Pictured from left are Omni employees Chuck Duncan, Jack Popham, Bob Dhue, Bob Williams, and Mike Oshust at the 1983 ACC Basketball Championships final game. Reggie Williams is seated in front.

Robert Wayne (Bob) Dhue, longtime manager of the Omni in Atlanta, died Oct. 19 at the age of 79.

He was a “great friend and boss, too many great times to remember,” said Mike Oshust, who worked with Dhue at the Omni in Atlanta.  Dhue brought his love of marketing to the forefront during his four years with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), a Turner Broadcasting Company. He was already president of The Omni when he added executive director of operations at WCW to his duties in 1992.

He made headlines when he created a mascot, Wildcat Willie, for the touring wrestling show, enlisting Jim Hedrick, who had been Harry the Hawk for the Atlanta Hawks during Dhue’s reign at the Omni. “Bob loved wrestling,” noted Oshust. “We had WCW in the building twice a month, 22 dates out of the year.”

Oshust concurred with Post that Dhue was a great boss, making sure everyone had adequate down time and family time in this crazy business. His mantra was, “just do your job.” The crew that ran the Omni, those who remain, still gather occasionally in Atlanta, Oshust said. They were that close-knit. All were also longtime members of IAVM (then IAAM), which Dhue attended regularly. They were regulars at the golf tournament, which Dhue loved as much as music and sports.

Pictured from left are Mike Oshust, Bob Dhue, Scott Simpson, and Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus employees, Allen Bloom and Richard Adler, at the 1991 Atlanta Classic ProAm.

Dhue began his career in venue management at the Omni in 1976 as director of booking. He was president of the since-demolished home of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA from 1988 to 1996.

The Omni Coliseum opened as part of the large Omni complex that developed the southern end of downtown Atlanta in the early 1970s to attract convention and professional sports industries to the city. Portions of this complex, most notably the CNN Center, exist today, but the Omni arena was torn down in 1997. Philips Arena, now known as State Farm Arena, was built in its place.

Dhue was vice president of National Car Rental Arena, Miami, for Leisure Management International, opening that venue in 1999. In 2001, he returned to Atlanta and founded R. Dhue & Associates, becoming a facility management and marketing consultant.

Photographed in 1990, from left, are Mike Oshust, Bob Dhue, and Richard Adler.

Dhue was born in 1945 to Harry and Cecilia Dhue (Zitter). He was an only child but made a large family of friends in the venue business.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, with whom he shared many years, and by his daughters, Laurie Dhue (a longtime newscaster of whom he was very proud), Nancy Dhue Suh (Chris), and Lauren Mecham (Jon); and son, Mark-David Chandler (Ashley); four grandchildren, and many friends, and extended family members.

There will be a celebration of his life Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. at Parish Grove (Cathedral Towers), 2820 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta.

Prime Site Award

Image 1 of 3

Durham Convention Center was recently awarded the Prime Site Award for the 2024 Facilities & Destinations Magazine.

Visit their newly revamped website at durhamconventioncenter.com to learn more about this exciting IAVM Member Venue!

All photos, video, and information were provided by Durham Convention Center.

We are spotlighting the incredible ways our members are putting their knowledge into action! Whether it’s a new initiative inspired by an IAVM event or session, a training program that elevated your team’s performance, or an innovative solution that made your venue more efficient—your story matters! Send us yours today!

On Tuesday, Oklahoma City Council approved a contract with the architectural team of MANICA Architecture as the Design Architect and TVS as the Architect of Record for the design and development of Oklahoma City’s new arena.

“Both TVS and Manica Architecture have designed iconic arena and stadium projects worldwide,” OKC Director David Todd said. “They have a proven track record of creating functional, memorable buildings that communities are proud of.”

Kansas City-based MANICA specializes in sport and entertainment venues. Some of their NBA and NFL designs include Chase Center in San Francisco, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the proposed Chicago Bears stadium in Chicago, and the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville, which is currently under construction.

“At Manica Architecture, we choose projects where we can truly make a difference in that city, and Oklahoma City is at the top of that list,” said David Manica, owner and founder of Manica Architecture. “This project won’t be the start of the renaissance in Oklahoma City, but rather the continuation of that momentum. We begin this effort with no preconceptions. We want to come to the table to listen and really understand what the city and team want for future generations. We have an incredible opportunity to work together to create a signature facility that can make the city shine and be truly unique to Oklahoma City and its people.”

Some of Atlanta-based TVS’s projects include Jio World Center in Mumbai, India; Longgang International Arts Center in Shenzhen, China; Duke Energy Plaza in Charlotte, NC; Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.; and the MOTE Science Education Center in Sarasota, Fla.

“TVS is honored to serve as Architect of Record for the new Oklahoma City Arena, and we are excited to be partnered alongside Design Architect MANICA, Oklahoma City, and The Thunder,” TVS Principal Rob O’Keefe said. “Together, this formidable team will deliver a facility that will serve the citizens of Oklahoma City for generations.”

Next Steps
The arena will be built on the City-owned site where Prairie Surf Studios, formerly the Cox Convention Center, is located. The existing building is expected to be demolished in 2025. Design will begin immediately, and construction will start in 2026, with completion scheduled for 2028.

Arena Background
In December 2023, Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly (71%) approved a penny sales tax to build a new, publicly-owned arena. In May 2024, the Oklahoma City Council approved a development agreement for the City’s new arena between the City and PBC Sports and Entertainment, LLC (PBCS&E), owners of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma City Blue.

The new arena will be funded by a 72-month, one-cent sales tax that will start when the MAPS 4 tax ends and will not increase the sales tax rate. The arena will also be paid for with $70 million in MAPS 4 funding and $50 million from the Oklahoma City Thunder ownership group.

The $900 million arena will be at least 750,000 square feet and be built to:

• Benefit the residents of Oklahoma City
• Meet NBA specifications and requirements
• Maximize team revenues, ensuring the sustainability of major league professional sports in Oklahoma City

The City will own and be responsible for maintaining and operating the new arena, which will be home to the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team.

The Thunder will continue to play home games at Paycom Center until the new arena opens, with a target completion date of June 2028 and a contractual obligation to open the new arena by June 2030. The Thunder’s 25-year commitment to remain in Oklahoma City begins when they move into the new arena.

Hilary Rita Hartung was born Aug. 10, 1944, to William and Ruth Like in Hollis, Queens (N.Y.), before moving to Massapequa in 1956. She was the ultimate connector, touching innumerable lives and helping launch the careers of so many young professionals on Long Island.

Hartung built a great career at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y., before transferring her numerous marketing talents to the nonprofit world. She gave back in a big way as a teacher, friend, and cohort in the Event & Venue Marketing Assn. world, where she received the Association’s most prestigious award, the Gigi Award of Excellence, in 2006.

Hilary Hartung, center, EAC, Hempstead, N.Y., is congratulated on winning the Gigi Award of Excellence by Karen Swan, left, Target Center, Minneapolis, and Tammy Koolbeck of Compass Facility Management at the time, later VenuWorks. (Photo courtesy of Amusement Business)

Serving as Director of Marketing for Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for 15 years, from 1983 to 1998, Hartung then joined EAC, Education and Assistance Corp., where she worked for 14 years and nine months before retiring in April 2013.

Hartung passed away peacefully Oct. 5 after a heroic battle with ovarian cancer in her hometown of Massapequa, N.Y. It was at Massapequa High School that she met her soulmate and future husband, Don. They were married in 1965 and enjoyed 56 years together until Don passed in 2021.

Anne-Marie Dixon, who worked with Hartung at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, said their team was “family” and continue to be. “After all these years (30+), many of us still frequently communicate with each other and get together. And it wasn’t limited just to separate departments. The full-time staff and the event staff were all friendly. We spent so much time at the arena that we would say we are the Coliseum family. And we always had fun.”

“It was about the relationships. Show promoters, publicists, media partners, etc., were treated as friends,” Dixon recalled. “We enjoyed working with them and they would be warmly welcomed when they would come to the Coliseum. Every day, we had a variety of people from different fields come to our office/arena. And even though we were working on promoting the events and the arena, it was also a social event with our friends.”

When multi-date show staffs would come in and set up their headquarters at the Coliseum, the marketing staff would provide them with lists of local restaurants and see what they needed from the area. Hilary led that charge for years.

Hartung once famously tried to befriend a harsh media critic, who delighted in calling the venue the “Nassau Mausoleum,” by greeting him with a big stuffed white elephant and friendly words. He took the gift but did not cease and desist.

Hartung really looked forward to the arena marketing conferences so she could reunite with her lifelong friends.

Hilary Hartung, formerly marketing director of Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y., accepts the Gigi Award of Excellence from the Event & Venue Marketing Association in 2006 as Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, Stephens Aud, Ames, Iowa, looks on.

“When I first joined the AMC family, Hilary was such a welcoming person to the girl from the Midwest and so very kind and funny,” said Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, Stephens Auditorium, Ames, Iowa. Koolbeck, who later became a driving force in EVMC (formerly the Arena Marketing Conference, then Arena Sales and Marketing Conference and Event & Arena Marketing Conference) learned a lot from the friendly and giving Hartung.

“I remember the first Arena Sales & Marketing Conference she attended,” recalled Sydney Greenblatt, Houston marketer. “We were in St. Louis. Hilary was always the most upbeat, bright-eyed person in the room. Her joyousness and huge smile enriched our gatherings. Not to mention her shared ideas. She was a valued member of our group and certainly helped build our profession.”

Cliff Clinger, Director of Marketing at the Boise (Idaho) Centre and another longtime associate of Hartung’s in EVMC, concurred: “Hilary was a wonderful woman and I’m so proud to have known her and been able to work with her over the years planning for our annual Arena, Sales & Marketing Conferences, EAMCs and EVMCs!

“So glad that we will always be able to scroll back and see her name on our list of Hall of Fame and Gigi Award winners (2006) and remember all of the fun memories we made together.

“I’m certain she is already on several planning committees in Heaven! And you know she’ll be recruiting us when we get there one day!”

“Hilary epitomized big things come in small packages,” adds Ike Richman, Ike Richman Communications, longtime marketer of Philadelphia venues, and early adopter at EVMC. “She had a heart of gold and a caring, loving, passionate kindness about her. At the marketing conference she was always looking to engage and connect with the younger people and inspire them. She treated everyone like they were one of her kids. She will be remembered.”

Hartung was Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at the Education & Assistance Corporation, which she joined in 1998. As a member of the agency’s development team, she is responsible for not only educating the community about EAC’s 70 community-based programs, but also promoting fundraising and special events.

She increased public awareness of EAC’s story via newspaper, radio, and television. Hartung has also been credited with bringing the agency into the 21st century by utilizing its website, Facebook, and Karma411 to further public outreach.

In 1999, she was inducted into the Massapequa High School’s Hall of Fame and received the Town of Hempstead’s Pathfinder Award for Excellence in Business. She was named the Top Marketing Not-For-Profit Executive by the Long Island Advertising Club and Long Island Business News in 2002. In 2003, she was awarded the Town of Oyster Bay Woman of Distinction Award, and in 2004 she received the Tiara Recognition from M3P. In 2007 Hartung was also named one of The Fortune 52 by Long Island Press as a part of the publication’s annual initiative honoring 52 Long Island women who have made significant, unique, and lasting contributions to their communities and workplace. In the same year, she received the Women of Distinction Award from Newsday’s Distinction Magazine, as well as the prestigious Jack Rettaliata Lifetime Achievement Award from the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island in 2008.

She served on the Board of Directors of the Massapequa High School’s Hall of Fame and was a founding member of the Long Island Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, serving as its president in 2006 and 2007. Additionally, she was a member of the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island, Fair Media Council, Network Long Island, and served on both the Marcie Mazzola Foundation Butterfly Auction and Networking Magazine’s David Awards committees.

Hartung managed all her commitments while being a dedicated wife to Don and mother to Eric (Heather) of Indianapolis, Ind., David (Adrienne) of Amityville, N.Y., and Brian (Jessica) of Fairfield, Conn., spending every spare minute outside of a hectic work schedule on the soccer and lacrosse fields all over Long Island and her personal oasis of TOBAY Beach. Later, Hilary became an ever-doting grandmother to Greta, Aidan, Ava, Cole, Will, Eli, Louisa, and Luke. She is also survived by her loving brother, Harvey Like, and Linda Panetta.

A memorial service in celebration of Hartung’s wonderful life will be held on December 20, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m., at Massapequa Funeral Home South Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.