By Nadia Vanderhoof

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), in partnership with Orange County Government, hosted a week of sustainability-focused events for the community and employees honoring Earth Day during April 18-22.

The OCCC leads the way in the development of sustainable practices with its designation as one of the largest LEED Gold certified convention centers in North America. The OCCC has continuously demonstrated industry and community leadership through its pioneering stewardship that models how large venues can achieve sustainability goals.

Starting the week with mosquito abatement demonstrations hosted by the Orange County Mosquito Control Department, the event displayed the resources and equipment used for sustainable and environmentally friendly mitigation, including the control of mosquitoes and algae blooms.

On Earth Day, the OCCC hosted the inauguration of a new monarch butterfly garden on its campus and a commemorative tree planting pre-celebration for Arbor Day, observed this year on April 29. Orange County sustainability experts explained how milkweed plants in the garden support the growth of the monarch butterfly population, a vulnerable species. The Orange County Utilities Department demonstrated its rain barrel program, which teaches customers who are residents of unincorporated Orange County how they can repurpose rainwater.

“The Center believes in fully integrating environmental education, sustainable practices and donations through robust corporate social responsibility programs with our non-profit partners,” OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester said. “Earth Day reminds us that sustainability, conservation, and smart and environmental practices are important to the convention industry. Together with our clients, we are collectively taking positive action to support and conserve our precious resources in Orange County.”

Sustainability remains a top priority for clients as groups focus on expanding corporate social responsibility practices and green meetings. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the OCCC supported clients’ sustainability efforts by donating nearly $220,000 in merchandise and about 13,725 pounds of food to local organizations. Beneficiaries include United Way, Habitat for Humanity, A Gift for Teaching, Clean the World, Great Oaks Village, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and
Orange County Public Schools. Since 2013, approximately $14.42 million has been donated to local charities through conventions at the OCCC.

Additionally, the Center’s innovative sustainability strategies stretch from growing and harvesting more than 44,000 fresh, non-GMO plants, directly from the OCCC’s Center-to-Table Gardens, to supporting sustainable energy by maintaining the largest municipal solar array in the Southeast United States. Covering an area equivalent to five football fields, the energy produced by the OCCC’s stunning solar setup has the ability to power more than 200 homes each year.

Learn more about the Center’s pioneering sustainability practices by visiting, https://www.occc.net/About-UsSustainability.

Fast Facts on OCCC Sustainability Practices

District Energy Program – The OCCC is part of an innovative chilled water production agreement with OUC Cooling which provides energy efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning to Convention District hotel participants.

Renewable Energy – The OCCC campus provides five different solar energy programs used by clients and other stakeholders for demonstration, training and research.

Building Efficiency – The OCCC incorporates natural lighting, advanced technology, and employee ingenuity to achieve buildings which are 87% more energy efficient per square foot than similar buildings.

Waste Reduction – OCCC works with clients and contractors to reduce event waste by 53% since 2004.

Recycling Receptacles – Our recycling and waste bins on campus were made from used plastic milk jugs and 100% solar energy.

Water Efficiency – Bathrooms use 15% less water than building codes mandate and 100% reclaimed water is used to irrigate the OCCC’s 400-acre campus.

Nadia Vanderhoof is Chief Marketing Officer for the Orange County Convention Center.

(L-R) OCCC Sustainability Coordinator Katerina L. Chagoya; OCCC Capital Planning Manager Crystal Mudd; Orange County Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer Jeff Benavides; OCCC Facility Operations Manager Hector Clemente; OCCC Facility Operations Assistant Manager Bob Foster; OCCC
Executive Director Mark Tester; Deputy Director Terry Devitt display a proclamation for Arbor Day observed on April 29.

By StadiumBusiness.com

Paul Brown Stadium is suitable to remain the long-term home of the NFL Cincinnati Bengals but will require a minimum of $493 million in upgrades, according to the findings of a study by design and architecture firm Gensler.

Hamilton County in Ohio hired Gensler in September 2020 to assess the state of Paul Brown Stadium, which opened in August 2000, ahead of the Bengals’ current lease deal expiring in 2026.

Gensler issued its first report into the stadium stating that unlike other NFL venues that are currently in the process of being replaced, Paul Brown Stadium is suitable for redevelopment.

Gensler was appointed to assess long-term capital repair, replacement, and improvements and offer design options for the next 20 years. The firm looked into 15 different areas of the stadium and provided a suggested priority list and timeline for repairs. The $375,000 cost of the study was split equally between Hamilton County and the Bengals.

Demetra Thornton, principal for Gensler, said that unlike Riverfront Stadium, the Bengals’ former home, Paul Brown Stadium was designed with improvements in mind. “The original design was meant to be expanded,” said Thornton, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We learned from Riverfront. I don’t want this building to be imploded. I want it to stand the test of time.”

The first of two studies have focused on what might need to be done to Paul Brown Stadium after the Bengals’ lease expires, with a further one set to look at improvements relative to what is happening in the wider NFL stadium space.

The Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders are all currently drawing up plans for new stadia, but Thornton maintains this is not what is needed for the Bengals. “It’s been well maintained over the last 20 years,” Thornton said of Paul Brown Stadium. “What we say in the construction and architecture industry, it has good bones.”

The report focused on stadium needs such as roofing, electric, and plumbing, with a masterplan due later this year set to highlight potential future upgrades and means to enhance the fan experience.

“This piece is the first building block related to what we need to do in the future for this stadium in conjunction with the Bengals, and it leads into (lease) negotiations with the Bengals,” said Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus, according to local broadcaster WCPO.

Commenting on the release of the study, the Bengals said in a statement: “The Bengals are proud to call Paul Brown Stadium home. With respect to this report, the Bengals will study it. We are encouraged by the conclusion that Paul Brown Stadium was well-designed, well-constructed, and has been well-maintained.

“The condition reflects the care and attention that the Bengals and Hamilton County have taken in maintaining the building to protect the taxpayers’ investment. Because of that, it looks like Paul Brown Stadium can continue to be our home for decades to come at far less cost than seen elsewhere.

“Today’s report is a first step, and the club looks forward to studying the report and exploring with the County ways to make the coming decades memorable ones for our hometown.”

By Julian Bowman

The Dallas City Council approved referendum language to increase the Hotel Occupancy Tax by two percent. If approved by voters in November, this referendum will fund an expansion of the Kay Bailey Hutchison
Convention Center and upgrade six important venues at Fair Park.

“We are grateful for the work and support of dozens of diverse organizations who formed a coalition to advocate for the vote today,” said Brian Luallen, CEO of Fair Park First. “We are also grateful for the bold leadership of our city council. We now look to the citizens of Dallas to vote for this much-needed investment in our history and tourism economy come November.”

The expected $300 million investment in Fair Park will renovate Cotton Bowl Stadium, Fair Park Band Shell, Fair Park Coliseum, Music Hall, the Automobile Building, and Centennial Hall. These six venues were approved by the Dallas Park and Recreation Board earlier this month.

Fair Park First has engaged Overland Partners Architects to conduct a facility needs assessment. Overland has worked in seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, received more than 200 international, national, regional, and local design awards, and published in numerous national and international publications. Plans based on the assessment will be released in the coming weeks.

Julian Bowman is Sr. Director of Marketing for OVG360 | Fair Park | Cotton Bowl® Stadium.

ASM Global has claimed a first for the live events industry with the launch of a facial verification network in partnership with technology provider PopID.

The network was rolled out at Pechanga Arena (pictured), as the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls faced off against the Abbotsford Canucks.

The deployment comes following a multi-year investment by ASM Global to “redefine” the return of live events by creating seamless and secure experiences.

PopID’s network will form part of a digital transformation taking place across ASM Global’s more than 300 arenas, stadiums, theatres, and convention centers around the world. As part of the rollout, ASM Global will also provide premium ticket holders with benefits and amenities to deliver an enhanced VIP guest experience.

PopID’s unique connected infrastructure, which includes payments, terminals and point-of-sale integrations, is designed to streamline consumer transactions, irrespective of the payment method or network they cross.

The technology will soon begin verifying payments and authenticating tickets via a fan’s face at numerous other venues. Upcoming deployments include the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California; Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai; and Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Ron Bension, chief executive and president of ASM Global, said: “The deployment of this technology in our venues represents the beginning of a revolutionary change in the entertainment world.

“The PopID platform will allow us to eliminate the dependence on cards and phones at our events and ensure that every guest interaction is secure, speedy, and seamless.”

John Miller, chief executive of PopID and chairman of Cali Group, added: “We are excited to partner with ASM and take the initial steps to truly revolutionize the event experience of the future with highly secure, phoneless entry and digital payments.

“When customers opt to enroll in our platform, they’ll be able to enter the venue by requesting facial verification at the gate – instead of having to rely on a QR code on their phone.

“The seamless experience will continue at concession stands, where a guest can choose to ‘check in’ with facial verification at the point of sale, enabling them to instantly see personalized food and beverage recommendations and order and pay without the need for IDs, credit cards, or phones.”

ASM Global has appointed Charles Beirne as general manager of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Beirne has worked at the company since 2006, most recently as general manager of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in California.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is undergoing a $1.3 billion expansion project. Improvements include an extension of the main exhibit hall for a total of 350,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, a new 65,000-square-foot ballroom facing the Intracoastal Waterway, an additional 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and an 800-room connecting upscale headquarter hotel operated by Omni Hotels.

“After overseeing a $60 million capital improvement project at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Charlie is the perfect candidate to manage the exciting new expansion at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center,” said ASM Global Executive Vice President, Convention Centers, Bob McClintock. “He also led the opening of the Irving Convention Center in Las Colinas, so he is uniquely qualified to bring his expertise to this vital development project in Broward County.”

Beirne has 16 years of experience and also served as the general manager of the Atlantic City Convention Center, a position he held from 2006 to 2012. As general manager of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center since 2012, he spearheaded an expansion project that featured the renovation of the center’s 13,500-seat arena.

“I am deeply honored for this next-step opportunity in my ASM career, one that will allow me to move back to the East Coast where I started my career,” Beirne said. “I look forward to working closely with our clients and municipal partners in Broward County to support the hospitality community and provide customized solutions that are the hallmark of ASM. I’m excited to work with Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, and our convention center leadership team to leverage ASM Global’s industry-leading innovations to deliver exceptional experiences for organizers, attendees, and exhibitors.”

“Our convention center expansion makes Greater Fort Lauderdale highly competitive in the national meetings landscape, and we are delighted to be working with Charlie as we move toward the project’s completion in 2025,” Ritter said. “His experience with expansion projects and openings of major convention centers is the perfect complement to our sales and marketing teams, and we’re all excited to welcome him to the destination.”