Regardless of the type, size, or location of your venue, safety and security is one thing we all must think about and be concerned with on a daily basis.

VenueDataSource (VDS) has surveyed our members on our typical safety and security practices, and the results from the Safety and Security Report are in and ready for you and your team to use in safely managing our venues.

Our safety and security research quantifies the current practices and procedures utilized to secure the lives and safety of venue customers, staff, and the property itself—and gives us all some things to think about regarding our own venue’s security procedures.

Some of the results are not that surprising, including that 91 percent of responding venues have security cameras. But did you know that only 71 percent of them actually monitor those security cameras? Does your security staff actually monitor your venue’s security cameras? Should you reassess your own procedures to ensure your cameras are being used fully as the asset they are intended to be? Is it OK to use cameras as a reactive tool rather than a preventative one?

The results of the survey may lead to further discussions within your organization about how to improve the safety and security of your venue. That’s why we ask questions, compile the results, and share with our members. We want to assist you and your team in being the most prepared as possible in a time with ever-changing challenges and threats.

This report will tell you that 90 percent of the reporting venues have a written procedure in place for handling bomb threats. But only 68 percent of these venues supply the switchboard personnel with the bomb threat checklist and reporting procedure. Worse still, only 42 percent of the reporting venues currently schedule regular training in bomb threat procedures for all personnel who answer incoming phone calls.

Is your operation one of the 68 percent that supply your switchboard personnel with a bomb threat reporting procedure—or one of the 32 percent that doesn’t? Is your venue one of the 42 percent that train all phone-answering staff in bomb threat reporting—or one of the 58 percent that doesn’t?

We have all seen the news and know that bomb threats, unfortunately, have become a more common occurrence in our society. A written procedure is a great first step, but nothing compared to sharing it and training the staff that is most likely to answer the phone should that dreaded call be made to your venue.

The Safety and Security Report has incredibly powerful tools and information that will only help a venue and its staff be more prepared. It’s worth the read, considering what’s at stake.

The Safety and Security Report is available to all IAVM members at venues that completed the survey. If your venue completed the survey, but you have not received the report, or you would like to purchase the report, contact VenueDataFrank, Frank Ingoglia at frank.ingoglia@iavm.org. Frank can help with this or any other report question.

VDS is here to help our members achieve amazing things. Information is empowerment and we rely on you and the other members to keep moving forward and accomplishing our goals.

You can find us on this monthly blog, on Twitter @VenueDataFrank, in weekly newsletters discussing trends, facts, and asking poll questions, at the sector conference and VenueConnect—everywhere you VDS, you’ll find us. No matter where you go—there we are.

IAVM will live-stream an interview with John Wilborn, director of the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. The conversation will provide a close look at the planning and real-time response from Wilborn and the event management team during the May 3rd incident, when two men attempted to attack an in-progress event with assault rifles.

Interview Details
Tuesday, May 12
2 p.m. CT
Listen to the Recording Here

“John’s willingness to share his recent experience with colleagues and peers at IAVM is a tremendous opportunity for venue professionals seeking to learn from this incident,” said IAVM president and CEO Vicki Hawarden, CMP. “We are a close, connected community, and we are grateful to learn from the Curtis Culwell Center’s ability to handle this attack so effectively.”

In addition to the interview, Wilborn and team members from the Curtis Culwell Center will further discuss this incident during an interactive session at the VenueConnect Annual Conference & Trade Show, August 1-4, in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendees include venue professionals and partner companies from stadiums, arenas, convention centers, performing arts centers, and racetracks around the world.

George Mason University and EagleBank have announced a multi-milliondollar partnership that includes a broad array of education programs and an agreement to change the name of the Patriot Center to EagleBank Arena at George Mason University.

The deal will create scholarships and internships, launch a lecture series and mentoring programs, and provide arena improvements. The internship program will allow qualified Mason students to participate each semester in EagleBank operations.

“This is a landmark moment for George Mason University and EagleBank,” said Mason President Ángel Cabrera in a statement. “Our shared vision goes beyond the financial contribution that will benefit so many people. This is about a relationship between two institutions that have a stake in the community and are investing in the future of our region.”

The agreement provides for a minimum $6.6 million commitment by EagleBank to the university over 10 years. It also includes the unilateral right of EagleBank to extend the agreement for up to a total of 20 years; in such case EagleBank will have provided $13.7 million in funding to the university.

“As a local bank, we are delighted to partner with one of the region’s most prominent universities,” said Ronald D. Paul, chairman and CEO of EagleBank in a statement. “In entering into this array of support, EagleBank underscores not only our commitment to Northern Virginia and the region, but also to the creation of a multi-platform alliance that will support education, job growth, and future economic prosperity throughout our community.”

The Patriot Center will be officially renamed EagleBank Arena on July 1. It opened in 1985 and is a 10,000-seat multipurpose sports and entertainment venue in Fairfax, Virginia, and is managed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

(Image: Facebook)

In response to recent incidents in Baltimore, Maryland, and the ongoing potential for demonstrations and civil unrest to affect the operations of public assembly facilities, IAVM presents a webinar that will share best practices, legal considerations, and actual real-time responses from member venues.

Participants:
Russ Simons (moderator), chief listening officer, managing partner, Venue Solutions Group
Allen Johnson, executive director, Orlando Venues
Adina Erwin, vice president and general manager, Fox Theatre
Robert Noonan, director of public safety, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Denis Braham, co-chair, Sports Business & Public Venue Industry Group, Winstead PC

Register now!

As the IAVM Foundation begins a new fiscal giving year, it gives me pleasure to work with Sarah Rogers and the Foundation Board of Trustees on a challenge grant to honor my friend, Joe Floreano. My company, VenuWorks, is pleased to announce a $5,000 lead gift as part of a matching challenge for the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Program to raise $50,000 from May thru September.

Joe was one of the first people I met back in the 1970s when we were known as IAAM—the International Association of Auditorium Managers. If you ask any of the old-timers from District III, they will probably tell you the most fun they have ever had at a District Meeting was when Joe hosted in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The attendee gift that year was a lacquered buffalo chip nailed to a varnished board…yes, that kind of buffalo chip. The “gift” held a unique place of honor in my garage for many years.

The Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship program was established after the passing of Joseph A. Floreano, CFE, a long-time IAVM member, Foundation Trustee, and the first-and-only Honorary Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Floreano was known for giving selflessly in both time and money to worthy industry causes. His leadership was aspirational and he took great pride in mentoring and supporting the advancement in the development of the Foundation’s Build an Amazing Future campaign but also became the inspiration as he truly resembled and embodied everything it stands for. The contributions Floreano made to the Foundation are immeasurable and he will forever leave a mark on the Foundation.

This new fundraising initiative will be a matching challenge to my industry friends and colleagues to support and honor our friend, Joe Floreano. To join me with your support, please visit www.classy.org/scholarships.

Joe was a friend and a true leader in IAVM. It just feels right to honor him with a gift to the IAVM Foundation, which was and is dear to both of us. Joe believed in the Foundation and felt it was worthwhile of his efforts. I hope you do as well.