By Christine Susa

Pasadena Center Operating Company, Centerplate, city officials, and volunteers prepared up to 250 turkeys at the Pasadena Convention to feed two thousand families for the Union Station Homeless Services Thanksgiving Dinner.

The annual Union Station Homeless Services Thanksgiving Dinner event traditionally feeds over two thousand people in a large celebratory gathering thanks to the help of volunteers and generous key partners. This year strict adherence to COVID-19 public health orders were observed. Some dinners and dinner kits with all the fixings were handed out in advance, while smaller, private dinners were held the day before Thanksgiving at multiple centers serving homeless individuals.

“It has been an honor for the Pasadena Convention Center and Centerplate to donate resources in order to help make Union Station Homeless Services Dinner in the Park a success,” said Michael Ross, CEO of the Pasadena Center Operating Company. “We are grateful for the services and meals they offer and are pleased to participate, for the seventh time, in such a giving cause especially during this difficult time.”

Christine Susa is Director of Marketing & Communications for the Pasadena Convention Center.

Photo caption: Pasadena Mayor-Elect Victor Gordo; Pasadena Center Operating Company CEO Michael Ross; Centerplate Chef Jon Dubrick; Pasadena Convention Center Executive Director Naz Sabripour; Centerplate District Manager Doug Finney; Union Station Homeless Services CEO Anne Miskey; Union Station Homeless Services Food Services Assistant Jimmy Lawson; Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jeanne Goldschmidt, Centerplate District Manager Chris Morgan; and Pasadena Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton.

From WWE.com

WWE will bring its world-class viewing experience, WWE ThunderDome, to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay as it begins a new residency starting with SmackDown on Friday, Dec. 11 at 8/7 C on FOX.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are excited to welcome WWE to Tropicana Field for this residency and shine a spotlight on the Tampa Bay area for WWE fans around the world,” said Matt Silverman, Tampa Bay Rays President. “The ballpark will be transformed to host the spectacle of WWE ThunderDome, allowing fans to enjoy this wildly popular experience virtually.”

The move to Tampa Bay marks the next iteration for WWE ThunderDome, which launched to critical acclaim in August as part of WWE’s first-ever residency at Amway Center in Orlando. Featuring a state-of-the-art set, video boards, pyrotechnics, lasers, cutting-edge graphics and drone cameras, WWE ThunderDome provides an immersive viewing atmosphere and virtually brings thousands of fans into the arena via live video, in conjunction with The Famous Group and its proprietary technology, for every Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown and WWE pay-per-view event. WWE ThunderDome recently received top honors at this year’s Sportel Awards for Best Virtual Fan Experience.

“We are proud to have reimagined the in-arena atmosphere and provide an interactive experience like nothing else in sports and entertainment with the launch of WWE ThunderDome,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Production. “Our fans’ response and industry-wide recognition are both humbling and further validation of the innovative spirit and passion that exist across the entire WWE organization.”

Fans can register for their virtual seat to be part of upcoming WWE shows via www.WWEThunderDome.com or at WWE’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

“Hollywood celebrities, WWE Legends and millions of fans from around the world have all enjoyed what the world-class WWE ThunderDome has to offer,” said Brian Flinn, WWE Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “This new residency will enable us to continue offering an unmatched live spectacle and would not have been possible without the strong support from the Tampa Bay Rays organization. We remain grateful for the hospitality provided by the Amway Center over the past four months.”

Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view programming will be produced at Tropicana Field on closed sets with only essential personnel in attendance. WWE will continue to administer its health and safety protocols for talent, crew and employees in conjunction with each production, including PCR testing for COVID-19, social distancing and wearing masks.

The move comes in advance of the NBA beginning its season on December 22 and Amway Center primary tenant Orlando Magic playing games at the venue that had hosted WWE ThunderDome.

From Stadium Business

Italian Serie A football team Napoli is considering naming its stadium after club legend Diego Maradona, who died Wednesday, November 25, at the age of 60.

That night, the lights remained on at Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo in tribute to Maradona as Naples mourned the man that delivered the club two Serie A titles during a memorable seven-year spell from 1984 to 1991.

Mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris tweeted yesterday that the San Paolo should be renamed after Maradona, who also led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory in 1986. The move would require an exemption to a law that states a street or building can only be renamed after someone after 10 years have passed since their death.

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentis has said that the renaming of the stadium will be considered. Posting on her Facebook page yesterday, Laura Bismuto, president of the Toponomy Commission of the Naples City Council, said that steps are being taken to carry out the name change.

Bismuto said: “As president of the Toponymy Commission, I have the pleasure and honour to announce to the city that, in consultation with the mayor and the councillor for Toponymy Alessandra Clemente, having heard the case for the derogation from the 10-year rule, we decided to name the stadium of the city of Naples after Diego Armando Maradona.”

Bismuto added that a commission will be called on Monday to formalise the proposal.

Stadio San Paolo opened in 1959 and has a current capacity of 54,000. The stadium was one of the host venues during the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and staged the semi-final between the host nation and Maradona’s Argentina.

Maradona died following a heart attack, having undergone brain surgery earlier this month. Although the surgery was successful, Maradona was reportedly suffering due to withdrawal from his alcohol addiction.

Argentina President Alberto Fernández has declared three days of national mourning following Maradona’s passing, while wreaths and candles were placed outside the San Paolo yesterday as fans paid tribute.

It is with saddened hearts to announce the passing of Gunnery Sergeant Henry Bruce Thomas, USMC, Retired, 85, of Katy, Texas on Friday, November 20, 2020 at the Richard A. Anderson Veterans Home in Houston, Texas. He had been a patient there for one week. Henry was born on August 15, 1935 in Whigham, Georgia to William McKinley Thomas and Ethlene Trulock Thomas.

Henry proudly served his country as a United States Marine, serving in the Vietnam War, and retiring in 1971 at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. He then had a long and distinguished career at the Summit/Compaq Center as Operations Manager, until his retirement in 2000. After retirement, he and Connie spent many years traveling and seeing the country in their RV. He was an active member of the Katy V.F.W. Post 9182, the American Legion Post 164, the Semper Fi Society of Brazos Valley and the Marine Corps League of Katy, Texas.

Henry’s vibrant personality, endless work ethic and caring heart led to a remarkable life and he will be missed deeply by family and friends. Henry was of the Southern Baptist faith and attended First Baptist Church of Katy.

Henry was a loving husband for 58 years to Connie Evans Thomas; a devoted father to one daughter, Rachel Thompson Mikula of Katy, Texas and two sons, Barry Thomas (Veronica) of Humble, Texas and Todd Thomas (Marla) of Keller, Texas. He was also “Pawpaw” to four grandsons, Austin Thompson, Tyler Thompson, Bryan Thompson (Anna) and Luke Thomas; and three granddaughters, Candace Thomas, Trinity Thomas and Simone Shaw. Henry is also survived by three sisters, Ima Jean Fussell, Rachel Tilley and Ola Mae Grubbs; six brothers, Douglas Thomas, Dale Thomas (Donna), A.J. Thomas (Mary), Jackie Thomas (Jo), William Thomas (Janice), and Lee Thomas (Lori); and a large number of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews who he loved dearly.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters, Hazel Bodiford, Madelyn Smith, Patsy Jo Ezell and Georgia Faye Kirby. He was also preceded in death by one grandson, Garrett Jenkins.

A graveside service with full military honors presented by the honor guard of Katy V.F.W. Post 9182 will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2020 at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, 77038, with Chaplain Jeb Strickland officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the Katy V.F.W. Post 9182, P.O. Box 37, Katy Texas 77492 or to the Katy American Legion Post 164, P.O. Box 1171, Katy Texas 77492.

Jacqueline Kelsch is Director of Event Services at College Park Center and Texas Hall, part of The University of Texas at Arlington and is proud to be a member of IAVM’s 30Under30 Class of 2020.  She has amassed a wealth of knowledge in her short professional career, overseeing everything from banquets and trade shows to professional and collegiate sports and world renowned rodeos.  Getting her through many interesting and challenging times has been her credo – ‘If nothings on fire and no one has died, we can recover!’

“In a time when so much news was coming in and none of it good, to receive such great news of being a 30|Under|30 recipient really reinvigorated my drive and reminded me of why I love what I do.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Jacqueline on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!