Miceli recalled the time when Bruce Springsteen and his band requested use of the Flyers' locker room. “Typically, the locker room is off limits, but Ike intervened, worked his magic, and we agreed. The band was so appreciative we were invited to meet them before the show. It was great and we wound up inviting them to our ‘7:15 club’ early-morning hockey game.”

Geoff Gordon is president of Live Nation, Philadelphia. He’s known Richman for almost 30 years; they met when Gordon was with Electric Factory Concerts. “Ike is an ever-constant and a solid professional,” he said. “He’s efficient and a great asset.”

“I’m excited for his new venture,” he said. “I support him and think he will do very well on his own.”

Gordon recalled when Richman was instrumental in the success of the closing days of the Spectrum. “Ike arranged it so that major sports stars, Bernie Parent and Dave Schultz in particular, showed up at the concert. It was really cool to have them there and the band loved having them, too.”

Richman serves as an advisor to numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, Police Athletic League, the Shirley Povich School of Sports Journalism and Philabundance. He handled all communications for the late Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider prior to his passing in 2016.

Richman leaves his position Sept 28 and launches Richman Communications Oct. 3. He can be reached at Ike_Richman@comcast.net.

SMG-managed INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan., has promoted from within the organization and hired multiple full-time members across multiple departments.

Grant Jones.

Grant Jones has returned to INTRUST Bank Arena as operations manager. Jones previously served as operations supervisor prior to accepting an opportunity with Wichita Sports Forum in late 2016. Jones will now manage and oversee the operations team with their daily duties and event changeovers. 
 

Sierra Franklin.

Sierra Franklin has been promoted to box office manager for Select-A-Seat. Prior to this, Franklin served as ticket specialist in the Select-A-Seat box office.



 

Josh Hiatt.

Josh Hiatt and Tyler Maier were both promoted to operations supervisors within the operations department. Hiatt and Maier were peviously members of the crew on a part time basis.

Tyler Maier.

In the operations department, Mario De La Torre has been hired as maintenance technician to assist with preventative maintenance and repairs to the arena’s equipment.



 

Jared Johnson.

Additionally, Jared Johnson has been hired as the payroll and purchasing accountant within the finance department. Johnson held a ticket specialist title in the Select-A-Seat box office.




 

ICC Sydney Convention Centre has adopted VR marketing.

The International Convention Centre Sydney recently became the first venue of its kind in Australia to adopt virtual reality to help market itself to conference organizers, event planners, delegates and other travelers from around the world who are considering or planning a visit. The move highlights the growing interest in VR as a marketing tool for venues and others with destinations to promote.

ICC Sydney Convention Centre opened in 2016.

ICC Sydney’s VR video experience provides viewers with an immersive way of touring the facilities at the convention center, which opened in December 2016.

“Our VR experience provides viewers with a unique opportunity to witness the full scale and magnitude of ICC Sydney’s technologically advanced facilities, including its 35,000 square meters of exhibition space, flexible meeting spaces, the 2,000-capacity grand ballroom – the largest of its kind in Australia – and world-class theaters,” said Geoff Donaghy, CEO, ICC Sydney.

Donaghy said the benefits to ICC Sydney were evident. He said VR aligns with a creative marketing approach that “places an innovative lens over everything we do.” Venue operators developed a suite of creative tools before opening that included a custom magazine, interactive maps, animations and advance modeling and renderings. The venue secured 500 event bookings before opening.

“The VR experience brings ICC Sydney to life in new ways, right before people’s eyes, and will become an important point of reference during the planning stages of an event, while also creating a buzz and excitement for delegates pre-event,” he said. “It’s an impressive tool that we believe will help shape the future of events in Sydney.”

In addition to an intimate look at the ICC Sydney facilities, the VR content includes a chance to enjoy a 360-degree view of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, where the convention center is located, including a look at nearby landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach.

Penny Lion, executive general manager of events at Tourism Australia, said the convention center’s adoption of VR is a fit with the venue’s design and operations.

“As Australia’s newest convention, exhibition and events precinct, ICC Sydney is at the forefront of design and technology innovation,” Lion said. “Utilizing this technology to showcase what the center can deliver for customers is in alignment with this culture of innovation. It’s also a great way to see ICC Sydney up close and to understand the venue in the context of its location.”

ICC Sydney and Tourism Australia worked together to develop the showcase video of the convention center’s setting as part of the VR content, highlighting Sydney as a leading event destination. Tourism Australia has produced its own VR/360 content for various Australian locales, and Lion said its effectiveness has been “stunning,” citing 10.5 million views on Facebook, YouTube and Australia.com.and a 64-percent rise in engagement on Australia.com.

Lion said the VR efforts represent Tourism Australia’s recognition of “the need for tourism bodies and other entities to find new, engaging and compelling ways to cut through the highly competitive and crowded marketplace.”

Tom Griffin, assistant professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and assistant director of the Hospitality and Tourism Research Institute at Ryerson University in Toronto, has researched with colleagues the use of VR in marketing for destinations. He called tourism “an intangible product for marketers” that makes it a challenge to provide potential customers a true sense of what their experience will be. While still falling short of real life, VR “helps convey a sense of what a place is like,” he said.

“Our studies have shown that students who watched a VR advertisement for South Africa felt more positive about the country as a destination compared with those who watched a 2D video or read the website,” Griffin said. “So even though they hadn’t been, they were creating word-of-mouth marketing about what the place is like to visit.”

Lion said VR has rich potential for venues such as ICC Sydney, in particular.

“VR allows customers to discover event spaces like never before,” Lion said. “Immersive and interactive, it provides the user with the next best thing to conducting a site inspection. Using VR in conjunction with personal interaction with venue representatives – for example at trade shows – is an effective tool to help bring to life what it’s like to be in those spaces and to have questions immediately answered.”

ICC Sydney Convention Centre.

Griffin agreed, saying, “For a convention center, I imagine there are many opportunities. I’m guessing that a primary target would be meeting planners and to give them an opportunity to see both the logistics of a center, but also to allow them to experience some of the elements that a center wants to show off – a view of the mountains, a ballroom set up in full decor, etc. VR is a great and convenient way to demonstrate that.”

Griffin said VR is becoming increasingly popular for marketers and its use will grow as VR headsets continue to become more accessible. As of now, VR is new enough that abundant questions surround the best ways of using the tool. He said he sees VR as more enduring than a fad, though its use will evolve as more adopt it.

“I think a lot of people don’t know how to best use it yet,” Griffin said. “It reminds me of when social media arrived on the scene some years ago, and companies and organizations just got on board with little strategy or understanding of how to use the technology and communications. Of course, now companies take social media very seriously and strategically. I see the same thing happening to some extent with VR.”

Lion said venue marketers considering VR should be sure to commit the necessary resources and identify appropriate partners to create a vivid experience for viewers.

“Work with experienced and highly capable production companies who understand not just the medium but the user experience that accompanies VR,” Lion said.

Donaghy said it took three months for the team creating ICC Sydney’s VR experience to film its multi-use spaces sufficiently. He said the venue’s team has worked diligently to use the tool.

“We have sent virtual reality headsets to over 250 of our global contacts and are utilizing it in all of our trade shows and road shows, as well,” Donaghy said. “So far, we are getting an amazing response, and it’s been credited as one of the most unique tools a venue is using to inform and stimulate clients, and is even inspiring them to use the technology themselves.”

For ICC Sydney’s full VR experience, viewers need to have access to a VR headset. They can download the ICC Sydney VR app from Apple or Android application stores. Without a VR headset, viewers can still see 36-degree images on the convention center’s website at www.iccsydney.com.au.

Night time at the Railyard, Lincoln, Neb., which Spectra will now manage.

Nothing is likely to derail the new dynamism being felt at the Lincoln, Neb. downtown enclave known as the Railyard on Canopy Street, the premier entertainment district in the Cornhusker state capital.

That excitement results from Spectra by Comcast Spectacor's selection to deliver venue management, food services, hospitality and partnerships to the Railyard. Spectra has tabbed seven-year company veteran Brian Krajewski, most recently director of marketing with Tsongas Center, Lowell, Mass. as property general manager.

Over his career, Krajewski has also shepherded marketing efforts for Spectra at the Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho, N.M., and Glens Falls (N.Y.) Civic Center.

Chris Connolly, general manager of the Iowa Event Center, Des Moines, was integrally involved in the selection of Spectra and of Krajewski.  TDP Phase One, LLC, a partnership between WRK, LLC and Chief Industries, made the initial move, he said.

“WRK reached out to our business development folks in Philadelphia,” he recalled. “As talks got more serious about us taking over management of the Railyard, it made sense for me to go out there, as I'm just a three-hour drive away.

“The Railyard is similar to what we do at Xfinity Live in Philadelphia and, at the end of the day, is all about the business we're in – entertainment, marketing and advertising.”

The dense and compact geography of the Railyard helps explain its entertainment mecca status. The district is situated across the street from Pinnacle Bank Arena, where the Nebraska Cornhuskers play their basketball games. The arena just announced that it would host a series of concerts by country music legend Garth Brooks in October. 

Memorial Stadium, where the Cornhuskers football team plays its games, is a 10-minute walk away, Connolly said.  And if that's not enough, Lincoln's Minor League Baseball franchise, the Lincoln Saltdogs of Independent Professional Baseball's American Association, plays its games just steps from the Railyard at Haymarket Park.

The Railyard features 13 restaurants and bars, live entertainment, The Public Market, and The Cube presented by Union Bank & Trust. “The Cube is a large, large, large video screen, and when the Nebraska football games are on, both home and away, those football games are being broadcast on The Cube,” Connolly said.

Spectra feels it can market this very attractive piece of downtown Lincoln real estate more effectively than past managers have.  “And that's where Brian comes in,” Connolly said. “He has a marketing background, and was the director of marketing at Tsongas Center. Brian was a very attractive candidate. We were looking for a marketing person. And it's really about relationships. This account is a bit different from most, in that not only do we need to drive business at the Railyard, but we have several tenants in the Railyard. And nourishing that business really centers around the building of relationships.”

SAME BLUEPRINT

For his part, Krajewski believes Spectra is well equipped to ensure the Railyard reaches its full potential.  “You look at what we do at Xfinity Live in Philadelphia, and it's the same kind of blueprint as an entertainment district goes,” he said. “We felt this was something where we could take what we've learned at Xfinity Live over a number of years, and use that experience to enhance the Railyard experience.”

He agrees with Connolly that relationships are the key. “At Tsongas Center, I was fortunate to have met a lot of people,” he said. “Building relationships opened up a lot of doors for me back in Lowell. I built a relationship with the convention and visitors bureau in Lowell, and that was what they were looking for; someone to do it at the Railyard as well. They wanted someone with experience in building rapport with CVBs . . . If you are going to live and work in a place and ingrain yourself in the community, those relationships are crucial.”

EXCITING HURDLES

Asked about any challenges he might face, Krajewski noted that he's coming from an arena background into an event district space, and that will involve shifting gears to some degree.

But he says he's been exceptionally fortunate to have worked with outstanding individuals in each of the settings where he's served. He's learned a tremendous amount about managing venues, and that is knowledge he can take to the Railyard. “Being in a situation where I can put my stamp on [the venue] is going to be a challenge, but it's something I'm excited about,” he said. “I have a great support system within the company. I know I can pick up the phone and have any kind of service I need provided, to make this transition and this venue as good as can be. And the client, WRK has been great to work with. We're excited about making this a long-term relationship and making the Railyard as great as WRK, and we know it can be.”

Connolly believes the combination of Spectra's full range of services and Krajewski's experience will enormously benefit the Railyard. “And from what I've seen in the past two months, development is really, really strong in downtown Lincoln,” he said.

“That's great for all of us and will really help the Railyard," added Krajewski. "There's a ton of potential there. It really should be the destination and entertainment spot right after games, concerts and events. We're really excited to get in there, and we feel Brian will do a great job. All his strengths are perfectly tailored to the distinctive opportunities presented by the Railyard.”

Kid Rock performed at ANZ Stadium, Sydney.

Robert James Ritchie, better known as Kid Rock, is making his way around North America this year with a small-scale tour that made a stop at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Ind., making our Hot Tickets chart this week. The sold-out performance started with political talk and a tease of a possible U.S. Senate run in 2018 which drew rounds of cheers, but quickly turned into a carnivalesque atmosphere that included jugglers, little person clowns, and stilt walkers. It seemed as if Rock was telling the 8,500 fans in attendance that if he were elected into office, a carnival would ensue. The concertgoers saw ticket prices ranged from $20-$90, and the Live Nation-promoted event grossed nearly $500,000. Tonight, Kid Rock will be wrapping up his six-show run, Sept. 12-20, as the first headliner of the brand new Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

Marco Antonio Solis, who won Billboard’s Lifetime Achievement Award last year, is on the road this year celebrating 40 years in the music industry with his highly anticipated U.S. tour. Solis, along with special guests Jessie & Joy, performed at Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth, Ga., Sept. 2, grossing over $500,000. The iconic Mexican singer thrilled the 5,000 concertgoers in attendance by playing a selection of tunes that commemorated 40 years of musical hits from his 18 studio albums. Fans can catch up with Solis at The Forum, Los Angeles, Oct. 13-14.
 

HOT TICKETS is a weekly summary of the top acts and ticket sales as reported to VT PULSE. Following are the top 20 concerts and events, the top 5 in each seating capacity category, which took place between Aug. 22-Sept. 20.

GF Strategies founder and president, Greg Flakus.

In 1992, Greg Flakus and his firm accepted a project to manage the food and beverage (F&B) services at the Oregon State Fair, Salem. The project led to the beginning of what would lead to working with 53 fairs in 20 states from San Diego, Calif. to Essex Junction, Vt.  After 25 years, Flakus is moving his company from the fair space to the festival and venue space. Venues Today caught up with the F&B strategist to learn lessons gleaned from his time as a fair-food guru, and his thoughts on the state-of-play in the new areas he’s looking to conquer.

Why did you start GF Stategies?

Flakus: I was asked by Don Hillman, Oregon State Fair CEO, to take on a nine-month project to look at the F&B program. I planned on returning to do my work in public relations after that. I went down and took a look and decided they need to do a few things better, including how they tracked their sales, and I put together some systems, and some forms, and made it tighter and more professional. As soon as that ended, the Deschutes County Fair, Redmond, Ore., asked me to do the same thing and a business was born.

Fifty-three fairs later, what are your takeaways?

When I started this company, most fairs were using staff members to run their F&B programs. They farmed out carnivals, parking and entertainment buying but not F&B. We were the first company to provide this service as an actual business and put in systems. So my first thought is, ‘don’t run your own F&B unless you know what you’re doing,’ and my second thought is, ‘don’t run it without a foolproof accounting system.’

Are fairs economy-proof?

Surprisingly, fairs do better in bad economies because people put off the big theme park trips and stay home and go to the fair.

Gate fee or free entrance?

Fairs are starting to look at the free-entry model and doing well with it. More people come and customers spend more inside at concessions. Fairs keep 100 percent of the gate fee and have to share with concessionaires if they don’t have one. It’s a trade-off.

Flat-fee or percentage model?

If your fair is still on a flat-fee you need to move to the percentage model. The large fairs in California started the trend, and Don Hillman and I picked up the ball and ran with it. After showing it to several fairs in the Pacific Northwest, I introduced it to the Houston Livestock Show and then to every fair I consulted for. Most fairs are now at 18-20 percent of the gross. In California they are at 28 percent.

Other best practices?

Better signage, less stands but better quality, encourage existing stands to come up with new menu items, have a minimum price for items so that stands aren’t competing against each other and starting price wars. This comes into play with nonprofits that can sell things cheaper because they usually have no labor or travelling costs.

Why are you leaving the fair space?

Most of my contracts are for three years. During that time, we find a lot of the shrinkage, train the staff, and we get them to a level they can go on. Most of the fairs are now doing it with our system using their own staff, or are happy staying with a flat fee. I decided the ability to get into more fairs wasn’t going to happen and I’ve had a good run with it. I’m focusing now on festivals, arenas and stadiums.

How is working with festivals, arenas and stadiums different from working with fairs?

The biggest difference on the stadium and arena side is that they have events year-round, almost every weekend. They have the opportunity to realize F&B revenue 52 weeks a year. On the other hand, festivals are even shorter than fairs, usually two-five days, and they need to jam in as much F&B sales as they can in their short window. If you don’t get your money in that time period, you don’t get your money.

What are the key trends you've seen in festivals, stadiums and arenas?

VIP continues to grow at music festivals. Fans are willing to pay increasingly higher festival charges for enhanced VIP experiences. Coachella, BottleRock and KABOO all crossed the $2,000-per-ticket line for VIP experiences and sold out.

Food offerings are now not just prepared in advance. More chefs are seen on-site preparing the offerings fresh and right in front of the festival attendee. Per person plate charges are now in the $12 to $15 range; two years ago this figure was below $10. Beverage offerings are now more upscale, featuring local bars with their signature drinks.

Experience within the experience is big now, including pop-up surprises and music groups coming together for surprise jam sessions. This is all giving the attendees a special experience. Some events have seen declines in ticket sales as they move from two days to three or four as they expand from three weekends to four and are finding that sales are just spread out over the timeframe. You need solid data before shaking your dates up like this.

Social media continues to be bigger all the time. Events enabling meet-ups via social media sites are very trendy. Sponsor measurement is still a big challenge. How to value the cost of being at events is still evolving.

What is your take on cashless?

Cashless is changing everything and revolutionizing F&B. Festivals are already doing it, venues are slowly getting onboard and fairs will go to that model soon. It also makes the back-of-house work easier because they don’t have to get reporting from each vendor; it’s all on the cashless database.

Final thoughts?

In the end, it’s all about relationships. I’ve had so many people introduce me to other people and talk about my services and it’s really gratifying. Keep your eyes open, and if an opportunity presents itself, go with it.
 

The Champions of Magic disappear while taking their final bow, only to reappear in the lobby as the astonished audience exits.

A 40-foot container of illusions is making its way to the East Coast for the U.S. debut of Champions of Magic, an ensemble cast of five internationally-known magicians, at Whiteaker Center, Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 3.

It is a fitting rehearsal and premier site because the theater is housed in a Center of Science and Art and “that’s what magic is, science and art,” said Alex Jarrett, producer, RIP Productions. The show debuted in the U.K. four years ago and has played to 250,000 fans over the last three, at an average ticket price of £32.

The plan is to take it to 100 markets in the U.S. through early 2018, more than 30 of which have been booked. Steve Brush, Patriot Artists Agency, Nashville, is booking the show and is impressed with the strategy for building a theater following.

The goal, according to Jarrett and Brush, is to turn this into an arena play in two years time, first in Britain, then in the U.S.

Alex Jarrett, left, producer, joins the cast of Champions of Magic, including Grand Illusionists Young & Strange, Queen of Close-up Fay Presto, International Stage Magician of the Year Edward Hilsum and Master Mind Reader Alex McAleer.

Bookings are a combination of buys, promotes and co-promotes. The purchase price has been kept low, $20,000-$25,000, so everyone can make money. “Alex is very well-versed in the production of this show,” Brush said. Knowing its potential and sales record and to jump start its U.S. run, Jarrett is co-promoting about 10 of the first 30 shows. The rest are purchases.

The gross potential at an average ticket price of $40 is $60,000 for a 1,500-seater, so a $25,000 guarantee is very fair, Brush noted. He likes to book venues that are excited about the show, because it’s proven that excited buyers generate an additional 30 percent in sales, versus a buyer who just needs to fill a season.

Target venues are 1,500-2,000 seats, but Jarrett has learned to modify the show to as few as 500 seats if necessary. Having played the U.K. for three years, he’s faced some major venue challenges.

“U.S. theaters are better equipped and easier to install than those in the U.K., which were built 150-200 years ago,” Jarrett said. “American theaters have more rigging facilities, more flying bars. The issue in the UK is you come off stage and walk into a wall; there is no wing space. And the dressing rooms might be eight stories up. They are designed for Victorian people to run around and do music hall shows, not for a huge illusion show with pyrotechnics. It can make for a long day.”

The show runs two-and-a-half hours, including a 20-minute intermission. There are five world-class illusionists in the show: Grand Illusionists Young & Strange, Queen of Close-up Fay Presto, International Stage Magician of the Year Edward Hilsum and Master Mind Reader Alex McAleer. There are 18 major illusions performed.

Jarrett noted these are seasoned magicians who have been working together for a long time. The production flows; it’s not act after act. There is considerable interaction and playing off each other among the acts. Brush loves the grand finale, unlike any he’s seen. The five magicians disappear as they are taking their final bow, right in front of the astounded audience, only to reappear in the lobby as they exit the theater.

A meet and greet ensues after the show, and the magicians are committed to staying till the last fan leaves. New to the U.S. is a VIP pre-show package, for an upsell of $50 and limited to 25 people, who get one-on-one time with the magicians 30 minutes before the house opens. They also get a VIP laminate, a T-shirt, a magic trick and photo and video takeaways on how to become a professional magician.

Jarrett is appreciative of the established audience for magic in the U.S., an audience that just doesn’t exist in the U.K. He had been producing ensemble comedy shows when the idea of a magic show dawned in October 2013. The producers lined up 20 acts and tried them in groups of five at four shows to see if the concept would work. They promoted a second tour in 2014 with the five best magicians from the four groups and have been working with them ever since.

“They’ve become a real ensemble team. It’s much more than a variety show,” Jarrett said. “They play off each other, reference each other, and a theme runs through the show.”

This year will be the first arena show in the U.K. at the 4,000-seat Brighton Arena. Tickets in the U.K. are still £32 for upcoming shows.

It is a theatrical production with a huge lighting rig, Jarrett said. “The event has a concert feel, like a big rock show, and we want to break into that world – arena shows.”

The U.S. is blessed with some “unbelievable magicians,” who have set the stage well for the Champions' shows, Jarrett said. “The genre is family. We just happen to be doing magic.”

Champions of Magic travels in a 53-foot articulated tractor trailer, “packed to the roof,” from StageCall for equipment and one 50-foot tour bus from Star Coaches, for the five illusionists, one aerial circus performer and five crew travelling. “We’re right on the verge of being a two-truck show,” Jarrett said.

Setup starts at 10 a.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show. Teardown takes two-and-a-half hours.

Because of the power difference between the U.K. and U.S., some new equipment was purchased. Others could be converted. For instance, they had to buy a new lighting rig, a $120,000-investment, for the U.S., but thanks to new technology, it will still work when they return to the U.K. Speaking ballpark, Jarrett said any new illusion is generally a $40,000-investment.

Not including the talent, he spent $1.5 million on this production

U.S. ticket sales started in June and have shown there is a strong passion for magic in North America, Jarrett said. “Winnipeg [Pantages Playhouse] sold out 30 percent of the room within the morning of the shows going on sale. Cleveland [Playhouse Square, Dec. 27-29] did over $100,000 in the first two weeks. It’s a team approach, we engage [in marketing] with them.”

Going forward, the show has options to tour China and Australia in late 2019, though moving China to late 2018 is possible. The problem with China is the language barrier and cultural differences. The show is all spoken. “We would reformat to fit the market. They’d have to learn Mandarin,” Jarrett said.

2017 TOUR DATES
Oct. 5 – State Theater, Ithica, N.Y.
Oct. 6 & 7 - The Levoy, Millville, N.J.
Oct. 8 – Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, Ga.
Oct. 10 & 11 - Sharon Morse PAC, The Villages, Fla. 
Oct. 12- The Orpheum, New Orleans
Oct. 13- Arlington (Texas) Music Hall
Oct. 17 – Weinberg Center, Frederick, Md.
Oct. 20 - Warner Theatre, Erie, Pa.
Oct. 21 - Proctors, Schenectady, N. Y.
Oct. 25, Weidner Theatre, Green Bay, Wis.
Oct. 26 - Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, Ill.
Oct. 28 - Emporia (Kan.) Granada Theatre
Nov. 3 - Casino Regina (Saskatchewan)
Nov. 4 - Pantages Playhouse, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Nov. 8 - Union Colony Civic Center Greeley, Colo.
Nov. 9 - Rose Wagner PAC, Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov. 10 - Thousand Oaks (Calif.) PAC
Nov. 12 - Northern Quest Casino Airway Heights, Spokane, Wash.
Nov. 15 - Cal Poly Arts, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Nov. 16 - Sycuan Casino, El Cajon, Calif.
Nov. 17 - Grand Theatre, Tracey, Calif.
Nov. 18 - Cerritos (Calif.) PAC

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, have partnered with Kinduct.

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, are the two latest schools to form partnerships with Kinduct, a leading data and analytics software provider, that will help the medical staffs, coaching staffs and athletes with additional information.

JMU and NC State join schools like Louisville in this partnership, with the Cardinals and Kinduct joining forces back in 2016.

Through collecting and analyzing a set of data points, Kinduct’s Athlete Management System (AMS) technology can allow for coaches to make decisions regarding their athlete’s performance, injury mitigation and recovery as well as how to prepare for their next competitor.

At NC State, the technology will be used in all Olympic sports.

“Having an intuitive monitoring platform, that supports our existing process, will help achieve our goals,” Nate Brookerson, NC State director of Strength and conditioning of Olympic sports, said in a statement. “Kinduct’s platform expands our capabilities to collect, manage and utilize our student performance data in a meaningful way. The coaching staff is excited to introduce the Kinduct platform this upcoming academic year, and see the results.”

“We are thrilled to have Kinduct on board and working with our programs. This partnership will assist us in our mission to foster a student-athlete centered community of professionals that communicates and collaborates to ensure the health, safety and general well-being of the JMU student-athletes, while maximizing the development of their athletic performance and pursuit of championships.”

JMU Associate A.D. for Integrated Health and Sports Performance Tom Kuster said in a statement. “Kinduct’s platform will expand our capabilities to manage our student-athletes and their performance data. As a new school year approaches, we look forward to delivering Kinduct’s AMS to our athletes and staff in an effort to set them up for success.”

Congratulations to our 2017 Silver Spoon Award recipients!  Learn more about the recipients in the October issue!

BEST NEW CONCEPT
Jade Peacock Speakeasy
2017 San Diego County Fair (Del Mar, Calif.)
Creator: Sue Walls (Dir. of Catering & Dining Premier Food Services /SMG)
Premier Food Services created the Jade Peacock Speakeasy as an exclusive experience where select San Diego County fairgoers who got word of the bar’s secret location could enjoy craft cocktails and an exclusive view of the Fair. The goal of the concept was to disrupt preconceived ideas of the county fair by creating a fun and authentic experience. Honoring the Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroads and in gold mining camps in the late 1800s, the Jade Peacock was open to fairgoers 21+ for those able to find the speakeasy on Friday and Saturday evenings. Promoted via social media and press coverage, the Speakeasy’s adventurous visitors had to find a Jade Peacock card with the password of the day at one of 3 theme bar locations. If the bar was at capacity, the hostess would take a cell number and text back when space allowed. Guests were guided on a winding, clandestine walk through a farming exhibit and an underground tunnel up to the highest spot on the Fairgrounds with the secretive path ending at the 5th floor Speakeasy and its elaborately deco

BEST NEW MENU ITEM
Juanchos
Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, CA)
Creator: Santana Diaz (Legends Exec. Chef)
“Juanchos” reflect the values of our 10-point charter and take the arena’s fabulous nachos – a four cheese blend crafted from Petaluma creamery (70 miles away), a 50/50 blend of Casa Sanchez purple quinoa/blue corn totopos and white corn organic & GMO-free tortilla chips, house made guacamole, and slow roasted pulled pork carnitas sourced from national recognized Rancho Llano Seco (75 miles) – and add a Golden 1 Center sustainability and flavor twist. During the carnitas process, pork skins would previously be discarded. But the culinary team led by Executive Chef Santana Diaz found an innovative use to enhance the flavor profile of the nachos at the arena. After the steam and fry process, the team has created airy, light chicharrones, or fried pork skins, that add a new flavor profile to the nachos. Named for the venue’s first general manager (Juan Rodriguez), Juanchos ($13) embraces the farm-to-fork and sustainability ethos of the arena and teams – local ingredients from responsible sources and a deliberate effort to reduce waste. Juanchos has even graced the pages of Vogue, described as the “perfect pigginess” combination.

BEST SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE
Seafood Sustainability by Partnering with Ocean Wise
Air Canada Centre (Toronto, Canada)
For the 2016-17 season, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and Air Canada Centre took a bold step toward seafood sustainability by partnering with Ocean Wise. Ocean Wise, in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium, is a global organization that has been reshaping the seafood industry through lobbying, education and fact finding for the past 12 years. They currently have 750 partners globally and thousands of committed purchasers. Air Canada Centre is the first and only professional sports arena to partner with Ocean Wise. In all of MLSE’s venues, including Air Canada Centre, BMO Field, Ricoh Coliseum, Real Sports Bar & Grill and e11even Restaurant, we have made a commitment to source all of our seafood through traceable sustainable sources. Last year alone MLSE purchased in excess of $400,000 of sustainable fish and seafood for all of our venues, with 75% of that in Air Canada Centre alone. Along with our relationships with Second Harvest for food diversion, GFL for food waste composting and a commitment to locally sourced products, MLSE has made a pledge to its fans and the city of Toronto to be a responsible member of the community and lead by example when it comes to protecting our community, our oceans as well as our future.

Ad Deadline: October 2, 2017
Contact your Account Executive to Reserve A Congratulatory Ad Today!

Jim McNeil
Carolinas, Georgia, Southeastern and Midwestern U.S.,
(207) 699-3343 jim@venuestoday.com

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(310) 429-3678  rich@venuestoday.com

Tucked inside the Colorado Convention Center, Denver, is a 5,700-capacity venue called Bellco Theatre.
“When that space is not being used for conventions, we sell it for entertainment shows,” said Rich Carollo director of sales and marketing for SMG at the venue, about the theater that, all by itself, would be a Top Stops chart disruptor. “It’s a great way to make money when otherwise the space would be empty.”
  Perfect for comedy shows, this year saw Louis C.K., Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Steve Martin & Martin Short at Bellco.
“We added a new curtaining system that allows us to change the manifest at will and make the space any size an artist wants,” said Carollo. “This allowed us to expand the reach of the theater.” The curtaining system cost around $125,000.
As for the convention center itself, “we’re doing quite well,” said Carollo. “We just landed a three-date convention for the SIA ski show.” The outdoor retailer will hold a summer and winter show with 18,000 attendees and a fall show with 21,000 expected. “It’s a big coup for us,” said Carollo.
Other big conventions this year included American Society of Safety Engineers, Society of Nuclear Medicine, Government Finance Officers and College Nursing Society. Occupancy has been at 70 percent. They did about 213 events in 2017.
Comic Con brought its own challenges. “In past years Comic Con was fairly loose about prop weapons, which made our security staff concerned,” said Carollo. “Some of them look very real.” He said he had a quiet word with organizers about it; this year Comic Con changed its policy and the fake-weapons were banned.
Carollo’s best day was the day he started. “I had come to Denver without a job and it took some time to find the right fit,” he said. “I remember riding the train in, which goes under the convention center, and thinking I had finally found what I was supposed to be doing here.”
Carollo’s worst day is any day when he’s unable to get something resolved. “Whether it be shifting a space or agreements with contracts or if I get off a call feeling beaten up, there are some days you think, ‘what am I doing with my life?’”
Colorado Convention Center usually “runs on a small deficit” but is a “loss leader for the rest of the city. We bring in a lot of people to the area,” he said. “Over a million people came through our doors last year.”
Carillo’s favorite achievement is a small one: he took old counters and turned them into charging stations. “Not a big deal but the clients love it,” he said. “It’s amazing how such a small thing can delight the clients and make them want to come back.”

As Hurricane Irma came barreling toward Florida’s west coast, Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, became a main staging area for housing the city’s police and fire personnel as well as members of the military.

In all, the 65,000-seat stadium, opened in 1998, housed approximately 1,200 first responders during the storm. Some Buccaneers players also sheltered their families in the locker room, and a few venue employees were put to work, including catering and cleaning staff.

“Everyone had to be off the street when the storm hits, so we serve as a safe haven for first responders during the storm and after,” said Eric Hart, president/CEO of Tampa Sports Authority, which manages Raymond James Stadium. “We weren’t the only place to take these personnel, but we were the largest.”

Raymond James Stadium is rated for hurricane force winds, centrally located and on high ground in an area that doesn’t flood. “The stadium wasn’t designed as a hurricane shelter for the community, but rather a central location for emergency service personnel,” said Hart.

The facility also was used to store about 150 police, amphibious and fire department vehicles “We started seeing these modes of transport arrive a couple days ahead of the storm, but this was the first time the Marines sent their amphibian vehicles,” said Hart. “We had the building stuffed tight, with everyone positioned in different portions of the building.”

The police, fire department and military were fed three meals a day in one catering area during their stay, which lasted approximately five days.

Although the stadium was put into similar action during Hurricane Charley in 2004, this was the first time a gathering of this scope with a larger contingency of military personnel had taken place.

Hart estimated that the amount of people involved in the staging was about three times larger than any other.

About 600 officers from the Tampa Police Department utilized the west side of the venue, working in patrol and hurricane operations throughout the storm.

“We have three tiers, depending on the storm’s severity and what personnel are needed to respond,” said Sargent Jerrett Seal of the Tampa Police Department. “When we activate tier three, like in this situation, it’s all hands on deck, and we utilize the stadium.”

Eddy Durkin, Tampa Police Department spokesperson, estimates that one-third of its department was housed at the stadium during the peak of the storm.

“Once the winds died down, they could quickly deploy to the streets and assess the damage,” he said. “It’s a benefit to have our personnel and vehicles all in one safe location.”

The stadium had four of its staff members on call and 15 working in the catering and cleaning operations to accommodate the first responders.

“This time around, we learned that in the future we need more staff in the building, like electricians, caterers and cleaning staff, since we become a working city,” said Hart.

The 2017 Mr. Olympia competition was held Sept. 15-16 at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, and landed on our Hot Tickets chart this week. The professional bodybuilding competition, which saw a crowd of nearly 11,000 and grossed over $1.5 million, had special guest Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announce Phil Heath as this year’s winner. This is Heath’s seventh consecutive title; he is now tied with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Mr. Olympia record. Heath earned the Eugen Sandow Trophy and pocketed $400,000 for his efforts.

The much-anticipated Canelo vs. Golovkin fight Sept. 16 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, grossed over $27 million with ticket prices ranging from $300-$5,000. The packed house witnessed 12 full rounds of boxing action, extraordinary endurance, and athletic showmanship; however, at the end of the match, the two fighters, and the 18,000 fans in attendance had to wait for the winner to be decided by three judges. Unfortunately, much to the chagrin of the fighters, attendees and those watching from home, the decision was an unsatisfying draw in which no winner was named. Both fighters are considering the possibility of a rematch.
 

HOT TICKETS is a weekly summary of the top acts and ticket sales as reported to VT PULSE. Following are the top 20 concerts and events, the top 5 in each seating capacity category, which took place between Aug. 29-Sept. 26.

Spectra is now managing Kansas ExpoCentre, Topeka.

The County of Shawnee, Kan. has picked Spectra by Comcast Spectacor to provide venue management to the Kansas ExpoCentre, Topeka, and its five-facility campus. The building had been managed by SMG for 25 years.

“We’re a few weeks in at this point,” said Kellen Seitz, GM. “We were already coming in, so no surprises, and it’s full steam ahead.” Seitz has been with Spectra seven years, most recently as GM of Muskogee (Okla.) Civic Center.

The contract is for five years with a five-year option. It’s an incentive-based deal with no base management fee. “We’ll be accountable for what we said we’d do and this arrangement gives us the responsibility to manage the operation closely,” said Seitz.

The Kansas ExpoCentre, is comprised of five facilities, including the 7,400-seat Landon Arena, home of the Topeka Roadrunners hockey team; Expo Hall, a 48,000-sq.-ft. venue for trade shows, conventions and expositions; the Domer Livestock  Arena; Heritage Hall; and a standalone 17,800-sq.ft. Agriculture Hall. All this sits on 88 acres.

“The real focus for us is the sales and marketing approach,” said Seitz. “Spectra’s knowledge and experience in sales and marketing of venues is something the county found valuable when we went through the RFP process.”

To meet this goal, Spectra created three new positions: marketing director, corporate partnership director and convention sales manager. “The three positions will go a long way in bringing the community back into the picture,” he said.

Currently the complex hosts 600 events a year. “It’s always a goal to expand the number of events and increase the quality,” said Seitz.

“We look forward to becoming active members of the community and creating new opportunities for the ExpoCentre and the surrounding region,” said Rick Hontz, regional VP. “Spectra has a lot of corporate partnerships and resources that we are bringing with us; we are in a unique position to leverage some of our local venues to create routing opportunities and other partnerships.”

Spectra also operates the nearby Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence, Mo.; and the Overland Park (Kan.) Convention Center.

“The routing scenarios are something we’re keen on,” said Seitz. “We think we can bring content back to the Topeka market.”

Also in the works is a $45-million renovation project that’s in the planning stage. “We’re working with the county and hopefully breaking ground in the next 18-24 months,” said Seitz. “We need to bring some of the facilities back up to industry standards and install new technologies and customer focused experiential pieces to give a better experience to our guests.” The complex will remain functional during the renovation.

The concessionaire is Heartland of America; the firm just renewed their contract with the county earlier this year. “They run a great operation,” said Seitz. “The concessions do well. We’re also looking at expanding the operation when we make the changes.”

“We realized that we needed a company that could focus and improve our sales and marketing campaigns, as well as develop long-lasting partnerships with local businesses, and Spectra can do all of that for us,” said County Commissioner Bob Archer. “Spectra’s deep experience gained from managing similar properties will be a valuable asset to our $45-million-dollar renovation project that is forthcoming. We are excited for what they will bring to our community.”

REPORTING FROM ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) has unveiled its largest and most significant expansion in nearly two decades, ACC North. The massive new building is 200,000 sq. ft. which, combined with the rest of ACC, makes the venue one of the few 1 million-plus square footage meeting spaces in North America and the largest on the West Coast. The expansion cost $190 million.

The 22,000-capacity venue was designed by Populous. The two-story facility features 100,000 sq. ft. of column free space on the top level; a 10,000-sq.-ft. balcony which overlooks Disneyland; rigging points spaced 10x10 on each level and pre-function space with more than 2,000 rigging points; 25 ft. ceilings; a 12,000-sq.-ft. kitchen with 6,000-banquet capacity; 1,400 panes of glass; and 1,350 new parking spaces.

Tom Morton, executive director, Anaheim Convention, Sports and Entertainment Department.

“This is a transformative event for the Anaheim Convention Center,” said Tom Morton, executive director of Anaheim’s Convention, Sports & Entertainment Department. “Not only is it our biggest expansion since 2000; it’s also one of the most significant in terms of the features and innovations it brings to Anaheim.”

“With the expansion, the complex is now at 1.8 million sq. ft.,” said Morton. “We can accommodate almost anything. With several major hotels nearby, and all our sunshine, this makes Anaheim the perfect place to bring an event.”

“The interior is designed to evoke the skin of a palm tree trunk," said Morton. “The use of warm materials and natural daylight provide a pleasant and comfortable experience.”

“This is a historical moment for the Anaheim Convention Center and the city of Anaheim,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO, Visit Anaheim. “ACC delivers on the vision we had to build a modern, expansive space that can be completely customizable for a variety of industries and meeting planner needs. This beautiful new space considerably adds to our current offerings and ability to attract more groups to choose Anaheim.”

Ground broke April 21, 2015. The grand opening of the building, Sept. 26, comes on the heels of ACC and the rest of the Anaheim entertainment district setting a new visitor volume for the fourth year in a row. The area hosted 23 million visitors, up 2.4 percent from the previous year, of which 5.8 percent were international visitors. The economic impact to the district last year was a staggering $8.1 billion.

“Four years in a row of surpassing visitor volume and spending records makes it clear that tourism is a key factor in the economic success and prosperity of our local community,” said Burress. “The strength of our local tourism is clearly evident by the positive domestic and international visitor growth, coupled with new hotel development. We anticipate that the next few years will continue to prove the positive economic impact tourism has on local development and the economy.”

Four new hotels are being readied close to ACC. A new $150 million, 466-room JW Marriott is being built adjacent to Anaheim Garden Walk. Replacing the Anaheim Plaza & Suites will be a 580-room property. A $225 million, 600-room hotel will replace the Anabella Hotel, which is adjacent to ACC and Disney is building a new 700-room luxury hotel, the first in nearly 20 years.

“Our hotel partners are terrific,” said Morton. “There is an abundance of places to stay within walking distance of ACC, which sets us apart from a lot of other convention centers.”

ACC currently hosts nearly one million attendees a year. ACC North already has over 75 events booked, including the American Heart Association, Oncology Nursing Society, Society for Science & the Public, and International Society for Technology in Education.

“We’re well on our way,” added Morton. “We’re off to a great start, and I expect it to grow as word catches on about our new addition.”

Puerto Rico Convention Center stands strong after the devastation that Hurriucane Maria brought to the U.S. territory. 

Although the eye of Hurricane Maria completely destroyed most of Puerto Rico, the island’s convention center sustained minor damage and is now home to 600 FEMA workers and 200 evacuees.

AEG operates the Puerto Rico Convention Center that sits on a bay of the Caribbean Sea.

“Puerto Rico was hit directly by Maria, a Cat5 Hurricane, causing devastation throughout our beautiful island. The Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC) held up extremely well; we passed a real life wind test like no other. A true testament of an amazing job by TVS Design and the team that constructed our venue,” said PRCC General Manager Jorge Perez. “Within 48 to 72 hours, we were fully operational again.”

The PRCC is largely made of glass and is located in San Juan. It has a 157,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall that has 16,965 seats. It also has a large ballroom and meeting space.

“The silver lining for us is the convention center is fairly new. It was built to be able to sustain storms like this,” said Brad Gessner, AEG Facilities senior vice president of convention centers. “There was some leakage and some water that got in the carpet, but within five days, our team was able to wetvac it.”

AEG and the Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority were well prepared for the destructive Category 5 hurricane before it hit.

“Our team prepares for storms and hurricanes on a yearly basis; these natural phenomena are one of the only downsides of living in a tropical paradise. The week before Hurricane Maria, we had to prepare for Irma, a monster hurricane that was moving straight toward us and fortunately took a northern route that saved us,” Perez said.

“Irma was a blessing in disguise for us as it served as the best possible drill for preparing for a hurricane,” he said. “We ran the before, during and after procedures for Irma and later discussed them with our AEG Safety and Management teams, evaluated and corrected all the necessary details. We were ready for Maria.”

Hurricane Irma, didn’t hit Puerto Rico with as much force as anticipated. The kitchen was fully stocked, and the convention center has three large generators that can power the facility for 30 days.

Most evacuees were sent to schools, but AEG was aware that FEMA would use the convention center for its headquarters prior to Hurricane Maria. The Puerto Rico government did, however, have it set up that it would take refugees from surrounding islands.

“We’re feeding them breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Gessner said. “We were prepared. All is going very well.”

AEG took over management at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in 2016 and was on track to operate in the black for the first time since the venue opened 17 years ago, Gessner said.

“We were confident we were going to have an operation surplus this year. That’s all going to change,” he said. “The island is seriously impacted; it’s devastated.”

Many of the 75 employees — among other groups — are staying at the 550-room Sheraton Hotel that’s next to the convention center.

AEG also manages the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferre, which is a 100-year-old performing arts center. It sustained a little more damage than the PRCC, but not too much, Gessner said.

Perez’s home was flooded and many of his employees lost their homes.

“As almost all of the 3.4 million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico, my home was flooded. Only minor material damage — furniture, carpets. Once you experience such a devastating event, the first thing you do is be grateful that your family and close ones are safe,” said Perez.

“Material things become secondary; employees, neighbors can outweigh and help overcome any loss of property or material things,” he said. “Unfortunately we had employees that lost their homes. While Maria wreaked massive damage in Puerto Rico, dedicated employees slept at PRCC to make sure our building and vital systems/equipment were protected. Some of these employees lost their homes, one of the most difficult things I’ve had to deal with emotionally.”

Joseph Patrick Sassano Jr. passed away in his home peacefully surrounded by family Sept. 19. Sassano worked at the Joyce Center, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., in administration and management from its opening in 1968 until his retirement in 2003. He helped coordinate a long list of events, ranging from presidential visits to performances by entertainers such as Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Harlem Globetrotters and many more.

Sassano was an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers when it was IAAM and as one fellow member put it, one of the old guard. He managed venues when it was a different kind of career and GMs served as hosts and guides. His career was shaped by years as a high school football coach.

He is survived by his wife Carol and four children: Joseph III (Maureen), David (Carolyn), Jennifer (Stephen) D'Ambrosia, and Jessica (Dennis) Payne. He has eight grandchildren; Corinne (Heather Hahn; their two foster daughters) and Colby Sassano; Christian and Isabelle Sassano; Allison D'Ambrosia; Nathan (Dr. Cynthia), Alex, and Seth Payne.

Sassano was involved in numerous community organizations over his 49 years as a resident of South Bend, including the Chamber of Commerce, Press Club, Notre Dame Club of St. Joe Valley where he served as president, and the Italian-American Heritage Society of Notre Dame/Michiana, where he was awarded their Columbus Award for service to community along with serving that organization’s president.

Sassano was also instrumental in the development of Notre Dame's summer sports camps back in the early 1970s. He attended Notre Dame, earning a bachelor's degree in 1955 and a masters in guidance and counseling in 1959.

He served three years in the United States Marine Corps, where he coached the Quantico football team. His passion for coaching led him to Chicago in 1959, where he spent nine years as head football coach at Archbishop Weber High School

In 1972, Sassano was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“I knew Joe for over 40 years,” said Tom Powell, news ambassador, Outdoor Amusement Business Association. “Being a big Notre Dame fan, Joe arranged it so that I could sit in the press box there, which was great.”

Sassano was a good host to industry friends. “He did a million favors for me,” said Powell. “He’d get me tickets whenever I wanted; he used to hand me the clicker to get into the parking lot.”

“At Joyce Center he was the equivalent of the building manager,” he said. “When we’d go up there, he’d go out of his way for us.”

“He invited my wife and myself into his home many times,” he said. “We’d have a great meal and we’d spend the rest of the night talking sports.”

“Joe was more than just a friend,” said Powell. “He was a great person.”

Andy Gensler.

Oak View Group (OVG) has named veteran music industry journalist Andy Gensler as executive editor of its media & conferences division. He will be based out of OVG’s Los Angeles offices and report directly to Ray Waddell, the company’s president, media & conferences, with whom he will formulate and execute editorial strategy for the firm’s media holdings which include  Pollstar and Venues Today.

Gensler previously worked as an editor and writer at Billboard.biz, where he covered the music business. Previously, Gensler's varied career included working for the New York TimesT-Style Magazine, VH1.com and Spin. He has written for many publications, including The Village Voice, Rolling Stone and the New York Times, among others.
 

Flyers CEO Dave Scott says he'll seek out an Overwatch arena in Philadelphia that's about a quarter the size of Wells Fargo Center.

(Editor's note: this story first appeared in SportTechie.com)

Philadelphia Flyers governor and parent company Comcast Spectacor CEO Dave Scott announced Wednesday that he’s building an esports team to compete in a new city-based league operated by Blizzard Activision meant to mirror the structure of conventional sports.

The Philadelphia-based team was named as one of the final three teams signed on to compete in Blizzard’s inaugural Overwatch League. The other two are Dallas-based Team EnVyUS, a veteran esports organization, and Houston-based OpTic Gaming, a leader in first-person-shooter esports.

In July, the Overwatch League added a number of other franchises operated by conventional sports team owners to the 12-team league, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and New York Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon, who will operate the Boston and New York-based teams, respectively. Stan Kroenke, owner of teams including the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Nuggets, purchased a Los Angeles team along with his son, Josh.

The league will be comprised of franchises representing major cities around the world from Asia, Europe and North America. Preseason is set to kick off Dec. 6, with the regular season running from Jan. 10 through June, with playoffs and finals scheduled for July.

While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen traditional sports owners dabble in esports, the Overwatch League is meant to be the closest such league yet to mirror the structure of traditional sports. The league will have a commissioner and offer team support and revenue-sharing agreements. Like conventional sports, its city-based team headquarters are meant to foster fan engagement and drive local ticket, concessions and merchandise sales.

“I love the idea of the city-based model. It’s kind of structured like a sports league and I think it’s going to add so much to it,” said Scott in an interview with SportTechie.

Scott believes Comcast Spectacor will be able to leverage its storied history in sports and venue management to build a team and fanbase seen as potentially mirroring the success of the Flyers, but on a smaller scale.

While all of the teams this Overwatch season will compete at the Blizzard Arena in Burbank, Calif., these teams will eventually (either in season two or three) expand their presence in their home cities with their own venues and events in an attempt to build fan bases.

Overwatch League hopes to engage more of these kinds of fans with the city-based model. “We’re partnering with many organizations that have venues and local infrastructure that plan to build businesses around these teams,” said Pete Vlastelica, who oversees the Overwatch League for Blizzard.

The Philadelphia Overwatch team (which has not yet been fully built or given a name) would likely compete in a space that has a capacity for 3,000 to 5,000, which would be a quarter of the capacity of the Flyers’ Wells Fargo Center. But Scott said that they’d build “something pretty cool” to attract fans.

“We know how to build a fanbase and we’re in the live entertainment space with Wells Fargo Center and through Comcast Spectacor with 150 facilities in North America,” he said. “That’s what we do, we bring live events to life.”

These non-traditional sports fans are attractive not only because of their age (the vast majority of esports players range in age from 13 to 34, according to statistics cited by Scott during the interview), but also because they are fans of competition, despite stereotypes claiming them to be loners that sit alone in dark basements playing video games.

Overwatch is a multi-player shooting game

“I think the connotation that these people who play games are not traditional sports fans is correct, but there’s a lot of data showing they still watch sports, just not for three to four hours,” Scott said. These league games are closer to 90 minutes, which Overwatch fans can more easily get behind.

“I was surprised as we started to look at this seriously a few months ago, just the number of gamers worldwide being in the hundreds of millions,” he said. “It’s amazing when you really get into it — 350,000-plus Overwatch players in this market.”

Vlastelica said the city-based model is something “that’s been missing from esports” because it will help to drive demand for esports overall simply by stationing popular teams in major cities.

“We saw how well it worked in traditional sports and felt it needed to be applied to the world of esports,” he told SportTechie. “For those who don’t watch esports today, we think having a team situated in a city near them gives them a reason to follow. Teams are great for creating fans. There’d be a lot fewer baseball fans in Houston (for example) if it weren’t for the Astros.”

Be ready. That’s the call, especially during this horrific fire and hurricane season.
These past few weeks, everyone has been reaching out to loved ones in danger of floods, winds and fire, the worst in decades. As always, venue managers are in the eye of the storm, setting up shelters, battening down hatches, hosting benefits, and welcoming politicians and celebrities.
Given the fact that when disaster strikes, you and your family are personally at risk as well, it’s truly a calling to be among the first responders. Just like law enforcement and medical personnel, venue managers are true servants to humanity.
Mark Miller, NRG Park/SMG; Luther Villagomez, George R. Brown Convention Center; and Ned Collett, Oak View Group, all Houstonians on the rescue/serve side of Hurricane Harvey’s direct hit on that city, took it in stride. Pros are prepared.
Mark Miller’s personal saga went like this: “I actually went to rescue my son, Ken, because he had water coming up in his neighborhood. I waded in and carried him and his one-and-a-half-year-old son out. The water was knee deep. We got them to our house. Monday morning they said ‘you need to get out of your house now.’ The Brazos River was expected to go to 61 feet and our levy was only 59 feet. They were saying get out now or you won’t be able to get out later. Fortunately the water on his street had gone down, so we went back to his house.”
“You don’t know what to expect. You watch it minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour to figure out what you have to do.”
While he was playing musical houses on the personal front, Miller was also making his way to work, setting up the 300-acre NRG Park as shelter and staging area for law and medical personnel. They even became a helipad.
“It all worked out. On Tuesday, I got from my son’s house to the building and I didn’t have any issues. We were literally working on the shelter on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday, I got in the car to see how far I could get, and got all the way to my house, and turned the power and the alarms back on.”
Collett borrowed a boat and help from his neighbor, a fisherman, and spent a day rescuing neighbors, including Melissa McGee Singleton and her family. Villagomez shrugged off the drama, saying his family was luckily in a safe area, while he was at the convention center, sheltering up to 10,000 people. The Incident Command is sort of like any event coordination committee, just less predictable.
Sitting here in balmy Southern California, our hearts and hopes are with all of those in danger and post-trauma mode. Disaster is nondiscriminant. All we can do from here is keep in touch. But those of you in the thick of it, wow, you are heroes.
God grant you many years to be ready.

PAM MATTHEWS
EXECUTIVE DIR., INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS ASSOCIATION, NASHVILLE, TENN.
HOMETOWN: Memphis, Tenn.
UNIVERSITY: Pepperdine, Calif.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Runner with Bob Kelley of Mid-South Concerts.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: The previous ED, Tiffany Davis, left and Barry Jeffrey called me.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Being in the music and concert business.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF NOT THIS: Lawyer.
MENTORS: Steve Moore and Naomi Judd.
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID: First female senator from Tennessee.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Spend time at the pool.
WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR ONE DAY: On Mars in 2050.
TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Love & Hate” by Michael Kiwanuka.
MOST EMBARRASSING SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family.
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Buddha.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I can literally tap dance.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: Bloom where you are planted.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Wisdom.
BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE: Jeni’s Ice Cream.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU'VE ATTENDED: Prince at the United Center in Chicago in 1997.
PREFERRED SUPER POWER: To Time Travel.

JON PETRUNAK
VP, LIVE NATION ARENAS, PHILADELPHIA
HOMETOWN: Johnstown, Pa.
UNIVERSITY: James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, Va.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Box office manager, Santander Center, Reading, Pa., which was called Sovereign Center back then.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: I was booking arenas for SMG buildings and Mike Evans brought me to Live Nation.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Working in different markets across multiple venues.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN'T IN YOUR JOB: Athletic administrator.
MENTOR: Mike Evans.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Playing golf and spending time with my twins, Charlotte and Kaden.
WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR ONE DAY: A beach in the Caribbean.
TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “If I Ever Feel Better” by Phoenix.
MOST EMBARRASSING SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland.
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Benjamin Franklin.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I’ve got seven siblings and played college football.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: There’s never a bad show, only a bad deal.
IF YOU COULD HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Bourbon.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU'VE ATTENDED: Eminem with Busta Rhymes during spring break in Cancun. Tom Green was the MC.

EDWARD “TEX” DIKE
GM & VP, AXIS AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD, LAS VEGAS
HOMETOWN: Okemos, Mich.
UNIVERSITY: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Box office manager at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR CURRENT JOB: I was approached by Kurt Melien, who was a VP with Caesars Entertainment.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Show nights. It never gets old.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF NOT THIS: Something in music.
MENTOR: My dad, George, who taught me ‘people skills.’
WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO WHEN YOU WERE A KID: Cowboy, farmer and pro football player, all at the same time.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Playing golf, spending time with my family and listening to music.
BIGGEST PET PEEVE: Dishonesty.
ONE DAY ESCAPE: Glacier National Park in Montana.
TOP SONG ON YOUR PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW: “Heavy Dirty Soul” by Twenty One Pilots
FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET: Beethoven.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I play the violin.
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.