By nhl.com

Fanatics Betting and Gaming, the online and retail sports betting division of the Fanatics digital sports platform, announced upcoming plans to open a retail sportsbook location in partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus’ Arena District.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are constantly seeking new and exciting ways to engage with our fans,” said Blue Jackets Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scholvin. “We believe this collaboration with Fanatics Betting and Gaming on a world-class sportsbook location just outside the doors of Nationwide Arena in the heart of the Arena District does just that.”

The Fanatics Sportsbook will be located at 401 North Front Street adjacent to Nationwide Arena. The main entrance is located in the alleyway immediately north of the entrances to Buca di Beppo and Starbucks. It is scheduled to open its doors at the end of August.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Blue Jackets to bring a world-class retail experience to the arena district in downtown Columbus,” said Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer, Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “The Jackets are one of the youngest teams in the league, and we are excited to leverage our partnership to grow with them and complement our online sports betting experience that is currently being beta-tested in Ohio.”

The newly designed sportsbook is more than 5,000 square feet and features four betting windows, 14 self-service betting kiosks, one giant LED Video Wall, 16 TV monitors and a full-service restaurant with food options that every sports fan will enjoy. The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will offer viewing experiences and legal betting markets for all major sports including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, baseball, alongside tennis, soccer, golf, MMA and boxing. The development and trading of sports betting markets will be done in-house at Fanatics Betting and Gaming and supported by a number of world-class trading suppliers.

The Fanatics Sportsbook continues its online beta testing with Fanatics customers in Ohio. The Fanatics Sportsbook app is available for download on iOS and Android, but a code is needed to access the sportsbook and is currently only available to Fanatics customers at this time.

By R.V. Baugus

Adina Erwin, CVE, wrapped up her productive year as IAVM Chair by passing the gavel to Kerry Painter, CVE, to for the most part conclude activities during VenueConnect.

Erwin recounted her most recent column in Venue Professional magazine in which she equated the role of chair to a four-person relay race.

“The role (of chair) is like running a relay race to emerge stronger out of the pandemic,” Erwin said. “Each leader has a different role. Coming out of the pandemic we were blessed to have four people who had a different role in the race but with the same objective — win the race.” Those four, of course, were Eric Hart, CVE, Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, Rip Rippetoe, CVE, and Painter.

“IAVM navigated this tough time in keeping its promises to its members,” Erwin said.

Painter took the stage and accepted the gavel from Erwin before beginning her remarks. “Our focus is continued sustainability of IAVM,” she said. “Instead of new themes, like the relay race it continues on.

“My word is ‘belonging,'” she added. “In collaboration with the CEO (Brad Mayne, CVE), my intention is to make the group members feel this organization is a benefit to them. This membership is your way in. We want to make sure this membership is beneficial to all.”

Painter talked about diversity initiatives and the work that consultant Zoe Moore and University of Kentucky’s Jill Schinberg is doing for IAVM in this area.

Finally, Painter talked about how IAVM has benefited her through the years.

“I know in my heart that I owe every job I have had to IAVM,’ she said. “All I know about running first-class venues has been due to IAVM.”

By R.V. Baugus

Experience counts. And when you add the combined years of industry experience for the newest-minted IAVM winners of the Charles A. McElravy Award, Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award, and IAVM Foundation Legacy Award, there are none better than iconic veterans Beth Wade, CVE, Richard Andersen, CVE, and Tom Cornwall, CVE, who respectively were honored on Wednesday morning during VenueConnect.

Cornwall took the stage first to accept the Foundation Legacy Award. The Retired member encouraged those in the large crowd to do what he did, begin donating to the Foundation with what you can and increase from there. Wise words from one who served as co-chair of the Foundation Silent Auction in 1997-98 and has supported the Foundation since the mid-1980’s.

“I learned early on that the Foundation doesn’t just exist,” Cornwall said. “It needs our help and support. I got in the habit of giving annually so programs could continue in developing new ideas. If you’re getting started, consider reaching in your pocket and giving $10 or $15 a month.”

Cornwall retired after a 44-year career and during the 2020 pandemic worked in Edmonton in the National Hockey League “bubble” during the Stanley Cup playoffs, where he “hibernated” for 92 days.
“I consider this my Stanley Cup,” Cornwall appropriately said.

Richard Andersen – speaking of appropriate – was introduced by Russ Simons, CVE as a “hybrid” who has served on both the Professional and Allied side of the industry. Along with his better half, Kim Bedier, CVE, who also introduced Andersen, the remarks from the honoree touched on many of the consistencies in his life that have enabled Andersen to become one of the industry’s most highly regarded and successful practitioners.

“So many people have come alongside me in my career,” Andersen said. “All of us have special ones in our life.”

Andersen asked the audience for 15 seconds of silence to reflect on those who have helped them in their lives and careers. “Whomever you were thinking of, imagine how pleased they are right now,” Andersen said.

“’Things’ didn’t make me any happier,” Andersen said. “I learned a long time ago to check my ego at the door, as Russ would say.”

Before finishing his introduction to Charles A. McElravy Award winner Beth Wade, Michael Marion, CVE, was compelled to share one story from a Region 5 story involving Wade, noting that she referred to him as “my best girlfriend in a macho kind of way.” (Note: Marion introduced Wade as “my best boyfriend in a girlie kind of way.”)

“I am extremely humbled,” Wade said. “I am extremely proud to have been an IAVM member since 1981. I have learned through the years that we have the ability to make change a reality.”

Wade stressed the importance of completing surveys when IAVM sends them. She also stressed the value of earning the CVP or CVE designation. “I encourage you to get certified to communicate your value of venue professionalism.”

“When I think about the true pluses of IAVM I know I can pick up the phone and call anyone in the world,” she continued. “It is what make us unique, special, and why IAVM was formed.”

Speaking of the Association’s formation, Wade talked about her days working in Memphis and about award namesake McElravy and his work in Memphis. Wade said that McElravy was one of the early creative agents of change in the industry.

“I found an IAVM book from 1925-75 with references to McElravy when he took his job at the civic center,” she said. “He laid pipes on the floor of the civic center to do ice shows.”

“My support for IAVM will not end when I go to the Arena in the sky” Wade concluded. “I would like for scholarships to be established to help members from tertiary markets be able to go to schools and programs.”

By R,V, Baugus

Prior to receiving the 2023 Convention Center Lifetime Achievement Award, Courtney Dyer, CVE, was described as a unicorn, that rarest of public assembly venue managers who worked in one local market – Virginia Beach, VA. Not only one market, but Dyer was even born in Virginia Beach. The retired IAVM member and long-time staple of Region 5 was feted for his achievements in a distinguished 48-year that began in 1972 at the Virginia Beach Civic Center.

Putting the years in perspective, Dyer noted during his acceptance remarks that he worked when “we used 12-foot poles to put letters on 20-foot marquee signs.”

Ah, those were the days, and on this particular Tuesday morning before a room full of peers who came to recognize and honor Dyer, this was quite the day for one of the industry’s finest.

“It has been since 2019 that I have been at an IAVM event,” Dyer said. “This is like old home with so many of you that I grew up with.”

Dyer spent a large portion of his acceptance remarks thanking many of his contemporaries with anecdotes about each. From Bill Holland (who is now a 52-year IAVM member) and counting others who are in the Who’s Who book in the industry including Cliff Wallace, Lionel Dubay, Shura Garnett, Peggy Daidakis, John Smith, and others, Dyer paid homage to those who helped shape his career.

He talked about his attendance at IAVM events that began with an Operations Manager meeting at the Richmond Coliseum and included what he called the “summer camp for adults in Wheeling, West Virginia (read: Venue Management School).”

Dyer went on to work at the Virginia Beach Pavilion and then opened the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Through the years, Dyer has been active in volunteering including the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach Health Clinic, and – imagine this – playing the role as one of the world’s thinnest Santa’s.

Through it all, Dyer’s passion for Region 5 was most evident. It has been a passion and service of love that he has had throughout his career.

Dyer also looked forward in acknowledging some of the new and emerging leaders within IAVM, naming Naz Sabripour, Mac Campbell, and one of his mentees in Virginia Beach, Bryan Miller.

Finally, Dyer shared a story from one of his high school reunions. The situation was that Dyer was concerned his class would not have enough attendance numbers to meet the contract with the hotel. But as the event drew closer, Dyer was relieved to find that the hotel wanted to work with his reunion at the numbers of those who came. No attrition here.

“The message is that we all need to give a little forgiveness,” Dyer said. “We need to make people want to do business with us.”

It is a lesson that Dyer learned well in Virginia Beach. It is a lesson he carries forth in his personal life when it comes to acceptance and forgiveness. It is why Courtney Dyer became the latest and most perfect honoree for the Convention Center Lifetime Achievement Award.

By R.V. Baugus

It was an IAVM Foundation kind of night at the Leadership Dinner that was one of the first events to kick off VenueConnect in Pittsburgh. In a night that recognized 15 Past Presidents/Chairs among other announcements of incoming and outgoing IAVM Board leaders, Chair Adina Erwin, CVE, made it a night to especially remember those who have contributed roles on the IAVM Foundation through the years by selecting several deserving individuals to receive the Chair Citation, an honor especially bestowed by the current Chair to individuals who have made contributions to the association or industry. Erwin, of course, has served at the helm of the Foundation, so its role within IAVM is close to her heart.

As Erwin called the names of the nine Chair Citation recipients, she shared snippets of those individual’s roles through the years on the Foundation, including some who have served for 14 years. The Chair Citation is usually given at a smaller number, but Erwin was quick to point out that she would not be following the rules this year for such a deserving group. Perfect decision, Ms. Chair!
Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2023 Chair Citation:

 Bill “Sparky” Bavirsha, CVE
 Alexis Berggren
 Jim Brown, CVE
 Danny Bryant, CVP
 Gina Brydson
 Kayln Denniston
 Shelly Kleppsattel
 Angie Teel, CMP
 Jim Wynkoop, CVE

IAVM wishes to thank the beautiful PPG Paints Arena for their hospitality in hosting this year’s Leadership Dinner.