By Barbara Cosio Moreno

The San Diego Convention Center is modernizing its approach to signage solutions for meetings, conventions, and events.

Digital Conventions, LLC, has been selected as the Convention Center’s official in-house service provider for digital signage. This new amenity will allow event organizers, advertisers, and sponsors to have a “turn-key approach” to High-Definition video advertising, wayfinding and announcements.

The Convention Center’s Board of Directors voted to move forward with the partnership in October of 2018. The five-year agreement took effect on January 7, 2019. The signage is scheduled to be up and running by summer of 2019.

“This new partnership is just one more way we are improving the customer and guest experience at the San Diego Convention Center,” said Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, CVE, President & CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. “Our purpose is to serve as the region’s premier gathering place, hosting trade shows, conventions, and meetings that generate economic impact for the San Diego region. Digital signage is something our customers and guests expect from us. It also meets our needs by serving as a new revenue stream for our facility.”

The digital signage, which is slated to begin installation this spring, allows the San Diego Convention Center the opportunity to replace static signage, including banners, overhangs, and poster boards, with a modern, visually appealing, real-time messaging platform. Meeting planners can reach customers through a platform that is engaging and customizable in high-traffic areas. Digital signage also improves the Center’s sustainability by cutting down on waste generated from paper and print signs.

Digital Conventions, LLC has been providing signage for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. since 2010. Because of that, they have worked with more than half of the meeting planners who have events contracted at the San Diego Convention Center through 2022.

“We are very excited to implement a landmark integrated digital signage program at the San Diego Convention Center,” said St. Elmo Crawford, President, Digital Conventions. “Our partnership will provide event organizers, sponsors, and advertisers new opportunities to inform and engage event attendees and guests. We are looking to create a truly immersive event attendee experience that will continue to raise the bar for digital signage within the conference and events industry.”

The signage plan will include both static and portable LED videowalls. The main signage displays and will be located in four of the lower lobbies of the facility.

Barbara Cosio Moreno is Executive Director, Communications & Outreach at San Diego Convention Center Corporation.

For the full press release, click here.

After 19 years, Tery Howard has stepped down from her role as Senior Vice President/Chief Technology Officer of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, but before leaving took home a big honor in being named Executive of the Year in the Stadium Business Awards 2018, which recognizes leadership, innovation, and achievement in the delivery, operation, and management of sports facilities globally.

Howard was recently announced to the board of directors of Venuetize, a technology platform for smart space solutions.

“Tery’s tenure as a forward-thinking technology executive will be an enormous asset to Venuetize, and we are thrilled to add her to our Board of Directors,” said Jon Romm, Venuetize CEO and Chairman of the Board, in a prepared release. “Her experience and perspective will help us to continue to navigate market dynamics and position our mobile engagement platform for the future.”

In her previous role, she was responsible for managing and directing the technology initiatives and strategic direction of business operations. Under her leadership, Howard has been recognized by SportsBusiness Journal as a Game Changer in Sports for her innovation and impact to the industry. During her tenure, the Dolphins were recognized by InfoWorld as one of the “Top 100” companies that have made the best use of technology to enhance their business, and also recognized by PC Magazine as one of the “Top 10” companies using technology in intelligent ways to improve their business. Having recently launched Peer Vision Consulting, Howard is now advising organizations on the business and technology strategy for sports and in venue operations.

“After five years as a Venuetize customer with the Dolphins, I am excited to work with the company in a new capacity,” Howard said. “The company is at the forefront of a technology movement that is completely innovating the venue experience. I look forward to being involved in this next phase of Venuetize’s growth and success.”

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) was named winner in the category of “Banqueting and Catering” at the 2018 Victorian Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Industry Awards.

MCEC Chief Executive Peter King said the award was the result of years of hard work and dedication, along with an ongoing commitment to delivering an excellent customer experience through the delivery of innovative food experiences.

“We have worked hard to attract some great talent to our Food and Beverage team and we’re honored to once again be recognized with this outstanding result,” King said.

The MEA Awards are a premier accolade in the Australian meetings and events field, and provide the perfect platform for MCEC to benchmark its business against the best in the industry.

“Just like Melbourne, we take our food very seriously at MCEC and it’s something we’re extremely proud of,” King said.

MCEC Senior Manager Food and Beverage Neil Mather said it was an honor to again receive recognition for the venue’s food and beverage, which showcases Melbourne’s diverse food scene.

Mather said flexibility continued to be a consistent theme across all MCEC menus.

“Interest in the origins of food is a key trend, with customers increasingly interested in knowing where produce comes from,” Mather said. “We have a fantastic network of local suppliers, and by supporting local food producers we aim to reduce our environmental impact by leaving a lighter carbon footprint, as well as championing the incredible produce we have right here in Melbourne.”

MCEC is now a finalist in the above category in the 2018 MEA National Awards, which will be announced at the MEA National Conference in April 2019.

Daktronics has been asked by University of Central Arkansas to design, manufacture, and install a new LED video display at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The 1,944-square-foot video scoreboard will inform and entertain Bears fans at football games in 2019.

“We are excited to partner with the leader in video production applications,” said Brad Teague, University of Central Arkansas director of athletics. “The latest video technology, coupled with the large size of the video screen, will provide a great game-day experience for our supporters. We couldn’t be more pleased with our new addition for the 2019 season.”

The new LED technology will measure 36 feet high by 54 feet wide and will feature a 15HD pixel layout to show crisp, clear imagery to every seat in the stadium. The display will feature industry-leading environmental protection from the outdoor elements and superior brightness to cut through direct sunlight on game days.

“The new video board will elevate the game-day atmosphere for University of Central Arkansas and entice more fans to make their way to the stadium for every game,” said Andrew Rice, Daktronics sales representative. “The new technology is the same as professional football teams are using in their venues to create an experience that simply can’t be replicated on television. We’re looking forward to seeing it come to life at Estes Stadium this fall.”

The display features all of today’s technological expectations including variable content zoning which allows it to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones of content. It can show live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, sponsorship messages, and any combination thereof. Delay of game clocks and a four-input switcher were also included with the installation.

The Oak View Group announced the opening of its first international office in London. OVG International will give the company a greater presence in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East as well as other key regions.

The executive leadership team of OVG International have each worked the majority of their careers internationally and have combined business experience on five continents. Sam Piccione III has been named president while Mark Donnelly will serve as chief operating officer.

On the company’s website, it noted that “OVG International will develop a global footprint reinforcing the Arena and Stadium Alliance already successfully developed in the United States by attracting the leading and like-minded venues from Europe, Asia and the Middle-East with our common goal to Book Together, Sell Together, Buy Together, and Think Together. While investing capital in new owned & operated venues in core markets with strategic partners.”

Tim Leiweke, Oak View Group chief executive, said when the announcement was made at the International Live Music Conference in London that, “Our aim is to create a new generation of state-of-the-art entertainment facilities. The live events market has grown significantly in the United States since Oak View Group launched three years ago, and we see a huge opportunity to drive similar growth internationally by creating world-class experiences in world-class arenas.”

Oak View Group is currently leading major arena development projects in Belmont and Seattle, while last year it partnered with the University of Texas at Austin to develop an on-campus arena. The group also runs the Arena and Stadium Alliance, an invitation-only group for venues to maximize sponsorship opportunities, additional events and content.