Event industry veteran Paul Sergeant announced the formation of Paul Sergeant Events Pty Ltd (PSE), a Melbourne-based management company specializing in securing and promoting niche events in Australia. Sergeant, former head of several major Australian and international venues including Wembley Stadium, Qudos Bank Arena (formerly Allphones Arena), Suncorp Stadium and Etihad Stadium, believes “there is an array of quality, niche event content around the world that is seeking to expand beyond its own boundaries but doesn’t necessarily have the resources or knowledge to take on a move into Australia” and has set up PSE to do just that.

Another core function of the organization is providing advisory services to the right’s owners of fringe sports’ events and venues within Australia who often require a helping hand to support their growth.

Sergeant stepped down from his role as CEO of Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium in 2016 and in forming PSE has brought together a team of experts that include CFO Chris Charleson, Head of Commercial Sarah Brady, and Head of Operations Glen Rainsbury. “I’ve always worked on the basis that you need to know where the talented people are and these people are among the best in the industry here in Australia. Chris, Sarah and Glen are highly respected across the sport and entertainment business internationally. They know what they’re doing, have immense experience and aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and make things happen,” Sergeant said.

The experience of the PSE team is spread across the world. Sergeant was the former boss of Wembley Stadium and Millennium Stadium in the UK, as well as Suncorp Stadium, Allphones Arena and Etihad Stadium in Australia. Charleson, a chartered accountant, was the former COO/CFO of Ticketek and Nine Events based in Sydney while Brady headed up many consumer business and sport presentation departments at an array of sporting clubs including the Brisbane Lions, South Sydney Rabbitohs and GWS GIANTS. Rainsbury has held a combination of sales and operational roles at Brisbane Entertainment Centre and The Gabba as well as with the Royal Horticultural Society with the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows in London.

Collectively, the PSE team has the commercial and operational experience of dealing with more than 10,000 major events across a 37-year period, including indoor and outdoor sporting events, concerts, religious gatherings, festivals, functions and conferences.

More recently, the PSE team formed the core management team that proved to be a major success at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. “During the three and a half years we worked together we secured and successfully delivered a vast array of massive international events including the world record breaking UFC193, Australian Speedway Grand Prix, Edinburgh Military Tattoo as well as concerts by Coldplay, Adele, The Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift and many others,” Sergeant said.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is currently being used to help in the aftermath of the Sunday night shooting that has left 59 dead and more than 500 injured during an outdoor country music festival.

Amanda Arentsen, communications manager with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), spoke with IAVM to update on the use of the venue following the attack that resulted in the deadliest mass-shooting in the United States.

“Right now, the South Hall is being used as a resource center for victims and their loved ones,” Arentsen said. “That is also where donations are being collected. We have such a tremendous outpouring of assistance at this time. The County, who is handling logistics of the center, is the best resource for determining what help is needed most at this time. Earlier today, they were encouraging people to offer volunteer services.”

For resource information, please click here.

The LVCVA added the following official statement from President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter: “The thoughts and prayers of all of Las Vegas go out to the victims and their families. This was a horrific, yet isolated, incident. At this time, it is important to allow the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police to conclude their investigation into the incident and to attend to the needs of the victims and their families. Las Vegas is a strong community that will work through this tragic incident. We are grateful beyond words to our incomparable law enforcement, first responders and everyone who continues to help victims and their families.”

The iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois, is now the TaxSlayer Center after a new naming rights deal.

The 12,000-seat arena and conference center now has the online and professional tax and financial services technology company as its new partner for the Illinois Quad-City Civic Center Authority’s arena and conference center.

The venue opened as The Mark of the Quad-Cities in 1993 and became iWireless Center in 2005 as part of a 10-year sponsorship.

“We are thrilled to have TaxSlayer as our naming rights sponsor,” said Scott Mullen, executive director of the arena. “The partnership will allow us to continue to reinvest back into the facility keeping it looking new and incorporating new technologies for the benefit of our guests.”

TaxSlayer is a name in collegiate athletics with the TaxSlayer Bowl held in Jacksonville, Flroida, at EverBank Field and what was previously known as the Gator Bowl. The company is also active in PGA and NASCAR circles.

“We have a huge brand awareness in the southeast United States, and we have been pursuing in the last six months an opportunity to get our name out in the Midwest,” TaxSlayer chief marketing officer Chris Moloney said in a released statement. “The Quad-Cities is the perfect city for us. It’s the perfect match. It is our goal that the Quad-Cities will continue to bring first-class A-quality entertainment to one of the best mid-sized venues in the United States.”

The new deal is a reported more than $3.3 million for more than 10 years. Mullen added that a search had been ongoing for some time for a new naming rights deal and that he was pleased the deal came to fruition.

As with other naming rights deals, the transition to the new name will take place over the next few months to include logos, signage, and uniforms, and other areas.

2018 2^nd Vice Chair Application Due by December 31, 2017.

The IAVM Leadership Development Committee is seeking candidates who are well-versed in all areas of venue management, invested in their own professional growth and the growth of others, are dedicated to the advancement of the venue industry as a whole and have the demonstrated ability to lead the Association.

The application process and criteria are available here. The deadline to submit your application to Rosanne Duke, Director of Governance/Operations, is December 31, 2017.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have attained CFE designation and maintain the designation throughout the term of office;
• Must be a dues-paying (either Individual or Group Membership), Professional Member of IAVM and remain as such throughout the term of office;
• Must have previously served at least one full term on the IAVM Board of Directors;
• Must have served at least one full year as Chair of:
• an IAVM Committee,
• the Board of Regents,
• the Board of Governors, or
• the IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees;
• Must have served on any combination of at least 3 of the following:
• IAVM Committees,
• Board of Regents,
• Board of Governors, or
• Board of Trustees;
• Must have been employed in one of the 2 top positions in a venue for at least 10 years;
• Must have completed at least 1 of the following IAVM school programs:
• Venue Management School
• Graduate Institute
• Senior Executive Symposium
• Academy for Venue Safety & Security
• Must have attended VenueConnect at least 3 times, and any combination of at least 3 other programs (from the list below) in the previous 6 years:
• Additional years at VenueConnect;
• Other IAVM school programs;
• Sector Conferences
• Region Meetings
• Chapter Meetings

The nomination process is Member-initiated. The web site directs the interested members to review the criteria and utilize the online self-assessment tool to help determine their individual eligibility as a candidate for senior officer, and to ultimately submit an application form should they wish to be considered as a candidate.

The application and supporting documentation is due by December 31, 2017.

Deadline to submit nominations for the 2018 Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award is November 17, 2017.

The Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Directors to an individual currently or previously employed by a firm which is or was an Allied member in good standing. The President and CEO will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Anzivino Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been an IAVM member for at least ten (10) years total, which need not be consecutive.
2. Any member may make a nomination, which must provide a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s exemplary service and contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).
3. The nominee must have served IAVM by: 1) Attendance at no fewer than 6 Annual Conferences (VenueConnect); 2) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Region Meetings; 3) Being chair of at least 2 IAVM committees or sub-committees; 4) Being a member of IAVM Board of Directors, IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees, Board of Regents or Board of Governors during the members’ tenure with IAVM; 5) Being a member of an IAVM program, campaign or task force/committee.
4. No Chair of the Allied Committee is eligible for consideration until the second Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.
5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Awards).
6. The award may be given posthumously.
7. Selection of recipients will be made by an 80% vote of the Board of Directors; Recommendations to the Board of Directors for nominees shall be made by the Allied Committee.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Brad Mayne, CFE, President & CEO and submitted to Rosanne Duke electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business November 17, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Duke at 972.538.1025.