A total of $1.1 billion in regional impact was generated into the San Diego economy as a direct result of conventions, meeting and events held at your San Diego Convention Center from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.

The Convention Center’s Fiscal Year 2018 annual report is out, and shows that the venue is delivering on its purpose: to serve as the region’s premier gathering place, hosting conventions, trade shows and community events that economically benefit the City of San Diego and advances our convention and tourism industry.

A total of 785,460 attendees contributed $651 million in direct spending as a result of the 133 events that were held at the Convention Center. A total of $24.7 million in hotel and sales tax revenues were generated directly benefiting the City of San Diego’s general fund.

Of the total 133 events, 13 were medical meetings, the core business of the Convention Center. Seven of those meetings landed in the year’s top 10 economic generators. Comic-Con International sits at the top of the list, contributing $147 million alone over the four days it was hosted during FY18.

“Your San Diego Convention Center helps drive business to local retailers, attractions, restaurants, hotels and special event venues,” said San Diego Convention Center President & CEO Rip Rippetoe, CVE. “Our job is to host events and bring people to San Diego ­– events that produce a ripple effect into the economy that reaches across the county. Our promise is to provide outstanding customer service, exceeding expectations, so that our customers will want to come back over and over again, further investing in San Diego.”

Rippetoe likes to say that each week we build – or help facilitate the building of – “small cities” for the most important week of our customer’s year. Visitors come to our destination to learn, connect and create, then they take their tourism dollars out into the destination.

“The more tourists we have in San Diego, the more sales tax and tourism occupancy tax dollars are generated, which benefit our city and our region,” Rippetoe said.

The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (JVMA) marks its 15-year anniversary and announced plans to celebrate the milestone with a series of special events and contests.

The JVMA replaced the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which was the city’s primary concert venue. The doors opened for its first performance on November 21, 2003 with Elton John. Since then, more than 7.2 million patrons have attended 1,607 events. JVMA has presented an impressive 77 sold out concerts in its 15 year history.

One of the contests planned for the year-long celebration is the “15 for 15” Contest. JVMA will be announcing monthly ticket giveaways on social media for 15 of the hottest events of the year including Cher, P!NK, Blake Shelton, Elton John, KISS, Twenty One Pilots, and New Kids on the Block, with more events to be announced throughout the year.

“This 15 year milestone will be a celebration of the past, the present, and the future of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena,” said Bill McConnell, general manager of SMG Jacksonville. “Over the past decade and a half, Jacksonville’s most iconic sports, music, and entertainment venue has been a home of great pride for the people of Jacksonville. Since its opening, the arena has hosted world class artists and events and the best is yet to come. We want to celebrate the wonderful memories that have been made under this roof and look forward to historic new milestones beginning in 2019, made possible by the tremendous community support for entertainment and sports here in Jacksonville.”

Digital marketing is an integral part of any holistic ticketing strategy. After all, you can deliver fantastic content, but if people don’t know about it, drawing a crowd can pose a challenge. The trend toward digital media ad spend has continued to grow since the offering eclipsed traditional channels in 2016. Organizations love the traceability and detailed targeting components, while consumers are served advertisements that are more relevant to their interests. Many facilities incorporate digital marketing to help spread the message of their events and get tickets into the hands of interested individuals. With eye-catching creative imagery, organizations target specific demographics to ensure that prospective fans are able to find and purchase tickets. A comprehensive, optimized digital marketing strategy is key to driving sales success. 

If you’re not yet incorporating digital marketing into a comprehensive ticketing strategy, you may be behind the curve. You can make an impact and expand your audience with even a modest initial investment. For the most effective strategy, organizations can utilize programmatic marketing that reaches across all platforms: Search, Display, and Social. Organizations are pivoting this way for a reason – it’s where the fans are! By utilizing programmatic advertising, you can understand the data behind trends and optimize your spend in real time in order to sell as many tickets as possible. Advertising across all platforms truly allows you to raise the basic tenets of digital marketing to the next level and see the greatest return on your investment. 

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and Credit Union 1 have reached an agreement in principle that would grant naming rights to the UIC Pavilion. Under the terms of the agreement, which remains subject to review and approval by The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the facility will be renamed Credit Union 1 Arena.

Key terms of the agreement in principle will provide for Credit Union 1, an Illinois state-chartered credit union, to enter into a 15-year agreement with the University valued at $9.3 million. Additionally, Credit Union 1 will make a significant contribution of $750,000 supporting scholarships at UIC. The agreement is expected to be formally reviewed by The Board of Trustees at its meeting in January 2019.

“We are grateful for the generosity of Credit Union 1 and look forward to providing more scholarship opportunities to our students through this partnership,” said UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis. “Credit Union 1 has served the UIC community for many years and we are proud to have the Credit Union 1 Arena on our university campus as a visible symbol of our shared commitment.”

“Our partnership of Credit Union 1 and the University of Illinois at Chicago aligns Chicago’s premier college with Chicagoland’s premier credit union,” said Credit Union 1 President/CEO Paul Simons. “Both organizations have a diverse background representing and supporting the city of Chicago, and we both remain dedicated to the growth and development of our great Chicagoland area.”

“We are proud to contribute almost $10 million through our Credit Union 1 Arena naming rights partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago, helping them to continue as one of the nation’s top universities,” said Credit Union 1 Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Todd Gunderson. “In addition to supporting the university, we are also dedicated to supporting the individual students. That’s why Credit Union 1 is committing $750,000 in scholarship money to help students realize their dream of achieving their full potential while at the same time deepening our roots serving the Chicago community.”

“Our students and the many visitors to the Credit Union 1 Arena will benefit from a new financial facility located within the building in the heart of campus,” said Rex Tolliver, UIC Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. “We will be able to continue our effort to improve and enhance the shared space to make it a premier destination for students, faculty, staff and everyone in and around Chicago.”

“This is an exciting time in the history of UIC,” said UIC Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy. “The momentum and energy on this campus is undeniable and our great partners at Credit Union 1 recognize that to the fullest. We in athletics are fortunate to partner with an organization that shares our values and realizes our commitment to excellence in everything that we do. I am proud that Credit Union 1 will remain such dedicated members of our Flames family in such a visible and impactful way for many years to come. Our student-athletes are honored to prominently utilize a facility that now bears the name of Credit Union 1.”

Currently, the UIC Pavilion is a 9,500-seat multi-purpose arena in the heart of UIC’s thriving campus. It is where UIC students both begin and conclude their time on camps as the site of Convocation and Commencement. The building also hosts athletic events, including boxing, UIC men’s and women’s basketball games, concerts, special events, and more.

As appears in the November/December issue of Facility Manager magazine. May your holidays be merry.

By R.V. Baugus

‘Twas the night before VenueConnect, and all across the vast plains,
IAVM members slumbered, led by our CEO, one Brad Mayne;
Tickets were reconciled and hung in the stockings,
As ever so slowly the clock kept tick tick tocking.

The Young Professionals slept peacefully, with nary a fear,
As they dreamt of upward movement throughout their career;
The veteran members, meanwhile, full of wisdom and sage,
Knew the night would be special, as we soon turned the page.

Why, that noise from above, the night it did shatter,
Arise everyone! Let’s see what’s the matter;
We threw open the shutters, and much to our surprise,
Noticed two smiling young ladies, surrounded by four guys.

It was a charming group, that seemed to circle our city,
Could it be? Yes! It’s the Executive Committee!
The leader with the white beard had no equal or par,
As he guided a sleigh holding something called a cuss jar.

With the right team assembled, it was anything but a gamble,
Even with the youth supplied by Mac Campbell;
There was the previous chair, not a talker but a doer,
Readily apparent, it had to be Doug Booher.

His charges were now ready to disappear with a poof,
To make their appointed landings on IAVM member roofs;
He called the rest by name, from his lips,
“On Tammy! On Leslee! On Rip!”

The gifts were bountiful, oh there were plenty,
He sorted by sector, of which there were many;
But having forgotten one gift in his bag so deep,
Caused the cuss jar to fill as he let out a bleep.

Standing before the Arena folks, in all their various poses,
He gave to all with much delight, mega-grossing Guns N’ Roses!
As an added bonus that drew such surprised looks,
He bequeathed Trisha Yearwood, along with Garth Brooks!

Next up before inquisitive Convention Center eyes,
Would be St. Michael’s next big surprise;
Pondering the enormity of such venues, he stroked his beard,
Finally speaking words, they all wanted to hear.

“Your calendar year will be full, this I bestow,
With meetings, conventions, exhibits, and shows!”
As he roared in delight with a chuckle and chortle,
He still reminded them to use the EMSSI portal.

To the Performing Arts, for which his heart did surely bleed,
Came assurances and promises, to fulfill all funding needs;
Oh, and at this season and as its biggest backer,
All stages will participate in hosting The Nutcracker.

He next surveyed the Stadium folks, with a look full of glee,
Readily anticipating what their one main wish would be;
Throwing his head back, and bellowing a Ho! Ho! Ho!,
He knew they all wanted to host a Super Bowl.

“I wish that could happen, I say dear friends,
But next year is Atlanta, and the stadium Mercedes-Benz.
This though I can say, sure as Mrs. Michael and I have dinner,
That all your venues produce teams that are winners.”

Next, he peered through his glasses, as he looked at the menu,
Of his University friends, and their many, many venues.
“May you always promote education, of which you are seekin’,
While all the while in your communities you are a light and beacon.”

Having cut his own industry teeth, on a campus in the south,
Helped him to utter the following words from his mouth:
“To each and all, may your endeavors be great,
And as for me, I’ll just say Hail State!”

As for the gift he forgot, he just needed to look a little deeper,
Because once dispensed to all venue members, it surely was a keeper;
It cuts across all types, full of truth and full of reason,
A gentle reminder to remember the blessings of the season.

It’s a gift of thanksgiving, for the field in which we work,
Making a difference in other’s lives, is truly our greatest perk.
It’s a time to pause, celebrate, and even take a deserved rest,
To simply reflect on how we all have been blessed.

With that gift now imparted, the sleigh would soon rise,
Cutting an illuminating path over the tranquil night sky.
“Happy Holidays!” he said with one giant jovial laugh,
“From your Board of Directors, Brad, and the IAVM Staff!”