Football fans in Weslaco, Texas, wrapped up their season at Bobby Lackey Stadium in November, which features the largest LED video display in high school sports. Daktronics designed and manufactured the landmark installation.

At 36 feet high by 66 feet wide, the display features a 15HD pixel layout, stands as tall as a telephone pole and as long as a bowling lane. It delivers the resolution, brightness and viewing angles ideal for the 12,000+ fans attending football games.

“This display is as impressive in capability as it is in size. The functionality and uses are endless,” said Kyle Sydow, Daktronics high school sports and recreation market manager. “Daktronics is proud to be part of this phenomenal installation. Texas has great passion for football, and that’s reflected in the technology they chose.”

The display sees frequent use as Weslaco and Weslaco East High Schools share the stadium for football, track and field, soccer, commencement, and graduation ceremonies. Regional Special Olympics and youth football leagues also make use of the stadium.

“Weslaco is a repeat customer with an impressive handle on digital technologies for their many events,” said Pete Vela, Daktronics south Texas sales representative. “The skill they show during game days and Friday nights leads the area.”

Built to entertain for years to come, Daktronics LED video and messaging display technology features industry-leading environmental protection to ensure a long lifetime for the display with consistent performance and low power consumption.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) announced that with new joins and new structure, the 330-strong Food and Beverage team is ready to raise culinary and service standards at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) to new heights. HML is the professional private management and operating company for the HKCEC, long recognized as Asia’s best. During the year ending June 30, 2018, a total of over 2.4 million F&B patrons were catered for. They included guests to restaurants, concession stands as well as 355 banqueting events, the largest of which served close to 4,000 guests.

After the appointment of Paul Jeffrey Chandler as Director – Food & Beverage early 2017, HML added new positions and restructured the Division.

Richie Li joined HML as Assistant Director – Food & Beverage in March 2018. He assists Paul in overseeing Event Management, Catering Services, Stewarding and Restaurant Operations. Under Richie’s leadership, Dicky Lam was promoted to Senior Food & Beverage Manager – Restaurants in July 2018. A new dedicated function accountable for food safety and hygiene has been created under Richie’s supervision with Vincci Ho as Manager – Food Safety & Hygiene in July 2018.

The Western Kitchen was strengthened with Chef Bo Ip Sorensen’s promotion to Executive Chef – Western Kitchen and appointment of Chef Christopher Wong as Executive Sous Chef – Western Kitchen. With increasing emphasis of desserts in banquet and restaurant menus, the pastry section head was upgraded to Executive Pastry Chef and Chef Ken Lee was appointed in May 2018.

“The creation of the new and upgraded positions and promotion of our high flyers reflects our commitment to delivering the best possible food and beverage services across all events, banquets and restaurants. With new inspiration and creativity and with long serving staff working together, the HML F&B Division are ready to advance further, set new benchmarks for the industry, and take HML’s customer dining experience to the next level,” Chandler said.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) was awarded Best Corporate Citizenship at the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Awards for Excellence.

The award recognizes MCEC’s involvement in the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP).

MCEC is a founding partner of MREP, an Australian first initiative where 14 reputable Melbourne organisations have joined forces

to support the development of a wind farm in regional Victoria. This initiative allows MCEC the ability to offset the projected electricity use of its expansion space with renewable energy.

The EEAA Awards for Excellence honor organizers, venues, suppliers, and people working in trade and consumer shows across Australia and New Zealand.

MCEC’s Chief Executive, Peter King, said the award was testament to the positive impact the MREP project will have for both the venue and wider community.

“As an important public asset, it is our duty to improve our environmental impact and live up to the sustainability expectations of our stakeholders – our customers, our employees, and our local community,” King said.

“While our venue has grown by 25 percent, the MREP project will enable us to offset our expanded building with renewable energy certificates. Partnership projects such as MREP enable MCEC to dramatically reduce our emissions, manage ongoing energy costs, and demonstrate our commitment to a more sustainable future.”

The IAVM Foundation is now accepting applications for the Joseph A. Floreano Sector Scholarships and VenueConnect 2019 Internships.  Applications for the Sector Scholarships will be accepted until midnight on March 1, 2019. Scholarships will be awarded by March 15, 2019. VenueConnect 2019 Internship applications will be accepted until March 15, 2019.  Internships will be awarded by March 29, 2019.  All scholarship and internship winners will be notified via email.

Nominations for the Class or 2019 30 I UNDER I 30 program remain open until Friday, February 1, 2019.  At that time all nominees will be given the opportunity to submit their application for consideration.  The application deadline will be on Friday, March 15.  The Class of 2019 will be announced by Friday, March 29, 2019.  The 2019 honorees will be notified via email.

For all application and nomination forms please visit the IAVM Foundation webpage.

Happy Foundation Friday!

The holiday version of the IAVM Silent Auction is now open for bids!  If you are looking for some great tickets to shows, sports memorabilia, concert memorabilia, some bowl tickets and more, all while helping the Foundation provide professional development opportunities for IAVM members, the IAVM Foundation Online Holiday Auction is the place for you.  All of the items listed would make someone a great Christmas gift!

Launched years ago as a live event at VenueConnect, the IAVM Foundation Silent Auction has evolved to include both an online version before and at VenueConnect and this extra holiday event, thanks to some great donations from IAVM members. 

Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Foundation’s mission to increase the positive impact and vitality of the public assembly industry by funding research, education, and resource development.  

So READY!  SET!  BID!

Thank you to our generous donors: American Airlines Center, City of Windsor, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, City of Dallas, Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment, Tampa Sports Authority