By Communications Department

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was presented with the Corporate Leadership Award from the environmentally focused non-profit organization Keep Louisiana Beautiful. This accolade recognizes a business organization rooted in community engagement paired with a consistent dedication to Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission of influencing positive policy and infrastructure changes to prevent litter, reduce waste, increase recycling, and protect the natural resources of Louisiana communities.

The Corporate Leadership Award was given in consideration of the many environmentally focused initiatives that the facility has undertaken in the last year. These initiatives include a waste audit which helped the Center improve its recycling efforts, the installation of 87 new bottle filling stations which encourage the reduction of single-use plastic water bottles, restroom remodels that included low-flow fixtures for improved water usage, the construction of an environmentally-friendly pedestrian park which saw the installation of 200 trees, new green spaces and bioswales for rain water collection, and improvements to the facility’s energy usage via a change to LED lighting in the exhibit halls and more energy-efficient components in the facility’s heating and cooling systems.

These innovative, environmentally focused improvements are part of a $557 million modernization plan which will further solidify the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as one of the country’s premiere event destinations and show the world that New Orleans is Built to Host.

“By all accounts, this has been a banner year for our sustainability efforts,” said Convention Center President, Michael J. Sawaya. “We sincerely appreciate organizations like Keep Louisiana Beautiful for recognizing our substantial progress in this area. It is vitally important that we stay on the pulse of our industry, providing clients with world-class event experiences.”

“Sustainable event practices are becoming more and more important as the live event industry strives to reduce its carbon footprint. Our clients expect us to be leaders in sustainability efforts and it is the responsible thing to do,” Sawaya concluded.

The award, given to Convention Center leaders at an award luncheon in Baton Rouge on October 12, marks the Convention Center’s fourth environmentally focused award this year. In February, the facility was given the “Love Your City Award” in the Best Overall category, which highlights individuals and organizations that assess, improve, and address their impact in their communities through reductions in energy use, contributions to the local economy, commitments to providing equitable opportunities for all, and more.

The Center also earned two awards from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for major and impactful initiatives aimed at reducing the facility’s environmental footprint. The Environmental Leadership Program Awards, given to the Center in the Community Environmental Outreach category, as well as the Energy and Water Pollution Reduction category, recognize outstanding activities and projects that demonstrate environmental leadership and the pursuit of a cleaner, safer environment.

Pictured: Convention Center directors and executives accept the Keep Louisiana Beautiful Corporate Leadership Award from Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality at an Award Presentation on October 12. (Left to Right): Dr. Chuck Carr Brown, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality; Linda Baynham, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; John Bel Edwards, Governor of the State of Louisiana; Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President; Adam J. Straight, Convention Center Vice President of Operations.

By Blair Cardinal

The Big 12 Conference has partnered with Oak View Group, a leader in the management of collegiate athletic facilities, to assess and optimize safety and security among its member schools to improve the gameday and post-game celebration experience for Big 12 student-athletes, game officials, team personnel, and fans. In addition to safety and security, Oak View Group will evaluate all aspects of venue and fan experience at each member institution, providing best practice recommendations for multiple elements of the gameday experience.

Prevent Advisors, highly regarded security specialists in sports and live entertainment facilities and a flagship service company of Oak View Group (OVG), will conduct quality assurance audits at all Big 12 football and basketball venues. Last weekend, the Prevent Advisors team conducted gameday audits at five football stadiums and will evaluate the remaining facilities – including incoming members BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF – before the end of the season. The team will then progress to assessing all Big 12 basketball venues.

Using a proprietary systematic assessment program specifically designed to fully evaluate all components of a venue’s physical security measures, Prevent Advisors’ Red Team Assessment Services – which received a coveted SAFETY Act Designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier this year – will deliver venue-specific feedback to spotlight key strengths and areas for improvement. The team will then develop minimum recommendation standards for each facility, with particular focus on post-game celebrations. Following that, Prevent Advisors will hold a Conference-wide training summit to share results and best practices. A working committee will be formed with representatives from Conference member schools to work alongside OVG and Prevent Advisors.

“Ensuring the safety and security of all of our gameday constituents is crucial,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Our partnership with Oak View Group and best-in-class Prevent Advisors will allow us to quickly uncover our strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, this partnership will allow us to be proactive in bettering all aspects of the gameday experience across our Conference.”

OVG oversees a combination of venue management and hospitality operations at several Big 12 Conference schools, including University of Texas and Texas Tech, as well as at incoming member schools UCF and Houston.

“The Big 12 Conference is one of the most prominent Conferences in the nation, and we are delighted to be working together with them in this new increased capacity,” said Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO of Oak View Group. “The grand scale of this partnership is ideal because of OVG’s profound, broad-reaching knowledge of collegiate athletic facilities, and it’s fantastic to see Brett, his team, and Big 12 member schools placing the safety of student-athletes, fans, and employees at the top of their list. Through this deal, Big 12 is getting ahead of the curve on safety and security, which are both very important parts of the overall fan experience.”

Prevent Advisors assists its clients – stadiums, arenas, and convention centers – to further enhance their overall security apparatus by addressing security needs, creating ongoing security policies and procedures, implementing these procedures, and continuously adjusting as needed. Client-partners of Prevent Advisors include professional sports leagues and teams, sport and live music entertainment venues and festivals, and corporate campuses.

“The Big 12 Conference is taking a critical preventative step to ensure safety on the field and on the court – during as well as after the games,” said Michael Downing, Chief Security Advisor for Oak View Group’s Prevent Advisors and former Deputy Chief, Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department. “For venues, it’s about honestly evaluating a facility’s strengths and weaknesses, and taking proactive, meaningful steps to better operations to the benefit of student-athletes and fans alike so that everyone can enjoy the game in a safe and secure environment.”

Blair Cardinal is Vice President, Communications for OVG360.

The joint venture of Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company in association with 34 Group has been selected by the Buffalo Bills to provide construction management of the team’s planned new NFL stadium in Orchard Park. The project team also includes the project management firm Legends Project Development and Populous as the designer.

Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company have worked together for over 25 years, building over 5.5 million square feet together. The two companies have both built extraordinary sports venues around the country and together the companies have built or renovated 16 NFL stadiums.

“We continue to partner with a first-class team of experts and professionals to bring our stadium to life,” said Bills Executive Vice President/Chief Operation Officer Ron Raccuia. “Gilbane | Turner has a tremendous wealth of experience in stadium construction, and we look forward to partnering with them.”

“We are tremendously excited to build the new home for the Buffalo Bills,” said John LaRow, Senior Vice President, Gilbane Building Company. “This new NFL stadium will be a proud representation of the energy, passion, and dedication of the Bills organization, the team, its fans, and the City of Buffalo. Our joint-venture team is committed to driving opportunities for diverse and local businesses and working with our partners to deliver this transformational project for Western New York.”

“We are excited and honored to be a part of the team building the new NFL stadium for the Buffalo Bills,” said Turner Vice President and General Manager Carlton E. Stewart. “The stadium will elevate the fan experience for this incredible team, and we will create opportunities and engagement for members of our community during construction. This project is monumental to us as New Yorkers and Bills fans. We look forward to attending many games in this great new stadium. Go Bills!”

“34 Group is incredibly honored to be part of building a vibrant new NFL stadium for the Buffalo Bills and our community,” said Thurman Thomas, founder of 34 Group. “We are dedicated to delivering a stadium that fulfills the vision for this new venue.”

The team’s lease at Highmark Stadium expires in 2023 and all parties are set to begin negotiations on extending this ahead of the stadium move.

Highmark Stadium opened in 1973. Following the opening of the new facility, the Bills’ current home is expected to be demolished and redeveloped as a large parking lot.

By Hilarie Carpenter

The Grand Rapids-Kent County (MI) Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) announced the appointment of Michael B. Verhulst by Experience Grand Rapids to the seven-member board that oversees DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall and Van Andel Arena. Verhulst was officially sworn in at the CAA board meeting on Friday, October 7, for a term expiring December 31, 2024.

Verhulst is the Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth for Acrisure Benefits Group. Prior to starting this position in April 2022, he served as Vice President of Rockford Construction for over four years, Vice President of Business Development and Community Relations for Wolverine Building Group for over three years and President and Owner of Summit Landscape Management, Inc. for nearly 16 years. Verhulst serves on the boards of Grand Valley Metro Council, Priority Health, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Symphony, Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Experience Grand Rapids. He was recently appointed to the Foundation Board of the Grand Rapids Chamber and is an advisory committee member of ArtPrize Leadership On Canvas.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Mike to the CAA,” said CAA Chairman Rick Winn. “His extensive professional and volunteer experience focused on a number of aspects of community development will be a tremendous asset to our venues. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to look toward future opportunities.”

“It is an honor to join the CAA and to work alongside the other board members who have had such an impact in the community,” Verhulst said. “I’m excited to contribute to these venues that have proven to be such assets to West Michigan and will work hard to ensure their continued success.”

By Celebrity Access

Venue management giant ASM Global announced the expansion of its ASM Global College Collective partnership initiative with the addition of key sports and entertainment facilities at the University of Colorado.

Through the partnership, ASM Global will provide consulting, event booking, and venue services for the operations and programming for the university’s Folsom Field and the Event Center.

The addition of the University of Colorado to the initiative brings ASM Global’s portfolio of higher education partners to 18 universities representing 25 total venues throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Recent additions to that list include Texas A&M University (Kyle Field and Reed Arena), Rutgers University (Jersey Mike’s Arena; SHI Stadium), Wake Forest University (Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum; Truist Field; David F. Couch) and Wright State University (Nutter Center).

“These collaborations are truly an honor for us. Our expansion has been explosive in this category over the past six months. We have a long history of sterling partnerships with many of the top universities across the U.S. With our unparalleled worldwide experience in this category and the amazing locations and amazing venues we’ve recently begun working with it’s definitely a transformational moment to dramatically expand all of these iconic venues’ entertainment offerings beyond athletics,” said ASM Global President and CEO Ron Bension.

Photo by University of Colorado Athletics