By R.V. Baugus

Kerplunk!

That sound you just heard was another Houston Astro being hit by a pitched baseball. It is a sound that figuratively and literally will reverberate across many Major League Baseball stadiums this summer. It is a sound that in the team’s first five exhibition games saw seven Astros players get drilled with a pitch. Well, drilled might be an exaggeration as some were merely grazed, but the point is that coming off an off-season in which the team was brought out of the darkness and into light for a sign-stealing scandal the likes of which have not been seen before has brought a wave of criticism from those in other organizations, not only for the act itself that was investigated by MLB but for the club’s apparent lack of taking a dose of humble pie in interviews once spring training started. The commissioner’s office has already said that teams that go after Houston batters will be punished accordingly, but for some the edict has fallen on deaf ears.

Gaze into the rapidly approaching crystal ball to begin the 2020 season and it is easy to imagine the reception that Houston will receive in visiting ballparks. Will signs be confiscated from fans? At what point does heckling become too much? What about the Astros fans who show up in opposing stadiums? What effect will one or two too many cold ones play not only in what fans lash out at the players on the field and in the dugout but amongst rival fans themselves?

It only took the team’s very first exhibition game last Saturday against the Washington Nationals for fans to have signs taken from them. One fan’s sign was seemingly innocent enough with the words HOUSTON *’S, a nod to calling the team the “asterisks” for their championship season of 2017.

Expect security to be enhanced for the team at both home and away games to prevent any incidents that prove disruptive to fans simply out to enjoy a game of baseball. It should all add up to a season perhaps unlike any other in the sport’s proud history.

By Zach Spedden

SoFi Stadium will begin hosting the annual college football LA Bowl game in December, bringing another major event to the upcoming venue.

The future home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, SoFi Stadium is reportedly on track to be completed in July. Throughout its planning process, it has been expected that the multibillion-dollar stadium will draw a number of non-NFL events, and an annual college football bowl game adds to that agenda.

As was announced Wednesday, the LA Bowl will pit the Mountain West Conference’s number-one selection against the Pac-12 Conference’s number-five selection. The 2020 edition of the game will be held in December, though a specific date and kickoff time will be announced at a later date.

“Similar to SoFi Stadium, the LA Bowl game is designed to deliver an authentic Southern California experience,” Jason Gannon, managing director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, said in a press statement. “In addition, our bowl game events throughout the week will embrace Los Angeles as the entertainment capital of the world.”

For the two conferences, staging an annual bowl game in a major western market has its advantages. Adding to that, however, is the amenities that SoFi Stadium and the surrounding Hollywood Park development will offer, something that representatives from both conferences stressed in Wednesday’s announcement.

“We are thrilled to partner with LA Bowl and bring a Pac-12 presence to the new state-of-the-art facility at SoFi Stadium, in one of the biggest markets right in our footprint,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said in a press statement. “The entertainment presence of the new facility will provide great experiences for our student-athletes and fans as the Pac-12 continues its postseason matchup with the Mountain West.”

“The Mountain West is delighted to partner with the Pac-12 Conference and the outstanding management team assembled at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park to launch this exciting new bowl game,” Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson said in a press statement. “Los Angeles is a tremendous market firmly within our footprint that is home to a large number of our member institutions’ alumni and the area from which many of our student-athletes are recruited. This will be a top-flight postseason destination for the No. 1 selection from our Conference.”

It is not unusual to see new NFL facilities land major college-football games, and that trend will continue in 2020 with Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium hosting the Pac-12 Championship in 2020 and 2021, along with the annual Las Vegas Bowl. Still, with SoFi Stadium set to host the LA Bowl through at least 2025, Wednesday’s announcement brings another notable entry to a slate of future events that includes the Super Bowl in 2022, the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

As part of a project led by Rams owner Stan Kroenke, SoFi Stadium will be the anchor of the larger Hollywood Park development, a sprawling 298-acre sports and entertainment destination that is expected to draw crowds on a year-round basis. The stadium naming-rights agreement with SoFi, a digital personal-finance firm, was announced in September.

Rendering courtesy Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park.

Zach Spedden is managing editor of Football Stadium Digest.

By TheStadiumBusiness

The U.S. arm of Japanese automotive manufacturer Honda has agreed a 10-year extension to its naming rights partnership with the home arena of NHL Anaheim Ducks.

The arena first became known as the Honda Center in October 2016 through a 15-year contract agreed with Anaheim

Arena Management (AAM). Honda last year marked its 60th anniversary in the U.S., with the extension taking its arena naming rights through to 2031.

Highlights of the partnership include Honda Center exterior signage, freeway marquee placement, integration throughout all forms of media, car displays on two exterior corners of the arena, and the continuation of the annual Anaheim Ducks Fan Appreciation Night sweepstakes where one Ducks fan takes home a new Honda vehicle.

“We’ve been partners with the arena and Anaheim Ducks for over 13 years and are pleased to support the vision and financial resources that (Ducks owners) Henry and Susan Samueli invest in the building to maintain it as a state-of-the-art facility,” said Jay Joseph, vice president of the marketing division of automobile sales at American Honda Motor Co.

“For over 60 years Honda has been proud to partner with high profile events and facilities in Southern California, including the Rose Parade, the Aquarium of the Pacific, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and Disneyland Resort. We view the Honda Center as one of these essential SoCal institutions we are pleased to support and help grow.”

Through the support of Honda and its presenting sponsorships of the Anaheim Ducks Golf Classic and Dux in Tux, the Anaheim Ducks Foundation has helped raise over $4.5 million since the start of the Honda partnership in 2006.

Those funds support the mission of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation to facilitate and support programs that produce positive change for children and families throughout Southern California by providing educational opportunities, broadening access to the sport of hockey, and addressing the health and wellness needs of the community.

Honda became the naming rights partner of the arena after Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water elected to end its deal after 13 years.

The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) is pleased to announce the nomination of Adina Erwin, CVE, for Second Vice Chair of the IAVM Board of Directors. Erwin will serve a four-year term, taking on the Board Chair position in 2022-2023.

Erwin currently serves as Senior Vice President of Business Operations for TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.  Home to the legendary NBA Boston Celtics and NHL Boston Bruins, TD Garden is New England’s largest sports and entertainment arena and host over 3.5 Million guests each year. Prior to joining TD Garden, Adina served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA.  She has a long and successful career in various types of entertainment venues including arenas, convention centers and theaters.  She served as the Director of the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, Florida, home to the award-winning Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and a diverse mix of events from Broadway productions to concerts and corporate functions.  In addition to her role at the Times-Union Center, Erwin also served on the Super Bowl Host Committee and Event Team for Super Bowl XXXIX.

“Each year, the Leadership Development Committee is tasked with one of the most important responsibilities of our association – nominating someone for the 2^nd Vice Chair position.  This year, Michael Marion, CVE and his committee hit it out of the ballpark (the right way, not the Astros way) with the selection of Adina,” said Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, IAVM Board Chair.  “Adina exemplifies a servant leader and will uphold the Board’s commitments to our members. She is currently the chair of the IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees and an instructor at Venue Management School.  She earned her CVE in 2017 and served as the Board of Regents Chair in 2012– doing the work required for senior leadership positions.”

Erwin has been a member of IAVM since 1999. She has served as an Instructor at the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Venue Management School (VMS) since 2003, the Chair of the Board of Regents for VMS and as the 2011 Exchange Instructor for the Venue Management School in Australia.  In 2013, she was awarded the Ray W. Ward Award for her dedication and extraordinary contributions to the overall success and quality of VMS.

“One of the benefits of reporting to the Board and its’ Executive Committee is that IAVM has quality leaders in the officer positions that care about our industry and IAVM’s members,” said Brad Mayne, CVE, IAVM President and CEO. “Over the years, Adina has been a great contributor to leadership for IAVM. She has worked hard as the current Chair of the Board of Trustees for the IAVM Foundation, and her knowledge and experience as a successful venue manager and diverse communities in her career make her uniquely qualified to fill the position of IAVM 2nd Vice Chair.”

Erwin’s previous experiences in the entertainment venue management industry include positions with Reunion Arena, the Charlotte Coliseum, Mobile Convention and Civic Centers and Jacksonville Entertainment Facilities.  She received a BA in Physical Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and went on to earn her Masters degree from the University of Massachusetts Sport Management Program, specializing in Entertainment.

“Since the beginning of my career, IAVM has been integral to my progress as a professional in this industry,” stated Erwin. “The network, resources and professional development opportunities have been invaluable and I am honored to step into the role of 2^nd Vice Chair.  I look forward to serving on the Board of Directors and working with our phenomenal IAVM staff to ensure continued growth and service for our members.”

IAVM members will vote electronically in June on Erwin’s nomination, and, if elected, she will take office in July during IAVM’s VenueConnect Annual Conference and Trade Show, July 26-29, in Long Beach, California.

For more information, please contact Amy Fitzpatrick, IAVM Director of Marketing, at (972) 538-1006 or by email at amy.fitzpatrick@iavm.org.

 

The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) has hit an exciting milestone with its largest membership in association history…7,000 members!

To show this amount of growth over the past few years plus keeping our member retention at above industry standards is a testament to the work being done by IAVM staff, board leadership and volunteers,” said IAVM Board Chair, Tammy Koolbeck, CVE. “Kudos to Gina Brydson, Director of Membership and her staff along with David Angeles, Chair of the Membership Committee, and his committee for the work being done to attract and retain our members.  IAVM’s credo is “We exist to bring benefits to our members” and the membership growth demonstrates our commitment to our members.”

Gina Brydson, Director of Membership, is thrilled about the growth IAVM has experienced in recent years, noted, “The Board of Directors and the Membership Committee were instrumental in approving two new membership categories that have catapulted our growth, Professional Group Membership and Allied Group Membership. As we move into 2020, we are excited about our global footprint that thrives because of our members’ willingness to share their knowledge and unique experiences to foster more growth in the industry, while assisting the next generation of decision-makers and influencers to achieve their career goals and become future leaders of IAVM.”

IAVM started as a small group of six like-minded, dedicated auditorium professionals in December 1924 looking to make a difference with the operation of public assembly facilities. The association has evolved in its 95-year history to include venue professionals from auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts center, university complexes, amphitheaters and fairgrounds and more.

“It’s exciting to know that the IAVM family of professionals continues to grow,” stated Brad Mayne, CVE, IAVM President and CEO. “I believe that this growth is due to ongoing recruitment and member volunteer efforts. IAVM leadership is especially excited that VMA, our partners in Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia, are part of this phenomenal growth. We also appreciate our partners in Mexico, as AMEREF has now opened its membership to additional sectors beyond Convention Centers. Thank you, to each of our members, for always supporting your association.”