From Halley Olsen Chapel of the Valley
The theater lights got a little dimmer when Jay Thomas, 65, of Leona Valley, Calif., died peacefully at home on March 29, 2023, after a two-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Janice, son Bryce Thomas, and daughter Brooke Enriquez (Sebastyan), his sister Pat Thomas, and a wide circle of family members, friends, and colleagues.
Jay was a respected veteran of the California and national entertainment scene. As Vice President and General Manager of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, he oversaw the booking and venue management for thousands of performances, including every Academy Awards show from 2001 to 2022. Jay joined the executive team at the theater even before its construction started, having previously been a part of the team overseeing the construction and management of The Staples Center in Los Angeles.
He was hard-working, innovative, and smart, but Jay’s family and friends will remember him best for his quick wit and unrivaled ability to tell a great story (some of which could even be told in public). In 2019, Jay was named a “Hero of Hollywood” by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for his service and commitment. He was a longtime member of the International Association of Venue Managers, and he actively promoted several charitable causes, most notably Stand Up to Cancer.
Jay was devoted to his wife and children, taking special joy in showing off his short-order cook skills at breakfast or planning travel adventures. There was not a sport he would not watch, and he was a sneakily accomplished left-handed golfer and tennis player. Within the family, he earned a reputation for choosing offbeat names for the variety of indoor and outdoor animals who shared their property.
A native of Cleveland, Jay was a proud graduate of Ohio University and an even prouder alumnus of The Ohio University “Marching 110,” for which he played trumpet and danced like a maniac. He graduated with a degree in music education, but Jay found his true calling in venue management at the University of Texas at Austin and later at San Diego State University.
If you would like to make a memorial donation – Jay’s favorite charities were Stand Up to Cancer and The Painted Turtle.
Arrangements are pending.
Jay’s memorial will be held at the Dolby Theatre in late May.
FROM DOLBY THEATRE
On March 29, 2023, the employees and staff of the Dolby Theatre lost one of our family. Jay Thomas was a highly respected executive in the entertainment industry, serving as the Vice President and General Manager of the Dolby Theatre for over twenty-two years. He has made numerous contributions to the world of Hollywood, and in 2019 he was named a “Hero of Hollywood” by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Community Foundation. At the Dolby Theatre, Jay has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the venue remains one of the most prestigious and sought-after locations in the entertainment industry. His tireless work ethic, strategic thinking, and leadership abilities have helped to establish the Dolby Theatre as a hub for world-class events, including the Academy Awards. Jay is known for his many positive personal attributes, including his unwavering commitment to excellence, his exceptional communication skills, and his ability to inspire and motivate those around him. He is widely regarded as a visionary leader who has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry, and his contributions to the Dolby Theatre and Hollywood as a whole will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.
FROM FRIEND TODD HUNT, CVE
I first met Jay when we worked together on the 1996 Olympics. His career included stops in Austin and San Diego before opening the Staples Center and then the Kodak Theatre in LA. He was a great guy and will be missed by all who knew him. Jay possessed a quick wit and a calm demeanor. Those two traits served him well throughout his venue management career. I was honored to call him a friend.
By Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced the retirement of David DuBois, CMP-F, CAE, FASAE, CTA, as President and CEO effective December 31, 2023.
DuBois has been with the association for 11 years, providing strategic insights and vision to propel the association forward while successfully leading the association through the recent pandemic. He will continue to lead the association through its strategic growth initiatives in 2023 and continue to build on his legacy of advancing IAEE’s mission and member community.
“IAEE is a large and diverse global association that represents a vast ecosystem, Dubois said. “I look forward to continuing to lead the exhibitions and events industry’s trade association and over the months ahead my goal is for IAEE to continue delivering valuable programs to our members and stakeholders globally.”
“We appreciate everything David has accomplished during his tenure at the association and are grateful for his leadership and service to IAEE members,” said IAEE Chairperson of the Board Dennis Smith. “The IAEE Board is following a well guided succession plan and committed to paving the direction forward with new leadership to position the association for future growth.”
The IAEE Board of Directors has retained SearchWide Global, a full-service executive search firm that specializes in C-level positions in the event, convention, travel, tourism, hospitality, trade association, venue management, and experiential marketing industries. The search for IAEE’s new President and CEO will begin with a detailed needs assessment led by SearchWide Global and will aim to publish the official position overview in late June.
Nicole Bowman, MBA, CEM, is Vice President, Marketing and Communications at IAEE.
From Comcast
Comcast Spectacor announced that Dave Scott, Chairman and Governor of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, has decided to retire in his 30th year working for Comcast. Dan Hilferty, who was recently named CEO of Comcast Spectacor, will succeed Scott as Chairman of the company on April 17 and as Governor of the team on July 1.
“Dave is a highly talented executive who contributed to the growth of our business in many ways over the past three decades,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. “He was one of the early entrepreneurs as we expanded our company nationally, first as a Division President and then as CFO of Comcast Cable during some of our most pivotal years. We’re very grateful to Dave for all he has done for Comcast and for his leadership of Comcast Spectacor over the last decade.”
“Working for both Comcast and Comcast Spectacor have been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m very proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the last 30 years,” Scott said. “It has been an incredible honor to work for such a terrific company and I’m very thankful to Brian for his trust in me. I’ve also been fortunate to work with so many fantastic colleagues and look forward to watching this company continue to grow under Dan’s leadership.”
“I’ve enjoyed partnering with Dave since I joined Comcast Spectacor last month and I’m energized about the opportunity to further advance the company,” Hilferty said. “Our number one goal for the Flyers will be to consistently compete for the Stanley Cup. It is going to be a process that will take time to get on that path, but I’m confident we are headed in the right direction with Danny Briere as interim GM, Coach Tortorella, and our hiring of a President of Hockey Operations soon. Our leadership team will be fully focused to deliver on this for our fans while also continuing to make the sports complex the best location for sports and entertainment in the nation.”
Scott joined Comcast Spectacor in December 2013 and under his leadership it became an internationally recognized leader in the sports and entertainment industry. In addition to his role as Governor of the Philadelphia Flyers, Scott has led the Wells Fargo Center’s $350+ million transformation into a new arena, which will conclude in the coming months, and oversaw Spectra, a leading venue management and hospitality company, which was later sold.
Scott also brought professional lacrosse back to Philadelphia in 2017 by re-establishing the Philadelphia Wings, launched Spectacor Gaming, which has broadened the company’s reach around the globe through esports, and returned professional ice hockey back to Portland, ME after the company acquired the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. Scott will continue to serve on the board of T1, Spectacor’s competitive esports team based in South Korea, which is part of a joint venture between Comcast Spectacor and SK Square created under Scott’s leadership. He also served on the Executive Board of Snider Youth Hockey in support of Ed Snider’s legacy and is currently a Board Member Emeritus. Scott first joined Comcast in 1993, was President of what is now Comcast’s Central Division from 1996 to 2005 and served as Comcast Cable’s CFO from 2005 to 2013.
As Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, Hilferty will lead the company’s entire portfolio, including the Philadelphia Flyers. Spectacor Sports and Entertainment CEO Valerie Camillo will continue to work directly with Hilferty, overseeing the Wells Fargo Center, including its continued transformation, and lead the Flyers’ Business Operations.
From Acrisure Arena
Oak View Group (OVG), the global venue development, advisory, and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries, and Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs, the newest world-class venue in Southern California’s greatest concert destination, announced the promotion of Drew Gershenson to vice president of content, Acrisure Arena, and OVG Southwest Division. Gershenson joined OVG in December 2021 and previously served as director of booking for Acrisure Arena. He will report to John Page, senior vice president of Acrisure Arena, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and OVG360 Facilities.
“We’re pleased to support Drew’s continued growth within Oak View Group,” Page said. “Since joining the team in 2021, Drew has proven himself to be a strategic team leader and we are confident he will bring the same passion and drive to his new role as we continue to expand our reach throughout the southwest.”
In his new role, Gershenson will continue to lead the day-to-day programming of the Acrisure Arena as well as support other OVG managed properties in the Southwest Region including Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA; Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona; and Tahoe Blue Arena, which is scheduled to open this summer in South Lake Tahoe.
“The southwest region represents an important area for Oak View Group. While we continue to grow our presence in Southern California and across the southwest region, Drew will play a critical role in booking and programming to support our managed properties as OVG expands to new key markets,” said Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO, OVG. Since opening in December, Acrisure Arena has experienced tremendous success with respect to programming, and with 13 sold out events so far, both fans and the industry have taken notice. The Palm Springs market has quickly become a must-play stop for the biggest concert tours and artists in the world and it’s only going to keep getting bigger. We’re just getting started.”
With more than fifteen years of industry experience in working with artists, agents, managers, and labels, Gershenson is responsible for overseeing strategic content programming of all concerts, family shows, and special events, as well as facilitating the AHL hockey schedules.
“I am very excited for this opportunity to advance my career and grow with OVG. Tim and Francesca lead by example and have created an environment that inspires creativity, growth and success. We have all worked hard to make Acrisure Arena a premiere destination for artists to play and fans to attend,” Gershenson said. “I can’t wait to build off the momentum of our huge grand opening and continue to unlock the market’s true potential. I look forward to collaborating with my incredible colleagues in the Southwest Region to strategically align content and bookings for our venues and foster new and existing relationships and opportunities for OVG.”
Before joining OVG, Gershenson served as director of programming for ASM Global’s Paycom Center in Oklahoma City where he was responsible for booking content and working closely with NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to that, he spent ten years at Live Nation Entertainment where he served most recently as senior tour director where he oversaw all aspects of the tour cycle including routing strategy, offer creation, contracting, on-sale, and inventory management. Gershenson holds a Bachelor of business administration, international finance and marketing from the University of Miami.
By PR Newswire/Stagwell Inc.
ARound, a next-generation fan engagement platform designed to enhance gameday fun with live, real-world augmented reality (AR) experiences – and part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud – has expanded its professional sports partnerships to include the Kansas City Royals for the 2023 baseball season. Launching in Kauffman Stadium, “Crown Vision AR” provides the venue’s 38,000 fans with a shared AR experience that includes interactive follow-along features after base hits and plays, contests, fan loyalty features, and brand sponsorships custom to the Royals.
ARound Builds on Experiences with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Rams, with Opening Day Launch at Kauffman Stadium.
“Our launches with the Twins and Rams last year showed us how engaging AR can be when it offers immersive in-game experiences while allowing fans to share in those experiences together. With the Royals, we’re bringing even more interactive and collaborative gameday features to their fingertips,” said ARound Founder and CEO Josh Beatty. “Rather than detract their attention with apps that take them away from the action on the field, ARound keeps fans focused on the real-world plays, their favorite players, and the energy around the stadium, allowing them to engage with the game like never before.”
“As we look to excite and engage the next generation of baseball fans, we know that ARound’s technology provides an amazing opportunity for the Royals,” said Kansas City Royals Vice President of Brand Innovation Tony Snethen. “Not only does augmented reality make the game more interactive, but we also believe it will serve to help users see the game in a whole new way.”
Building on its launches with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Rams in 2022, ARound’s stadium experiences are becoming more immersive and interactive. Crown Vision AR features include:
Real-Time Integration: Provides automatic follow-along effects like player hit graphics and fireworks after home runs, which are based on real-time action to both educate and entertain fans with relevant connected content.
Fire-Breathing Dragon: ARound turns the Royals stadium into an interactive castle, with a fire-breathing dragon that fans can control, and make other teams feel the heat.
Mass Gaming: The entire stadium can participate in the same gaming experiences, such as the Hot Dog Derby race, Mow Monster, and BatterUp, where fans can compete for in-stadium discounts and prizes.
In-Venue Broadcast: Integration with the venue’s videoboard brings stadium AR to the masses and creates new second-screen experiences for fans to enjoy.
Team IP and Sponsor Content: Characters in Royals jerseys, background signage, and other brand activations keep the team and sponsors top-of-mind for fans. Additional opportunities for fan activations and sponsor integration include Royals promotional tie-ins, virtual rewards, and a prize launcher featuring a giant Pasquatch.
Live 3D Stats: Later this season, ARound will also feature live 3D stats and play-by-play graphics for a broadcast-level experience in the stadium.
Crown Vision AR is powered by the ARound Stadium app on iOS and Android.
About ARound