2014 Arena Management Conference
September 14-16 / Hyatt Regency Long Beach, California
www.iavm.org/AMC

The photos are starting to roll in from VenueConnect 2014, and we’re putting them on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. What, you don’t follow IAVM on Facebook? You really should. It’s one of many channels we use to highlight news, members, events, and venues.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google+. We may even have a Yo account next week. The possibilities are endless!

So, yes, if you would like to view VenueConnect 2014 photos, please hop over to our Facebook page. We currently have two albums (Build-a-bike and First Time Attendees & New Member Orientation) online, and we’ll be adding more albums throughout the week.

(Image: Orange Photography) 

Plans for a Major League Soccer (MLS) presence in Las Vegas took another step toward reality on August 26 when the city, The Cordish Companies, and Findlay Sports & Entertainment announced a term sheet outlining key points. The plans include construction of a 24,000-seat stadium in Symphony Park at a cost of US$410 million. An independent analysis shows that the stadium will generate an estimated $9 million in annual tax revenue and create 700 permanent jobs.

“The time to bring professional sports to Las Vegas is now,” said Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “The deal negotiated with Findlay Sports & Entertainment and The Cordish Companies will be a win-win for the city of Las Vegas and its residents. I love that both our partners are family-owned companies with great reputations.”

The city council will vote on the non-binding term sheet on September 3. Even if it’s approved, no construction will start until MLS awards Las Vegas with an expansion franchise. The city council will receive a binding agreement from Findlay-Cordish in December 2014.

“The Cordish Companies is excited to be a part of the downtown’s historic revitalization efforts,” said Blake Cordish, vice president of The Cordish Companies. “Las Vegas deserves and will absolutely support professional sports. Time and again, downtown sports venues are a proven catalyst for broader urban revitalization.”

(Image: Findlay Sports & Entertainment)

The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in the United National Maintenance vs. San Diego Convention Center (SDCCC) in June, agreeing and affirming a district court’s conclusions. This month, the Ninth Circuit denied a rehearing of the case, with Judge Andrew D. Hurwitz stating that, “No jury could reasonably find that SDCCC engaged either in monopolization or an attempt to monopolize by mandating that its own employees clean its building.”

The district court had previously concluded that the SDCCC decision to implement an exclusives policy for cleaning services was immune from antitrust scrutiny under the state action doctrine.

“This is a win for San Diego, but more importantly a landmark win for the facility management industry as it will allow venues to operate and manage their buildings as they see fit,” said IAVM member Carol Wallace, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corp.

The IAVM Foundation, too, played a role in the appeal by submitting an amicus brief supporting the district court’s reasoning.

“As a Foundation, this is what we are about, having the resources on hand to fund something that makes a significant difference to the industry when an urgent issue arises,” said Jason Rittenberry, the IAVM Foundation chair, in an earlier story about this topic. “We are honored that we were able to step up quickly and support our members.”

(photo credit: Justin in SD via photopin cc)

IAVM, and specifically VenueDataSource, received some love from architecture firm HKS earlier this month.

“Several years ago, we learned that IAVM initiated a project called VenueDataSource, which gathers data on operational costs and revenue in IAVM member convention centers, stadia, arenas and performing arts facilities,” wrote Ken Stockdell, Jr., director of convention center practice for HKS. “This data provides a benchmarking tool that facilities can use to measure their operations against the industry as a whole. Although the project is fairly early in its life cycle, some helpful information is emerging. A conference session, presented by Steve Schwartz, senior research policy analyst at EventsDC, and Frank Ingoglia, research manager with IAVM, provided a report preview on facility operating costs and revenues. The picture it paints helps quantify industry trends.”

I encourage you to visit the HKS page to read about what was learned by the firm’s team at VenueConnect during the research session.

And if you’re planning on attending either the upcoming Arena Management Conference (AMC) or the International Convention Center Conference (ICCC), be sure and attend the VenueDataSource sessions.

At AMC, Russ Simons—managing partner at Venue Solutions Group—will moderate a panel session titled “Using VenueDataSource to Your Advantage.” Attendees will learn about VenueDataSource and the type of data available and how it can be used by senior leadership.

During ICCC, Schwartz will participate in a panel discussing how to turn data into information. Session attendees will explore how to use benchmarking data to maximum effect, with VenueDataSource as an example.

Registration for AMC and ICCC is still open. See you there!