The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas celebrates it third anniversary in April. If it seems like the 20,000-seat arena has been around longer than that, it should, as the venue has already hosted some of the biggest sporting and concert shows in the world. The National Hockey League also came to Las Vegas and the arena got to host the 2018 Stanley Cup Final between the homestanding Golden Knights against the Washington Capitals. While the final result went in favor of the Capitals, most everything else has been a win in a short period of time.

With success, even for venues, comes higher expectations.

Now, the arena is using customer data in even greater ways, including how to determine how many staff is needed for specific events and to handle the always sticky situation of traffic in and around the facility. Purchase a ticket online and the venue can answer some of those questions from the purchaser’s data, including addresses from where the buyer will be coming.

Yes, it is an example of technology at its finest and geared to make the guest experience a pleasurable and seamless one.

Online activity has become one of the latest ways for such information to be gathered. Before, most data gathered on patrons arrived from trade publications or getting a guest to stand still for a moment to answer a few survey questions while at the venue. While those still exist to lesser extents, it is the online experience that drives more specific data today.

Crowds at T-Mobile Arena are 70 percent tourists for most events, based on the ZIP codes of purchases. For other events, like Golden Knights games, the mix is 80 percent local — adding that many more cars to parking and traffic around the arena.

That knowledge has helped reduce the time it takes to clear vehicle traffic from surrounding parking garages from 43 minutes to a more palatable 30 minutes.

Inside, technology is king, and the arena does its part to give guests fast connections to do what most customers do these days when attending events — share the experience through social media with friends.

Best for the venue is that those who use internet connection agree to allow data collection, another tool key for not only marketing but enabling T-Mobile Arena to be better equipped to serve and deliver. In all, the arena now has some 750 networking hardware devices that connects guests to the internet.

It is but part of the new experience for both venue and guest, and one example of delivering customer service in a different way.

The NFL entered a partnership with Caesars Entertainment as the league’s first official casino sponsor. Before proclamations come that the world is ending, it should be noted that the multi-year deal does not include sports betting or fantasy football. The arrangement kicks in immediately with the upcoming wild card round of the NFL playoffs.

It remains all about the guest experience as Caesars expects to lean on its vast properties including music and other entertainment to create unique experiences at venues. Caesars will have exclusive rights to NFL trademarks in the U.S. and United Kingdom, including the Super Bowl and draft, and will host parts of the 2020 NFL draft.

This is actually not the first foray into the casino world for the NFL, or at least some of the teams in the league, as the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons have in place various ad deals with casinos.

The ruling by the Supreme Court has also undeniably played a hand in recent developments. Sports betting has expanded to other states following the ruling, and MGM Resorts signed on as the official gambling partner of the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League.

Most recently, of course, came the move commencing in 2020 of the move of the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas. This comes on the heels of the city being awarded the Golden Knights of the NHL in 2017, the first major sports franchise for Las Vegas. The city will even host the 2020 draft and show off its new $1.9 billion stadium for the NFL franchise.

With this latest deal, it becomes easier to see others lurking on the horizon for the league as the landscape continues to change.

VenueConnect 2019 in Chicago is right around the corner. and the Foundation is gearing up for the annual IAVM Foundation Golf Tournament scheduled for a morning tee-off on Sunday, July 21^st. 

Harborside International Golf Center is the site for this year’s tournament.  Home to both the Port & Starboard Courses, Harborside has been Chicago’s home for golf since 1995. Located only minutes from Chicago’s Loop, Harborside offers the premier golf experience in the Chicago area.  Bringing championship style links golf to the Chicago area, Harborside’s two courses are regularly rated in Golfweek’s Top 50 Best Municipal Courses You Can Play in the nation and in the Top 15 in the State of Illinois.

This tournament is a best ball, par is your friend, scramble format, played on one 18-hole course.  Awards are given to the first, second, and third place teams, longest drive, closest to the pin and more. This all-inclusive event includes bus transportation to/from the hotel, food, drinks, golf and networking—now we just need you!  Registration for the tournament opens on February 11, with the opening of VenueConnect 2019 registration. 

Golf Tournament Sponsorship opportunities are open now!  Enjoy the benefits of supporting your Foundation through a golf sponsorship and receive complimentary golf registrations, branding of your organization and more!  Please contact Kathryn Eades to reserve your sponsorship today.

We hope to see YOU out at the IAVM Foundation Golf Tournament at VenueConnect in July!  Be sure to secure your spot early!

 

Here is the harsh truth: you can’t stop weather from disrupting events and potentially endangering visitors at your venue. But you can plan for it and drastically reduce its impact on operations. Taking the weather into account when planning for your events is not a new concept, but getting it right can be tricky. The secret is understanding what you need to focus on, how to go about it and what technologies you need. Having an expert handy wouldn’t hurt. What is your reward for getting it right? The dream result – A drop in event disruptions, as well as increased safety for your visitors and staff. We are here to tell you how to make that a reality.

 

Date: Tuesday, January 22

Time: 1:00PM – 1:45 PM EST

Presenters: Earth Networks Meteorologist Steve Prinzivalli and Ryan Boros, the Director of Safety at NRG Park

Key takeaways:

• Understand severe weather and its threats
• Learn how to develop an effective weather management plan
• Get a crash course on weather technologies

REGISTER NOW

Annually, IAVM recognizes individuals who reach a membership anniversary milestone in five-year increments. A total of 423 awards were mailed out two weeks ago (a lapel pin with an updated member certificate). To see a complete list of recipients, CLICK HERE. We hope you will wear your bronze, silver, or gold pin at an upcoming event. Congratulations to each individual member on your wonderful achievement and most of all, thank you for your ongoing support!

5 Years – 165

10 Years – 92

15 Years – 51

20 Years – 53

25 Years – 24

30 Years – 17

35 Years – 12

40 Years – 3

45 Years – 3

50 Years – 2

55 Years – 1

If you have any questions, contact membership@iavm.org.