By Gail Sawyer

Malcolm Caddies, Grounds Manager at the ASM Global managed, iconic Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, has been announced as General Manager of Sports Turf and Landscape at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.

Caddies, renowned for his ability to deliver a first-class pitch for multiple World Cup Tournaments and back-to-back international sporting events, will take up his position at the ASM Global managed Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong, in October.

Hong Kong’s state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports precinct, built on the site of the former Kai Tak Airport on Kowloon, is set for completion in the second half of 2024.

Chairman and CEO of ASM Global (Asia Pacific) Harvey Lister AM, said Malcom’s appointment was recognition of his professionalism and dedication during his 19 years at Suncorp Stadium.

“Kai Tak Sports Park is set to be one of the greatest sporting precincts in the world and this appointment will highlight Malcolm’s skills in being able to accommodate all sporting codes, delivering world class pitches for international competition.

“The appointment illustrates the value of the ASM Global Advantage. Malcolm applied for this role amongst a strong field of international candidates, and this is proof of ASM Global’s commitment to create rewarding careers for our people.”

ASM Global’s executive director at Kai Tak Sports Park, Darren Burden, said it was a privilege to welcome Caddies to the outstanding team responsible for delivering one of the world’s greatest sporting venues.

“Malcolm has a fantastic reputation and will no doubt make an invaluable contribution to the success and performance of the Sports Park,” Burden said. “I believe his extraordinary knowledge, experience, and skills as an internationally acclaimed groundsman will bring unique qualities to the role and very much look forward to welcoming him to Hong Kong.”

Caddies said he was extremely proud of all that he and his team achieved at Suncorp Stadium. “Kai Tak Sports Park is an incredible project, and I am looking forward to playing my part in making it an enormous success on the world stage.”

Caddies’ new role at Kai Tak Sports Park will involve leading the operation and management of the sports fields and landscape at the Sports Park, as well as managing an off-site Turf Farm. Initially he will work with the design and build team to oversee and advise on the construction and operation of the playing surfaces in the Main Stadium and Public Sports Grounds.

Gail Sawyer is Group Communications Manager – ASM Global (Asia Pacific).

By Stadiums Business

Weapons detection security screening firm Evolv Technology has strengthened its presence in the NFL by agreeing to a deal with SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Evolv’s technology will be used at all events at the stadium starting from the upcoming season. The system uses sensor technology to spot potential danger from weapons or other prohibited devices.

Rams and Chargers fans will be able to walk through the stadium scanners without removing anything from their pockets or clear bags. Additional security screening may be required in some instances and fans will be asked to comply with the requests of stadium staff.

SoFi Stadium will also be introducing new ticket-scanning equipment for the new season. Fans who attended the Rams’ pre-season game against the Houston Texans were able to sample the new entry process, which includes hands-free pedestal scanners at all entries.

The ticket scanners are designed to increase throughput into the stadium, with fans being encouraged to have their mobile tickets ready before reaching stadium entry points. Tickets will either be saved to their mobile wallet, in the Rams or Ticketmaster mobile app, or on mobile web.

Recently, Evolv entered into a partnership with FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns.

Evolv Express will help reduce lines at both of the stadium’s south entrances, which are the busiest for Browns games. Evolv Express, which is built with sensor technology and AI, identifies weapons, enabling security professionals to focus on addressing potential threats and reducing the need to manually screen every fan.

Evolv also holds partnerships with the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium, Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium, and Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

By Ike Richman

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded Prevent Advisors, a highly regarded security specialist in sports, live entertainment, and meeting facilities, with a SAFETY Act Designation for the company’s industry-leading Red Team Assessment Services.

Prevent Advisors’ Red Team Assessment Services is a proprietary systematic assessment program specifically designed to fully evaluate all components of a venue’s physical security measures. 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.

Prevent Advisors is a flagship service company of OVG360, which is the third-party venue management, venue services and hospitality division of Oak View Group, a global sports and entertainment company focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports, live entertainment, and hospitality industries.

It is the first time the DHS awarded a SAFETY Act Designation to a Red Team Assessment Service.

“Safety and Security will always be a foundational principle in the live sports and entertainment industry, and we have built a world class security division that supports professional sports leagues and entertainment venues security programs,” said Michael Downing, Chief Security Advisor, Oak View Group’s Prevent Advisors, and former Deputy Chief, Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department. “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recent Safety Act Designation Award to Prevent Advisors speaks volumes to our commitment in this space.”

“This first of its kind SAFETY Act award is a recognition by DHS that the methodology created by Prevent Advisors is an effective tool that all venue operators should be leveraging as part of their own venue security program,” said Akmal Ali, CEO of Aluma and former Deputy Director of the SAFETY Act program within U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The award comes after Prevent Advisors demonstrated its expertise in the security world to DHS, validating the company’s extensive training and continuing education process its auditors undergo to ensure the company can provide maximum benefit to its clients.

Prevent Advisors’ current partners include professional sports leagues and teams, sport and live music entertainment venues and festivals, and corporate campuses.

Prevent Advisors develop and implement full security solutions tailored to meet the 21st century demands of the sports, entertainment, and meetings facility industry. Core Services include Prevention & Risk Analysis, Security Consulting & Solutions, Intelligence Service, and Training & Crisis Response.

Prevent Advisors’ services can also be an add-on for OVG360 clients where the company manages and operates public assembly facilities, OVG Hospitality where the company provides food and beverage services, or the OVG Arena Alliance.

“The safety of our guests, performers, athletes, and staff is our top priority,” said Tim Leiweke, Chairman & CEO, Oak View Group. “We are proud of our Prevent Advisors’ work at all our facilities and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s recognition.”

Ike Richman is president of Ike Richman Communications.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in August 2022. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

 

Kailee Ayers, First National Bank Arena, State University, AR

Noelle Baddeley, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Andre Bennington, Dayton Live, Dayton, OH

Rebecca Beyer, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Alexandra Black, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Mike Bober, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Christina Brown, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Kelly Bryl, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Megan Caldwell, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Steve Carl, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

William Code, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Joe Collins, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Isabella Correa, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Austin Crawford, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Brian Cummings, Gordon Field House & Activities Center, Rochester, NY

Matt Cunningham, Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, MO

Jaron Davis, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Ryan Dunne, Barclays Center, Commack, NY

Marc Feldman, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Tijuan Fletcher, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Jose Flores, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

Stacey Flores, City of Dallas, Dallas, TX

Davin Gaddy, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Tasha Gandy, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Michelle Gebhart, American Tower Corporation, Cary, NC

John Gilbert, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, TX

Sam Giordano, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

Michelle Gustafson, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Emily Hamm, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Darrin Harrje, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Jeremiah Hayward, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Sydney Heidegger, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Madeline Hollyfield, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Jackie Horvath, Horvath Communications, South Bend, IN

Kevin Kahn, Joffe Emergency Services, Santa Monica, CA

Sean Kenny, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Ron Larson, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Leslie Lee, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Julian Matos, Ping Communications, Piscataway, NJ

Tabitha Mayers, Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, GA

Michael Mell, Theater Design, Cold Spring, NY

Santonio Moore, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Julio Moreno, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Kendra Moyars, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Steve Nebehay, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Jonathan Newell, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Emily O’Neill, Rogers Arena | Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Vancouver, BC

Jason Olsen, Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham, NC

Justin Peckham, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Liz Peralta, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Jocelyn Perez, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Joseph Ralston, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Baylee Richter, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Steve Roberts, Three Rivers Campus, Kennewick, WA

Stephen Rorai, Performing Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX

Johnny Sanchez, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Lindsey Sanchez, H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Cedar Park, TX

Doug Schaub, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues, Phoenix, AZ

Brayden Sherman, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Vikram Singh, The Dollar Loan Center, Henderson, NV

Ronnie Sparks, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Danyhl Stanley, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Audrix Tamarez, Barclays Center, Yonkers, NY

Elena Thornton, L-Acoustics, Westlake Village, CA

Lisa Trainor, Sodexo/Centerplate, New Orleans, LA

David Treber, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury, MD

Jordan Urban, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

Andrew Vecere, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Celeste Villegas, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Dallas, TX

Diana Walcott, Georgia International Convention Center/GICC, College Park, GA

Casey Warnick, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Christina Wenger, The Juilliard School, New York, NY

Tosha White, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

Emma Whitlock, Swiftel Center, Brookings, SD

Angel Wilson, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Travis Winters, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Theresa Yvonne, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View, CA

By Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip

Vivian Freymoyer, Michelle Linahan, and Daniella Sirleaf were announced as recipients of the inaugural ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program, along with 22 other students from across the United States. Freymoyer is an incoming freshman at Saint Joseph’s University, and Linahan and Sirleaf are both business majors at the Community College of Philadelphia.

The scholarships awarded to the Philadelphia students through the Program were matched by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, allowing more students to benefit from the award and further supporting their education and career goals.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award and I truly appreciate the support from ASM Global and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority,” said Freymoyer, a Food Marketing major. “I am looking forward to attending Saint Joseph’s University in the fall and am eager to begin my next chapter.”

“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority is committed to investing in the future of the hospitality industry,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “Initiatives such as the ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program are closely aligned with the overall mission of the Authority and provide a wonderful opportunity to make education more accessible for all. We are proud to support the academic pursuits of these three scholars.”

The ASM Global Stars Scholarship program is a part of ASM Global Acts, a corporate social responsibility platform launched in 2021, and provides educational and career development opportunities through scholarship awards and prospective internships to diverse and under-resourced communities.

“One of the key pillars of the ASM Global ACTS initiative is investing in people, and at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, we are committed to creating opportunities for the youth in our communities to have access to the resources they need to build their skills for a meaningful career in the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Kelvin D. Moore, Regional Vice President, ASM Global and General Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “We also thank the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for their continued partnership and the shared mission of making a difference in the communities in which we serve.”

Jude-Anne Spencer-Phillip is Senior Communications Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.