By Jasmine Shannon

The Venue Safety and Security Committee (VSSC) hosted its first Zoom meetings of the 2020-2021 term on August 20 and September 17. There is a good mixture of new and returning committee members representing all venue sectors (amphitheaters, arenas, convention centers, complexes, performing arts centers, stadiums, and universities) along with several Allied Members — which is exactly the mix of expert input the committee needs to be successful.

VSSC had high hopes of a year full of productivity at the beginning of our 2019-2020 season. However, our year was quickly derailed by the pandemic. Soon our conversations revolved around the issues and challenges faced due to the spread of COVID-19. The aspirations of productivity took a back seat while we all tried to navigate a foggy future directly affecting everyone’s safety and security.

Since then, there have been many COVID-19 IAVM committees dedicated to helping our industry rise back up in a safe manner. Therefore, VSSC is ready to take on all safety and security matters – not only those related to COVID-19 – and produce helpful tools and resources across every venue sector.

Call To Action

Each sector has a separate subcommittee chaired by a member of the Venue Safety and Security Committee (VSSC) that meets once a month. It’s an informal setting where anyone who is interested in safety and security can be involved in the conversation whether you are an IAVM member or not. These calls are a great way to stay in the know on what VSSC is talking about regarding your sector. We provide a safe space to talk through safety and security challenges to find out what works and doesn’t work. Each subcommittee creates an avenue to push these topics up the chain to the VSSC to ultimately find solutions and resources. If you or a member of your team is interested, please email greg.wolfe@iavm.org to get added to your sector’s monthly call. If the meeting option isn’t ideal for you, email VSSC@iavm.org any safety or security questions you would like the Venue Safety and Security Committee to explore.

It is an exciting time for all of us. We look forward to being a committee that creates and enhances the value of your IAVM membership.

Jasmine Shannon is Event Coordinator at the Berry Center in Houston, Texas, and a member of the Venue Safety & Security (VSSC) Committee.

VSSC Committee members include: Joe Levy, CVE, Chair; Kathryn Carlson, CVP, Vice Chair; Russell Dyer, Past Chair; Rachel Bomeli; Jeremy Brown; Liz Collins; Joe DeGeorge; Brendan Farley, CVP; Ross Girouard, CVP; Colin Holman; Eddie Idik, AVM; Andy Jabbour; Elizabeth Jones; Alexander Keen, ETCP; Mark Montgomery; Kerry Painter, CEM, CMP, CVE; Zach Rutledge; Jasmine Shannon; Russ Simons; Heidi Snyder.

By Stacie Bauer

Ungerboeck, the world’s event software, is further expanding their support to the industry by releasing a series of Reopening Solutions to help their customers welcome back face to face events with confidence. The technology provider has developed enhanced features for their platform to facilitate visitor tracking, social distancing management, and venues sanitation.

“Now more than ever, Ungerboeck remains committed to serving our customers. Our team has been working hard to help venues and event professionals prepare for the new world and reimagine their events. Our Reopening Solutions suite has been developed to assist answering government regulations and ensure the safety of venue staff and patrons”, says Manish Chandak, CEO at Ungerboeck.

These new solutions are released less than 2 months after Ungerboeck announced the launch of their new Certification Program available on their Learning Center, where over 7,000 event professionals are already taking advantage of the free educational platform to upskill and enhance their professional development.

“These new solutions are just the beginning and we’ll soon announce the release of a new platform, that will transform the way we deliver events in the digital age,” adds Mr Chandak.

For more information about Ungerboeck’s Reopening Solutions, visit https://go.ungerboeck.com/reopening

Stacie Bauer is Event & Sponsorship Coordinator, Marketing for Ungerboeck.

By ISSA and R.V. Baugus

Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City kicked off the 2020 NFL season as a GBAC STAR Accredited Facility to Enhance Cleanliness. The stadium, home to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, has achieved GBAC STAR accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. The stadium, which will welcome fans at a reduced capacity for its home games, has demonstrated that it knows how to prepare, respond, and recover from infectious disease outbreaks and biohazard situations. GBAC STAR also accredited 50 additional facilities this week, including Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto, and Hyatt properties around the world.

“More than ever, facility occupants are concerned about the quality and frequency of cleaning,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “GBAC STAR accreditation provides added assurance that an organization truly understands the why and how of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention.”

To achieve GBAC STAR accreditation, facilities must demonstrate capability and compliance with 20 key program elements, including personal protective equipment, personnel training, emergency response, and more. With seating for approximately 73,000, Arrowhead Stadium will host approximately 16,000 fans and conduct pre- and post-game cleaning and disinfection to provide the safest environment possible. The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex, the Chiefs’ practice facility, has also achieved GBAC STAR accreditation.
The following facilities have earned GBAC STAR accreditation this week:

Arenas/Stadiums
· Arrowhead Stadium & The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex in Kansas City, Mo.
· Banc of California Stadium, home to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, in Los Angeles
· DC Armory in Washington, D.C.
· Entertainment & Sports Arena, home to the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, in Washington, D.C.
· Honda Center, home to the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, in Anaheim, Calif.
· Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland
· Spectrum Center, home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, in Charlotte, N.C.
Commercial Office
· Servi-Tek, Inc. in Encinitas, Calif.
Convention Centers
· ASM Global – Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico
· Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City
· Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas
· Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington
· Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah
· Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif.
· The Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City
· Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto
Government Facility
· Independence Visitor Center Corporation in Philadelphia
Hotels
· Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Wailea, Hawaii
· Diamonds Athuruga Maldives in Athuruga Island, Maldives
· Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas
· Grand Hyatt Bali in Bali, Indonesia
· Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Kauai, Hawaii
· Grand Hyatt Xi’an in Xi’an, China
· Hotel Le Negresco, a Leading Hotels of the World member property, in Nice, France
· Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall Boston in Boston
· Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
· Hyatt Centric Park City in Park City, Utah
· Hyatt Herald Square New York in New York City
· Hyatt House Austin/Downtown in Austin, Texas
· Hyatt on the Bund in Shanghai, China
· Hyatt Place Delray Beach in Delray Beach, Fla.
· Hyatt Place New York City/Times Square in New York City
· Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South in New York City
· Hyatt Place San Jose Airport in San Jose, Calif.
· Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center in Denver
· Hyatt Regency Liberation Square Chongqing in Chongqing, China
· Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago
· Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
· Hyatt Regency Seattle in Seattle
· Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa in Honolulu, Hawaii
· Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle in Zurich, Switzerland
· Le Sirenuse, a Leading Hotels of the World member property, in Positano, Italy
· LEVEL Furnished Living Vancouver in Vancouver, B.C.
· Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, Calif.
· Park Hyatt Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand
· Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono in Hokkaido, Japan
· Parker Palm Springs, a Leading Hotels of the World member property, in Palm Springs, Calif.
· Sheraton Dallas Hotel in Dallas
· The Legian Seminyak, Bali, a Leading Hotels of the World member property, in Bali, Indonesia
· The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Industrial
· United Scrap Metal in Charlotte, N.C.

By Jennifer Norris, CVE, MFA

Join the Northern California Chapter of IAVM for a virtual education conversation with Metallica Production Manager, John “Lug” Zajonc, and San Francisco Giants Executive Vice President of Administration, Alfonso Felder, on Tuesday, September 29, from 3:30-4:30 PST.

After countless calls of ever-changing information and hypothetical situations planning for our return to events, we’re excited to bring you a session focused on lessons learned from unique “events” that have actually been hosted during the pandemic.

From Metallica’s secret concert filming for release in drive-ins throughout the country to the Giants’ modified baseball season, our esteemed speakers will share their experience planning and executing events these past few months. We’ll hear about what worked, what didn’t, insights on the future of our industry, and other valuable information relevant to all venue types.

*Registration is complimentary. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting.

Following the session, there will be an optional social happy hour to help bring our Nor Cal community together.

To register for this informative and entertaining conversation, click here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Jennifer Norris, CVE, MFA, is Assistant Managing Director of the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center in San Francisco.

By Paul Meena

I wanted to share a recent accomplishment of our Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, as it relates to continuing to be relevant during a pandemic. I believe that other performing arts centers will find this information useful for their own venues (especially the 5-minute “Making of” video).

This summer, our 6th annual Dr. Phillips Center Applause Awards honored excellence in high school musical theater and engaged 500 students representing 30 schools from throughout the region. The program normally culminates in a live performance showcase with presentation of top awards, including the selection of one lead actor and actress to participate in the national Jimmy Awards® competition in New York.

When COVID-19 canceled plans for the national and regional programs, we worked to keep those dreams alive and created a safe, reimagined ceremony. The performance included 120 top-scoring student nominees, scholarships for 42 college-bound seniors, extraordinary performances and Broadway actor cameos. Most of all, everyone remained healthy throughout the entire production: colleagues, crew, and students.

We give special thanks to our sponsor, AdventHealth, and additional supporters: TD Charitable Foundation, Chesley G. Magruder Foundation, Winter Park Publishing Company and SunTrust Foundation. We also had several generous donors contribute to scholarships for seniors whose last year in high school was impacted so greatly by COVID: Florida Theatrical Association, Publix Super Market Charities and Ernest Hardy, a founding donor of the arts center.

We have three videos to share with you …

Applause Awards trailer or sizzle reel (46 seconds)

Behind-the-scenes look of “The Making of the Applause Awards” (4:58)

Full Applause Awards performance (59:40)

Paul Meena is Vice President, Production, at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida.