By Cara Vanderhook

President of STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE and arena industry veteran Lee Zeidman has been selected by the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) to receive their ALSD Bill Dorsey Visionary Award. This prestigious venue industry award is presented annually to a respected executive for his innovation, vision, character and loyalty and whose lifetime of leadership and achievement merits the sports and entertainment industry Association’s highest individual honor.

Although the ALSD postponed their 2020 [in-person] conference, Zeidman received his award as part of a special on-line virtual event on October 28.

“Lee has long been just about the busiest and most respected people in the facility business,” said Bill Dorsey, Chairman of ALSD. “He manages not one but multiple tenants as well as major concert venue. Literally, if it is Sunday it must be the GRAMMY Awards and that Tuesday night a sold-out Lakers game. It goes on and on and Lee handles it all line water rolling off a duck’s back.”

Earlier in the week, Zeidman was surprised with a congratulatory video with messages from colleagues past and present, journalists and several famous friends who wanted to pass along the best wishes. To view the video, click here.

“I am incredibly grateful to the leadership of the ALSD for the honor of being named the 2020 Bill Dorsey Visionary Award recipient,” Zeidman said. “It is humbling to join such an impressive list of industry leaders who have previously received this award. I have had an amazing career and have been fortunate to worked with and learned from so many visionaries who have helped me get to where I am today.”

There are few events that take place in arenas, theatres or other venues that Zeidman has not been involved with during his career that has spanned four decades. As President of STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE the sports, residential and entertainment district, Zeidman oversees the venues event operations, production, including guest services, booking, box office, event security, event staffing, guest relations, facility presentation, marketing, communications, hospitality and food and beverage services. Along with his hard-working team, Zeidman also supervises STAPLES Center’s overall day-to-day support for its tenants, sponsors, clients and partners including the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Sparks franchises hosting seven NBA Finals, two Stanley Cup Finals and five WNBA Finals.

Zeidman was a crucial member of a team that oversaw the overall development of L.A. LIVE, the 4 million square foot / $3 billion sports, residential & entertainment district featuring Microsoft Theater (7,100-seat live theater) and Club Nokia (2,300 capacity live music venue), a 54-story, 1001-room convention “headquarters” destination (featuring The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels and 224 luxury condominiums – The Residences at The Ritz Carlton – all in a single tower), a 14-screen Regal Cineplex, “broadcast” facilities for ESPN, along with entertainment, restaurant and office space. Microsoft Theater has been named Pollstar’s national “Theatre of the Year” in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with Zeidman having been nominated nine times for “Facility Executive of the Year” and honored in both 2008 and 2016. In June 2018, Zeidman was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the Stadium Business Awards in Manchester, England, which recognizes an individual that has shown exceptional commitment service and leadership to the stadium industry over a sustained period of time.

During his time with AEG, Zeidman has also played a substantial role in the development, construction, and operation of Dignity Sports Health Park in Carson, California which includes a 27,000-seat soccer stadium, 8,000-seat multi-sport stadium and other major facilities for tennis, boxing, track & field, cycling, beach volleyball and other sports which has been designated as an Official U.S. Olympic Training site. Zeidman was also a part of a team that developed and opened The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, a 4,000-seat theatre which was the home of Celine Dion’s A New Day as well as assisting in the opening of such iconic AEG venues such as the O2 in London and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.

Prior to joining AEG and STAPLES Center, Zeidman was the Great Western Forum’s Vice-President, Operations, overseeing all areas of that facility’s management. During his 10-year tenure, he coordinated operations for all Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers games, concerts and special events. Previously, he directed operations for the 6,000-seat special event center at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

The ALSD was established more than 30 years ago as the industry leading advocate and source for premium seating in the sports and entertainment venue space. They are the clearinghouse of information on premium sports business and a platform for teams, venues, leagues, and product- and service-partners to come together and elevate the industry’s operation and service. Their mission is to cover the venue landscape, in recent years creating the Design & Build Forum to do so more comprehensively from a design, architectural, and innovation standpoint.

Previous ALSD Bill Dorsey Visionary Award Winners:

Tom Wilson, current President, Chief Executive Officer, Olympia Entertainment
Bernie Mullin, current Chairman and Founder, The Aspire Group
Tod Leiweke, current Chief Executive Officer, Seattle Kraken
Richard Krezwick, current Chief Commercial Officer, ASM Global
Tom Glick, current President, Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Derrick Hall, current President & CEO, Arizona Diamondbacks
Brad Mayne, current President & CEO, IAVM
Jon Spoelstra, current American author, sports marketer
Andy Dolich, current Founder, Dolich & Associates

Cara Vanderhook is Vice President Marketing & Communications for STAPLES Center and Microsoft Theater for AEG Worldwide.

Photo from ALSD website.

The Herberger Theater Center (HTC) in Phoenix is excited to announce its new outdoor stage, The Pavilion at the Herberger Theater. Built on the recently cleared land on the east side on the theater, The Pavilion will host performances November 2020 through April 2021, including the 11th annual Festival of the Arts on Saturday, November 14, which will be the opening performance for the new space.

“The opening of The Pavilion outdoor stage is about hope and giving an opportunity for companies to meet their audiences in a new way,” said Mark Mettes, CVE, President and CEO of the Herberger Theater. “We have heard from our guests that digital offerings are just not the same. We want to answer the call and provide a live arts experience for the community. These outdoor performances are about being together, yet safely apart, in order to experience performances in a safe and socially distanced way.”

The collection of performances scheduled on The Pavilion are part of The Art of Celebration series, which focuses on celebrating community and creativity in the space. From festivals and concerts to fully staged productions and performances, The Art of Celebration will unite artists and audiences through diverse experiences that ignite emotion, stimulate conversation and inspire connections – all while following safe and healthy protocols related to physical distancing, face coverings and cleanliness. The Art of Celebration kicks off with a re-imagined 11th annual Festival of the Arts, followed by Arizona Opera, who will present a new collaboration with The Metropolitan Opera on an outdoor opera film festival staged on The Pavilion in late-November, adding another family-friendly program to its Reimagined 2020/21 Season. In December, the sights and sounds of the holidays will fill The Pavilion as one of the Valley’s most celebrated actresses, Katie McFadzen, brings to life Charles Dickens’ holiday classic A Christmas Carol presented by Childsplay under the stars, lights, and chandeliers. The Herberger Theater will also host Lunch Time Theater, a concert series and Performance Discoveries by local performers and organizations.

A generous donation from Arizona Artificial Lawns will allow HTC to install turf to prepare a more welcoming outdoor space for guests. At its current capacity, the stage will seat approximately 160 guests, who will follow social distancing guidelines. As restrictions loosen, the space could accommodate more than 300 guests.

Spanning 36 feet wide and 20 feet deep, the stage will be the largest ever constructed on the Herberger Theater plaza and will provide a space for performing companies to once again welcome guests to enjoy live arts experiences at the Herberger Theater.

With generous donations from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Billie Jo and Judd Herberger, Perkins Coie, the Arizona Community Foundation and Downtown Phoenix Partnership, HTC can focus on bringing audiences and art back together at the Herberger Theater, where audience meets art.

The continued health and well-being of guests, artists, volunteers, and staff is of the upmost priority. Cleaning procedures will be in line with CDC guidelines for gatherings, as well as state and local ordinances. All surfaces will be completely sanitized between performances and high contact surfaces will be cleaned frequently. Face coverings will be required at all times within the venue for guests, volunteers, and staff. At the outdoor performances, guests will be seated six feet apart from other patrons, as well as space to socially distance throughout the venue. Signage will be posted throughout the outdoor space to remind guests to socially distance and follow safety procedures. More information about enhanced safety procedures can be found at HerbergerTheater.org.

To find more information on The Pavilion, visit HerbergerTheater.org/The-Pavilion/

By Nadia Vanderhoof

Exhibitor Magazine has recognized the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando as a Center of Excellence in its 2021 list of the nation’s best convention centers for trade shows and events.

Honoring the best large and small trade show venues, this prestigious list judges based on a variety of criteria from facility and functionality, location and accommodations, service and execution, upgrades and expansions, and awards and industry participation.

“The OCCC continues to drive our industry forward with world-class facilities and innovative solutions to the current challenges,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “We are home to some of the most esteemed conventions and trade shows across the nation, and this award further affirms our competitiveness and industry standing.”

The Centers of Excellence list is an important resource for event planners, show organizers and exhibition managers throughout the U.S. Recognized for two consecutive years, the OCCC continues to enhance its facility and lead the conventions and trade show industry, particularly in response the current climate.

Among the first in the industry to release a strategic set of data-driven Recovery and Resiliency Guidelines, the OCCC continues to take extensive measures to secure a safe, functional and controlled environment for guests, attendees, planners and exhibitors.

In line with its three-pronged recovery strategy, the OCCC earned its Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation earlier this year. As one of the largest accredited venues in this nation, this highly esteemed certification provides third-party validation for the safety practices employed at the Center, alongside providing a comprehensive framework for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease control and prevention.

Furthermore, the OCCC released a first-of-its-kind medical concierge program with its destination partner Visit Orlando and Orlando Health. Offering personalized medical services and resources to all meetings and convention groups through 2020, this pioneering program further enhances the OCCC’s reputation for excellence.

Nadia Vanderhoof is Marketing and Communications Manager | Marketing and Communications Division for the Orange County Convention Center.

By Julian M. Bowman

The Dallas City Council unanimously approved the 2020 Fair Park Master Plan Update, which outlines the vision and future planned development for Fair Park. The announcement comes on the heels of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board approval this past summer. The Master Plan Update was presented by Fair Park First, Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, and Spectra—the team tasked with Fair Park’s management, operations, and development.

“We’re proud of all the work that our collective team has put into this plan in less than 18 months,” said Darren L. James, President of the Fair Park First Board. “Today’s approval puts us one step closer to putting the park back into Fair Park for the citizens of Dallas and sets up a living framework for impactful Park improvements over the next couple of decades.”

“We are excited that the City Council was so supportive of this project, and sees the value in restoring and revitalizing Fair Park,” said Brian Luallen, Executive Director of Fair Park First. “This transformative project represents a new path forward for the historic property. With the Council’s overwhelming support, we’re now focused on securing corporate partners, individual donors, and sponsors to make this vision of a greener Fair Park a reality.”

The recommendations in the Master Plan Update reflect the needs and interests of the resident institutions at Fair Park, the surrounding neighborhoods, and park users from the DFW Metroplex, which were gathered through dozens of meetings with the surrounding communities, user groups, and various stakeholders.

“The 2020 Master Plan Update is a guide for reestablishing Fair Park as Dallas’s premier park, a year-round destination for the best of Dallas history, culture, entertainment, and recreation, and a welcoming place of opportunity for neighboring communities,” said Dan Biederman, President of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures.

The approval precedes an upcoming announcement of the park designer for the new Community Park within Fair Park’s 277-acre campus, which is one of the Master Plan Update’s first priorities. The planned Community Park design will include a large lawn, a children’s play area with an interactive water feature, naturalized plantings, remembrance gardens, a pavilion for gatherings, and movable tables and chairs. The Community Park will also provide free programming for children, adults, and seniors. A typical calendar of events during a week might include fitness classes, musical performances, art workshops, drum circles, a reading room, and outdoor movies.

“The City Council’s support and confidence in our vision show that we are on the right track to revitalizing and renewing this National Historic Landmark,” said Spectra’s Peter Sullivan, General Manager of Fair Park. “The proposed greenspaces will be a welcome addition to showcase Fair Park in our mission to activate the entire park year-round.”

Find out more information on the planned revitalization of Fair Park by visiting www.fairparkfirst.org.

Julian M. Bowman is Senior Director of Marketing Fair Park, a Spectra Venue Management facility.

Photo by City of Dallas.

By R.V. Baugus

We all like tidy lists full of numbers that we can easily reference and even work into our brains for fast recall. During his VenueConnect presentation on “The 10 P’s of Venue Safety and Security,” Dan Mathis Jr., CPP, Chief of Safety and Security for the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Fla., shared a word for each of those letters and why they are so important to through areas of public safety, liability reduction, and risk mitigation in an easy-to-master format.

“Ten represents the 10 most essential areas of venue safety and security operations condensed into an easy-to-use format,” Mathis said in beginning his presentation that included a lengthy and engaged Q&A session at the end. “Everybody has plans. There are plans from everywhere. There are private contractors that will come in and develop a plan for you. There’s planned assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. The best plans to me are plans that you can steal from your friends and neighbors and colleagues, but the point is we are taking some of the components from all of these plans and condensing this into 10 P’s.

With that, Mathis was off and running in going through the list and providing venue managers a simplistic framework for developing response, recovery and mitigation strategies and solutions. In order, they represent:

PLANNING. The establishment of 10P begins with the planning phase, or “a failure to plan, is a plan to fail.” With a multitude of planning programs available, use the one best suited for your application and venue needs.

PERCEPTION. The perception of safety and security that your venue projects to the public and others is paramount. Public facing messaging, website, uniforms, security staff attentiveness, staff engagement.

PROTECTION. We have an equal responsibility of duty of care to protect our staff and guests.

PERIMETER. The perimeter of the venue is the first outward sign of the presence of security and public facing indications that your venue considers public safety important.

POSTURE. Security posture is the overall presentation of the defensive capability a venue has as the overall security measures for the venue. The people, policies, and processes in place to maintain security define your security posture. The security posture refers to the level of security and infrastructure currently present at your venue. CPTED and target hardening are examples.

PEOPLE. People make or break your overall program. Well-trained, well-informed staff is the key to efficient response and recovery from a critical incident.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE. This is a must-have from a guidance and liability perspective.

PARTNERSHIPS. Inter-agency operability and stakeholder collaboration in is very important.

PUBLIC SAFETY. Public safety is often directly associated with law enforcement and security. Do not overlook the guest safety in other areas of your campus such as trip hazards, exposure to electrical hazards, protection from inclement weather impacts.

PRACTICE. Your plan is only as worth the paper it was composed on if it is not exercised and practiced. There are many cost-effective ways to accomplish training.

We would be remiss in not thanking Mathis for his gesture at the beginning of the session when he asked for a moment of reflective silence to acknowledge the ongoing work of first-responders and healthcare workers.