Some of you, like me, may have never heard of Jorkyball. Well, get ready, because I’m about to tell you about it.

It was invented in Europe in the late 1980s. It’s a two-person-to-a-side football (soccer) game played in a 10-meter x 5-meter court surrounded by 3-meter high walls. And it may be a great revenue generator for your venue.

“Jorkyball can be played in any indoor sport or leisure space and offers a unique new way for venues to increase revenues and attract new customers,” PanStadia & Arena Management magazine reported. “It can also be used as part of a fan engagement program for cities hosting major sporting events.”

The Jorkyball International Federation World Competitions are set for May. Keep an eye out on this sport, as it’s starting to gain traction around the world, and due to its playing field size it’s something that I think a lot of venues could include in their floor plans.

To feel the excitement, check out the video below.

(Image: 3bble)

There was a lot of talk at the 2015 Performing Arts Managers Conference about how to attract new guests and engage younger audiences. Several great ideas were offered, such as pushing for more arts appreciation in grade schools and presenting programs outside a venue’s walls and in communities. Specifically, though, how does one attract millennials?

Eventbrite has some answers, and it’s found it the company’s report, “The Art of Attraction: How to Grow Your Millennial Arts Audience.” Let’s take a look at some of the findings (quotes are from the report’s overview).

Millennials are Social Creatures Looking to Mingle
“[Forty-two percent] of this generation said they’d prefer going to events where they get to meet new people, and 32 percent would go to more events if there were people their age or friends in attendance. Adding a social component, like a happy hour or reception, would inspire 23 percent of millennials to frequent more arts events.”

Dress Code is a Form of Self-expression for Millennials
“Millennials embrace the tradition and formality around arts events and appreciate the opportunity to dress to impress at fancier gatherings—35 percent of millennials would rather attend an arts event that’s formal instead of casual. Nearly half of millennials (49 percent) even said they think performing and visual arts events are not dressy enough. While formality can be a draw for some millennials, they don’t want to be forced into a tux. [Sixty-three percent] of millennials would prefer events without the rules of a dress code.”

The Way to Millennials’ Hearts is Through Their Mouths
“Two in three (66 percent) millennials prefer arts events that have food, and over half (58 percent) prefer events that serve alcohol. [Thirty-one percent] of millennials would attend more arts events if they could nosh and sip on something during the show.”

Millennials Love Experiences With a Twist
“[Sixty-three percent] of millennials prefer events that are different from other events they’ve attended, and 29 percent would go to more events if they were held in a unique or unexpected venue. Some millennials are even craving a closer, more interactive look at the performing and visual arts world. [Forty-three percent] would prefer to attend events that incorporate audience participation.”

For Millennials, Offline = Out of Touch
“Many members of this generation actually would steer clear of events that don’t have a website (30 percent), Facebook or Twitter page (20 percent), or a YouTube page (19 percent). If events aren’t online, how are social-happy millennials supposed to do their research and spread the word to friends?”

Please view the full report to learn more findings from the study.

(Top image: s.yume via photopin cc; bottom image: Eventbrite)

South African online university GetSmarter would like you to know that “if we’ve learned anything from watching Game of Thrones, it’s that power resides where men believes it resides.”

Now, I’m not a Game of Thrones reader or viewer, however I get the point: a title doesn’t define a leader.

According to GetSmarter in its slideshow, “11 Ways to be Seen as a Leader at Work,” a leader is a set of inspiring practices, behaviors, characteristics, habits, beliefs, and actions.

Check out the university’s slideshow below, which offers several good tips on how to become a leader and how to be a better leader.

There are plans for a new NFL stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and on April 22 a task force presented architectural renderings and a fly-through video to NFL executives and a committee of team owners at the league’s New York headquarters.

Co-leads Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz, developer’s representative John Loyd, and HOK vice president and design principal Eli Hoisington represented the task force.

According to HOK, “the new set of renderings included aerial depictions from the north and south, daytime and evening illustrations, exterior and interior, examples of surrounding plaza areas, green space, the connection to trails and usages for FIFA or Major League Soccer matches as well as an amphitheater-style setting for concerts. For soccer matches, retractable seating in the corners would accommodate a FIFA-regulated field of 120 yards long and 75 yards wide.”

You can view more renderings on the HOK website, and you can watch the fly-through video below.

(Image: HOK)

The Anaheim Convention Center broke ground on its new expansion today, April 21, 2015. When it is completed in summer 2017, there will be an additional 200,000 square feet of flexible event space (100,000 square feet will be column free), along with new loading docks and a climate-controlled connection to the existing center’s second level.

Turner Construction Co. and Populous are providing the design-build services for the expansion.

“We are proud to partner with Turner Construction and Populous as we embark on the seventh expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center,” said Tom Morton, executive director of convention, sports, and entertainment for the City of Anaheim, in a statement. “Our design-build partners provided a concept that is the gold standard in flexible space and will meet the needs of our convention business today as well as into the future. This is a tremendous opportunity for the City of Anaheim to remain a leader in the convention and meeting industry.”

The expansion will provide an economic stimulus to the region by involving local workers during all phases of construction, and will employ 300 trade workers at the peak of construction activity. The expansion will also help Anaheim retain and attract large exhibitions and encourage further tourism to the region and support local hotels and restaurants.

“The renovations at Anaheim Convention Center are an important step in telling a big and powerful story about Anaheim and its people, climate, beauty, and amenities,” said Michael Lockwood, principal at Populous and designer of the renovations. “As one of the city’s anchor buildings, the convention center connects the urban fabric. This renovation is about far more than a singular building. Instead, the renovation will engage with the city’s urban fabric and serve as framework for further connecting civic, sports, and entertainment destinations where people love to be together. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to participate in such a monumental project for the city.”

Check out the video below to see how it will look when it’s completed.

(Image: Anaheim Convention Center)