By Dale B. Stark

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced that veteran performing arts center executive Todd Duesing will be the organization’s next President and CEO, an appointment made by the Trust’s Board of Directors following a national search for the key role in leading Minneapolis’ civic and cultural sectors. Duesing is currently the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA), the nonprofit organization that oversees the programming and management of the Aronoff Center for the Arts in downtown Cincinnati as well as the Cincinnati Music Hall. Duesing replaces Mark Nerenhausen, who announced his retirement earlier this year following a more than 50 year-long career in performing arts center leadership.

“Todd Duesing is a proven, visionary, and thoughtful leader who brings tremendous experience in driving economic development and prosperity through the power of the performing arts—including touring Broadway—in a decades-long career of arts leadership in Cincinnati,” said Andrea Mokros, chair of Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Board of Directors. “The successful national search provides further evidence of Hennepin Theatre Trust’s growing national presence, and Todd’s leadership in Minneapolis will build on the foundation and values set by Mark Nerenhausen, whose guidance and vision cemented Hennepin Theatre Trust as one of the nation’s leading performing arts centers.”

“Minneapolis is known across the nation as a city that invests in and harnesses the power of the arts to drive the economy and advance the vitality of communities across Minnesota,” said Duesing. “Thanks to the leadership of Mark Nerenhausen and the Board of Directors, Hennepin Theatre Trust is uniquely positioned as a driving force of energy in downtown Minneapolis while ensuring equitable access to the arts for people across the state. I am eager to begin working with the team at Hennepin Theatre Trust to continue to define and expand what it means to have a thriving performing arts center in the heart of the city. Together, we’re going to make the Hennepin Theatre District a bright star in the Bold North.”

“Todd Duesing is a leader that has proven experience in developing events and programs that bring in visitors from across the world to enjoy the arts in his community,” said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “Following a nation-wide search, Todd is the right leader for Hennepin Theatre Trust as the organization continues to advance as a destination performing arts center.”

Duesing began his career in arts and entertainment management in 2000, serving as Director of Operations for Music & Events Management, Inc., the largest promoter of live entertainment in Southwest Ohio and a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Duesing oversaw the operations of the Riverbend Music Center amphitheater and the historic Taft Theatre in Cincinnati, as well as the Tall Stacks Music, Arts & Heritage Festival in both 2003 and 2006—a major festival drawing more than one million attendees over five days—Pepsi Jammin’ on Main and the Cincy-Cinco Latino Festival.

Duesing has served in leadership roles at CAA since 2007, serving as the Director of Operations and later as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for strategic planning and business operations. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 600,000 people in its venues; features the work of local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery; supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies; promotes life-long learning through its education programs, which are diverse, multidisciplinary, accessible to all ages and cultural groups and have reached more than 1.8 million students; and presents Broadway in Cincinnati, partnering, as does Hennepin Theatre Trust, with Broadway Across America to bring the best of Broadway directly to the community.

Notably, Duesing personally led the years-long effort to secure Cincinnati as the host for the World Choral Games in 2012, working directly with the World Choral Games Congress, a nonprofit based in Frankfurt, Germany. Following a competitive bidding process with 20 other cities across the globe, the Cincinnati region hosted more than 250,000 at the 2012 event, Cincinnati’s largest convention to date, generating an estimated economic impact of $72.5 million.

“Hennepin Theatre Trust has made an excellent choice for its next President and CEO,” said Stephen A. Loftin, President of the Cincinnati Arts Association. “It has been my honor to work alongside Todd for more than 15 years, and while Cincinnati will dearly miss him, I look forward to seeing all that Todd will accomplish in Minneapolis, a city that I have long admired for its deep and long-established commitment to the arts.”

Mark Nerenhausen announced his retirement earlier this year following a more than 50 year-long career in performing arts center leadership and, most recently, positioning Hennepin Theatre Trust for its next era by securing the full titles to the historic Orpheum, State and Pantages theatres. As Hennepin Theatre Trust’s only second President and CEO, under Nerenhausen’s leadership, Hennepin Theatre Trust grew from a fledgling steward of three historic theatres in downtown Minneapolis to a nationally-recognized performing arts center that generates an annual economic impact of $120 million, provides a platform for hundreds of Minnesota artists in the heart of the Hennepin Theatre District, works with thousands of high school students every year and advances the cultural and economic vitality of Minnesota.

“It has been my honor to advance the vitality of Minnesota through the power of the arts as the leader of this incredible organization,” said Nerenhausen. “I feel confident that, aided by the passionate, dedicated and thoughtful professionals at Hennepin Theatre Trust, Todd will continue to propel Hennepin Theatre Trust as the driving force of entertainment and culture in Minneapolis, benefiting our communities for generations to come.”

Duesing will begin his role on July 10.

Dale B. Stark is Public Relations Manager for Hennepin Theatre Trust.

Photo from Hennepin Theatre Trust.

By Kate Little

As the governing body of Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Greenville Arena District is excited to announce the renewal of its naming rights partnership with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. An extension of the partnership for an additional five years will ensure that the award-winning arena will continue to be known as Bon Secours Wellness Arena. This renewed partnership running until 2029 solidifies the ongoing collaboration between these esteemed community partners and reinforces their commitment to providing exceptional experiences for fans, athletes, and artists alike.

Matt Caldwell, Market President of Bon Secours St. Francis, expressed his excitement about the extended partnership: “It’s been nearly a decade since we took over the naming rights of Bon Secours Wellness Arena, and it’s been a fantastic partnership that continues to be a source of pride. Together with General Manager Beth Paul and her staff at the Arena, we’ve continued to keep wellness as the central focus of this partnership – hosting important health screenings and community programs such as Well Walkers in addition to providing educational events like the annual Human Trafficking Symposium.”

Since the original agreement in 2013, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System has demonstrated unwavering support for the Greenville community, making a positive impact through their dedication to healthcare and wellness. The extension of this naming rights partnership underscores their continued commitment to position the arena and the city of Greenville as a premier sports and entertainment destination.

“We’ve truly used this collaboration to expand our reach beyond hospital walls and live out our mission of building healthier communities, which is why we are very excited to extend this partnership and continue working together to make a difference in our community for many years to come,” Caldwell continued.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena has established itself as a leading sports and entertainment venue, attracting a diverse range of high-profile events including family shows, concerts, sports championships, and conventions. The continued support from Bon Secours St. Francis Health System allows the arena to thrive and contribute to the vibrant cultural fabric of Greenville.

Beth Paul, General Manager of Bon Secours Wellness Arena, emphasized the importance of extending the naming rights partnership: “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, and they share in our commitment to a first-class fan experience and a long-standing commitment to our community. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena has long been a hub of entertainment in Greenville, and we are fast approaching our 25th Anniversary- we are proud to enter the next chapter of community impact, together with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System.”

As part of the renewal, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System’s branding will continue to be prominently featured throughout the arena, ensuring widespread recognition of their commitment to the Greenville community. The partnership will continue to deliver community events such as Well-Walkers, health-screenings, and other wellness-oriented programs.

The arena’s continued success is a testament to the strong collaboration between these partners and their shared dedication to providing exceptional experiences for attendees.

Kate Little is Senior Account Director with Hughes Agency.

From Sportsnet Canada

A new sensory room and infant-feeding room have been added to Rogers Centre as the Toronto Blue Jays work toward making their ballpark more accessible.

The new rooms are part of the ongoing renovations to the Blue Jays’ downtown stadium and are free to use for all fans attending a game.

The sensory room is designed for fans who have Down syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, are autistic, or just need a quiet space so they can self-regulate if the sights and sounds of the ballpark become overwhelming.

“They can come here, make their way here, and come on in,” said Christine Robertson, the Blue Jays director of fan services, as she stood in the sensory room located in section 212 of Rogers Centre.

“We always have staff at the fan services room. They’re here to support and keep an eye out but you don’t need to check in, you don’t need to make a reservation, you just come as needed.”

The sensory room is the first of its kind at any professional sports venue in Canada.

It includes several features designed to help soothe people experiencing dysregulation, including beanbag chairs, a coloring station, bubble walls, textured walls, a Nanoleaf wall that changes colors, and a muted TV so caregivers can still follow what’s happening in the Blue Jays game.

Sensory bags are also available to be borrowed at any fan services desk around Rogers Centre. These packs include noise-cancelling earmuffs, fidget toys, and color-coded cards so that people experiencing dysregulation or are non-verbal can point to the card to express how they’re feeling or what they need.

Both the sensory room and the sensory bags were put together in collaboration with KultureCity, a non-profit focused on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities.

“Our communities are what shapes our lives and to know that the Blue Jays are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, no matter their ability, is included in their community is amazing,” said Uma Srivastava, KultureCity’s executive director.

“We’re honored to partner with Blue Jays to provide a truly inclusive experience for all fans and guests.”

An infant-feeding room has also been added to Rogers Centre, near Section 240 across from the Gate 13 elevator. Like the sensory room, it is open to any ticket holder regardless of where they may be sitting in the ballpark.

The infant-feeding room has four rocking chairs with partitions between them for privacy, all of them facing a muted TV that has the game on so that parents don’t miss out on any of the action. There are also change tables with diapers and wipes provided as well as bottle warmers and sinks.

“This is really again, a simple thing, that can make a really big difference,” said Robertson. “That’s what we’ve heard from fans, is what a difference it makes because now I don’t have to wonder should I bring my child to the game? Is it going to be OK?

“You can be confident it’s going to be OK.”

Both the sensory room and the infant-feeding room have QR codes posted so fans can make suggestions about how to improve the spaces.

Robertson said that the Blue Jays’ accessibility committee is also exploring other additions, including more infant-feeding rooms and multi-faith prayer rooms.

Photo by Steven Crawford/Toronto Blue Jays

From jaguars.com

The Jacksonville Jaguars introduced conceptual designs for the Stadium of the Future, a design project nearly three years in the making intended to inspire a transformation of Downtown Jacksonville and secure NFL football in Northeast Florida well into the future.

The video visualization and renderings were unveiled on 1stdowntownjacksonville.com and across Jaguars’ social media channels.

“We have reached the end of this important and initial phase of this project, the design of the stadium we envision will be the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars and serve our entire community for generations to come,” said Jaguars team owner Shad Khan. “From stadium discussions starting in 2016 to the formal process launched in July 2020 and now concluding, our objective has always been the same – lock in a promising future for the Jaguars and help our downtown become an economic engine to lift all of Jacksonville, particularly areas that have been underserved. Being able to share the video and stadium design highlights with the people of Jacksonville is a significant step forward in that effort.

“This is also all happening at a fantastic time for everyone. Jacksonville is red hot. Just check out all of the recent rankings — best places to live, best housing market, hottest job market, best place to start a business, Jacksonville ranks within the top five in all of those lists. Add the fact the Jaguars are coming off a playoff season, and positioned for even better days ahead, and it all points to better and hopefully our best days just ahead in Jacksonville.”

The Jaguars and City of Jacksonville officials began work toward a long-term stadium solution in July 2020 with a thorough engineering assessment of the current stadium, TIAA Bank Field. The assessment concluded it was possible to solve stadium challenges via a renovation of the city-owned facility versus new construction.

In-depth surveys of fans and other key stakeholders followed along with a comprehensive selection process for a design partner. After its selection as architect for the project team, HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice then collaborated with the Jaguars on turning concepts into more definitive renovation plans.

“This transformation transcends the stadium’s boundaries. The design creates an iconic, accessible community nexus that ties together the surrounding neighborhoods and riverfront,” said Peter Broeder, HOK’s design principal. “The venue will celebrate Jacksonville’s natural landscape and climate, offering a park-like ambiance enriched by the latest amenities, engaging social spaces and state of the art technology. This unprecedented project will position Jacksonville as a premier destination for top-tier sports and entertainment events for decades to come.”

In addition to HOK, the project team includes Impact Development and Management as the owner’s representative, with AECOM Hunt and Barton Malow serving in the role of preconstruction manager.

The Stadium of the Future design meets the evolving needs of all stadium stakeholders, which include the Jaguars, the annual Florida-Georgia college football game, the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, international sporting events, major music festivals/tours, and the thousands of fans and guests in attendance at each event.

From theticketingbusiness.com

North American gaming group Great Canadian Entertainment has announced an exclusive partnership with Live Nation to bring leading music and comedy acts to its venues across Canada.

Great Canadian, which operates 25 properties in Canada, including casinos and racetracks, has named Live

Nation Canada as its exclusive booking agent, and the two companies will jointly promote the programming.

Among Great Canadian’s properties is the under-construction 5,000-capacity The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, which will open at the new $1 billion Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto later this year.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Live Nation Canada, the premier live entertainment promoter in the world,” said Gavin Whiteley, chief marketing officer at Great Canadian. “This partnership will bring some of the biggest and most exciting artists to our exceptional venues, providing guests with unforgettable experiences they will cherish for years to come.”

The partners claim this strategic alliance is one of the first of its kind in Canada. The deal will also cover the new The Arena at Pickering Casino Resort, River Rock Casino Resort, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, Molson Canadian Centre at Casino New Brunswick and The Schooner Showroom at Casino Nova Scotia.