AEG Presents, the live music division of global entertainment company, AEG, announced the appointment of Simon Jones in the newly created position of Senior Vice President Live Music International.

The creation of the role further builds on AEG Presents’ global presence and follows the opening of their Paris office at the start of 2018. Jones will report directly to the CEOs of AEG Presents London, Steve Homer and Toby Leighton-Pope.

Jones will head up the international promoting operations for AEG Presents UK, expanding the companies’ international touring footprint, working closely with the AEG offices in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With AEG Presents ever-growing network of partners across the world, he will promote a broad range of artists from intimate club gigs through to stadium shows.

Since entering the UK market more than a decade ago, AEG Presents has built a strong presence across concert touring, festivals, and venues. In 2017 alone, AEG promoted over 800 live events in the UK. Through festivals such as Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park and the newly created All Points East, AEG has brought a new level of world-class talent and outstanding customer experiences.

Jones currently has a series of major shows taking place this year and into 2019 including Shawn Mendes European tour, the Ed Sheeran South Africa Stadium tour, Asian tours for Khalid and Calum Scott, Rodriguez across Australia and New Zealand and UK tours for Anne-Marie, Jess Glynne, Tom Odell, and The Vamps.

Jones began his promoting career early. From the age of 20 he was running gigs across his native Kent and while he was a student at Greenwich University he answered an advertisement for interns to work at a brand new arena – The O2 – which was in the process of being built and was part of the small team that launched the venue. Since that time Jones has risen through the ranks as a promoter and senior executive, taking him to his current role.

“I’ve enjoyed building the international touring arm of our UK office in recent years,” Jones said. “It’s a major passion of mine and I’m excited to continue and expand on this even further, with some incredible shows and tours to announce soon. What we have achieved since AEG Presents launched in the UK has been phenomenal and I’m certain we can keep upping the ante both here and around the world. The artists that work with us are always at the core of our thinking when planning tours and shows and that is reflected in the caliber of artists and their teams that we work with.”

The University of Texas at Arlington Special Events Facilities announced that Keith Schobert has been promoted to Director of College Park Center beginning September 1, 2018. He succeeds Jeff Davis, CVE, CVP, CMP, who has been named Executive Director of UT2Arlington Special Events Facilities.

A highly accomplished facilities and event professional with more than 14 years of experience, Schobert has been instrumental in his performance of venue operations for a wide variety of events at College Park Center during the last seven years, along with his support, assistance, and encouragement of his team. He has been influential in planning, scheduling, and directing all event support and operational functions, establishing relationships with vendors, University and athletic personnel and staff members as well as coordinating bids, proposal, planning, and execution for capital improvement projects.

Schobert joined UT-Arlington in 2011 as assistant director of event services and operations during the opening of College Park Center, a $78 million, 7,000-seat multipurpose arena. In January 2013 he was named assistant director of facilities and operations of CPC. His background includes operations manager for SMG—INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, KS, director of facilities for Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, event coordinator at University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, director of facilities and events at University of North Texas, Denton, TX. He also served as event security assistant and technical assistant for several facilities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Tabor College and a master’s degree in sports administration from Wichita State University. In 2016 he graduated from IAVM’s Academy of Venue Safety and Security and Venue Management School in 2014.

“Keith has been an integral part of our team since the opening of the arena, covering nearly every aspect of venue operations in his time here,” Davis said. “He has demonstrated his leadership ability and is often the ‘go-to’ person for staff and clients. I am confident in his ability to lead all aspects of CPC operations in this new role.”

In his new position as director of the College Park Center, Schobert is responsible for day-to-day operations of the venue, including contract negotiations, tenant relations, event services, guest services, building operations, and renovation planning and oversight.

Speaking of College Park Center, nearly 5,000 kids were the first to see an amazing WNBA single-game scoring record. It was the Dallas Wings’ Kids Day at College Park Center on Tuesday, July 17 when Liz Cambage smashed the scoring record with 53 points during a Wings’ win over New York Liberty, 104-87. Her previous career high was 37, set earlier in July against Chicago.

“It was an exciting game day,” Davis said. “A big win with an amazing scoring record that enhances College Park Center as a DFW world class sports and active entertainment destination.” Cambage, a 6’8” center, was drafted No. 2 by the franchise as a 19-year-old, but only played for two separate seasons back in 2011 and 2013. She averaged 11.5 and 16.3 points, respectively, in those two seasons but took some time away from the WNBA to work on her game in China and her native Australia.

Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, has five concession stands on the Main Concourse. A whole new look will greet guests this fall when placing an order for food and beverage.

“We wanted to add some fun, color, and new themes to the concession stands,” said Michael K. Krouse, President & CEO. “When we took over management of the arena in July of 2016 we committed to improving the food offerings. Now we have taken the next step, the remodel of 10-year-old concession stands. We want our guests to have the best entertainment experience and part of that is enjoying some great food. By investing in updates, thru capital improvements provided by the City of Ontario, Citizens Business Bank Arena guests will not only appreciate the efforts but take pride in their home for entertainment.

The food and beverage options have continued to change with new menu choices and quality products designed for the palates of our guests. Surveys are sent after each event to ticket holders. These surveys are reviewed by management and taken seriously. We make changes or adjustments where possible to improve the overall guest experience. The new, bright colors, and fun attitude of the concession stands will bring a visual improvement. New menu items are being developed for all locations, but some fan favorites will remain.”

The rendering in this article offers a sneak peek at the new look and feel of the concession stands located on the main concourse of Citizens Business Bank Arena. There may be some slight changes to the final design and many of the concessions have adjoining wall décor to enhance the overall look. Designed by Acrobat Ant, the transformation is scheduled for completion by the end of summer.

When IAVM comes to Chicago for VenueConnect in 2019, there will be a new artistic look to the area.

MPEA and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with area cultural organizations, announced the City’s newest Cultural District adjacent to McCormick Square. The announcement accompanied the unveiling of the newest art installation, “The Bots,” with MPEA CEO Lori Healey and Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Commissioner Mark Kelly in attendance.

The installation of “The Bots” was designed by New York-based David Weeks Studio in collaboration with Chicago-based Anderson Miller, Ltd., and manufactured at Chicago-based Vector Manufacturing. David Weeks Studio is the designer of the famous Cubebot toy and this installation is the largest “Bot” design to date. The standing Bot is 23 feet tall with a 23-foot wingspan, while the reclining Bot is 16 feet long. The giant installation kicks off the neighborhood’s Cultural District, adding to the more than 100 pieces of public art on campus.

“As we continue to enhance the McCormick Square community, MPEA is honored to be part of the new Cultural District. The music, art, and cultural attractions surrounding McCormick Square campus are important to our clients and visitors,” Healey said. “Furthermore, ‘The Bots’ are a wonderful addition to our public art collection, and we can’t wait for out-of-town visitors and Chicagoans alike to not only see our newest installation but to experience it as they use this interactive art as a place to sit and enjoy all that McCormick Square has to offer.”

“McCormick Square is home to diverse businesses, works of art, events, and much more, and we are thrilled that area cultural organizations are partnering to form the new Cultural District,” Kelly said. “The rich culture in this area deserves to be recognized by residents and visitors from around the world.”

The new Cultural District will feature more art than just “The Bots.” Starting August 15, McCormick Square will be the site of “Rooted In Greatness” a first-of-its-kind video art exhibit. Working with Luma8, chaired by Lou Raizin of Broadway in Chicago, “Rooted in Greatness” celebrates Illinois’ Bicentennial with video biographies of notable Illinoisans projected into the trees at the corner of Cermak and Calumet. The installation will run through February 2019.

With a commitment to public art on campus and a long-standing foundation of art and culture in the area, the Cultural District is a new epicenter of arts and culture. Attracting millions of visitors each year, McCormick Square brought $1.6 billion in economic impact in 2017.

“The Bots’ will be on permanent display outside of the Marriott Marquis Chicago. For more information on the new installation and the Cultural District, visit mccormicksquarechicago.com

Claude Molinari, general manager of SMG/Cobo Center, announced that Cobo Center will host the Events Industry Council’s training for the Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) September 11-12, 2018. This is the first offering to event planners for the certificate in the state of Michigan.

Mariela Mcllwraith, director, industry advancement for the Events Industry Council, will conduct the SEPC training for Cobo Center employees and other event professionals as part of the Cobo Center Green Committee’s efforts to implement new and innovative green initiatives throughout the facility and community. The committee was established in 2011, and has garnered several community awards for Cobo, including the Keep Michigan Beautiful President’s Plaque in 2016.

“The sustainable practices that the Cobo Center has implemented over the last several years, including energy management, food recovery, and intensive materials reuse & recycling, are potent examples to all institutions, businesses, and residents in Detroit that we can, and indeed we must, all play a part in creating a sustainable future in Detroit for current and future generations,” said City of Detroit Director, Office of Sustainability, Joel Heeres. “I laud their leadership on these issues.”

Cobo Center became the ninth U.S. convention center to achieve the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) ASTM/APEX Sustainable Event Standard Certification in 2015. Venues are certified after implementing a set of voluntary standards to create more sustainable meetings and events. Cobo successfully re-certified in 2017 and will apply again for re-certification in 2019.

“Organizing our facility operations around the EIC sustainable event standard helps us create an ecosystem for our events that supports sustainability and encourages the industry to engage in green efforts,” said Molinari. “We set audacious goals each year for the Green Committee, and hosting the SECP training was one of them. Helping our employees achieve this certificate strengthens our commitment to the environment.”

Combining active learning and experiential elements, the SEPC program is designed to enable participants to implement their own sustainable events. Topics will include understanding the business value of sustainability for the events industry; practical solutions for improving your environmental performance in areas such as food and beverage; transportation; supply chain management; and effective methods for achieving corporate social responsibility goals. As part of the program, the participants will customize a roadmap for their own sustainable event.

“The Events Industry Council is pleased to be offering this certificate program for the first time in Michigan,” said Karen Kotowski, chief executive officer for the Events Industry Council. “Hosting the event in Detroit’s Cobo Center, a venue that has received our third party audited venue certification, will allow us to reinforce the sustainability curriculum with experiential elements.”