AEG Ogden, part of the world leading Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), has overnight added to its growing network of entertainment arenas and theatres.

AEG Ogden, part of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), announced it will manage the new, state of the art 20,000 seat Dubai Arena when it opens in 2018 for Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company with operations and assets in the United Arab Emirates, and would provide experienced operator input into the design of the venue.

Company Chairman and CEO Harvey Lister said AEG Ogden was excited to be working with Meraas to deliver an innovative world class, NBA standard arena that will put Dubai on the international entertainment touring circuit and make a major contribution to the Emirate’s continued development as a major tourism destination.

“Meraas has established itself as a key innovator in the UAE and is to be commended for strengthening Dubai’s global position through redefining industries in the property, hospitality, retail, healthcare, leisure and entertainment sectors,” Lister said. “Dubai is strategically positioned to capitalize on acts coming out of or flying to Europe via AEG’s established network of venues in Australia and Asia. 

“Dubai Arena joins AEG Ogden’s growing network in the Asia Pacific region which includes arenas in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Newcastle and three in China, convention centres with entertainment theatre inclusions in Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur and Oman, plus the 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and will be a valued addition to AEG Facilities’ family of 130 plus iconic venues worldwide.

“It will also strengthen AEG’s position in the Middle East where stage one of the US$1.5 billion Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre opened last month and work is proceeding on stage two which includes a 3,200-seat theatre.”

Dubai Arena will be the only all-purpose indoor air-conditioned arena of its size in the region and will boast an advanced infrastructure allowing it to accommodate mega-events.

The venue is designed to have automated malleable seats which enables the arena to transform according to the scale of the event being held, no matter how small or big it is. It will also be able to host large scale weddings requiring extremely grand decorations and unconventional set-up which cannot be accommodated elsewhere. The project will attract distinctive and unique events that will appeal all audiences and will allow Dubai to be included alongside other key international cities such as London, Sydney and New York in hosting major touring events.

The project management contract for the destination was awarded to DXB Entertainment PJSC, who are responsible to oversee the design and construction of Dubai Arena.

Last week (November 22), a U.S. District Judge in Texas issued a nationwide temporary injunction against the Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime regulation, which was scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2016. The nationwide temporary injunction puts a hold on the overtime rule until a final decision can be made in the case, meaning that, for now, the overtime rule will not take effect as planned December 1, but it could still be implemented down the road.

IAVM Members and their entity should consult with their legal counsel to prepare accordingly for what could come next.

IAVM has been an active voice in sharing information with our members, the impacts of the new overtime regulation, and will continue to update members as more information becomes available. The following is an article from SHRM written by Lisa Nagele-Piazza, SHRM-SCP, J.D.

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Congratulations to the following individual who was recently awarded the Certified Venue Professional (CVP) designation.

Thanks to the generous funding and support from the IAVM Foundation, the CVP program was launched in August 2015 at VenueConnect in Baltimore. It recognizes the competence of middle-to-senior-level managers of public assembly venues as well as assisting the managers in creating a professional roadmap in the venue industry.

The CVP designation says three important things about an individual: he or she is a capable professional, is committed to the industry, and is pledged to continued professional growth and development. Venue professionals who earn the CVP designation are recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as skilled in their profession.

Harold Peterson, CVP

If I wasn’t doing this I’d be a: public relations consultant.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met is: Boni Johnson. She is a former board member who has become a dear friend. She is vivacious, artistic, quirky, fun, and a person who loves her community and friends with her full heart. She embodies the true definition of be who you are by walking to her own beat.

I unwind by: listening to music and spending time with my husband on our boat.

On my desk right now is: paperwork, my beta fish, Sunset, a few pelicans (I collect them), and a “take what you need” box that contains happiness, inspiration, patience, and other medallions for when someone is having a bad day.

My favorite IAVM program I ever attended was: while I have enjoyed all of them, the Senior Executive Symposium. It was a tremendous opportunity to supplement my leadership skills and style through classes taught by leading professors in the hospitality industry and build lifelong relationships all while soaking in the beautiful campus at Cornell.

If I were on the other side of the seats, I’d be a: show promoter. I co-founded a mentor program for women, so I would enjoy the opportunity to produce events designed to empower and bring women of all ages together.

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: the ability to remain calm under any given situation while thinking on your feet for creative solutions.

One of my goals for this year is to: successfully manage our facility’s election efforts to renew our operational millage in December and ensure funding for the next 10 years. I also intend to complete the CFE process.

How do you plan to help elevate the profession? I will continue to perform my job in the most professional, ethical, and efficient manner possible, while providing development opportunities for our team members to grow in the industry. I will also continue to volunteer and assist the efforts of IAVM in whatever capacity I can to move our profession forward.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? Technology is certainly a focus for continuing to improve efficiency. However, I think that there is a growing opportunity for a refocus on personal and one-on-one experiences. The personal touches are what people—our clients, sponsors, and the community—will remember long after they walk out of our doors. People will never forget how you made them feel.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? Involvement in IAVM, reading research and industry publications, and interacting with fellow industry professionals.

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? I would invite my three daughters. Because as they continue to grow older and have families of their own and as I continue to maintain the busy schedule that is the norm in venue management, I’d love to have just a quiet evening reconnecting with them.

Kathy Lowrey is the General Manager at Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell, Louisiana.

Industry veteran Jason Rittenberry, the former chief strategy officer for Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, has been named the president and chief executive officer for the Kentucky State Fair Board, which manages the Kentucky Exposition Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.

“Jason is a go-getter and brings new energy and insight to the work of the Kentucky State Fair Board and its two properties,” said Dr. Mark Lynn, chairman of the board. “Jason is a proven venue, entertainment and sports professional and the board was drawn to him as a forward-thinking executive. The board recognizes the benefit in his experience with entrepreneurial revenue generation and strategic business development.”

Rittenberry will oversee the operations of the two venues as well as the shows operated by the Fair Board — the Kentucky State Fair, the North American International Livestock Expo and the National Farm Machinery Show. In his new position, Rittenberry serves in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet for the Commonwealth, on the Louisville Convention & Visitors Commission, and on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Derby Festival.

“The board is confident that Jason can bring additional bookings and business, and increased revenue while improving the guest experience at the venues,” said Amanda Storment, vice president of communications of the board.

The Fair Board is charged with contributing to the economic progress of the Commonwealth and advancing Kentucky’s agriculture and tourism industries through conventions, trade shows, public gatherings, and other events at the Kentucky Exposition Center and the downtown convention center.