By Ashley Gravois

Jerry MacDonald, who has served as President and CEO of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion since 2003 and has transformed the venue into an internationally recognized cultural and entertainment destination, has announced that he will be stepping down in March 2024. Until then, he will remain in his current position to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership. The Pavilion’s Board of Directors will be launching a national search for his replacement in the coming months.

“The Pavilion is in a very strong position now — financially stable, with all the pieces in place for the future. I am so proud of all that we’ve accomplished collectively, building The Pavilion as a vital and beloved institution in The Woodlands and beyond as we fulfill our mission to engage and inspire the community through live entertainment,” said MacDonald. “It has been an honor to lead this organization for as long as I have and I look forward to seeing the venue continue to grow for many, many years to come.”

MacDonald presided over decades of growth and change at The Pavilion, including its full rebuild and expansion after Hurricane Ike devastated the venue in September 2008. Under MacDonald’s guidance, the venue undertook the most ambitious construction project in history. In an unbelievable 160 days, The Pavilion reopened its gates with Dave Matthews Band on the Main Stage and a new roof that had been expanded almost 2.5 times, increasing the number of covered seats to over 6,000. Years later, MacDonald shepherded the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic where he was able to maintain all full-time staff and emerge in solid financial shape. As a result, The Pavilion was able to continue its mission work, remain largely open and – perhaps most importantly – present a diverse and star-studded season.

The Pavilion has consistently earned a spot among the top ten amphitheaters in the world from leading industry publication, Pollstar, based on audience attendance. Most recently, The Pavilion ranked second in the top 100 amphitheaters in the world based on the number of tickets sold in 2022. Ranking in the top ten amphitheaters 18 times and in the top five amphitheaters 12 times, MacDonald has been at the helm of welcoming more than eight million guests to the venue and introducing them to the power of live entertainment.

In addition to driving economic development through many seasons of exemplary live entertainment, MacDonald’s leadership has made a significant impact on the infrastructure of the venue including the
building of The Pavilion’s Event Center with an indoor Ice Rink (making it the first venue of its kind to offer an ice rink on property), the rebuilding of the Woodforest Bank Club and a new Operations building featuring an extended loading dock. These new facilities, along with a wide variety of other capital improvement projects throughout the last two decades, not only have enhanced guest and artist experiences onsite but have provided an exceptional backdrop for future concerts and events.

“Jerry’s 20-year tenure at The Pavilion has seen remarkable achievement. His leadership and commitment have been hugely instrumental in making The Pavilion the incredible success it is today. From being $10 million in debt when he assumed his role, to funding an endowment that now tops $50 million, Jerry has been an outstanding steward of the organization,” said Roger Nicholson, Chairman of The Pavilion’s Board of Directors.

In addition to his storied career, MacDonald has forged strong relationships with the community, sponsors and key partners, most notably in his roles as a founding member of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, an ex officio Director of The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce and an honored member of George’s Coffee Club. which was founded in honor of George Mitchell.

When MacDonald arrived in March 2003, he brought with him over twenty years of senior management experience in operating a variety of entertainment venues. As vice president and general manager of Houston’s Summit/Compaq Center, he oversaw the 17,000-seat arena and managed the facility during its most profitable years. Prior to Compaq Center, Jerry was an instrumental part in the opening of three venues from the ground up – Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida; Miami Arena in Miami, Florida; and, The Pyramid and Mud Island in Memphis, Tennessee. Jerry served as vice president and general manager of The Pyramid and Mud Island, (1990-95), Miami Arena (1987-90), Ocean Center (1983-87) and Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Fla. (1976-83). Jerry also proudly served as general manager for two NBA arenas for the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets. Jerry is a graduate of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. He and his wife, Tricia, have two daughters, both graduates of The Woodlands High School and four grandchildren.

MacDonald’s 48-year career in the entertainment industry as well as his ongoing commitment to The Woodlands community will be honored in the coming months.

Ashley Gravois is Public Relations & Education Outreach Manager for The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

By Blair Cardinal

McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, has awarded Oak View Group two major contracts for private management.

In a unanimous vote, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) Board awarded the contracts for private management and food services on the McCormick Place campus to OVG360 and OVG Hospitality, respectively.

The contracts, scheduled to begin on October 1, 2023, and run through September 2028, were unanimously awarded following an extensive public procurement process. The change will affect the McCormick Place Convention Center, the 10,00-seat Wintrust Arena, and Arie Crown Theater.

“I am thrilled to welcome OVG360 and OVG Hospitality to our campus, “said Larita Clark, CEO of MPEA. “We are always seeking ways to evolve and innovate to provide the best destination in the country for our event planners and their attendees. This new partnership gives us the opportunity to continue to enhance the McCormick Place experience, from the planning phase to the event execution phase, through the completion of each event.”

OVG360 and OVG Hospitality are divisions of global sports and live entertainment company Oak View Group, and currently manage a combination of services in more than 400 venues worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, and more.

“We’re incredibly proud that McCormick Place has entrusted OVG360 and OVG Hospitality as the new keepers of this world-renowned complex. While McCormick Place has set the industry standard for decades, we are honored to help shape its future,” Chris Granger, president of OVG360, said. “We see an incredible opportunity to elevate the guest experience, support the surrounding community, drive sustainability, and grow and inspire a diverse workforce. We look forward to bringing our depth of experience from around the globe to Chicago and to building upon McCormick Place’s incredible track record.”

OVG Hospitality is among the fastest-growing food and beverage providers worldwide, embracing technology, sustainability, local investment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion to create tailored experiences at every location.

“From onsite hydroponic gardens to high-tech market experiences to diverse local suppliers, OVG Hospitality has all the resources to elevate McCormick Place’s dining experience to the next level,” Ken Gaber, president of OVG Hospitality, said. “We are excited to begin serving guests from around the world at McCormick Place.”

Across Illinois, OVG currently oversees a combination of venue management and food services at Navy Pier in Chicago, SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, and State Farm Arena and Memorial Stadium at University of Illinois in Champaign. OVG also manages more than 60 convention centers across North America, including Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Miami Beach Convention Center, Atlantic City Convention Center, Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, and I-X Center in Cleveland.

“We’re thrilled to welcome McCormick Place as our newest convention center partner,” Greg O’Dell, president of OVG360 Venue Management, said. “With our best-in-class service offerings and relentless pursuit of operational excellence, we look forward to helping McCormick Place maintain its stature as one of the preeminent meeting and conventions venues in the world.”

Planning will begin immediately to ensure a seamless transition for McCormick Place clients, guests, and employees. MPEA is in communication with upcoming events to keep them aware of the latest developments, and OVG360 and OVG Hospitality have committed to honoring existing collective bargaining agreements on campus to maximize employee retention. Additionally, ASM Global and SAVOR…Chicago, the campus’ current private management and food service providers, will work closely with MPEA, OVG360, and OVG Hospitality throughout the transition.

As a municipal corporation governed by Illinois state statutes, MPEA is authorized to employ private venue and private food service management companies for McCormick Place and conduct new competitive procurement processes for these contracts periodically.

“MPEA is grateful to ASM Global and SAVOR…Chicago for setting the standards as McCormick Place’s private management and food service provider for more than a decade, and we thank them for their assistance during this transition,” Clark said.

Blair Cardinal is VP, Communications for OVG360.

By Gloria Fong

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) launched Green @ HKCEC, its first-ever food waste collection campaign, at the Hong Kong Book Fair (held from 19 to 25 July). The campaign received huge support from exhibitors and visitors with almost 2,300kg of food waste collected. The food waste will be sent to O・Park1, the HKSAR Government’s food waste processing facility, for upcycling into energy. Determined to its green promise, HML indicated its plan to expand the ‘’Green @ HKCEC” to other areas and would also seek to promote the importance of waste reduction at source through different activities.

During the seven-day Book Fair, HML put in place waste sorting and recycling bins at the Food@Grand Hall and Food@Hall 5E (F&B area for exhibitors). The HKCEC Buddy “ExhiBit” took on the role of Green @ HKCEC ambassador to play quizzes about food waste recycling with children and give out delicious popcorn to winners.

HML Managing Director Monica Lee-Müller said, “HML would like to thank the organizer, exhibitors, visitors, and contractors for their support of Green @ HKCEC. The campaign has not only enhanced public awareness of food waste sorting but also increased the HML team’s resonance with the green pledge and drive to put it into action. HML is one of the first organizations in Hong Kong to utilize O・Park1 since its opening in 2018. In a move to offer tangible support to waste reduction, food waste collected from restaurants, kitchens, and banquets at the HKCEC is collected and sent to O・Park1 for transformation to energy.”

In addition to promoting food waste sorting and recycling, HML expanded its recycling efforts to cover plastic wrap last year. Plastic wrap is used for transport and delivery of exhibits. HML has made large recycling cages accessible during exhibition move-in and move-out to encourage organiszrs, exhibitors, and contractors to recycle the used plastic wrap. Since the launch of the program in July 2022 to the end of June 2023, HML has collected almost 4,900kg of plastic wrap thanks to the support of all exhibition organizers and their partners.

Gloria Fong is Head – Corporate & Marketing Communications at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Photo: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML) launched Green @ HKCEC, its first-ever food waste collection campaign, at the Hong Kong Book Fair (held from 19 and 25 July). 2,300kg of food waste was collected.

First National Bank Arena, a premier arena and entertainment venue in Northeast Arkansas, announced the addition of two directors to its executive team. With the addition of Mac Beaverstock as the Marketing Director and Brandon Murphy as the Director of Operations, the First National Bank Arena solidifies its commitment to delivering exceptional experiences and maintaining its position as a leader in the entertainment industry.

Beaverstock, a recent University of Arkansas graduate with a passion for marketing and a creative mindset, brings fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to First National Bank Arena. With a degree in Management and a minor in Marketing, Beaverstock is eager to make a significant impact in the entertainment industry. With his strong understanding of emerging marketing trends, Beaverstock will lead the venue’s marketing efforts to new heights, positioning First National Bank Arena as the go-to destination for unforgettable live experiences.

As the new Director of Operations, Brandon Murphy will oversee the seamless execution of all aspects related to the facility’s operations. Murphy brings to the table years of experience in the vast array of different events hosted by FNBA. He continuously strives to create a winning atmosphere as well as a sense of family among his coworkers and clients. For the past five years Murphy has dedicated his life to Breaking Bonds Ministries, a local nonprofit, originating in Northeast Arkansas. Murphy served as Director of Operations for the Jonesboro Chapter from 2019 to 2021 and also as the Executive Director of the Jackson, Missouri Chapter from 2021 to March of 2023.

By stadiumbusiness.com

The Gensler Architectural & Design Firm is set to win the contract to design an expansion of BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, ahead of the stadium hosting FIFA World Cup games in 2026.

According to minutes released by the City of Toronto, a non-competitive contract is set to be finalized with Gensler to design the expansion – which will comprise an additional 17,756 seats – in order to expedite the process. The project will increase the capacity of BMO Field to 45,736 and cost $4.2 million.

“A non-competitive contract is necessary to immediately proceed with the capital project at BMO Field in order to meet the specific FWC26 Toronto event timelines as set by FIFA,” the City of Toronto’s executive committee stated.

A statement added: “To ensure efficiencies, staff are seeking authorization to award and enter into a non-competitive contract with Gensler for the FWC26 Toronto capital project at BMO Field.”

According to the city’s background report, Gensler will be working under the direction of CAA ICON, previously approved by the City Council as the project manager for the BMO Field expansion.

CAA ICON and Gensler have worked together before on renovations that took place at BMO Field in 2015.

“Their combined experience and expertise as the primary project team for previous BMO Field renovations will bring benefits to the project in cost savings and time,” the report added.

The background report also highlighted the timeline for the stadium project, with design development earmarked for between July and September this year. Construction documentation and permits are due to be secured between October this year and February 2024.

Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico.