There is still one more year to go, but the work is underway at Philips Arena in Atlanta that will include a courtside bar as part of a $192.5 million renovation. The bar is the first-of-its-kind-idea courtside and will be located within just a few feet of the action.

“We are beyond excited to see construction begin on the new Philips Arena,” Hawks’ CEO Steve Koonin said in a release. “Every element of the arena under the roof will be brand new and designed with Atlanta and its vibrant communities in mind. Every trip to the new arena will be a great night out and an unbelievable experience.”

The bar gives fans an opportunity to enjoy a drink while getting a full view of the action on the court. It is a contrast to most bars at arenas that are located outside of viewpoints of the game in progress.

That’s not all.

A restaurant is in the works inspired by musician Zac Brown as well as a golf simulator suite designed by Topgolf.

Need, absolutely need to get a haircut even while you are at the game? No problem. Just drop by the SWAG barbershop as imagined by rapper Killer Mike. That location, too, allows you to get that trim while not missing seeing one minute of game action.

“The ability to partner with Zac Brown and Killer Mike, who are both passionate about their love for the city of Atlanta and wanted to create these amazing destinations inside Philips Arena for the fans, is truly special,” Koonin added. “Zac has the innate understanding of how great music and a good meal can enhance any outing. Mike has made a lifestyle business with strong values and important impact locally. How Topgolf has merged the premium experience of play, music, sports and dining into a social phenomenon is remarkable and aligns well with the vision for our arena. We are fortunate to have such talented and innovative partners to help us create a dynamic fan experience that is authentic and appealing to fans of all ages and tastes.”

Some of the renovations are less exotic but will be well received as well. The six-level wall of suites that was part of the original design of the venue will be removed and replaced by suites that will allow fans to walk 360 degrees around the upper level of the arena, as stadium seating will be installed above the suite area.

The arena renovation will also feature a widespread technology upgrade that will feature high-definition screens both in the bowl and concourse, with the Hawks announcing that this will be the second-largest renovation in NBA history.

The venue and team is also investing away from the court with a 250-seat master conference room and four breakout rooms that come with the use of touch screen technology and top-level amenities for business operation. The Hawks expect this addition to generate revenue aside from in-game profit.

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AEG Presents, LLC, a global leader in concert promotion and venue management, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Chris Zitterbart to acquire the operating rights to the historic Agora Theatre and Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. The acquisition adds the Agora to its portfolio of over 60 theaters and clubs and underscores AEG Presents’ strategy to expand its portfolio of iconic venues and footprint in key music markets across the country.

AEG, who produces, promotes or books nearly 10,000 events worldwide, plans to invest capital in the historic theatre which first opened in 1966. In addition to restoring some of the most iconic and identifiable features of the Agora, AEG Presents will also oversee upgrades to the theatre’s acoustical design, lighting and sound systems, hospitality spaces, dressing rooms and guest amenities.

“Given its history and the litany of legendary acts that have played the room, the Agora has been the heart and soul of Cleveland’s live music scene for the past 50 years. It’s a truly unique concert venue and we look forward to bringing a wide array of artists to the live music loving city of Cleveland,” said Shawn Trell, Chief Operating Officer of AEG Presents.

Located in downtown Cleveland and with a capacity of 2,000 (theatre) and 600 (ballroom), the Agora Theatre was founded by legendary club operator Henry “Hank” LoConti Sr., who was a driving force in the early rise of rock ‘n’ roll. In the 1970s and 1980s, LoConti gave exposure to hundreds of artists including such icons as Bruce Springsteen, U2, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, The Clash, Duran Duran and ZZ Top among other, and established the Agora’s global reputation as one of the premier music venues in the world.

“The opportunity to work with AEG Presents and to have them enter the Cleveland music scene is significant. They represent the best of having not only the resources necessary to grow the business, but because they also remain independently and privately owned they can afford to be patient and do things the right way. That combination bodes well for the future of the Agora Theatre and the types of shows they will bring to this market,” said Zitterbart, operator of the Agora Theatre for the past four years.

By Pollstar/Oak View Group

Oak View Group has acquired Pollstar, the long-running publication covering the concert and ticketing industries, cofounders Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff announced at the company’s inaugural VenuesNow conference in Los Angeles on July 12. Through the acquisition, Oak View has taken ownership and operational control of Pollstar’s weekly print publication, Pollstar.com, Pollstar Pro and the Pollstar Live conference.

Founded in November 2015, Oak View Group is global advisory, development and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, the company is helmed by Leiweke, formerly CEO of AEG, and backed by Azoff MSG Entertainment. Its acquisition of Pollstar has been rumored for several months; Oak View already owns Pollstar’s main competitor in the live-entertainment field, Venues Today.

“Pollstar has represented the voice of record for the live music and ticketing industries for over three decades and bringing them into the OVG family is a true honor for all of us,” said Leiweke. “Working hand-in-hand with Pollstar’s leadership team, we’ll look to greatly optimize the reach of the its print, digital and conference assets.”

“Pollstar has served our industry as a trusted and invaluable resource during an era where music and ticketing have evolved dramatically,” added Azoff.

Gary Bongiovanni, Pollstar’s president and editor in chief, and CEO Gary Smith will continue their positions within the company and play key roles in its day-to-day operations.

“We’re so proud of our team and everything we’ve accomplished over the years, and are looking forward to our next chapter with OVG,” said Bongiovanni. Added Smith, “joining OVG gives us an opportunity to take Pollstar to an entirely new level and realize the brand’s full potential as the benchmark for our industry.”

“Pollstar concert data is the gold standard for the live entertainment industry and the Pollstar Live! conference is the epicenter of the concert business each winter,” said Ray Waddell, president, Conferences & Publications, Oak View Group.

Founded in 1981, Pollstar joins a number of recent investments by Oak View Group in media companies, including VenuesToday, VenuesNow and SportTechie. According to a release, the company “will leverage its sponsorship division and Arena Alliance to generate advertising sales efficiencies across each publication and conference.”

By Alison Crumpton

Russ Simons, Chief Listening Officer/Managing Partner at Venue Solutions Group, was presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award during the 2017 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on July 11-13 in Orlando, Fla. The event is presented annually by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes a professional in the field whose career includes multiple achievements and contributions with respect to sport safety and security. To warrant this prestigious honor, the recipient’s service, commitment, ingenuity and integrity must have elevated the profession to new levels.

“To be included in the same conversation as the past winners of the NCS4 Distinguished Leadership Award is very humbling to me,” said Simons. “I also feel that I now have additional responsibility to continue my personal and professional commitment to elevating security performance in our industry.

“We live in a time where we cannot afford to become complacent in any way. I enthusiastically join the past winners of this award in a combined effort to keep our facility staff, participants, performers and guests safe.”

For more than 36 years, Simons has been involved in nearly every facet of the sports and entertainment facility industry including design, construction and management. At Venue Solutions Group (VSG), Simons directs the firm’s safety,
security, risk and crowd management operations. He works with operators at every level from colleges and universities to every major professional sports league. Additionally, Simons works on industry safety and security issues, having recently lead webinars on Ebola and protests, civil disobedience and demonstrations.

“Russ is a tireless worker who exemplifies professionalism and passion. His commitment to the profession is evident in career accomplishments that we have all benefited from,” said NCS4 Director Lou Marciani. “He has forged a major change in how we manage venue operations, engineering, safety/security, guest services, and administration.”

Simons is the current chair of the Department of Homeland Security Public Assembly Facility Sub-Sector Council. He serves on the IAVM Safety and Security Committee, and leads a Cyber Security Working group for the organization.

Simons is a 2004 recipient of the GIGI Award of Excellence in event marketing and PR and member of the Arena & Event Marketing Hall of Fame. He is an architect of the Walmart “Black Friday” crowd management plan, including the development and training of more than 1.6 million Walmart associates in more than 4,000 Walmart stores in the United States. His plan is now standard operating practice for all Walmart “Retailtainment” events.

Prior to creating Venue Solutions Group, Simons was a senior principal with the global design firm Populous. There he managed the firms’ facility operations, evaluation and analysis group which assisted public assembly venues in the renovation and development of new facilities. He works closely with a wide variety of facility designers, architects and operators as they create functional and secure sports and entertainment facilities.

Simons is the former SVP and COO of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, home to the NHL Nashville Predators. He has provided services to more than 86 colleges and universities.

Alison Crumpton is Director of Communications and Logistics for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4).