John Rhamstine, CVE, most recently served as Director of Cultural Facilities, Arts and Entertainment, at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia before his retirement earlier this year.

The venue held a retirement for the industry veteran and IAVM friend in which several of his friends from the Association were in attendance. Pictured from left: George Cook, Allied, Steve Moore, Hampton Coliseum Retired, Bill Holland, CVE, Virginia Beach Pavilion Retired, John Rhamstine, CVE Norfolk Seven Venus, Joe Tsao, CVE, Hampton Coliseum Retired, Courtney Dyer, CVE, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Retired.

“The power of IAVM has kept these guys from Southeastern Virginia together for years who tell stories at dinner together monthly,” Dyer said.

ASM Global has selected Emilia Mikkola as the new General Manager of the venue Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki, Finland, as part of their expansion into the Finnish market.

Mikkola brings extensive experience in the event industry, having held senior executive positions and contributed to over 30 events and festivals across Europe. Notably, she served as the event director for Assembly, Finland’s largest gaming event, and worked as the production manager for Flow Festival for over a decade.

Marie Lindqvist, SVP of Operations Europe at ASM Global, expressed enthusiasm for Mikkola’s addition, saying: “As ASM Global expands into Finland, we’re delighted to have Emilia on board to plant the flag in this exciting new market. Kulttuuritalo is a culturally rich and much-loved venue in Helskinki, and at this important time in its redevelopment, it is key that we have a best-in-class team on board to relaunch the venue with great success and phenomenal impact. Emilia comes with real, on the ground experience working across a huge array of live events of all sizes and scales, making her a perfect fit for a venue like this, which is prided for its varied and diverse program of events. Welcome to the team, Emilia.”

Mikkola commented, “Leading and developing the operations Kulttuuritalo is my dream job! I am extremely grateful and motivated for the opportunity I have been given. Kulttuuritalo is iconic, prestigious, and full of endless possibilities, and our goal is to provide diverse and high-quality program and experiences throughout the year. In recent years, several concert halls in Helsinki area have closed their doors, resulting in a shortage of event venues. We want to strengthen the position of the Kulttuuritalo as the most exciting event arena in the capital region and invest in its functionality.”

(Picture by Marek Sabogal)

From Celebrity Access

The Event & Arena Marketing Conference announced that it has rebranded as the Event & Venue Marketing Conference (EVMC) in a bid to become more inclusive for venues of all sizes amid the evolution of the live events industry.

“For over forty years EAMC has brought together professionals from across the world to network and share ideas for the live sports and entertainment industry,” said Kim Allen, EVMC President. “As the conference continues to grow, we felt it was time to refresh the brand to reflect the diverse mix of our attendees that represent venues of all sizes with the mission to cultivate education, collaboration, and innovation.”

The conference debuted in 1980 in Minneapolis as the Arena Sales and Marketing Conference and transitioned to a non-profit as the Event & Arena Marketing Conference in 2001.

Since then, the conference has toured North America with different venues hosting each year, attracting nearly 500 attendees and presenting a weeklong annual conference for over forty years. The conference has added a DEI Committee, LEAD mentorship program, Awards Luncheon, and bi-weekly “Adventures In Venueland” podcast.

Unlike other conferences, EVMC is entirely organized by volunteers in the industry, with the common goal to network, educate, and innovate the live entertainment industry.

The 2024 edition of the Event & Venue Marketing Conference will take place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on June 5-7, 2024.

By Maddison Devoy

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) Food and Beverage team were recognized at the prestigious National MEA Awards for the bespoke retail and catering menus designed for THE LUME Melbourne.

THE LUME Melbourne, created by Grande Experiences and permanently located at MCEC, is an immersive digital art gallery, incorporating design, sights, sounds, aromas, and tastes.

MCEC’s award-winning team showcased their expertise and creativity in designing premium lunch and dinner menus for the dedicated café, as well as customized menus for events that align with and elevate the exhibit, delivering an authentic experience for visitors.

In line with MCEC’s strong sustainability focus, the café and event menus were designed to be 100% sustainable. Menus feature high-quality Victorian seasonal produce, locally sourced beers, seltzers, spirits, and wines. Food waste is donated for redistribution through food rescue organization, OzHarvest, or processed onsite in MCEC’s organic dehydrator.

For corporate event organizers, MCEC offers opportunities to host events on the mezzanine level as well as exclusive events throughout the gallery. MCEC’s culinary experts design customized event menus to align with the theme of the exhibition or to meet the customer’s specifications. MCEC was honored to host the 2022 AFL Season Launch and collaborate with Indigenous Chef and founder of Mabu Mabu, Nornie Bero to deliver a unique menu for the event.

MCEC’s Head of Food and Beverage, Paul Kanaan, was proud to accept the National MEA Banqueting and Catering Award. “Developing an immersive food and beverage menu is no easy task. Thank you to MEA and the awards committee for continuing to recognize the critical role that F&B play in elevating the event experience.”

“The MCEC team pours their heart and soul into creating unforgettable experiences for guests. This award is a testament to their tireless efforts to push boundaries, raise the bar, and deliver memorable experiences for everyone who visits our centre” he added.

The next instalment of THE LUME Connection opening later this month is the largest representation of First Nations people and culture ever assembled. The menu will showcase Australian native and locally grown ingredients. Each dish carries a cultural legacy and extends the experience of the exhibition, playing a vital role in educating and connecting visitors to the oldest living culture in the world.

Maddison Devoy is Corporate Communications Specialist – Media at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

From StadiumBusiness.com

New renderings have been revealed of 76 Place, a proposed new $1.3 billion arena for the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team.

The 76 Devcorp company, which was set up last July to oversee the project, recently provided an update on the plans.

Architectural renderings of the arena have been produced by Gensler and CBL Real Estate. The Sixers plan on building the arena on part of the current Fashion District Philadelphia and it is hoped the facility will serve as an anchor for the city center.

The project is still in the early stages, with the timeline foreseeing that construction will not begin until 2028, after the necessary approvals, design process and demolition work is carried out. The arena would then open in time for the 2031-32 NBA season.

The latest information shared by 76 Devcorp is partly in response to feedback the company has had from fans over the past year. The design approach outlined by 76 Devcorp includes an atrium experience that provides a “front door” to Market Street.

Outward-facing retail would also seek to elevate the everyday experience on event and non-event days, while multiple entry points would be created to alleviate congestion and provide optionality.

The Sixers currently share Wells Fargo Center with NHL ice hockey franchise the Philadelphia Flyers. The arena is owned by Comcast Spectacor and the Sixers’ lease at the facility is due to expire in 2031, with the team feeling constrained by its current status as a tenant.

The new arena will be privately funded and is expected to cost around $1.3 billion. The Sixers said the arena will provide $1.9 billion in overall economic output during construction and $400 million annually upon opening to support Philadelphia’s long-term economic growth and sustainability.

The arena would seat 18,500, slightly less than Wells Fargo Center, which holds 20,478.