By AZ Big Media

Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment and ASM Global announced plans for a major new partnership that will rename the city of Glendale’s 18,000 seat facility to Desert Diamond Arena. The agreement signals the dawn of a new level of entertainment offerings for years to come.

Located less than one mile apart, in Glendale’s vibrant Sports and Entertainment District, the partnership will integrate new opportunities and synergies between ASM Global, Desert Diamond Casinos and a world-class arena. New headline events, interconnected promotions, special offers and other amenities will all be part of an unparalleled entertainment mecca in one of the fastest-growing regions in Arizona.

This is only the beginning, as planned major upgrades to the arena and future hotel and resort expansions to Desert Diamond Casinos will ensure additional future opportunities. The announced agreement will be in place for at least a decade beginning this fall and brings together partners who share in the commitment to supporting the community by bringing expanded entertainment and economic opportunities.

The announcement comes as ASM Global has transitioned to offering a full schedule of top-level concerts. Upcoming acts include renowned talents such as Alan Jackson, Roger Waters, Professional Bull Rider Teams, Pepe Aguilar and Ateez. Additional headline acts have already been secured for 2023, including Rage Against the Machine and Carrie Underwood.

Mike Bean, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise said, “Desert Diamond Casinos has always been committed to building a successful West Valley community with diverse entertainment options. It just made sense to connect our capabilities with our neighbors at ASM Global and the City of Glendale so we can deliver the best possible experience for all of our guests. We appreciate the vision of Glendale leaders in establishing a thriving sports and entertainment district where all of us can succeed together.”

Jason Oberlander, Chief Commercial Officer for ASM Global said, “This is about much more than changing the name of the arena. Strengthening our relationship with Desert Diamond Casinos through this new agreement will allow us to go further than ever before in delivering the highest level of entertainment experiences to our guests. With the City of Glendale, this partnership is more than the sum of its parts and we are excited to move forward with this new opportunity.”

Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers said, “The exciting news about the naming rights agreement is a big win for Glendale and the West Valley. Desert Diamond Casinos are leaders in entertainment, job creation and driving increased business for retail, hotels and restaurants. It is a perfect fit for their brand to be extended to our Arena. We are proud of the strong partnership between the Tohono O’odham Nation and our community.”

By Karen Caro

The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority in Atlanta announced the hiring of Shawn Stinson to the position of Director of Food & Beverage at the Cobb Galleria Centre and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Stinson has 25 years of experience in venue and food & beverage management. As Director of Food & Beverage, Stinson will provide strategic leadership and execution of the company’s food and beverage concepts.

“Shawn’s background and credentials bring a fresh perspective to our venues,” said Michele Swann, General Manager & CEO of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority. “She brings a depth of knowledge that will add to our already incredibly talented team and elevate the guest experience.”

Stinson, a Michigan native, began her career in country club management. Additionally, she spent 12 years with the Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech and most recently was the General Manager of Proof of the Pudding at Savanna Hall (Zoo Atlanta). She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Hospitality Services from Central Michigan University.

Karen Caro is Marketing Manager for Cobb Galleria Centre and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.

By Paul Kapusta

Stadium Tech Report would like to invite all IAVM venue managers to take our Stadium Connectivity Outlook survey, a short list of questions designed to provide the stadium management community with a snapshot of how venues are (or are not!) using technology to solve for fan pain points and to improve revenue opportunities. The survey, which only takes a couple minutes to complete (so short you can take it on your phone), covers topics including wireless connectivity, entry and security technology, concessions technology, and technology spending priorities.

Take the survey today by clicking here.

If there is one hallmark of the venue operations industry, it is the spirit of sharing information with others. Professionals in this field know their gained knowledge might help others, and when asked, they usually share willingly. In that spirit, we ask you to help your peers by adding your insight to our collaborative project.

In return, all participants in the survey will get a full set of results as well as our white paper analyzing the responses. All answers are completely anonymous, with no personal, team, or venue association attached to any results. As a way of saying thanks, we will also send a Stadium Tech Report ballcap to respondents who want one! For a deeper explanation of the survey attributes, as well as links to download last year’s report, please visit our website at

this link.

Paul Kapusta is Editor of Stadium Tech Report.

By Justin Tinder

Hospitality industry veteran Barbara Beaton has been appointed as General Manager of the Oklahoma City Convention Center. The ASM Global-managed venue opened in January 2021 and features a 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall with 45,000 square foot of meeting space and a 30,000-square-foot ballroom. The new center has already proven to be a hub for the meetings and events industry in the Heartland.

Beaton will immediately assume leadership of the overall management, promotion and operation of the facilities, leading a team of dedicated professionals at the OKC Convention Center while building on the key industry community partnerships. She will also work to support the overall mission of the OKC Convention Center, ASM Global and the City of Oklahoma City, who owns the facility.

“We are fortunate to have Barbara accept this leadership position to build an alliance with the local hospitality community, deliver on the brand promise and to provide customers with exceptional service,” said Bob McClintock, ASM Global Executive Vice President of Convention Centers.

While Beaton has been part of the ASM Global family for 17 years, the move from Assistant General Manager to General Manager is a significant promotion. She is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and began her career in the hospitality industry working in Convention Sales for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. She has previously worked in various capacities for NRG Park in Houston, Fort Worth Convention Center, and the Fort Worth Convention Bureau.

“It is a very exciting time to be part of the meetings community in Oklahoma City,” Beaton said. “With an engaged hospitality community and the state-of-the-art convention center and working with a city that is committed to the meetings industry I am proud to be part of the dedicated professionals at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.”

Justin Tinder is Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

By R.V. Baugus and Nancy Seltzer

Ben Farrell, a legendary Nashville based-concert promoter has died at 76. He passed away on August 10th, surrounded by his family and so much love. The President of Varnell Enterprises, Ben was the longtime concert promoter for Garth Brooks, and had worked with Elvis, George Strait, Neil Diamond, The Carpenters, The Osmonds, and many more legendary artists

Ben began his career in Country Music in 1970 and was proud to say he worked in the industry for 52 years. Ben was a very hands-on concert promoter always working directly with the venue himself. When Ben began his career with Varnell Enterprises, he initially worked alongside Lon Varnell, assisting Mr. Varnell with concert promotions, marketing and on-site supervision. The talent he was working with included Elvis Presley, Elton John, Lawrence Welk, and Guy Lombardo.

Ben independently established relationships with the country artists of the day, he brought the acts into Varnell Enterprises and ran with it. Ben remained at Varnell Enterprises his entire career, ultimately to become its president.

“I knew Ben for over 40 years, and he was one of the smartest and funniest promoters I ever knew,” said Michael Marion, CVE, general manager of Simmons Banks Arena in Little Rock, AR. “His wit, wisdom and story-telling were unmatched. Every arena manager has a Ben story that brings a smile to their face. There was no one like him and he will be sorely missed.”

Barbara “Mother” Hubbard, recipient of this year’s Charles A. McElravy Award at VenueConnect in Phoenix who at 95 knows a thing or two about the music business and is still active promoting shows, called Ben one of her mentors who paved her way during a recent interview with IAVM.

Most notably, Ben was Garth Brooks’ concert promoter for over 30 years, first joining Garth in 1989. “I love Ben Farrell. And like Chris LeDoux, Ben Farrell will continue to be the kind of man I want to be. Honest, fair, and hard working. I am lucky to have known him,” Brooks said.

Later in his long and storied career he worked with many great artists of the 20th century, including The Statler Brothers, Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Neil Diamond, The Carpenters, The Osmonds, Charlie Pride, Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell and many, many more. In recent years, artists such as Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, and Chris Young.

Throughout his entire career he remained a fixture on many “Promoter of the Year” lists.

Ben Kerby Farrell was born on July 17, 1946, in Jackson, Tennessee. Ben’s father, Kerby Farrell, was a professional baseball player and manager. The family traveled for years, and Ben soon developed an early love of baseball. He lettered all four years on the Chester County High School baseball team. He attended David Lipscomb University on a baseball scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1966, Ben was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and went on to play with the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox farm clubs. In 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served for two years of active service, in which he trained troops for Vietnam. In 1970, he began his career in Country Music.

He met his wife, Autumn, in 1998 and they married in 2001. In 2003, the Lord blessed them with the most precious gift of all, their daughter, Ella Grace. Ben was very passionate about sports, especially hockey and University of Tennessee football. He loved maps and geography and would study any chance he got. He was very patriotic. He loved his country and its military. He was such an avid reader and researcher, always trying to improve, innovate and encourage those in the Country Music world. His memory was like none other. He could recall dates, numbers, cities, radio/tv call letters, seat capacities/charts, all at the drop of a hat. He could remember exact ticket sales from any random city, on a random date, at a random building upon command and all the way back to the 1970’s!

He truly loved the Country Music business and cherished the relationships he made over his 52 plus year career. Every relationship at every level, artist management, building managers, radio and TV station managers and their staff, his extensive media contacts, all the musicians, road crew members, Ticketmaster staff, everyone.

More than anything he loved his family. He loved being home with his wife and daughter. They will tell you, to know Ben was to love him, he was the most brilliant, driven, hard-working, honest, loyal, dedicated, humble, sincere, funny, loving, thoughtful, and unique man ever known. One of his many gifts, a masterful storyteller, he could capture a crowd and fill the room with laughter as he shared stories from the past. He was cherished and will be missed dearly and remembered often.

Visitation and Funeral details are below:

Visitation:
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Celebration of Life (Funeral):
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 11:00 AM

Location:
Woodmont Christian Church
3601 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215

Nancy Seltzer is with Nancy Seltzer & Associates