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

Esports Stadium Arlington (TX), the largest gaming and esports events facility in North America, celebrated its grand opening with FACEIT’s Esports Championship Series Season 6 Finals, a $750,000 prize pool tournament scheduled to coincide with Thanksgiving Weekend offering esports enthusiasts a new fan experience to complement the iconic football festivities of the season.

Located in the heart of Arlington’s entertainment district, Esports Stadium Arlington is a $10-million, 100,000 square-foot facility built to serve the unique and technologically advanced demands of the esports industry.

Designed by award-winning architectural firm Populous and brought to life with build partner Shawmut Design and Construction, the stadium features a competition space with a built-in 85 feet-long LED wall that’s accompanied by an immersive sound and theatrical lighting system.

“We applied 35 years of creating event venues to bring Esports Stadium Arlington to life, and it will undoubtedly be the place where people will love to gather for esports events,” said Populous Senior Principal Brian Mirakian. “The energy in the venue, being able to feel the excitement and pulse of the game and having the ability to powerfully connect players and fans signifies a new era for esports.”

A first-of-its-kind production facility equipped with Grass Valley systems will power event broadcasts, complete with a dedicated observer room, caster studio, data center, and control room. Players will be able to stay on top of their game by utilizing the dedicated Team Area which includes eight “Team Rooms,“ a space for players to strategize and practice, a “Player Lounge“ where players can relax and socialize as well as spaces created specifically for media and staff.

Esports Stadium Arlington’s flexibility gives it the ability to cater to a wide variety of audiences and event types. By
transforming previously underutilized space of the Arlington Convention Center, Esports Stadium Arlington also showcases the adaptive re-use potential of esports. The planned stadium will feature a major competition event space, gaming, retail, and social spaces, VIP hospitality, a broadcast studio, and team training areas.

“With Esports Stadium Arlington, we have positioned ourselves as both a national and international leader in the emerging esports industry,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. “I can’t wait for people to see this state-of-the-art facility, the largest and most flexible esports stadium in the country. The opportunity to provide jobs combined with growing tourism is phenomenal.”

“We are extremely excited to have partnered with an amazing city such as Arlington that shares our vision of building a foundation for growth in the competitive gaming ecosystem,” added Jonathon Oudthone, president of NGAGE Esports. “By working with FACEIT to host the ECS Season 6 Finals as our inaugural event, we will be able to show the world that our facility truly is one of a kind.”

AudienceView announced the appointment of Lawrence Franco as Chief Operating Officer.

Franco brings more than 25 years of experience in B2B solutions with leading organizations to AudienceView. In his new role, he will activate the strategies for AudienceView’s growing global operations. Franco also has responsibility for day-to-day management of customer success, engineering and sales as well as AudienceView’s media division, which includes TheaterMania and WhatsOnStage.

He joins AudienceView from his role as President, North America of Global Knowledge, a worldwide leader in IT and professional training. Franco’s background also includes executive-level roles with a variety of software and insights organizations, including Teranet and Dun & Bradstreet.

“Lawrence is a highly experienced operations executive with an impressive track record established over more than two decades in the technology sector,” said Mark Fowlie, CEO for AudienceView. “His proven ability to develop leadership across departments in global organizations will be invaluable in our ongoing commitment to our customers and their success.”

“I am extremely excited to join AudienceView and build on the incredible momentum that the company has created,” Franco said. “I look forward to working with our talented team to capitalize on our deep technical and industry expertise to drive further efficiencies, support our customers in meeting their individual business goals, and further AudienceView’s growth objectives.”

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by AEG Facilities, announced the appointment of Shaun Davis, CVP, as the new vice president of operations and Ben Zarhoud, CPA, as the new vice president of finance.

Davis joins the LACC from Salt Lake City, Utah, with more than 20 years of operations management experience. He most recently served at the Mountain America Expo managed by SMG where he managed and directed all operations and previously worked as a senior business analyst at IPA, Energy Solutions Arena, Smiths Ballpark and R.B. Davis & Co.

Zarhoud is local to Los Angeles with more than 13 years of experience in accounting and financial management. He recently served as senior director of finance at AXS, senior manager of finance at AEG and six years at Deloitte.

“I am excited to welcome both Shaun and Ben to the LACC executive team,” said Ellen Schwartz, general manager at the LACC. “I am confident their skills and experience will be outstanding additions to our facility.”