By The TicketingBusiness News

Fans attending shows at the Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom can now use a full range of digital ticketing services for the first time thanks to a new partnership between operator SMG Europe and Ticketmaster.

SMG Europe, which announced it was switching from Eventim to Ticketmaster last year, said the enhanced service means the process of buying tickets is safer and ensures that tickets are being bought and used by real fans.

Fans going to the Manchester Arena can now receive tickets directly to their mobile phones, send tickets securely to friends to enter the 21,000-capacity venue separately and make use of Ticketmaster’s fan-to-fan marketplace to re-sell unwanted tickets to other gig-goers.

Other benefits include the introduction of animated tickets with moving digital panels, which prevent people from attempting to use screenshots to enter shows while allowing venue staff to immediately assess the authenticity of tickets at the gate.

“We know fans want the buying and using of tickets to be as simple, straightforward and safe as possible, which is why we are excited to begin rolling out digital tickets at our flagship venue, the Manchester Arena,” said John Sharkey, SMG Europe’s executive vice president (European operations). “Being able to partner with Ticketmaster to do this also helps to give fans the peace of mind that while they can now receive their tickets straight to their mobile, it is being powered by a ticket agent they know and trust.”

It was announced last year that venue operator SMG Europe would partner with Ticketmaster at the expiration of its existing ticketing contract with Eventim. The deal also includes Leeds’ First Direct Arena and Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.

“We are committed to bringing the benefits of digital tickets to fans across the country,” said Andrew Parsons, managing director of Ticketmaster UK. “Partnering with SMG Europe to introduce the technology at the UK’s largest indoor venue is a huge step in our journey and we are proud to be here given our strong presence in Manchester.”

When implementing or upgrading a front of house recycling program, with receptacles designed for source separation, it’s important that you, “the Venue”, OWN IT!

What does this mean?  Often the purchasing decision around your receptacle solution (“Bins”) ends up in the hands of many stakeholders, such as architects, designers, management, procurement, and operations, to name a few.  Each stakeholder has their own priorities, such as price or style.  However, at the end of the day, here are the common goals:

• Impressive aesthetics to match your venue’s decor.
• Effective waste diversion, to help you achieve your environmental goals (and reduce hand sorting back-of-house)
• Communicates your Green Message to your guests and employees
• Ergonomically sound as well as operationally safe and efficient
• Durable enough to perform and look the same for years to come.
• Low maintenance
• Flexible enough to adjust to any future changes to your program
• Added bonus – if your “Green” solution is “Green” itself!

What’s attractive can be subjective… however, results, safety, and durability are not.  Since the funds allocated for these initiatives are often few and far between, it’s important to get it right the first time!  

Submitted by Todd Shuttleworth, Zero Waste TRUE Advisor & MAX-R Corporate Sales Manager

The Exhibitions Mean Business campaign will host its sixth annual “Exhibitions Day” on June 4-5 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Exhibitions professionals from across the country will meet face-to-face with members of Congress and address four important policy issues impacting the health of trade shows, conventions, and other face-to-face gatherings, which contributed $97B to U.S. GDP in 2018.

Exhibitions Day is expected to draw more than 100 attendees from a variety of organizations, who will address policy makers from their home states as well as states they travel to conduct events.

“Exhibitions Day is an important moment for our industry to come together and create change that betters the American business environment for events,” said IAEE president and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. “These unique platforms play a vital role in the success of businesses and our local and national economies. It’s critical for us to communicate that value and our concerns with leaders.”

Topics that will be discussed at Exhibitions Day 2019 include:

Secure Travel Partnership Act of 2019 (H.R. 1996)

Travel is a top-10 employer in 49 states, and international travel is the top American service export and second export overall. In 2019, the House introduced H.R. 1996 to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to rename the Visa Waiver Program to the Secure Travel Partnership. The existing program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, allows prescreened citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The rebrand will better welcome visitors and express our country’s commitment to safe and secure travel.

JOLT Act of 2019 (H.R. 2187)

Over 1.2 million jobs across America are directly supported by international inbound travel. For the U.S. to grow that number as well as regain and increase our share of the global travel market, it is important to improve and expand programs currently in place. Advocates will encourage the JOLT Act, which will update and strengthen numerous programs related to the efficiency and volume of international travel.

Investing in America’s Infrastructure

According to the World Economic Forum, inadequate infrastructure is one of the top factors impeding business, making it extremely challenging to accommodate trade shows within states. Attendees will ask Congress to support measures that close all infrastructure investment gaps.

Protecting Brand USA

Brand USA is a bipartisan program, funded by inbound airline passenger fees and private industry, that promotes the country overseas as a business and tourist destination. A 2019 study by Oxford Economics showed that Brand USA’s six-year marketing results equate to an average marketing ROI of 28:1., meaning every $1 of Brand USA marketing generated $28 in spend. Attendees will urge Congress to oppose measures to defund Brand USA and recognize that reduced funding would hurt the health of our economy.

Exhibitions Day was established in 2014 to serve as a platform to engage in uninterrupted, one-on-one dialogue with federal legislators and other policy influencers.

Paciolan, co-founded by industry legend Jane Kleinberger in 1980, stands noteworthy for a good reason or two (or really dozens and dozens): 1) It was a major ticketing technology company founded at a time when technology was still a relatively unknown dimension, and 2) Jane Kleinberger instantly became one of the public assembly venue’s early women leaders in an industry dominated by men.

It is with that backdrop that it was a pleasure to read about Jane in the INTIX publication ACCESS with a look at this marvelous career that slowly inches toward semi-retirement (the magazines words, not ours!). More worth noting is that the keys to the car, so to speak, have been handed to Kim Damron, which as the headline rightfully states is a powerful woman ceding power to new female leadership. Now those are not phrases that have been remotely common in our industry, but very warming to read in this article full of insight and reflection.

To read all about Jane and her career, click here.

The Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center has received several accolades by Charleston Area Alliance and American Institute of Architects – West Virgina following the completion of the recent $100 million expansion and renovation project at the facility.

Charleston Area Alliance recognized the facility with the “Best New Development Award” during its 12th annual “We Love Our Community” Awards Program. These annual awards recognize persons and organizations that make the Charleston area a great place to live, work, and play.

During the 41st annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) West Virginia 2019 Design Awards Gala, ZMM Architects & Engineers of Charleston and tvsdesign of Atlanta received the “Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture – New Construction and Renovation” and the “Citation for Achievement in Architecture – Interior Renovation.” ZMM partnered on this project with design-builder BBL Carlton, GAI, as well as wide range of other local designers and subcontractors – including the criteria developer Odell Associates. Additionally, the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center received the first ever “People’s Choice Award.” This award program by AIA West Virginia is juried by notable architects from various disciplines throughout the country and abroad.

The jury noted that the story of West Virginia is an intriguing starting point for this project that sets the local character of
Charleston to remake the Charleston Civic Center.

The Coliseum and Convention Center has distinct active nodes to celebrate each activity; arena, convention, and banquet, and
these nodes are connected like the hills and cut rock faces that are seen throughout the state as people work to connect to each
other through the landscape. The local character of the building is reflected through the palette of materials and the exterior
and interior lighting strategy enhances the architecture as well.

The first critical design objective was to create separate entries and identities for the arena and convention center. This
allows for simultaneous events and clarity of use. For the convention center to thrive, it needed a real ballroom assembly
space (25,000 sq. ft.). Located overlooking the Elk River, the new ballroom pre-function space (8,000 sq. ft.) is the most
dramatic feature of the center. Three glass lobbies – arena, convention, ballroom – define a unique Charleston event
campus inspired by the hills and cut rock faces that connect the towns along the Kanawha River.

The State-of-the-Art Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center is more efficient, more sustainable, more dynamic and an
iconic best-in-class destination.

Accepting award from left to right: Adam Krason ~ Principal ZMM Architects & Engineers, Chuck Moore ~ BBL Carlton, John Robertson, CVE, Executive Director ~ Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, Rob Svedberg ~ tvsdesign, Rodney Pauley ~ ZMM, Sam Butzer ~ ZMM.