AEG Merchandise reported its third largest day of sales in STAPLES Center history, grossing more than $820,000 during Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant’s jersey retirement earlier this week at STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles.

As L.A. LIVE erupted with nearly 10,000 fans throughout the day for “Kobeland,” a free amusement-park style street fair prior to the Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors game, during which Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 Lakers jerseys became the historic franchise’s 11th and 12th numbers to be retired and permanently displayed in the rafters of STAPLES Center, AEG’s three brick and mortar merchandise locations in Southern California collectively sold more than $670,000 in product.

“Having witnessed Kobe Bryant’s entire Lakers career, it was no surprise how many fans would want to acquire a piece of memorabilia to celebrate and remember one of the most remarkable careers in NBA history,” said Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE. “Kobe’s impact on the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers and fans everywhere may never be duplicated and it has certainly been our privilege to share so many great moments with him and his fans including last night’s celebration.”

Throughout the day AEG’s Team LA Store at STAPLES Center sold more than $600,000 with an additional $147,000 in online sales, while the New Era D Lab at L.A. LIVE sold nearly $40,000 in specially designed New Era caps and merchandise while the Los Angeles Lakers Team Shop, owned and operated by AEG, saw more than $20,000 in sales, generating $824,000 in sales.

“Through our understanding of Kobe Bryant’s influence on the Lakers organization, the City of Los Angeles and fans around the world, AEG teamed up with New Era, Nike, Kobe Inc. and Highland Mint to provide fans with high quality and collectible merchandise for this momentous occasion,” said Sean Ryan, vice president of merchandise, AEG. “Monday’s day-long tribute and overall phenomenal sales of the specially created items truly speak to the iconic legacy of Kobe Bryant.”

Eric Granger, an industry veteran with more than 20 years in the live entertainment, sports and facilities management industries, has been named general manager of KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The announcement was made by Bob Newman, President of AEG Facilities, operators of the arena.

“We are thrilled to have Eric join the AEG Facilities and KFC Yum! Center team in Louisville,” Newman said. “Eric brings a great depth of knowledge and industry experience and will play a key role in the continued success and stellar reputation of one of the region’s premier and busiest destinations for sports and entertainment.”

As general manager, Granger will be responsible for the management of all of the arena’s business operations, the creation of new events and the development of new revenue opportunities for the seven-year-old, 22,000-seat sports and entertainment arena which serves as the home of the University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball programs. Granger will also oversee numerous proprietary initiatives of AEG Facilities including AEG S.A.F.E., AEG 1Source, AEG 1EARTH, AEG 1Force, AEG Encore and AEG Energy Services, in addition to working closely with AEG Global Partnerships and other divisions of the company.

“KFC Yum! Center is pleased to welcome Eric Granger and his family to Kentucky,” said Scott C. Cox, Chairman, Louisville Arena Authority. “Eric’s experience and talent will help maintain the arena’s reputation as one of the finest venues in the world.”

Granger assumes the role last held by Dennis Petrullo, who resigned earlier in the month.

Prior to joining AEG Facilities and KFC Yum! Center, Granger spent seven years serving as the vice president and general manager for Memphis, Tennessee’s 18,119-seat FedEx Forum, home to NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis Tigers, in addition to serving as general manager of the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, home of the NHL Blue Jackets.

“I am looking forward to working with the great group of professionals in Louisville with AEG Facilities and the Louisville Arena Authority,” Granger said. “KFC Yum! Center is an incredible facility.”

A graduate of University of South Alabama, Granger will assume his new role on January 1, 2018.

As another year comes to a close, The IAVM staff would like to thank you for being an invaluable part of the IAVM family. 2017 proved to be an amazing year for the association, and we look forward to serving you in 2018 and beyond. 

May your holiday be filled with laughter, joy, and prosperity throughout the New Year!

Neal Gunn, CFE, passed away on December 20 following a two-year battle with cancer. He was 74.

“Yesterday was a very difficult day for me,” said Mike McGee, CFE, Gunn’s friend of 62 years since both grew up in Monroe, Louisiana. “There is a sense of emptiness that I don’t have that guy to call for some crazy conversation. We shared so many things that I can’t even fathom, and it is certainly going to be different.”

Gunn grew up in Monroe (“712 Plum Street,” said McGee) and excelled at sports, most notably football. He was offered some 36 college scholarships to play and was close to accepting one from the University of Arkansas before the governor of Louisiana made a personal visit to see Gunn. “He came to Neal’s house and said, ‘You’re a good Louisiana boy, you don’t need to be going to Arkansas,'” McGee said. “When the governor comes to your house and knocks on your front door … you need to go to the state university.” Gunn did just that and played and graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Gunn got his start in the industry with the new hometown Monroe Civic Center. He was working for Sears, Roebuck and Company in the credit department when he applied for and became the controller of the new venue in September 1967. The position was the first in a career that would span 42 years and include stops at the Lakeland (FL) Civic Center, Superdome, Astrodome, and Ticketmaster.

Many of those positions were intertwined with his good friend Mike McGee. “I worked at a TV station in Monroe when Neal was hired at the civic center,” McGee said. “I would often go to the venue to cover their events and do film clips. They needed a marketing and publicity person so I talked to Neal, who had become the director. I went to work there on December 3, 1970.”

Gunn left Monroe to manage the Lakeland Civic Center and shortly thereafter brought McGee in to be his assistant director. The inseparable friends would eventually land together in Houston where Gunn worked at the Astrodome while McGee was at The Summit arena. The two co-promoted some events outside of the market, leading to the formation of Facility Management Marketing, which later became Leisure Management International.

Things came full circle later on when McGee joined Ticketmaster to oversee North American business operations, where he was rejoined with Gunn. “Neal became an employee reporting to me,” McGee said. “It all worked out and we got along fine. We never got angry or upset with the other … ever.”

Gunn most recently served as president and owner of Neal Gunn Enterprises in Houston, a company that specialized in providing business solutions, marketing, sponsorship sales, as well as promoting and operation of events and activities. Through it all, McGee remained in close contact with his dear friend.

“Neal went through all of the treatments after he was diagnosed with lung cancer a little over two years ago,” McGee said. “He was pronounced cancer-free about a year ago, but then started having trouble getting his stamina to return. His lungs were having trouble functioning again and then his heart. He went to the hospital about four months ago and was stabilized. About two or three weeks ago he was readmitted and placed in ICU and finally life support.”

McGee said that Gunn will be remembered in the industry as someone who was very outgoing and gregarious.

“People liked Neal because he expressed an interest in them,” McGee said. “He had a bunch of tomfoolery with him and loved to play practical jokes, which I think brought people closer to him. Everybody has their Neal story and what Neal meant to them. He was a mentor to so many and had time to give advice. I believe he will be remembered as someone engaged and passionate about what he did and who really loved people. He generously invested his time and his heart in people and their circumstances. There was no barrier or precursor to knowing Neal whether you were in the highest office or on the street asking for a quarter. You can’t spend over 50 years in this industry or be successful without touching people’s lives.”

While McGee said that he was as reasonably prepared as possible for his close friend’s passing, there is still great sadness.

“Neal and I were friends for 62 years and in business for 47 years,” he said. “I won’t experience that again.”

This story will be updated with information regarding services for Neal Gunn.

We would like to thank all of our members and our volunteers for making 2017 another successful year for IAVM. Your dedication and support of the association are incredible, and we are sincerely appreciative of everything you do to give back to the industry. Take a peek at IAVM’s success of 2017 in our Year In Review video, starring Brad Mayne, CFE, and also, Brad Mayne, CFE. We’re looking forward to the future! Are you?! 

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