By Veronica Cantu

Moody Center, the world-class venue designed specifically for Austin, is marking a major milestone of construction with their final beam placement on the 530,000-square-foot venue. There is a total of 5,308,272 pounds of structural steel – 2,654 tons. The beam indicates the steel-framing structural phase of a project is complete. To celebrate this milestone, Moody Center hosted a Topping Out Ceremony on the morning of Tuesday, July 27.

Oak View Group (OVG), the global venue development and investment company behind Moody Center, honored the

tradition behind “topping out” ceremonies. “Topping out” ceremonies on construction sites have a centuries-old history with a tree affixed to the final beam as a symbol to show no structure is taller [in spirit] than a tree. A tree stands as a talisman for good luck and prosperity for the future occupants of the building. The tree’s strong and expansive branches, which often offer shelter, symbolizes hospitality, and endurance symbolizes the important role Moody Center will play as the premier music venue in the Live Music Capital of the World and a gathering place for Austinites and visitors to enjoy.

It’s an exciting time for Moody Center,” said Jeff Nickler, General Manager of Moody Center and Senior Vice President, OVG Arena and Stadium Alliance. “The placement of the final interior steel beam marks one of our biggest moments of construction to date. This past year has been full of unprecedented events, not to mention weather challenges, and yet the women and men working on this project continue to deliver. We hold a sincere appreciation for everyone who has worked on Moody Center and can’t wait to open its doors to Austin next spring.”

The landmark occasion was commemorated when steelworkers placed the last beam on the 15,000+-seat venue in the attendance of the construction and design team and Moody Center key stakeholders. This event and the signing of the last steel beam symbolized a celebration of all the hard-working women and men who took part in constructing Moody Center over the past two years.

“The topping out ceremony is a much-earned celebration of thousands of hours of planning and hard work on the part of our outstanding tradesmen,” said Sid Perkins, Vice President of Field Operations, AECOM HUNT. “Cap Form, the concrete contractor, and Irwin Steel and Bosworth, the steel erectors, have worked numerous hours to reach this goal. This provides the starting point for other dedicated tradesmen to enclose and finish the interior of Moody Center. The tradesmen of Central Texas are dedicated and proud to complete a state-of-the-art arena to be enjoyed by all.”

Austin’s newest entertainment arena will make its debut in April 2022 and has started to announce some of the biggest acts in the world for its inaugural year including The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, John Mayer for two nights, and The Killers. Moody Center will have a massive amount of live entertainment and many more major announcements rolling out later this year.

Veronica Cantu is Vice President of Marketing at Moody Center.

Thaxter R. Trafton, of Rockland, ME passed away in Camden with his wife, Linda, by his side on July 25, 2021, from complications of Lewy body disease. He was 84. Thaxter was born in Danforth, ME on January 5, 1937, to Leone Fitzpatrick and Elton Trafton.

A graduate of Morse High School and Maine Central Institute, he earned his business degree from Husson College.

Thaxter was a competitive athlete, and his career as a teacher and coach at John Bapst High School kindled a lifelong passion for motivation and development of all he mentored. Throughout his personal and professional life, he nurtured the potential of those with whom he came in contact. This is underscored by the devotion of family and friends, and the legion of students, employees and acquaintances which attest to his leadership. He was an exceptional individual.

Thaxter became the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Bangor from 1965 until 1980, including five years as the Executive Director of Bass Park, which included the Bangor State Fair and Raceway operation and the overseeing the building of the Bangor Civic Center. In 1980, he was named the Director of the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Arizona State Fair. During his tenure, he also served as the president of the Western Fairs Association.

His lifelong affinity for sports was realized from 1985 to 1988 as president of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers, during which time he accomplished several notable NBA firsts in professional sports administration. After serving as president of the RACAM amusement company in Phoenix, Arizona, he became the owner and president of Trafton & Associates, which operated the Santa Monica pier amusements and Shamrock Shows in southern California.

Thaxter ventured back into professional sports, becoming the president of the International Basketball League, in Baltimore, MD. He then took the position of Chief Administrative Officer of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority in Oakland, CA. At the request of Governor John Baldacci, Thaxter returned to Maine in 2003, where he served first as the Director of Business Development in the Department of Economic and Community Development, then became Deputy Developmen Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development and lastly, served as the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development in 2011. He served as the first Executive Director of the Maine Sports Hall of Fame starting in 2006. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, Maine Sports Hall of Fame, Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, Husson University Sports Hall of Fame, Maine Central Institute Sports Hall of Fame and the John Bapst Sports Hall of Fame. For the past several years he has been affiliated with the Samoset Resort while residing in Rockland, ME.

Thaxter is predeceased by his parents; and his brothers, Blaine and John. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Linda Pinney Trafton. They were married in Alta Loma, CA in 1993. He also leaves behind Mona Herbert Trafton, mother of his four children. Thaxter is survived by his four children: Tony Trafton of Murrieta, CA and his 4 children and 3 grandchildren; Teresa Armstrong and her husband, Mark Armstrong, of Woodbridge, CA, and their 4 children and 2 grandchildren; Mark Trafton and his life companion, Shauna Yergensen, of Las Vegas, NV and his 2 children; and Alan Trafton and his wife, Jennifer, of Lake Forest, CA and their child. He is also survived by his three stepchildren: Cynthia Hays of Livonia, MI, and her 2 children; Matthew Pinney and wife, Denyse, of Solon, OH and their 2 children; and Andrew Pinney and wife, Amy, of Broadview Heights, OH and their 4 children. He also leaves behind 5 great grandchildren. He will be fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Knox County Ballroom at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME on Sunday, October 3, 2021, from 1-4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Thaxter’s honor to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame at P.O. Box 2, Cumberland, ME 04021 or online at mshof.com/donations.

By Julie Pazina

Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services, the nation’s largest independent electrical contractor to the convention and trade show industry, announced its exclusive utility partnership with the team at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. Beginning July 1, 2021, Edlen has been working with the team at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, show management, general service contractors, AV and IT professionals as the exclusive provider of electrical, plumbing, compressed air, and cable services.

Founded in 1975, Edlen is the nation’s largest and most experienced independent temporary utility contractor. Jim Wetterling, President and CEO, said, “Edlen is honored to partner with our friends at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. We look forward to a long and mutually successful relationship.”

Shawna Moore has moved to Atlanta to assist with the transition and lead the team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her tenure with Edlen. Shawna served as the Assistant General Manager of Edlen’s Mandalay Bay office and has serviced some of the largest trade shows in the country.

Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services is the nation’s leading independent temporary utility contractor to the trade show, convention and special event industry. Edlen is a national company based out of Las Vegas, servicing more than 5,000 events annually providing exclusive, preferred or recommended services in over 200 convention facilities nationwide.

Julie Pazina is national director of sales for Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services.

Pictured: (Left to right) Anthony Ellis, Tashee Tott, Brittany Brown, Shawna Moore, Dana Brown, LaTonia Ross, Detris Lawerence

By Nancy Walker

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by ASM Global, the premier venue management and services company, marked 50 eventful years with a live celebration on Thursday, July 29th.

After touring the LA Art Show, the first large-scale event to be hosted by the Convention Center since re-opening, City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (pictured) addressed approximately 200 attendees that included City and State officials, event organizers, Convention Center partners, the downtown LA hospitality community, and current and former LACC employees.

Additional remarks were made by Doane Liu – Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Tourism Department, Adam Burke – President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Ron Bension – President & CEO of ASM Global, and Ellen Schwartz – General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“After an extended hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to bring large scale events back to Los Angeles. The Convention Center has been an economic engine for our city’s economy for the past 50 years, and we look forward to building on that legacy by welcoming even more visitors and conventions in the future,” commented Liu.

At the celebration, the Los Angeles Convention Center Hall of Fame was officially unveiled. Three events were named as the 2021 inaugural LACC Hall of Fame inductees: Anime Expo, the Los Angeles Auto Show, and Ski Dazzle. These iconic events were recognized by Ellen Schwartz during the program. “We are thrilled to have the 50th Anniversary celebration be a platform to launch the LACC Hall of Fame. Here, we can formally recognize the events that have contributed to the success of this Center,” Schwartz said. “Each July, additional events will be named to the LACC Hall of Fame and collectively, these events will illustrate the vibrant history of this great facility.”

The 50th Anniversary celebration coincided with the opening of the LA Art Show, the most comprehensive international contemporary art show in America. Kassandra Voyagis, Producer and Director of the LA Art Show, said, “I am so excited to be bringing the LA Art Show to the Los Angeles Convention Center, on the heels of a difficult year. Now more than ever, we need a physical art fair to unite the creative community. Thanks to this incredible space, we are able to safely welcome our artists, exhibitors, and patrons for a celebration of art and culture. We are thrilled to celebrate the LACC’s 50th Anniversary in conjunction with our return.”

Nancy Walker is VP, Sales & Marketing for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

By Lauren Crawford Shaver

Oxford Economics released an economic report entitled, “The Concerts and Live Entertainment Industry: A Significant Economic Engine,” that highlights the industry’s contributions to the U.S. economy. The report, commissioned by Live Nation Entertainment, was conducted by Oxford Economics to better understand this important industry’s contributions to the U.S. economy nationally and at the state and local levels.

“Beyond its important cultural contributions, the concert and live entertainment industry generates massive economic upside, supporting the livelihoods of nearly a million people in the US and sustaining public services with nearly $18 billion in taxes generated in 2019,” said Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company. “The US needs a flourishing concert and live entertainment industry to achieve full economic recovery.”

The report’s key findings revealed that:

· The industry’s total nationwide economic impact of $132.6 billion supported 913,000 total jobs with associated labor income of approximately $42.2 billion in 2019.

· The industry generated a direct impact of $55.2 billion in 2019, which included local operational spending by live events venues and off-site spending by out-of-town live event attendees.

· Overall, the live events industry generated a total fiscal impact of $17.5 billion in 2019, including nearly $9.3 billion in federal tax revenues and $8.3 billion in state and local tax revenues

While the national impact of the live event industry is significant, live’s impact starts locally. Concerts and live entertainment events generate significant economic impacts at the state and local level as its venues spend money in local economies to sustain daily operations, including spending on payroll, marketing costs, legal services, and professional services. And, the economic impact of live events extends beyond the jobs, event, and venue itself to local restaurants, hotels, bars, retailers, and small businesses. For example, If an out-of-town attendee were to spend $100.00 on a concert ticket, the local economy would benefit from an additional $334.92 in spending, resulting in a total spending impact of $434.92.

Live events also contribute to the overall quality of life in a region that helps to attract and retain businesses and talent and helps to create the sense of community so many crave after this year of isolation caused by COVID-19. Beyond the cultural loss involved, the US economy has incurred massive losses in GDP, employment, household income, and tax revenue due to the shutdown of live events during the pandemic. Due to this, the report examined 2019 data to ensure a complete analysis could be conducted that is in line with regular performance of the industry.

As local government officials are providing approved health and safety guidelines, concerts, festivals, and live events are beginning to return to communities around the country. After a year of isolation, many crave getting back to enjoying memorable live experiences safely in 2021 and into the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This renewed enthusiasm for live positions the industry for growth in the coming years as long as safety measures and vaccinations continue across the country.

To read the full report, click here.

The Concerts and Live Entertainment Industry, as defined by this report, includes all live musical performances, such as festivals and concerts, and comedy shows held in amphitheaters, clubs, theaters, arenas, stadiums, and other venues. Not included in this analysis are theater, Broadway, sporting events, and family shows.

Lauren Crawford Shaver is with Forbes Tate Partners.