By Tad Carper

Cleveland Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and Rock Entertainment Group and Chief Executive Officer Len Komoroski jointly announced that Komoroski will step away from his role as CEO at the conclusion of the Cavaliers current season. Komoroski’s career with the Cavaliers began in 2003 as President. He took on the CEO title in 2013. Komoroski will remain affiliated with Rock Entertainment Group, focused on REG’s growth and development as well as special projects and initiatives.

Komoroski’s leadership and the passionate work of the entire organization has resulted in an award-winning foundation and one that is well-positioned with momentum towards continued growth and sustained success.

The acquisition of the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), the Cleveland Charge (NBA G League) and the Cavs Legion (NBA2K) franchises were also accomplished during Komoroski’s tenure, with all three teams earning league-level awards for business operations.

“I am immensely grateful to Dan Gilbert for providing the inspiration, resources, and platform to build an incredible team of leaders that have been committed to a culture of excellence and innovation,” Komoroski said. “Dan always speaks of ‘Doing Well by Doing Good’ as a guiding principle and it has been a privilege to work in an environment where we embrace that as a pillar of operating and can positively impact Cleveland and our entire region in a range of different and diverse ways.

“Since I first spoke to Dan about this transition several years ago, we reflected on the ambitious bucket list and journey we’ve had from the time Dan acquired the franchise. From building a world class business team, becoming leaders in commercializing our platform, executing the Transformation of the FieldHouse and establishing it as one of the top entertainment and major event venues in the world, an NBA championship and much more. The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend seemed like the perfect capstone to the 19 years I have been honored to be a part of this remarkable enterprise along with all of our great team members.”

“Over the past two decades, Len accomplished so much on behalf of our organization. I cannot overemphasize the value of Len’s contributions to the Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and the entire Cleveland community,” said Cavs Chairman Dan Gilbert. “His strategic direction, collaboration, and innovation have been and will continue to deliver long-term success of our business and for our fans. I am grateful for his leadership in helping to establish a world-class championship culture for our team members and ensuring that the future of the organization is positioned for continued long-term success.”

Together with key civic and community officials, Komoroski played a leadership role in creating the public/private partnership agreement formed between the team, Cuyahoga County, and City of Cleveland for the Transformation, a project that entirely renovated and re-positioned the nearly 26-year-old venue. As part of the partnership, the Cavs extended their lease for seven additional years at the venue until 2034. The Transformation project stands as one of the most successful commercialization results of a new or renovated venue in NBA history.

Through the work of Komoroski and the community-minded, innovative business team assembled to guide the franchise, the organization has established and grown a dynamic and impactful social responsibility platform as a core operating pillar. The Cavaliers have also been named a top five finalist for the prestigious Sports Business Journal (SBJ) “Sports Team of the Year” award three times over the past decade. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was named a finalist in the “Sports Facility of the Year” category in SBJ’s industry awards for 2020, the year following the completion of the venue’s massive, recent $185 million Transformation.

“Len has been a driving force behind the transformation of the Cavaliers organization over the past two decades,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “His great business instincts, creativity, and strong relationships have made him one of the most respected operators in our industry, and he’s always been generous in sharing insights and best practices with the league office and our teams. We thank him for his many years of outstanding service in the NBA family.”

At the same time, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Cleveland have secured some the highest profile and most economically impactful special events ever hosted over the last two decades. Multiple Men’s and Women’s NCAA tournament and championship events, the 2016 Republican National Convention, 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and most recently, the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Tad Carper is Chief Communications Officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

By Kia America

Southern-California based automaker Kia America and the live music and entertainment venue the Forum have announced that effective immediately, the Forum will be known as the Kia Forum. Kia becomes the naming rights and official automotive partner of the only arena-sized venue in the U.S. dedicated to music and entertainment, marking the first U.S. naming rights deal for the automaker.

The Kia Forum annually hosts the biggest names in music and entertainment, award shows, boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling, and more. It has been a SoCal destination for 55 years and as further proof of its impact on the region and industry, the venue was presented with the L.A. Conservancy Preservation Award in 2014 and honored at the 2021 Pollstar Awards as “Arena of the Decade.”

“Kia America is proud of our history in Southern California going back to the establishment of our US Headquarters here in 1992, and so we all celebrate now being part of one of the most historic, and emotionally-connected live entertainment and sports venues in California – if not the world,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. “We are thrilled to be a part of the entertainment and excitement of live music and events at the Kia Forum moving forward.”

“We’re proud to partner with Kia and weave together our history with an innovative future, while continuing our dedication to the SoCal community,” said Geni Lincoln, GM and SVP Live Events, the Kia Forum. “We look forward to merging the entertainment and automotive industries, broadening our mutual commitments to diversity, sustainability, and creativity.”

The renaming of the Kia Forum is just the latest step in the transformation of Kia in the United States which accelerated with 2021’s North American debut of its award-winning electric vehicle, the EV6, and the introduction of the company’s Plan S, or Plan Shift, strategy. Kia’s ambitious $25 billion Plan S incorporates new sustainable mobility, delivery vehicles, and personal transport solutions. This includes the debut of 11 EVs on a global basis by 2026, and thus far in 2022, Kia has celebrated a strong start of EV6 deliveries to customers nationwide.

Kia’s partnership with the Kia Forum will include new outdoor and indoor signage, the installation of EV charging stations, and Kia vehicle displays beginning with the EV6. Also coming soon is the establishment of the “Kia Club,” an exclusive hospitality lounge for the enjoyment of automotive enthusiasts and music fans.

By Mary Tucker

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced that President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA; Executive Vice President and COO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, CEM; and Director, Global Business Development Karen Gonzales, CMP have been inducted into the inaugural class of the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Fellows Programme.

The CMP Fellows Programme recognizes and rewards CMPs and/or Emeritus who continue to make a significant investment towards the betterment of the events industry and the community of people working within it. The program honors tenured CMPs who have made significant advancements in their careers, as well as significant contributions through service and education to the meetings and events industry.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I offer my sincerest congratulations to David, Cathy, and Karen on this outstanding achievement,” said 2022 IAEE Chairperson Carrie Ferenac. “Given that Learning and Communities is one of the pillars in IAEE’s strategic plan, staff’s dedication to ongoing education reflects IAEE’s commitment to learning at all levels.”

Mary Tucker is Sr. PR/Communications Manager for IAEE.

ASM Global has appointed Carl A. Thomas as senior vice-president of sales and platform development, while Meg Little has joined the company as vice-president of marketing solutions.

Thomas and Little will both report to ASM Global’s chief commercial officer Jason Oberlander. Thomas joins the company having previously worked at Universal Studios, Tickets.com, Hookit and CAT Sports, the latter of which he founded.

Little joins ASM Global from Raycom Sports, where she most recently managed relationships that included bringing to market a new family entertainment touring property leveraging the Hot Wheels’ intellectual property.

By Shana Daum

Global design firm Populous served as architect of record for the new San Francisco Giants Player Development Center at Papago Park in Phoenix, Ariz. In collaboration with the Giants, Populous provided architectural, master plan oversight, interior design, and interior signage services. This new center, which opened in February 2022, provides the team best-in-class training and development facilities.

The San Francisco Giants Player Development Center was designed to incorporate the best features of elite training facilities, allowing the team to prepare players and coaches for both the Minor and Major League seasons. Populous oversaw the master planning for the 33-acre site, which includes six outdoor practice fields (five natural grass, and one synthetic turf), an agility field and covered exterior pitching lanes, also designing and delivering the main clubhouse, an indoor practice facility (which houses a synthetic grass half field and eight indoor batting lanes) and a new field maintenance building. The impressive complex’s project team included building contractor Okland, site and field contractor Frontier Golf and landscape architect iN2iT, among other partners and consultants.

“The Giants Player Development Center redefines spring training facilities by pairing sophisticated design with best-in-class technology and elite training spaces,” said Populous associate principal Brian Simpson. “Our innovative and research-based design approach resulted in a complex that gives players access to the best spring training experience.”

The Player Development Center is designed for ease of use throughout the complex — players enjoy easy access from the main clubhouse and locker rooms to all of the playing fields and indoor areas along a centrally-organized walkway, and direct access to the agility field just outside the weight room doors. Players have the option to practice and train both indoors and outdoors on a mix of natural turf and synthetic turf, allowing them to develop flexible skills throughout the complex. At the center of the complex is a plaza that offers public access for games and exhibitions.

“We believe that together with Populous and all of our project partners, we have designed, created, built and now opened one of the most innovative development centers in baseball,” said Alfonso Felder, executive vice president of administration, San Francisco Giants. “Providing our players with the best resources to achieve their potential is our priority and we believe our new facility does just that.”

The main structure on-site, a 50,000-square-foot Clubhouse Building, offers five player locker rooms, coaching locker rooms, a weight room, player training space and hydrotherapy on the ground floor. Its second level features two classrooms, a dining hall, office/meeting spaces, and an observation deck with views to all six practice fields. The clubhouse’s sophisticated interior is designed to reflect Papago Park and its surroundings, employing a desert-like palette and incorporating warm, subtle tones and natural materials such as reclaimed wood throughout the space, as well as stunning views of the nearby topography. From the reception atrium with distressed wood finishes and a desert orange leather backdrop, to the dining space and training areas with expansive glass walls for views outside, the clubhouse turns outward and embraces its space.

Adjacent to the Clubhouse Building stands a first-of-its-kind space when it comes to MLB training facilities — a more than 30,000-square-foot building which includes an indoor half field along with hitting and pitching lanes.

Other impressive features of the San Francisco Giants Player Development Center include a new 15,380-square-foot groundskeeping and maintenance building with several sustainable features, including a wastewater recycling system for washing mowers and equipment.

The Player Development Center offers amazing views of the Papago Buttes and Camelback Mountain to the north and Four Peaks to the east. There is also access to walking trails around the exterior of the site, linking the Player Development Center to the rest of Papago Park.

Previously used as the Oakland A’s training facility from 1988-2014 and demolished, the new facility is home to the Giants and its affiliate teams including the Sacramento River Cats Triple-A, Richmond Flying Squirrels Double-A, Eugene Emeralds High-A, and San Jose Giants Low-A teams.

Shana Daum is Vice President, Public Affairs & Community Relations for the San Francisco Giants.