Crown Complex in Fayetteville, N.C., hosts several events geared toward service memebrs each year.
Fort Bragg is big. The United States Army Installation near Fayetteville, N.C., covers 251 square miles and serves as the home of the U.S. Army Airborne Forces, Special Forces, U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Army Reserve Command.
Fort Bragg is also less than eight miles from Crown Complex in Fayetteville.
Since Global Spectrum took over management of the facilities that make up Crown Complex in November, management has increased efforts to work with the military.
“With the soldier demographic being a younger person and a transient population, that lends its own set of challenges,” said Crown Complex General Manager Jim Grafstrom.
Rates for the military vary based on the size and scope of the engagement and facility they plan to use, but Crown Complex generally offers its facilities to the military at a “great rate.”
PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., does military appreciation night for hockey games.
“Periodically we’ll do what they call brigade returns, where an entire brigade comes back from overseas and their families come,” said Exec. VP/GM Dave Olsen, who added that those types of events draw about 9,000 people.
Security Sensitivities
Though security is always of utmost importance when it comes to U.S. Army events, Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Officer Tom McCollum said the process of securing a facility is pretty straightforward.
The Army will go in before the event and sweep the building, then ensure that the facility is locked down and that access is controlled from that point on.
“When we come in, we already have a plan in place and have identified points of contact, already having answered the venue’s questions and working closely with them as to what their capabilities are,” said McCollum. “It’s the mindset of who we are — we don’t like things not happening or not going to plan.”
Extending the Events
Crown Complex and its shows work closely with the Army’s MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) program to provide services and activities for soldiers and families.
If there’s an event that’s going to be held in the community, different cast members or characters may want to come interact with soldiers and their families on base. Commercial Advertising Coordinator at Fort Bragg MWR Darlene Malone said that there has been a lot more interaction with Crown Complex since Global Spectrum took over management.
Crown Complex works with MWR to provide the information needed, such as names, number of people, drivers licenses and, in some cases, social security numbers of everyone entering Fort Bragg. The partnership doesn’t involve any money changing hands, with Malone saying the interaction benefits both entities.
Service members and their families get to enjoy unique entertainment, while the complex gets to advertise its current shows to the families at Fort Bragg. Many times, the complex will include ticket giveaways and contests during its events.
“The soldiers really love and appreciate things like that,” said Malone. “It’s something coming directly to them, for them.”
Interviewed for this story: Jim Grafstrom, (910) 438-4117; Darlene Malone, (916) 643-6334; Tom McCollum, (910) 396-2122; Dave Olsen, (919) 861-5470