By R.V. Baugus

Paul Pettas has been promoted at Sodexo Live! (previously known as Centerplate) to the position of Vice President, Brand & Communications.

“I will still focus on PR as events come roaring back to life,” Pettas said. He added that he is in the process of hiring a new manager-level role that will hopefully be finalized soon.

“I’ll be tasked with developing a clear and effective internal and external communications strategy that strengthens our reputation as the number one hospitality partner to the most iconic sports and entertainment venues in North America,” Pettas added.

He will also be tasked with rolling out the next phase of the company’s brand identity that will focus on the company’s client partners and the ways the company drives revenues for the venues it serves.

Pettas has more than 10 years’ experience in media relations, corporate and consumer brand building, social media management and more, and oversees the brand strategy and communications for Sodexo Live! His background includes both in-house and agency work across various industries with a focus on entertainment brands.

A graduate of Boston College, Pettas serves as an alumni career mentor for current undergraduates who are pursuing a communications degree, and volunteers with New York-based Bottom Line, which helps low-income and first-generation students get to college, earn their degrees and thrive in a professional setting.

ASM Global is expanding their U.S. business development division with the addition of Katherine Krohn, who was appointed Vice President of Business Development, and Aliah Summers, who was named Director of Business Development, Sales & Marketing.

“We are thrilled to add these two accomplished business development executives to our team at ASM Global. Their presence will greatly enhance our ability to engage with existing and prospective partners via our unmatched toolbox of partnerships, content, marketing, technology, guest-experience journeys, sustainability, community involvement, and worldwide experience,” said ASM Global Executive Vice President for Strategy and Development Chuck Steedman.

“Both are seasoned veterans with exceptional track records of building relationships with clients in the private and public sector that deliver great value and seeing complex development deals to the finish line,” Steedman added.

Krohn (pictured right) joins ASM Global from Mobilitie, a major telecommunications infrastructure provider servicing major sports and entertainment venues, where she served as served as vice president, national sports and entertainment.

“Our intent is to continue to deliver on the confidence that our clients have in ASM Global’s ability to provide innovative services and world-class live experiences for our guests,” Krohn said. “I am really looking forward to helping grow our client base above and beyond what is already the industry gold standard.”

Summers (pictured left) comes to her new post at ASM Global from food service procurement company Foodbuy, where she spent the last three years as the company’s national sales director.

“We plan to maximize leveraging the ASM value proposition that features all the scale, technology, marketing, content, and programming expertise of the world’s largest live entertainment company,” Summers said of her new role.

By Stadium Business

Major League Baseball (MLB) has canceled the first two series of games in its 2022 regular season, as efforts to strike a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with players started eating into the competitive schedule.

MLB entered its first lockout in over quarter of a century on December 2 as commissioner Rob Manfred criticized the Players Association’s (MLBPA’s) “strategy of confrontation over compromise” amid a potential threat to Opening Day of the 2022 season.

The sport’s previous CBA expired with the League’s owners immediately deciding to lock out the players after failed talks over a new deal. MLB’s last lockout ran from August 12, 1994, to April 2, 1995, resulting in the cancelation of the 1994 World Series.

MLB in August announced the master schedule for the 2022 regular season, which was due to open on March 31, with all 30 teams in action. However, talks since December, which have become more intensive in recent days, have failed to come to a resolution, leading to the League’s announcement.

Cancelation of the first two series for each of the 30 teams has resulted in the loss of 91 games in total. This will likely see each club’s schedule cut from 162 games to 156 at most. In a letter to fans, Manfred said: “I had hoped against hope that I would not have to be in the position of canceling games. We worked hard to avoid an outcome that is bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs.

“I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort on the part of either party. The players came here for nine days, worked hard and tried to make a deal. I appreciate their effort.”

While drafting out offers that the League had made to the MLBPA, Manfred said “compromise after compromise” had been put forward. Players have vented their frustration that payrolls have decreased by 4% from 2015 through 2021, with many teams electing to cut some of their highly paid veteran players in favor of lower-priced youth.

Manfred added: “So, what is next? The calendar dictates that we are not going to be able to play the first two series of regular season games and those games are officially canceled. We are prepared to continue negotiations. Currently, camps could not meaningfully operate until at least March 8, leaving only 23 days before scheduled Opening Day.

“We played without an agreement in 1994 and the players went on strike in August, forcing the cancelation of the World Series. It was a painful chapter in our game’s history. We cannot risk such an outcome again for our fans and our sport.

“The clubs and our owners fully understand just how important it is to our millions of fans that we get the game on the field as soon as possible. To that end, we want to bargain and we want a deal with the Players Association as quickly as possible.”

Speaking at a news conference, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark maintained his members “remain committed to the bargaining process.” Clark said: “Players want to play; everybody knows that. But the reason we are not playing is simple – a lockout is the ultimate economic weapon.

“In a $10 billion industry, the owners have made a conscious decision to use this weapon against the greatest asset they have – the players. But the group won’t be intimidated. I’ve seen more unity over the previous few years than at any time in our recent history.”

MLBPA added in a statement: “Rob Manfred and MLB’s owners have canceled the start of the season. Players and fans around the world who love baseball are disgusted, but sadly not surprised.

“From the beginning of these negotiations, players’ objectives have been consistent—to promote competition, provide fair compensation for young players, and to uphold the integrity of our market system. Against the backdrop of growing revenues and record profits, we are seeking nothing more than a fair agreement.

“What Rob Manfred characterized as a ‘defensive lockout’ is, in fact, the culmination of a decades-long attempt by owners to break our player fraternity. As in the past, this effort will fail. We are united and committed to negotiating a fair deal that will improve the sport for players, fans and everyone who loves our game.”

By Zack Yohman

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. announced a multi-year partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers to make Caesars Sportsbook an “Official Sports Betting Partner” and Caesars Entertainment the “Official Casino Partner” of the team. This partnership includes plans to open a best-in-class retail sportsbook on the street level inside the northwest atrium area of the team’s home venue, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

“We’re ready to welcome Ohio sports fans into the Caesars Sportsbook Empire, while also making history with our second sportsbook at an NBA arena,” said Chris Holdren, Co- President of Caesars Digital. “Building upon our already established roots with Scioto Downs in Columbus, we’re excited to announce our partnership with the Cavaliers at an exciting time in their franchise’s history. As we prepare to launch sports betting in Ohio later this year, this wide-ranging partnership enables us to connect with the Cavs passionate and highly engaged fanbase. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will be a first-class venue providing an exciting atmosphere for sports betting and more.”

Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will have betting windows for cash wagering and combine custom VIP and hospitality experiences for Caesars Rewards members, along with on-site activations throughout the year. The approximately 10,355 square foot venue will feature a full-service bar and VIP lounge, an extensive menu, and wall-to-wall TV’s. The costs of these improvements will be paid for entirely by the Cavaliers and Caesars.

With construction starting soon, Caesars Sportsbook will be located on the street level inside the northwest atrium of the venue near the intersection of Huron Road and Ontario Street. The Sportsbook will be open year-round on both event and non-event days for both eligible fans with tickets to events and those without tickets who want to place wagers. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is expected to be open by the end of 2022, subject to regulatory and other necessary approvals and further details and renderings will be announced at a later time.

In addition, Caesars Sportsbook gains access to the use of official Cleveland Cavaliers logos and marks, broadcast and digital content across Cavs properties, as well as TV-visible in-game signage.

Caesars Sportsbook made sports history with the first-ever sportsbook at a professional sports venue in May of 2021 at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. and will soon be opening its doors to another Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona through a partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When mobile sports betting goes live in Ohio, sports fans will be able to download the Caesars Sportsbook app to make a bet anywhere in the Buckeye State. Caesars Sportsbook will have mobile market access via the Caesars Entertainment-owned Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Casino in Columbus. Caesars Sportsbook players can also earn Tier Credits and Reward Credits through the industry-leading customer loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, to unlock emperor-worthy experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships, including access to a wide range of hospitality assets and VIP experiences with the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Zack Yohman is Director of Business & Strategic Communication for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Opening its doors for the first time on February 1, 2012, College Park Center (CPC) marked its 10th anniversary in February. In the past 10 years, the 7,000 seat multi-purpose arena has hosted more than 700 events, ranging from collegiate and professional athletics to national concert tours, world-renowned speakers, boxing, wrestling, and conventions, and has seen over 125,000 graduates walk across the stage.

“It’s hard to believe we’re already celebrating ten years,” says Jeff Davis, executive director. “It doesn’t seem that long ago we were opening the doors to the arena. None of our opening team could have imagined the successes that awaited – the numerous events and adding a professional sports team, the Dallas Wings. I can only begin to guess at what the next ten years might hold for College Park Center.”

The UT Arlington Men’s and Women’s Basketball games on February 5 and 6 featured special celebrations in
recognition of CPC’s 10 years on the UT Arlington campus. The party isn’t stopping there, however. CPC will be celebrating throughout 2022, bringing a memorable year of programming, recurring segments showing behind-the-scenes looks at events and highlights of notable dates in the arena’s history, as well as offering limited edition giveaways through social media.

Although College Park Center has not been immune to the complications that COVID-19 has brought to the public assembly venue industry over the past two years, events are steadily coming back to the calendar. And with various improvements made since 2020; GBAC Star Certification, Sensory Inclusive Certification and all new LED sports lighting, the arena is more prepared than ever to deliver, safe, inclusive, and memorable events for all.

To watch a video celebrating the 10 years, click here.