By Michael Roth

AEG has appointed David Jones to the newly created role of Chief Information Officer, AEG Global Technology, it was today announced by the company. In his new and expanded role, Jones will now be responsible for the company’s technology strategy and solutions across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. The new AEG Global Technology division will help facilitate the use of data and customer-facing technologies to drive revenue across the business and provide best-in-class customer experiences. Formerly CIO for AEG Europe, Jones will remain based out of London, assuming ultimate responsibility for implementing innovative technology solutions to bring to life the company’s 220,000+ annual events that entertain over 100 million fans each and every year.

“The development of AEG Global Technology further underscores AEG’s commitment to ensuring all of our venues, teams, and businesses have the digital infrastructure necessary to continue delivering differentiated live, event customer experiences,” said Ted Fikre, Vice Chairman and Chief Legal and Development Officer, AEG. “With his exceptional background and history of creating innovative solutions to AEG’s technology needs, David is ideally qualified to oversee and spearhead the development of technology required to continue to transform our business into the future.”

Supporting scalable growth while also delivering technology expertise, services, and support across AEG’s global businesses, Jones will also oversee the company’s information security and privacy teams, providing a consolidated infrastructure that aligns the company’s core pillars of technology, data, and innovation globally. In addition, Jones will work in close alignment with the technology teams at AEG’s world-renowned venues like The O2 and Crypto.com Arena and will also partner with the company’s subsidiaries’ AEG Presents, AEG Sports and AXS to deliver expertise, services, and support globally.

“As we look ahead, consumer-focused and data-rich technology capabilities will be core to AEG’s success,” Jones said. “The formation of our new AEG Global Technology division will bring together our talented technology staff in the U.S., Europe, and beyond into one team and will ensure that we are able to deliver best-in-class technology solutions today, and in the future. I am thrilled to be leading the company forward on this journey.

“Our ambition is to deploy technology to help fans have the very best experience at our events, whether they are watching the LA Kings at Crypto.com Arena, the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park, rocking out to a legendry performer at The O2, or enjoying a weekend at one of our renowned festivals. I couldn’t be more excited to be leading our new AEG Global Technology division.”

A digital and technology leader in the broadcast, entertainment, retail and real estate sectors for over 20 years, Jones is also the executive sponsor of AEG Europe’s PRIDE Employee Network Group which aims to drive change by giving employees a greater voice, as well as fostering a culture of inclusion.

Jones lives on the Isle of Wight with his husband and graduated from the University of Oxford with Honors in Chemistry.

Michael Roth is Vice President, Communications, for AEG.

By R.V. Baugus

The Buffalo Bills have some of the most ardent and passionate fans in all of the National Football League. They have supported the Bills through thick and thin, which has mostly been thin until recent years when Josh Allen and company have the team on the brink of the Super Bowl.

Give the hearty fans credit as well for supporting their team in what is often brutal weather in Buffalo winters. When the stadium opens, the fans come.

Now, Erie County has released a site plan detailing the initial concept for a new $1.4 billion stadium for the team.

While a specific design of the new stadium, which is currently being worked on by architect of record Populous, is not yet available, the site concept details how 283.42 acres of land will be used for the proposed facility, which will seat at least 60,000 people.

The plans have been released as Erie County begins its State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR). The SEQR Act requires that all state and local government agencies consider potential environmental impacts and social and economic factors during discretionary decision-making processes.

The SEQR process examines potential environmental impacts and social and economic considerations related to a proposed action and encourages communication among government agencies, project sponsors and the general public.

The site concept shows how the new stadium will be built across the road from the Bills’ current home, Highmark Stadium, on land which is currently occupied by parking lots. A large plaza is part of the plan, along with a new operations building and a host of new parking lots.

The plans detail how nearly 56 acres of land currently used by SUNY Erie Community College’s South Campus will be taken over. However, officials have offered assurances that none of the buildings will be affected.

“The plans are such that there would not be a building at the college taken,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told local broadcaster Spectrum News. “A lot of people thought they would have to demolish buildings at the college. We said, ‘no, we know we don’t have to do that.’ And the site plan that was released shows that.

“The stadium and the parking lot that is a result of this new construction do not need to take any building at that site. It is exactly what I said it would be. And it is important for the public to see what we said was going to happen is going to happen.”

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. The SEQR process is expected to take around six months to complete and, in the meantime, a public scoping meeting will be held on July 14 to garner public input on the scope of the project review.

The Bills in April appointed Legends to lead planning, project management, sales and partnerships for the stadium project.

Legends, the global premium experiences company, had already commenced work on the project having assisted the team and ownership group Pegula Sports & Entertainment on a feasibility study. It has also conducted initial focus groups and surveys to help inform design and sales for the stadium, which could be finished as early as 2026.

Earlier that month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul sealed a deal on a state budget that will include $600m in contributions to a new Bills home that is set to receive the greatest level of public funding for a single stadium in US history.

The conclusion of the deal came after the franchise in March reached an agreement with New York State and Erie County to build a new stadium in Orchard Park. Hochul secured a 30-year commitment for the Bills to remain in Buffalo.

New York State will commit $600 million towards the new stadium project, with Erie County to provide $250 million. The NFL and the Bills will provide the remaining $550 million needed to build the new stadium, work on which is hoped to commence in the spring of 2023.

By R.V. Baugus

Ellen Schwartz, General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center, said she knew the timing was right to announce her retirement, which takes place on July 6.

“For me, I thought about I’m a certain age and I don’t want to be the person that worked and keels over the next day,” she said. “I want to be able to enjoy another chapter in my life and to be physically and mentally able to do that and I can so I’m going to!”

Schwartz most recently oversaw the Summit of the Americas and Anime Expo at the venue, and the Major League Baseball All-Star Week July 15-19 would have been next. Suffice to say, the ASM Global-managed venue is home to some of the world’s biggest events, and Schwartz played a major role in ensuring those events came off without a hitch for attendees.

She has been at the LACC since October 2013, serving as Assistant General Manager to Brad Gessner for four years before he retired. Prior to that, Schwartz spent 11-plus years in Long Beach and before that was at the Miami Convention Center.

“I actually worked on the other side of the business for many years as well,” Schwartz said. “I was a show manager and ran events. It was interesting when I transitioned to the facility world in Miami Beach. It’s been a great ride.”

Schwartz acknowledged the ride has been bumpier in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She referred to working during this period as a “brain drain” that started two years ago and will probably go on for the next three years for those in the industry.

“There are a whole lot of people who are going to be gone (retired),” she said. “People with the history, the legacy that understand the evolution of the business. It has evolved. Business today is not what it was just 20 or 30 years ago. It’s a whole different animal. We all know it’s not what it was even three years ago.”

Schwartz said that the Los Angeles Convention Center has performed very well through the turbulence and that the future is very bright with major bookings continuing to roll in.

She now joins an ever-growing list of industry veterans deciding it is time for a big career change that comes with retirement.

“I’ll be starting a new life that is less about other people’s expectations of me and more about my own expectations,” Schwartz said. “The pandemic sort of makes you rethink priorities. You have a little bit more time to think about things in a different way, at least for me. It actually was fairly interesting to be here during the pandemic and to do what we did was to survive. It was a whole different mode of operating. It was like the last challenge of surviving through the pandemic.”

Now it will be someone else’s challenge as the search for a replacement is underway. For Schwartz, she again gets to start from scratch, a prospect she relishes.

“It’s been a long time since the page was blank,” she said. “It’s exciting, it’s intimidating, all those things. It’s a great opportunity. I’m looking at it as a great opportunity to write another chapter.”

By Anagelica Gonzalez

The Baltimore Convention Center has appointed Phil Costa as the new Deputy Director, where he will be working directly under the leadership of Executive Director Peggy Daidakis. Costa’s responsibilities will consist of the overall management of the day-to-day operations and providing leadership and direction to all departments, partner managers, and staff. In addition, he will oversee the Center’s community outreach, policy development, and capital improvement projects.

Serving as the Director of Operations since 2017, Costa has managed the largest department at the BCC. He has helped develop and lead Center initiatives such as the venue’s sustainability program and GBAC-Star accreditation, and aspects of the COVID-19 Field Hospital and recovery. He earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Sports Business Management from the University of Central Florida along with dual Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Florida. In 2018 Costa was honored by being named to IAVM’s “30 under 30” roster.

Costa currently serves as IAVM’s Assistant Director for Region 1 and the vice-chair for the Young Professionals Committee. He has continued to guide the Baltimore Convention Center’s internal operations department to success and will now play a key role in leading the entire venue as the premier location for events in Maryland. Outside of work, Costa enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two children at their home in Federal Hill.

When asked what he’s looking forward to within his new role, Costa responded, “My mission is to continue advancing our day-to-day operations and move the Center forward. I’m excited about this new role and being able to work with all departments within the Convention Center. With the pandemic’s effect on the hospitality industry, I am also looking forward to seeing the new realm of events.”

Anagelica Gonzalez is Marketing & Communications Manager for the Baltimore Convention Center.

By Amy Procaccini

Venue hospitality and management partner Sodexo Live! has added Brian Holtman and Kimberly Corbets to their Strategic Growth team in North America.

Holtman previously worked for Paradies Lagardère, the North American division of Paris-based Lagardère Travel Retail, where he led business development efforts on delivering engaging experiences for airport travelers across North America. He’s also held leadership roles across his 20+ year career with Vino Volo, JetBlue Airways, and Airport Wireless Brands, amongst others.

Corbets brings industry experience in various capacities to the team, most recently serving in a leadership and development role for Travelzoo. She is well-versed in the tourism and events space, having spent 5+ years with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), attracting top-tier meetings and events to South Beach.

In their new roles, Holtman and Corbets will continue to affirm Sodexo Live! as a leading hospitality partner to the most iconic venues and help to shape the future of live event hospitality by driving new business and ensuring existing clients are set up for success. Prodigy Search assisted Sodexo Live! in placing these roles.

Amy Procaccini is Strategic Brand Communications Manager for Sodexo Live!