By Kristi Mexia
LA Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park (Hollywood Park) and SoFi are partnering in a 20-year agreement that makes the digital personal finance company the exclusive naming rights partner of the new SoFi Stadium, the future home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. In addition, SoFi will be an official partner of each of the teams as well as a partner of the performance venue and surrounding entertainment district.
Opening summer 2020, SoFi Stadium is the centerpiece of Hollywood Park, a 298-acre world-class sports and entertainment destination being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. SoFi Stadium will hold year-round sports and entertainment events and will be the host of Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football National Championship game in 2023, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic Games.
“We’re thrilled to be introducing SoFi Stadium to the world, through our partnership with Hollywood Park,” said Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi. “This is a giant leap toward achieving our company’s mission of helping people get their money right by reaching our members where they are. The partnership with this transformative project taking shape under Stan Kroenke’s leadership is the perfect opportunity to drive awareness and trust in the SoFi brand as we continue to grow and reach members on a national level.”
Said Kroenke: “It would be impossible to build a stadium and entertainment district of this magnitude without incredible and innovative partners who share our ambitions for Los Angeles, our fans worldwide and the National Football League. Since breaking ground at Hollywood Park, more than 12,000 people have worked side-by-side on this project, and we are proud to now have SoFi join us on this journey as we prepare to open in the summer of 2020.
“From our first meeting with Anthony Noto and his team, it was clear that SoFi wants to transform not only the financial industry but also the lives of its members. SoFi has a deep appreciation of the aspirations of its members – quality education, home ownership and achieve their ambitions. They are helping millions of people achieve their dreams and helping us realize our own promise at SoFi Stadium.
“Customer service and the fan experience is tantamount to everything we’ll do at SoFi Stadium. It was critical for us to find a tech-focused partner who is on the cutting edge and genuinely understands the needs of all of our constituents and who challenges us to think in creative ways to make every visitor to SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park feel special and at home.”
SoFi Stadium will have a seating capacity of approximately 70,000, expandable up to 100,000, with 260 luxury suites, more than 13,000 premium seats, and over three million square feet of usable space. A 27,000 square foot SoFi-branded VIP activation space inside the stadium will be utilized for special events, including a dedicated SoFi lounge for its members to access, one of the exclusive opportunities the company plans to offer members as part of this partnership.
“SoFi’s commitment to disrupting the status quo within its own industry and becoming a leading innovator in financial services makes them the ideal naming rights partner for our new home,” said Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos. “SoFi Stadium is reimagining how a stadium looks, feels, and functions on gameday the same way SoFi is redefining access to financial tools for the next generation. We couldn’t be more excited to be aligned with a company as forward-thinking as SoFi, both as the naming rights partner for our new Hollywood Park home and as an official partner of the Los Angeles Chargers beginning in 2020.”
“We are working to deliver a fan-first stadium consistent with Mr. Kroenke’s dream to build a global sports and entertainment destination,” said Jason Gannon, Managing Director, SoFi Stadium. “SoFi Stadium will be a gathering place for the community, and we couldn’t have found a better partner to help us welcome the world when the building opens next summer.”
SoFi Stadium is the first indoor-outdoor stadium to be constructed. Adjacent to the stadium and under the same roof canopy is a 6,000-seat performance venue and the 2.5-acre American Airlines Plaza. The performance venue will host a variety of events, including concerts, esports events, award shows, as well as community gatherings. Hollywood Park will feature more than 1.5 million square feet of retail and office space initially, 2,500 residences, a hotel, and more than 20 acres of parks.
“In less than a year, the Rams will be running out of the tunnel into SoFi Stadium as people around the world see Mr. Kroenke’s creativity, dedication and hard work come to life through this game-changing building,” said Los Angeles Rams COO Kevin Demoff. “We are thrilled to be teaming with SoFi on a partnership that will extend beyond the columns of the stadium, one that will combine our passions for inspiring people to realize their ambition and climb higher.”
Community partnerships and programs will be announced in the coming months, leading up to the opening of the stadium.
Hollywood Park was represented by Legends Global Partnerships division, which sourced, negotiated and represented Hollywood Park in securing this wide-ranging partnership with SoFi. Financial terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
Kristi Mexia is director corporate communications at LA Stadium & Entertainment District at Hollywood Park.
By Detra Page, APR
GES, a global, full-service provider for live events, and the Edmonton EXPO Centre announced the appointment of GES Canada as the Centre’s official general services provider. Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC), the operator and manager of the Edmonton EXPO Centre, selected GES Canada following a thorough bid process and review.
“After we conducted a detailed review of potential general services providers in the market, it became clear to us that we already have the best solution in place,” said Vice President of Venue Management for EEDC Arlindo Gomes. “GES has proven their commitment to the service and support of the Edmonton EXPO Centre and our mutual clients, and we look forward to continuing this partnership.”
GES and the Edmonton EXPO Centre have partnered since 2000 to create world-class events. As the leading events provider for Canada’s top shows, GES is a trusted partner of the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Through this agreement, GES is the preferred official services provider for exhibitions, conventions, trade shows, corporate events, sales meetings, and special events.
“We share the commitment of the entire Edmonton EXPO Centre team of providing exceptional service,” said GES Canada Sr. Vice President and General Manager Patrick Lukan. “We are proud to be associated with this facility and look forward to continuing to provide high-impact, worry-free execution to our mutual clients.”
Edmonton EXPO Centre is one of Western Canada’s premier trade show and convention facilities, offering 522,000 square feet of flexible, adaptable, indoor space to make room for the biggest and best in trade and consumer shows, conferences and special events. It boasts seven exhibit halls, a grand ballroom and world-class conference and catering services. The new three-year agreement builds on the organizations’ long and successful partnership.
Detra Page is senior manager of corporate communications for GES.
By Angela Keeven
The Spectra-managed St. Charles (MO) Convention Center and We Love St. Charles are partnering up to host the 12th annual Helping Hands for the Holidays charitable event on December 12, 2019. More than 1,600 men, women, and children in need will gather at the St. Charles Convention Center for this free event to celebrate the holidays.
In 2018, a remarkable 1,625 individuals enjoyed a warm holiday meal free of charge at the event. Thanks to hundreds of generous volunteers and donors, 500 personal care bags and 1,350 winter coats were distributed to those in need. Community partners and exhibitors also played a huge role in the event’s successes, helping to provide 225 flu shots, 45 haircuts, free books for all ages, photos with Santa and fun holiday crafts.
Over the past 11 years, Helping Hands for the Holidays has hosted more than 13,275 individuals in need. In joining forces with We Love St. Charles, the St. Charles Convention Center expects to see as many as 2,700 people in attendance at this year’s event.
More than 6,000 people are currently living below the poverty line in St Charles, Missouri, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Angela Keeven is marketing manager at the St. Charles Convention Center, managed by Spectra.
By Diane Schoeffler-Warren
Victoria Theatre Association (VTA), based in Dayton, Ohio, announced the appointment of Andre Bennington as Director of Programming and Licensing. With more than 20 years of buying, booking, and event promotion experience, Bennington comes to VTA from the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN, where he was Director of Programing.
Bennington is enthusiastic about bringing his industry knowledge and experience to Dayton and making a positive contribution to the revitalization of Dayton’s downtown area.
“I have always believed that performing arts centers were essential to stabilizing and enriching communities,” Bennington said. “If I can help make Victoria Theatre Association a community magnet by booking fresh and compelling events that attract new audiences, then I am honored to do so.”
“Ty Sutton and the VTA team have been terrific in discussing a vision which includes diversifying audiences and changing the ways people think about the organization,” he added. “I see bright things in the future for all of us and am eager to get to work.”
Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Bennington earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He has also served as General & Booking Manager for the landmark Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, and as Sales Manager for the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, CO.
Bennington begins his new role at VTA on Oct. 14, 2019.
Diane Schoeffler-Warren is Media and Public Relations Manager for the Victoria Theatre Association.
By Ian Cox
Robert Bell has been named Director of Expositions at the Kentucky Exposition Center. After overseeing the Office of Veterinary Livestock Field Operations and previously working at Irvington Stockyard, Bell maintained livestock events and schedules for years.
“I’m honored to have the privilege to join the Kentucky Venues team, and I think the shows and events we produce will be great,” Bell said.
Bell graduated from Western Kentucky in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. To kick off his career in agriculture and livestock, he spent six years working at Irvington Stockyards, where he sorted and graded livestock to be bought and sold, and even purchased livestock himself.
For the next 20 years of his career, Bell worked at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Starting as an agricultural inspector in 1999, Bobby climbed the hierarchy to be promoted as an administrative branch manager in 2008, where he stayed in the position for 11 years. In this role, Bell prepared livestock schedules and room reservations for the Kentucky State Fair, the World’s Championship Horse Show, the North American International Livestock Exposition and all other livestock events at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
“I think what benefits me the most is the fact that I have been around agriculture and livestock all my life,” Bell said. “I was raised on a farm and have been traveling the country for different shows all my life, so this is nothing new to me.”
Ian Cox is assistant director of communications for Kentucky Venues.