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.”

 

By R.V. Baugus

I always knew that Matt Gibson, CVE, was just a step ahead. Working with Matt to either receive a scheduled Arenas column from him for Facility Manager magazine or to enlist his help in getting one of his assigned committee members to please get the article turned in before deadline, Matt was always one of the very best to work with.

So, consider it no surprise to hear that Spokane’s very finest — along with another of the city’s finest in

Becca Watters — have spread wings from employment at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena to saunter out on their own with the creation of Silverscout Presents, a live events and entertainment company designed especially for the Pacific Northwest.

The official press release hit on February 12 with the news that has been buzzed for some time now. The duo bring a combined 32 years of venue experience into a position that is clearly set up to fill a niche in concert promotion and event promotion. One event already on tap (pardon the pun) is the Lilac City 2020 Brewfest, on Saturday, May 16, on Wall Street in downtown Spokane. The fifth annual event is part of the Spokane Lilac Festival’s expanding event lineup and has grown into a festival attracting thousands of people each year and featuring dozens of local craft brewers, a full lineup of bands and musicians, and area food trucks.

In keeping with how so many companies are born in the entertainment and event sector of the business, the company’s silverscoutpresents.com website claims a start “in a garage during an especially righteous jam session laying down some gnarly tracks … ”

Before the truth comes out.

“This story actually got started in a coffee shop with an overpriced hot chocolate and a 16 ounce drip blend with room for cream.”

Either story carries weight as truth in the great Northwest.

After having hosted such major events and performers over the years as the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Carrie Underwood, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Foo Fighters, and many more, Gibson and Watters look to now turn to providing entertainment experiences to crowds in the Upper Left, focusing not just on their hometown community but on other secondary markets in the region.

Congratulations, Matt and Becca, on this exciting new endeavor!

why not here?”

By R.V. Baugus

John A. “Jackie” Blaisdell, chairman and CEO of Houston-based Salient Partners LP, and former partner, president and COO of Leisure Management International, died unexpectedly on February 15. He was 59.

“John was our leader, but maybe even more importantly, he was our constant mentor and dear friend,” the Salient team wrote in an announcement. “No need was denied or left unattended. From helping to fund Salient families’ flood recovery efforts, to approving payments for medical procedures and hospital stays, John never aid no to lending a hand to any member of our team.”

He joined the company in 2002 and prior to that served as CEO of a large private investment holding company for a high net worth Texas family, for which he managed a $1 billion portfolio.

Before that, Blaisdell served as partner, president and COO of Leisure Management International (“LMI”), a Houston-based company owned in partnership with the Huizenga Family and other well-known Houston investors. Under his leadership, the company grew to become a global industry leader in the management of sports and entertainment facilities, specializing in the contract management, marketing, and operation of arenas, stadiums, convention centers and other public assembly facilities for both public and private clients. John advised high-net-worth families on sports franchise acquisitions and dispositions and municipal governments on lease negotiations with such franchises. LMI was sold to SMG, a joint venture of ARAMARK and the Pritzker family, in 2000.

Donations may be made in Blaisdell’s honor to Houston-based Mission of Yahweh, a homeless shelter for women and children, and Houston-based DePelchin Children’s Center.

He is survived by daughters Megan Blaiswell Willis and Kaitlin Blaisdell, and his sisters Debbie Ahern, Linda Newman, and Sandy Blaisdell. A memorial service is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 at Heights Funeral Home in Houston.