Shopping the trade show floor at VenueConnect 2023 in Pittsburgh had special purpose for Randy Brown, CVE,  Michelle Frank and Steve Knight. They are in the group planning a $40 million, 8,000-seat amphitheater in Elkhart, Ind., which is on a fast track to open in July 2025.

Brown, retired manager of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne, Ind., was brought on board as a consultant by promoters David Bucksner of Exceptional Artists and Jeff Fortier of Mammoth. Fortier provides booking for about 25 boutique amphitheaters in the U.S., Brown noted.

Both promoters are catalysts in this project, Frank said. Frank is general manager of The Lerner Theater, 1,700 seats, in Elkhart and will also manage the new amphitheater. She added that she had a great time at VenueConnect becoming even more educated about this new venue type.

From her perspective, the project started during the pandemic, when the business was on lockdown. She used that time to keep the conversation going with as many promoters as she could find, including some new ones. “When things started to open again, we took a risk on a couple shows together,” she said of Bucksner. “He loved the Elkhart market and the Lerner…He called me one day and said. ‘I don’t know what you are doing at the Lerner, but I want to replace the Fort Wayne market with outdoor shows. Can we look at your green space?’”

Knight, managing architect, David M. Schwarz Architects, came on board because of a relationship that group has with Stefanos Polyzoides of Notre Dame, dean of the School of Architecture and independent urban planner. Polyzoides had been engaged to do a comprehensive master plan for downtown Elkhart.

“It’s a bit of chicken and egg. As I understood it, a major piece of that master plan was putting an amphitheater downtown or else they already wanted it and it was up to Stefanos to find a place to put it,” Knight said.

Schwarz was also architect on 8,000-capacity The Orion amphitheater in Huntsville, Ala., which opened last year and is already one of the top in the country, Knight said.

Stakeholders in the community formed a 501-C3, The Amp Group, and work began in earnest just months ago. Per the downtown masterplan, the amphitheater will be part of a mixed-use development, which includes a park, which will serve as a festival area as well as lawn seating for the amphitheater, Brown said. The amphitheater will have 3,200 fixed seats with a 300-capacity pit in front of the stage.

A 400-capacity club is also part of the plan, as is an 8,000-sq.-ft. multiuse room for everything from company meetings to wedding receptions.

Elkhart boasts a built-in clientele. The city is known as the RV and boat manufacturing capital of the world, Brown said. “Major manufacturing companies do major shows.  Brooks and Dunn performed there last year. We built the flexibility into this venue so we can do dealer trade shows at the same time we can do concerts.”

To date, those dealer shows have taken place outdoors at Elkhart’s RV Hall of Fame, a couple miles north and a little west of downtown, he added. “They bring in major artists every year. This will be a significant improvement in facilities and amenities.”

The architect of record is American StructurePoint of Indianapolis. Majority Builders out of South Bend is construction manager.

The area being developed is a full city block next door to The Lerner.

The masterplan was completed in January and the architect was on board by March, Knight said. Construction is set to begin one year later, March of 2024. Normally masterplans take years, but this project is refreshingly unusual in that there is a major alignment of operators, the city and all major stakeholders, Knight added. “They really do see it as a catalyst for downtown development.”

It will be “a true civic venue in the middle of downtown, which is unusual for an amphitheater,” he added. “They are bullish on making it more than a summertime, fair weather venue. They do see it as an opportunity to galvanize the community with programming throughout the year.”

Architecturally, it will be rooted in the community. Elkhart has a wonderful architectural heritage, Knight said. “We want there to be a strong sense of intimacy between artist and audience. And a real sense of place. You know you are in Elkhart.”

The Amp Group is led by Lori Harris, president, and Rex Martin. Martin is the fifth generation CEO of NIBCO, a world renowned plumbing parts manufacturer.

“Rex is spearheading this as a legacy piece, a gift to the community,” Brown  noted. “Lori is making sure we do it right. Right now, we even have a swimming pool on the roof for artists.”

Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson is 100 percent on board, “our biggest cheerleader,” said Brown, which Frank confirmed.

Funding is primarily private donations. More than half of the project cost has been raised, Brown added.

Elkhart proper is 50,000 people. But the amphitheater, like The Lerner, will draw from all of Michiana. “We have two million people in a 60-mile radius,” Frank said. “The Lerner consistently pulls its patron base from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.”

The artists love The Lerner and Elkhart already, Frank added. Over and over again, she has seen postings on social media of artists sitting under a tree in the current green space, writing music, or going into boutique shops and buying what they might wear on stage that night. Besides Main Street, the city’s riverwalk is an attractive downtown feature.

“We’re full steam ahead,” Frank said. “It’s going to be transformative for this region.”

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in August 2023. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit here to share your story and photo.

Jo Ellen Albanese, Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, Columbus, OH
Louis Belasco, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority, Wildwood, NJ
Andrea Biggins, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Josh Blackford, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Avery Cain, Brintons, Kennesaw, GA
Christina Carter-Mallory, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Sabriya Chaudhry, Elysian Park Planning, Chicago, IL
Jonnathan Clark, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Del Cook, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Kayliana Cox, OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
Jason Dann, Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, TX
Stephane Delisle, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada
James W.E. Dixon, NRG Park, Houston, TX
Tori DuBois, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Emily Eigenmann, Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis, MO
Brynn Farwell, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks, CA
Sam Franklin, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC
Benjamin Gallegos, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
EG Garcia, Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, Raleigh, NC
Michelle Giancaterino, United Center, Chicago, IL
Kasey Gieschen, Infor, Alpharetta, GA
Jeff Gogerty, Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, TX
Michelle Graham, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Olivia Guerrero, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Ally Haynes-Hamblen, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Sarah Hendricks, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Bryan Hickey, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Dawn Humphrey, East Montgomery County Improvement District, New Caney, TX
Christian Irving, United Center, Chicago, IL
Madeline Jones, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Craig Kaufmann, Wisconsin Union, Madison, WI
Annemarie Kennedy, Momentus Technologies, O’Fallon, MO
Gabe Klein, Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis, MO
Jennie Lavis, Hamilton City Council, Hamilton, New Zealand
Phoebe Lawrence, Adelaide Oval SMA, North Adelaide, SA, Australia
Sarah Leonardo, Brisbane Racing Club Limited, Hamilton Central, QLD, Australia
Aquallo Lewis, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Nikki Longhurst, Brisbane Racing Club Limited, Hamilton Central, QLD, Australia
Gareth Lott, Weslo Holdings Pty Ltd, Torrensville, SA, Australia
Peter Loxton, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Nolan MacGregor, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Amy Mackie, Ticketek Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Brady Madsen, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Kayely Marriner, Marriner Group, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Angie Martin, Momentus Technologies, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Casey Martin, Boise Centre, Boise, ID
Heidi Mason, Bundaberg Regional Council, Bundaberg, QLD, Australia
Joey Matthys, NRG Park, Houston, TX
Muhammad Maulana, Uno Kapital, Jakarta, Indonesia
Adam May, Basketball SA, Richmond, SA, Australia
Tarshi McCoy, Riverfront Convention Center, New Bern, NC
Tom McDowell, Marvel Stadium – Melbourne Stadiums Limited, Docklands, VIC, Australia
Colin McEvoy, MAP Co, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
James McKee, Ticketek NZ, Auckland Central, New Zealand
Kyle McKendry, Cedar Mill Group, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Andrew McKinnon, Cedar Mill Group, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Nadine McLean, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Markets, NSW, Australia
Bonnie McMackin, Melbourne Racing Club, Caulfield East, VIC, Australia
Ryan McQuicken, HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast Mail Centre, QLD, Australia
Kim McRae, Adelaide Venue Management Corporation, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Josh Meagher, Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane, WA
Rebekka Meyers, Australian Theatrical Promoters Pty Ltd, Perth, WAu, Australia
Jordan Moore, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Alexis Moorer, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Katy Morris, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Australia
Evelyn Murphy, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Julian Paez-Magsino, NRG Park, Houston, TX
Krystal Pennuto, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Nathan Rhyne, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC
Frank Schaefer, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
David Schneider, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI
Logan Sleight, Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts & Corporate Presentations, Richardson, TX
Austin Smith, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID
Caroline Stacey, Elysian Park Planning, Chicago, IL
Ellis Stafford, NRG Park, Houston, TX
Brayden Swathwood, Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis, MO
Jasmine Tyler, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI
Nic Vajen, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Kylar Walker, NRG Park, Houston, TX
Kyle West, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City, KS
Ashley Young, Tacoma Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA
Darby Young, Level Playing Field Inc., Calgary, AB, Canada

The IAVM Mentor Connector Program is getting ready to launch the Fall 2023 Cycle. We’re looking for members who want to invest time in their careers through one-on-one mentoring.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Mentor or Mentee to further your professional development, please join our informational webinar Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 4:00 PM ET.

Mentor Connector creates the opportunity for an experienced professional (Mentor) to provide guidance and encouragement to a member who has an identified professional development need (Mentee). Anyone at any stage of their career can be a Mentor or Mentee. There are no restrictions or qualifications, just an IAVM membership and a desire to participate – and, it’s free!

Applications are due October 6, 2023. Click here to learn more!

Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation officials have announced a long-term management renewal with ASM Global, the world’s largest venue management company — beginning in 2025 — as part of an ambitious multiyear strategy to leverage ASM Global’s international multidisciplined expertise in the future development of the Houston 350-acre NRG Park campus.

ASM Global has operated the county-owned venue since 2000. It is home to the NFL Houston Texans and the renowned Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which is the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. It’s been a fixture at NRG Stadium for 20 years.

The NRG Park site is part of ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues around the world that host 20,000 events and welcome 165 million guests every year.

2022 and the first half of 2023 have marked one of the most successful financial performances in NRG Park’s history, highlighted by multiple sold-out events, including the 2023 NCAA^® Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four^®, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (three sold-out shows in April 2023), Karol G and Beyoncé: World Renaissance Tour (September 2023).

NRG Park also annually hosts the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston Auto Show/Houston Boat Show, Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker Market, and Feld Entertainment’s Disney On Ice and Monster Jam.

The College Football Playoffs Championship Game is slated for this coming January, and NRG Park will welcome FIFA World Cup matches in 2026.

Inside NRG Park’s exhibition center, NRG Center, ASM Global Insights program — the largest live-event customer-feedback database in the industry — will provide the benefits of engaging clients, monitoring guest satisfaction in real time, evaluating performance across various metrics, and benchmarking success across the industry, ultimately providing the business acumen to inform and propel the business forward.

“This agreement demonstrates that ASM Global is aligned with our belief about the tremendous future for NRG Park,” said Ryan Walsh, CEO/executive director Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation. “Much of our success throughout the years is because we have positioned ourselves with high-impact, respected partners like ASM Global. NRG Park is proud to be one of the crown jewels in an unparalleled international portfolio that includes some of the most prestigious, iconic and successful venues. We look forward to continuing our partnership to elevate and build on our continuing standard as one of the top sports, entertainment and convention destinations in the world.”

ASM Global’s President and CEO Ron Bension said, “We’re very appreciative of this vote of confidence. We passionately believe in Houston and the area’s track record of hosting spectacular events like the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Final Four and partnering with amazing organizations such as the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; the NFL’s Houston Texans franchise; and, of course, the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation. We’re eager to grow the property even more to enrich the Houston-Harris County community.”

Utilizing its global relationships in content, programming, planning, technology, sustainability, guest experience and enhanced premium experiences, ASM Global will continue to meet the needs of NRG Park hosted events.

ASM Global has an unrivaled track record working with major cultural, entertainment, convention and sports campuses, including L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Darling Harbour in Sydney, OVO Wembley Arena in London and AO Arena in Manchester.

IAVM is proud to announce Linda Deckard, founder of Venues Today (VenuesNow), as the new editor of its trade publication, Venue Professional (VP) magazine.

Following the retirement of the magazine’s long-time editor, R.V. Baugus, Deckard was recruited to take the helm of the publication.

“I am extremely excited that Linda has agreed to take on the responsibility of leading Venue Professional to higher levels of communication for the industries our diverse membership serves,” stated Brad Mayne, CVE, IAVM President & CEO. “Replacing R.V. Baugus is not an easy task, yet I know Linda will continue with the important storytelling and reporting for our members.”

“If it weren’t for the networking made available through IAVM, I would not have been as effective as a reporter, editor, and publisher covering live entertainment,” noted Deckard. “I have known some members of this association for 40 years, in some cases their entire careers, and they mine.”

Deckard was first introduced to industry trade publications in 1976 by Tom Powell, editor of Amusement Business (a part of Billboard publications), when hired to report on the business of operating venues, including arenas, convention centers, performing arts centers, theaters, stadiums and amphitheaters, amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals.

In 2002, Deckard founded Venues Today to report the “news behind the headlines.” Her innovations at Venues Today included the institution of the Hall of Headlines Awards, Venues Today Women of Influence Award, Ticketing Stars (in association with INTIX), GenerationNext, and Excellence in Concessions Awards.

After selling Venues Today to Oak View Group (owned by Irving Azoff and Tim Leiweke, leaders in the industry) in 2016 and aiding in ushering in the redesign to VenuesNow, Linda left the publication in 2018 to pursue her new passion – telling venue-centric stories in books and blogs.

“In my many years in this venue industry, I have dealt with a myriad of media interviews and must state that the one person I have always trusted in being truthful and supportive of our industry has been Linda Deckard,” said Mayne. “I look forward to seeing what she does with VP, especially considering she is coming on board at the start of IAVM’s 100-Year celebration!”

“IAVM’s 100th-anniversary celebration goes a long way in motivating me to take this job,” said Deckard. “We’re going to have a lot of fun in 2024 remembering where we came from as we plan where we’re going. I look forward to continuing to cover the industry’s people and places, challenges, and victories in this new role, relying on history and contacts to make a difference.”

Deckard will officially begin her role as Editor of Venue Professional on September 5.

Linda can be reached at linda.deckard@iavm.org.