By Stacie Bauer

Ungerboeck mourns the loss of its co-founder, Dieter K. Ungerboeck, who passed away August 16 at the age of 80.

“The event software industry has lost a pioneer today, but the trend of using technology to drive events will continue, and for that this industry will be forever grateful to Dieter,” said Manish Chandak, President and CEO of Ungerboeck. “His legacy lives on in most large event spaces across the world.”

Born in Vienna, Austria, Dieter moved to St. Louis in his twenties. Urban legend or not, he was caught in a snowstorm in St. Louis while deciding whether to go to San Francisco or New York to pursue his master’s degree. Instead, he happened upon the steps of St. Louis University and struck up a conversation about the school with a man who turned out to be Dean of the Business School. The Dean offered Dieter a scholarship who accepted on the spot, enrolled, and went on to raise a family and found two companies in his adopted hometown.

In 1985, he and his late wife Catherine co-founded Ungerboeck Systems, Inc. (USI), with Catherine leading software development and Dieter heading up client relations. The concept of a single software system connecting all event stakeholders and making financials simple and clear was Dieter’s passion. USI released Event Business Management Software (EBMS) in 1989, putting the company on the map for event professionals around the globe.

Over the next three decades, the small startup founded by Dieter and Catherine pivoted, evolved, and grew into one of the most recognized and respected brands in the event industry. In 2021, Ungerboeck acquired Eventbooking, Priava, ShoWorks, and Risk Sense Technologies, bringing those successful products and teams into the Ungerboeck family. Today, Ungerboeck is the leading provider of event and venue management software in the world, serving customers in over 50 countries and employing almost 500 people in the United States, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, China, and India.

“Dieter built an incredible business,” said Steve Mackenzie, CVE, Ungerboeck Executive Vice President, and Dieter’s longtime friend. “He had amazing vision for this industry and could predict where technology needed to go to suit the market. His whole concept of one unified system from booking to balance sheet was fundamental to the way the product evolved. Dieter was a true pioneer in the event management industry and very passionate about building a global business in the city he loved St. Louis.”

Dieter retired from the company in 2009, but he continued to make waves – literally, by founding the Ozark Yacht Club in Lake Ozark, Mo., that same year.

“He built a very successful marina business when he was supposedly ‘retired,’” Mackenzie said. “But that was Dieter. He could never sit still.”

Mackenzie will especially miss Dieter’s larger-than-life charm and sense of humor.

“Everyone Dieter interacted with has a Dieter story,” he said. “You couldn’t help but laugh once he started telling a story and got that boyish grin and belly laugh going. I know he would want us all to remember him as someone who cared deeply about his family, his business, and his sailing – probably in that order.”

“He was like family to me. His trust, continuous encouragement, and advice helped me thrive,” Chandak said. “He always got excited hearing about product innovation and customer wins. I am forever grateful to Dieter and his family for entrusting me with the opportunity to run their amazing company.”

Dieter leaves behind four sons, Krister, Justin, Ryan, and Daren, all of whom have worked to continue their parents’ legacy by guiding the company into the future. The thoughts and condolences of Ungerboeck employees all over the world are with them, their families, and Dieter’s second wife, Peggy.

To see the company’s video announcement of the passing of Dieter Ungerboeck, please click here.

Stacie Bauer is Event & Sponsorship Coordinator, Marketing, for Ungerboeck.

Premium experiences company Legends has announced the appointment of Melvin Lenzy as chief brand and innovation officer, while Matt O’Neil has been named chief content and experience officer.

Lenzy (pictured left) and O’Neil (pictured right) will manage marketing, creative, content, communications and events for the company, each focusing on different business verticals with the goal of helping drive business growth and revenue. They will work with Legends’ clients to provide marketing and branding consulting to heighten the customer experience and develop revenue-generating strategies.

Lenzy has 25 years of strategic marketing experience and has worked with companies such as the NFL, EA Sports, Konami and Nike, where he spent 15 years of his career. He most recently served as the global head of marketing for the NBA2K franchise.

O’Neil previously oversaw all facets of marketing, media and content creation, and game entertainment for the Dallas Cowboys NFL team and Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. For the past five years, he ran his own content and marketing agency, Ichi Go.

By Stadium Business

New York Giants and New York Jets fans will be able to experience mobile ordering at MetLife Stadium as part of a deal with Waitr which will promote the online ordering technology platform’s impending rebrand to ASAP.

The official five-year partnership with the two NFL franchises and their home venue names Waitr as the exclusive mobile ordering platform at MetLife Stadium. Fans will be able to use the ASAP platform to place mobile orders at all Jets and Giants home games with the platform integrated into each team’s app for mobile ordering from concession stands throughout MetLife Stadium.

For other events, ASAP’s mobile ordering will be done directly through the proprietary ASAP stadium ordering application. Waitr will also use the partnership to enter into the New York/New Jersey delivery market. For Waitr, the deal marks the largest deployment of its ASAP platform within an NFL venue to date.

Waitr will have the rights to use Jets and Giants logos and trademarks for approved uses within the NY and NJ markets. MetLife Stadium videoboards, pylons, LEDs, and other signage will promote ASAP mobile ordering at Jets and Giants home games, concerts, and other events. In addition, Waitr will engage fans with unique promotions and giveaways throughout the NFL season at Jets and Giants games.

MetLife Stadium will be one of the first physical locations where Waitr reveals its company-wide rebrand as the business transitions to a broader ‘deliver anything ASAP’ model. In the coming weeks, Waitr will launch its on-demand service in several cities across New Jersey, offering same-day delivery of a wide variety of items such as food, alcohol, apparel, luxury, sporting goods, auto parts, and electrical products.

“Partnering with MetLife Stadium to deliver an exciting, new and convenient service to their fans marks an important milestone for us,” said Carl Grimstad, chief executive and chairman of Waitr Holding.

“First, our proprietary in-stadium ordering technology will offer millions of sports and music fans each year an improved fan experience, allowing them to ‘skip the wait’ at concessions stands and other vendors throughout the stadium for their favorite food and drinks.

“Second, it will allow us to launch our best-in-class delivery services across the Tri-State area for those who don’t want to – or can’t – leave their home or office. And finally, this partnership will be a catalyst for us to expand into other major cities and venues nationwide.

“We are excited to now be able to say we provide our proprietary mobile ordering services to some of the best stadiums in the US with this partnership, along with our current partnerships with the University of Alabama, LSU, and the New Orleans Saints, with more to come.”

New York Giants chief commercial officer, Pete Guelli, added: “The addition of mobile ordering has been an important part of our enhanced concessions experience and partnering with Waitr to use their best-in-class ASAP platform will continue to expand what we can offer to our fans at games and concerts going forward.”

By Live Nation Entertainment

Broadway Dallas and Live Nation announced a multi-year partnership to bring a wide-ranging, diverse programming line-up to the 3,400-seat Music Hall at Fair Park.

Since opening in 1925, the Music Hall has hosted thousands of events ranging from Broadway to concerts to comedy and speakers. Notable events include HAMILTON, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Dr. Martin Luther King, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Seinfeld, Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Liberace, and hundreds more.

“We are privileged to have the nearly 100-year-old Music Hall in our care,” said Ken Novice, president and CEO of Broadway Dallas. “While Broadway performances take up a significant portion of our calendar, there are dozens of weeks each year where the venue sits empty. This new partnership with Live Nation will help ensure that the Music Hall is occupied as much as possible with diverse, world-class artists and that the legacy of this marvelous venue continues to grow.”

Already announced Live Nation shows at the Music Hall include K-POP sensations LOONA (August 25), Il Divo (August 27), The Australian Pink Floyd Show (August 28), The O’Jays + The Commodores (September 4), A Magical Cirque Christmas (November 19), zoe (December 9), Alton Brown (December 10) with many more to be announced soon.

“Our experience with shows at the Music Hall has been great,” said Anthony Nicolaidis, Live Nation’s Dallas Market President. “We love the historic atmosphere of the venue and being part of the resurgence of the entire Fair Park district. And the capacity offers a great option for artists to play. We look forward to formalizing our relationship.”

Recent successful Live Nation shows at the Music Hall include two sell-outs of comedian Hasan Minhaj, and German techno-pop icons Kraftwerk.

This new partnership has far-reaching economic impact for the community.

“The additional activity in the Music Hall results in more employment days for part-time event staff including ushers, ticket takers, security, concessions staff, parking personnel and our backstage productions crew,” Novice said. “And I know that the restaurants in the growing Exposition Park area directly across the street from us and in Deep Ellum will benefit as well.”

The Music Hall joins a robust roster of venues with which Live Nation partners including The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Dos Equis Pavilion, House of Blues Dallas, and The Echo Lounge & Music Hall.

From BroncoSports.com

Following its launch of the Playbook for Success and Athletics Master Village in April, Boise State Athletics is releasing updated details for the north end zone of Albertsons Stadium and renovations to ExtraMile Arena, director of athletics Jeramiah Dickey announced.

The update also includes the department’s initial project-based cost analysis for the Athletics Master Village, totaling more than $300 million in future projects, highlighted by $129.4 million in plans for Albertsons Stadium. Boise State partnered with AECOM’s sports practice — the industry’s only fully-integrated sports consultancy — in August 2021 and has worked hand in hand with the firm to identify recommendations for facility improvements and additions since. The latest details are a result of the continued collaboration.

“Since our initial unveiling in April, we have had the opportunity to further define details with key projects which includes a much better understanding of total cost,” Dickey said. “While unprecedented and bold, we are unwavering in our vision to create elite facilities and experiences for our student-athletes and Bronco Nation. Our aggressive fundraising strategy is already well underway, and we aim to announce progress by the end of this year.”

Refined Athletics Master Village Detail

In the north end zone of Albertsons Stadium, the $36.1 million vision for a state-of-the-art facility to be constructed at field level will support an enhanced premium club experience on game day and a year-round dining program for student-athletes. Complete with 10 field-level suites, loge seating, and premium club seating, the north end zone amenities will resemble a commitment to excellence while completing a 360-degree concourse for fans. In total, Albertsons Stadium projects are currently estimated at $129.4 million.

ExtraMile Arena updates include expanding the performance and training capabilities for men’s and women’s basketball, as well as adding premium game day experience opportunities for fans. An expansion of the Arguinchona Basketball Complex will add coaches’ offices and a state-of-the-art weight room alongside the existing practice gym. The $19.4 million project will bring accommodations for two premium club spaces, a dedicated premium entrance and enhanced mezzanine, loge, and club seating.

Boise State Athletics has received $1.25 million in commitments to date in support of the men’s and women’s basketball performance center expansion in the Arguinchona Basketball Complex.

The recommendation for an Athletics Master Village was introduced to include implementation from all four elements of the department’s What’s Next Initiative – infrastructure, student-athlete experience, marketability and revenue generation.

The Athletics Master Village arrives on the heels of Boise State’s recent launch of the Horsepower Drive for 10,000 BAA members, which includes a goal of 200 Lyle Smith Society members by 2023 and 25,000 football season tickets to be sold by 2025. Fans excited about the future vision of Bronco Athletics are encouraged to purchase season tickets, join the stampede for 10,000 BAA members or review the multiple philanthropic options available through the Bronco Athletic Association.