The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) Board of Directors voted to approve a contract with Populous Architects for a Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) campus master plan and feasibility study. This data driven financial and industry marketplace analysis will provide an opportunity to evaluate potential future options at the BCEC’s 70-acre campus by taking into account the dramatic development of the South Boston Waterfront and rapid evolution of customer priorities in the global conventions, meetings and events industry.

“The Authority is eager to work with the world class team from Populous to determine the best path forward for the BCEC,” said David Gibbons, Executive Director of the MCCA. “We are asking them to evaluate the convention market to ensure the future competitive position of the BCEC in the conventions, meetings, and events industry.”

Populous is based in Kansas City, Missouri, with offices around the world, including Boston. The firm, which was recently named Fast Company magazine’s Most Innovative Company in Live Events, has a strong and impressive global portfolio of convention center projects across the United States, and also includes signature projects in Australia, India and the Middle East. Their diverse team in Boston has strong local representation with several firms that have first-hand experience working on the BCEC, including the original construction of the center and subsequent projects at the facility since.

“The opportunity to help position the BCEC for future success is exciting, and we look forward to applying our nearly 20 years of planning and design expertise to this new project,” said Todd Voth, Senior Principal and Convention Center Practice Leader at Populous.

In November of 2017, Populous was selected as the winning bid among four finalists by the MCCA’s Designer Selection Panel. Following a vote of the MCCA’s Board of Directors on November 16, 2017, contract negotiations commenced. The study is currently scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2019 and the total design fees approved by the MCCA’s Board of Directors is not to exceed $2.2 million.

The Baltimore Orioles announced a new initiative that will allow paying adult fans to take their children to home games free-of-charge.

Adults that purchase tickets in the regularly-priced upper deck area of the team’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards can bring up to two children aged nine or under for free, via the aptly named ‘Kids Cheer Free’ scheme.

Tickets are subject to availability and will be offered on a month-by-month basis as the MLB 2018 season progresses. Fans can now secure their tickets to games through April 29.

“Baseball is the bedrock recreational institution in American life, where childhood memories are born and family bonds are forever formed,” Greg Bader, vice president for communications and marketing for the Orioles, commented to the Associated Press. “It is our hope that this unprecedented program will bring the magic of Orioles baseball to families from all walks of life and ultimately grow our game.”

John Angelos, executive vice president at the Orioles, added: “The Orioles’ mission, and that of the national game of baseball, is to cast a broad community outreach. That effort starts with thoughtfully expanding our initiatives benefiting kids and families. The Orioles are committed to sustaining the access for families from all walks of life to our great game, and that commitment is reflected in the Kids Cheer Free initiative and our many other family-focused programs.”

The Stadium Managers Association (SMA) recently held an annual vote for the 2018 Board of Directors at the association’s Seminar in San Diego, California. Troy Brown, vice president of stadium operations, Cleveland Browns, was elected to a one-year term as president.

The Board recognized Mark Burk, formerly of Rice-Eccles Stadium, University of Utah, who completed his term as college director. Burk also served as president of SMA in 2016. Troy Hoberg, vice president of business development with Hunt Construction Group, AECOM, also completed his term and was thanked for his four years of board service.

Matt Kastel, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles, was reelected to serve a three-year term as stadium manager director.

Mario Coutinho, director, vice president of stadium operations and security, Rogers Centre, Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, was elected to serve as stadium manager director.

Nicole Andrews, Managing Director of Global Sales with Matrax, Inc. was elected to serve a four-year term as corporate director.

Following the general election, the Board elected officers to serve a term of one year beginning in February 2018. In addition to Brown, Joe Abernathy, vice president of facility planning and engineering with the St. Louis Cardinals, was elected as vice president. Matt Kastel, manager, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, was elected as secretary/treasurer.

Ex-Officio advisors include Seminar Chair Rick Nafe, vice president operations, Tampa Bay Rays; Assistant Seminar Chair Jim Folk, vice president ballpark operations, Cleveland Indians; Legal Counsel Mike McCormick, McCormick & Associates, LLC; and Emeritus Directors Bill Wilson and Jim Minish.

You, as an IAVM member, are our most important asset. Without your commitment to the association and to the venue management industry, we wouldn’t be here. Because of your support, we are featuring member profiles in our I Am Venue Management series. If you are interested in participating in the I Am Venue Management series, please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story.

If I wasn’t doing this I would: give owning a bike shop a go!

Most impressive person I’ve ever met is: my wife.

I unwind by: being a road cyclist. I drive everywhere, so I can bring my bike and explore.

On my desk right now is: an Oglebay VMS bell and mug full of cold, bad coffee.

My favorite IAVM program I ever attended was: Venue Management School.

If I were on the other side of the seats, I would: bring back the circus. I’d ride my bike across a tight rope!

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: to be a leader and take ownership. Be willing to learn and grow, because you will never know it all.

One up-and-coming venue star in the industry is: Ross Girouard, the director of operations and production at Allen Event Center. In addition to his stellar on-the-job performance, he was one of the first CVP’s, is involved with IAVM committees, is a VMS grad and has VMS-GI on the horizon.

One of my goals for this year is to: develop a number of “mini” special events to take place on the exterior of the venue before hockey games to help drive additional economic activity to the area and assist the hockey team with the overall fan experience. The ultimate goal is to be successful in the execution and garner positive results.

How do you plan to help elevate the profession? I serve on the IAVM Membership Committee as vice chair. The committee is a passionate group, and we have worked hard to grow membership and continually improve member benefits. I hope to continue to be part of the exceptional group for years to come. I’m a believer in the value of IAVM schools and programs. I promote and encourage staff and other professionals to participate. Allen event staff presence at VMS has become a norm, and I don’t see that changing.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? In security. We are already seeing better alignment and communication among venues, professional associations, first responders, and state and federal engagement. It’s unfortunate on how we got to this point, but the discussion and collaboration has made for safer venues. Others include the trickle-down technology to improve fan engagement, and how A/V and enhanced in-game production options are becoming increasing affordable.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? Read, and you can’t do it enough. Athletic Business, Sports Business Journal, Facility Manager, The Meeting Planner Magazine, etc. I take advantage of webinars and industry trainings. Paying attention to federal, state, and local legislation is important as well.

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? I’m a family guy, and while there are great people in the world, none are better than my family. I have six siblings and a large extended family, so my dinner party of three would be crashed.

Congratulations to our latest Certified Venue Professionals: Heather Lightsey, CVP, Events Supervisor, Emerald Coast Convention Center and Carolyn Speicher, CVP,  Guest Services Director, Assistant Director Event Services & Guest Experience, The Jerome Schottenstein Center.

View all of our current CVP’s here.

Thanks to the generous funding and support from the IAVM Foundation, the CVP program was launched in August 2015 at VenueConnect in Baltimore. It recognizes the competence of middle-to-senior-level managers of public assembly venues as well as assisting the managers in creating a professional roadmap in the venue industry.

The CVP designation says three important things about an individual: he or she is a capable professional, is committed to the industry, and is pledged to continued professional growth and development. Venue professionals who earn the CVP designation are recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as skilled in their profession.