From observerlocalnews.com and R.V. Baugus

Volusia County Government is saddened to announce the untimely death of Ocean Center Director Tim Riddle, CVE, on Friday, April 28. Riddle joined the county in August 2017 as the deputy director of the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL, and was promoted to its director in June 2020.

“Tim was truly an asset to the county and was instrumental in finding ways to keep the Ocean Center alive through the pandemic and was excited to lead its continued growth,” County Manager George Recktenwald said. “Aside from being an outstanding and dedicated employee, he was a sincere and kind individual, always willing to listen and go out of his way to help someone.”

The County’s critical incident stress management staff have been mobilized to assist affected team members. Our deepest condolences go out to his family as they navigate their unexpected loss.

The IAVM family joins in expressing our condolences to the Riddle family in the passing of one of the public assembly venue world’s most respected leaders. We will be sharing more as details become available.

To read an article from The Daytona Beach News-Journal, please click here.

By Mary Klida

Having worked in the Detroit area for more than a decade and received her degrees from Michigan universities, Nicole Johnson is right at home in her new position as Director of Human Resources of Huntington Place, Detroit’s convention center and economic engine of the Southeast Michigan community.

Previously working with Fortune 200 companies across a diverse range of industries, including national retail, digital marketing, and global travel, Johnson’s expertise in leading human resources change initiatives has been recognized in various industries such as gaming and entertainment, manufacturing, k-12 education, and Detroit Windsor Tunnel, a major North American Border Crossing.

This wide-range experience brings Johnson’s notable expertise to the venue’s Human Resources program in labor relations, health and safety, leadership development, coaching, benefits and leave administration, instructional design, technical recruiting, and HRIS and payroll systems implementations, recruiting, training and development, and labor contract negotiations.

“I am honored to join Huntington Place as the Director of Human Resources and look forward to working collaboratively to create an inclusive and empowering work environment where all team members feel like they belong,” Johnson said.

Human Resources change initiatives are increasingly becoming top priority for convention centers and other venues coming out of COVID and rebuilding their workforces after venue closing and massive layoffs. Diversity, Inclusion, Equity (DEI) and flexible work schedules have become a top priority for employees, along with opportunities to create better work/life balance.

When the venue was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the center furloughed 60% of staff. Of those that remained, remote work was established where possible. The slow return to business and rehiring of essential staff created opportunities to implement new hiring strategies and workforce improvements.

“Diversity is our superpower BUT Inclusion is really the secret sauce that takes us to the next level,” said Karen Totaro, CVE, Huntington Place general manager. “All members of our team have a voice and are treated with respect and encouraged to share their perspectives. It is not just a listening exercise; we act upon our team’s great ideas, no matter their position in the venue, what they look like, or what they believe.”

The event industry, including the nation’s convention centers, have been tasked with making health and safety of employees and visitors priority one, along with rebuilding a workforce with candidates that now have very different expectations of their employers.

The need for a new hiring strategy became apparent during the “great resignation” and work-from-home habits developed during COVID-19 outbreak. Employees are more prone to set limits to their contributions at work such as work hours, scope of tasks, and fairness on how their talent is utilized. Candidates are more often insisting on these working conditions before accepting jobs.

“As we navigate the post-COVID hiring landscape, I am excited to implement new strategies and initiatives that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, and at the same time foster exceptional guest experiences, thus driving the growth and success of the venue,” Johnson said.

Most recently, Johnson served as Senior Director of Human Capital for Promise Schools, former Charter Management Organization for Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. In this role, she was responsible for the development and execution of human resources strategies, programs, and policies. Johnson’s passion is for human resources, coupled with her expertise, experience, and ability to lead and execute complex human resources initiatives.

Johnson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management and a Master of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development degree from Eastern Michigan University.

“We are so excited to have Nicole join the team. She brings the skills and experience we know will take Huntington Place to the next level in human resource management,” Totaro said. “Our team continues to thrive and with Nicole’s experience as a change agent we know there will be many more opportunities ahead for our team.”

Mary Klida is Senior Marketing & Communications Manager for Huntington Place.

By Stacie Bauer

Momentus Technologies, the global leader in venue and event management technology, has announced its acquisition of WeTrack, a rapidly growing leader in sustainability, project management incident tracking, and control room software based in London, UK. WeTrack’s out-of-the-box sustainability reporting software has been widely recognized for its intuitive design and simplified offering, making it a perfect addition to Momentus’ venue management platform. WeTrack’s project management and incident tracking software allows the largest events and venues in the world to plan, prepare, and deliver these complex projects with seamless operations, underpinned by a powerful reporting tool which ensures lessons are learned for future events. This will complement Momentus Technologies’ Risk Manager software to help drive innovation in the industry.

“We are thrilled to announce our acquisition of WeTrack,” said Alex Alexandrov, CEO of Momentus Technologies. “This acquisition marks a significant milestone in our company’s growth strategy, and we are excited about the opportunities it presents. By combining our resources and expertise with those of WeTrack, we will be able to deliver even greater value to our customers. As venues are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impact, the need for intuitive sustainability technology has never been greater. We are excited to expand our reach into this rapidly evolving space and build on our existing footprint in key global markets.”

The acquisition of WeTrack is an exciting development for Momentus Technologies and marks a major occasion in the company’s mission to provide the industry’s most comprehensive venue management software. With WeTrack’s software solutions, Momentus Technologies is well-positioned to lead the way in environmentally conscious business practices and provide its customers with the tools they need to achieve their environmental, social, and governance goals. For WeTrack, the acquisition will provide access to Momentus Technologies’ resources and expertise, enabling the company to continue to grow and innovate.

“We are very excited to be joining forces with Momentus Technologies, the leader in venue management,” said Peter Ward, CEO of WeTrack. “Together, we will have a significant impact on customers around the world, helping them meet their goals and stay ahead of the competition. Working with clients from Olympic Games, World Cups, and a wide variety of other events, sporting federations and venues has given us great insight into what it takes to deliver successful and safe operations. Combining that with Momentus Technologies’ suite of tools can bring enormous value to venue and event operators around the world. We can’t wait to see what we can do together for our current and future clients.”

Stacie Bauer is Global Events Manager for Momentus Technologies.

CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore reopened on April 7 to a ribbon cutting ceremony heralding a massive scale of renovations and upgrades.

Oak View Group executives joined city and state leaders along with venue owners to mark the occasion. It would preclude a weekend that included the debut of new a new outdoor multimedia video experience on the exterior of CFG Bank Arena along with a number of concerts and other activities.

Concerts for the venue’s official opening weekend included Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band and the Eagles. How is that for a 1-2 punch?

The most recent renovations included the removal of the venue’s permanent stage along with the addition of new seating and VIP areas. Upgrades to the arena’s concession areas and an overall improvement of the building’s appearance were also highlights of the renovations.

Additional upgrades to the facility will include focuses on sustainability such as using locally sourced materials such as repurposing the steel from the original venue, Oak View Group said.

Other new features include LED lighting, low flow and waterless fixtures, and more; upgraded acoustics to amplify the audio experience; modernized touchless and self-serve technologies for food & beverage and merchandise purchases to minimize transaction times; renovations to the venue’s back-of-house; structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting and fire protection upgrades; as well as construction encompassing, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, lighting; and updates to the arena’s telecommunications infrastructure, wireless network, and video/network/security systems.

The renovations to the CFG Arena were overseen by Clark Construction Group, who have previously handled renovations in Baltimore that include Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Sheik Zayed Tower and Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children’s Center, and the University of Maryland Midtown Outpatient Tower, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

From tennesseetitans.com

The Tennessee Titans have received final approval from the Metropolitan Nashville Council to move forward with plans to build a new, enclosed stadium set on Nashville’s East Bank.

Metro Nashville Council issued the final approval on Wednesday, April 26, in a vote of 26-12. The Metro Nashville Sports Authority, the owner and landlord of both the current and new stadium, unanimously approved the stadium agreement on April 4.

“For more than 25 years, Nashville, Tennessee, has been the Titans’ home, and with the approval of the new stadium agreement, we are grateful to know the Titans will be a part of this great city and state for decades to come,” said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “I remember the early days of our time here feeling all the promise and opportunity ahead, and I feel that same enthusiasm and excitement again today. We are thankful for the support of Mayor Cooper, Metro Council, the Sports Authority, the State of Tennessee, and most importantly, the people of Nashville and Tennessee as we all embark on this new chapter together.”

The stadium agreement includes a new 30-year lease and non-relocation agreement between the Titans and the Sports Authority. The terms of the new agreement remove the current obligation of Nashville’s General Fund to maintain and upgrade the stadium and returns 66 acres of land to the City of Nashville previously restricted by parking lots through 2039. The City has announced plans to include the returned property in the creation of a new neighborhood set along Nashville’s Cumberland River. The neighborhood, through new revenue sources generated by its development, is projected to bring in over a billion dollars to Nashville’s General Fund over its first 30 years of development.

The team will also contribute nearly $48 million over the life of the lease to the Nashville Needs Impact Fund, a fund directed by the Metro Council to support city needs such as public education, public transit, affordable housing, and several other areas.

“Tonight is a huge win for Nashville taxpayers,” said Nashville Mayor John Cooper. “We’ve eliminated a billion-dollar liability created by an aging stadium lease and created a platform for the city to thrive for decades. This was always about more than football. This vote unlocks the East Bank Vision for Nashville’s next generation. It enables a true smart growth plan for the decades ahead. It will expand our transit network, create affordable housing, build parks and civic space, activate the waterfront, and drive resilience and sustainability.

Mayor Cooper continued: “It allows us to build a transformational north-south boulevard. From neighborhoods across the city, this plan will cut commute times by getting cars off the interstate for intracity trips. It will allow frequent, fast, affordable bus service with dedicated lanes connecting residents to jobs and new opportunities. This is how a city effectively manages growth. It creates a bright future for Nashville, and I’m grateful for Metro Council’s support and confidence in this plan.”

The stadium is currently estimated at 1.75 million square feet, with a capacity of approximately 60,000. It is anticipated to bring in year-round events, with aspirations to host Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, College Football Playoffs, Wrestlemanias, and more. It will also continue to host Tennessee State University home football games, extending the long-standing partnership between TSU and the Titans. The stadium will include a 12,000 square foot community space to host classes for local schools, job trainings, and other community-minded events.

Groundbreaking is expected to occur in early-to-mid 2024, with an opening anticipated in 2027. It will set a goal of achieving a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certification. Titans games and other major events will continue to operate in the current Nissan Stadium until the new building opens.

“Today marks a huge milestone for both the Tennessee Titans organization and the City of Nashville as we move forward with plans for a new stadium,” said Titans President and CEO, Burke Nihill. “We are extremely excited about this building’s ability to host the world’s best and greatest events, but this agreement is about so much more than a stadium. This is a generational opportunity to address our city’s priorities and ensure its health and vitality for the next 30 years. Our city and our state have bright futures ahead, and we’re humbled by the opportunity to continue to be a part of it.”

The Titans are responsible for $840 million of stadium funding and any cost overruns. $500 million will come from a contribution from the State of Tennessee. The remaining $760 million of the $2.1 billion budget will come from revenue bonds issued by the Metro Sports Authority to be repaid through a one-percent increase in Davidson County’s hotel occupancy tax, in-stadium sales tax, 50 percent of sales tax from future development of the stadium’s campus, rent paid by the team, and a pre-existing ticket tax of three dollars per ticket sold that will carry over to the new building. The stadium budget includes stadium-related infrastructure required to open the building.