From StadiumBusiness.com

Co-op Live, a new 23,500-capacity arena scheduled to open in Manchester later this year, has appointed former Ticketmaster UK executive Gary Roden as its executive director and general manager.

Roden will oversee operation of Co-op Live and spearhead the future vision and strategy of the venue, which will be the UK’s largest live entertainment arena.

He joins Co-op Live after eight years at Ticketmaster UK, most recently serving as senior vice-president of client development and commercial. Roden will assume control of the strategic and operational delivery of Co-op Live, leading the arena’s eight-strong executive team.

Co-op Live is a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group and will form part of Manchester’s Etihad Campus. The arena is scheduled to host over 120 shows annually.

Roden said: “I am delighted to be joining Co-op Live, leading the team in Manchester to launch and operate a game-changing arena experience for both fans and artists. I can’t wait to get started, working with Oak View Group, City Football Group, key stakeholders and partners to launch what is not only set to be a groundbreaking arena for the UK, but one that will see Manchester firmly leading the way globally.”

Jessica Koravos, co-chair of Oak View Group International, added: “Gary Roden’s experience speaks for itself, and we’re thrilled to have him join an already phenomenal team of exceptional industry leaders and to continue to drive Oak View Group and City Football Group’s joint vision to deliver world-leading, planet-friendly entertainment.”

Prior to joining Ticketmaster, Roden worked as managing director of Parkwood Theatres and previously spent time as general manager at the Edinburgh Playhouse and the Bristol Hippodrome.

Co-op Live recently revealed details of The Bentley Record Room, an exclusive members’ club that will be limited to 100 people and include tickets to every publicly ticketed event at the arena.

In October, OVG revealed further details of the innovative ‘smart bowl’ that will be at the heart of Co-op Live. The bowl takes inspiration from Harry Styles, a private investor in the project who has been instrumental in the design, offering personal insight having performed at major venues and arenas worldwide.

Construction work commenced in May 2021, with UK consumer co-operative Co-op acquiring naming rights to the arena in September 2020.

Co-op Live has committed to becoming the most sustainable and socially responsible arena in the UK. It has pledged to support Manchester City Council’s target of becoming net zero carbon by 2038 and will donate at least £1m (€1.1m/$1.2m) annually to the Co-op Foundation to support local and national initiatives focused on young people, food security, education and sustainability.

From Blue Jays media

On the heels of fans first experiencing the newly renovated Rogers Centre Outfield District, the Toronto Blue Jays announce three new premium clubs to open during the 2024 season as part of the next phase of Rogers Centre renovations.

The new premium clubs will be located beneath a completely reimagined lower bowl, connected to the best seats in the ballpark, with entertainment experiences. Each club offers a differentiated experience to satisfy unique fan interests, with personalized level of service including private members entrance and in-seat dining. Capacities are limited and are available as full or multi-season memberships.

“The types of entertainment experiences fans are looking for have evolved dramatically since Rogers Centre opened in 1989, and our ballpark currently has among the fewest premium experience options compared to MLB and other entertainment venues in Toronto,” said Mark Shapiro, President & CEO, Toronto Blue Jays. “The next phase of renovations will introduce more of the amenities we know Blue Jays fans want – compelling premium experiences that uniquely cater to the Greater Toronto Area.”

Three New Premium Clubs

Batting Tunnel Club (behind home plate – third base side) – for passionate fans to enjoy an authentic – yet elevated – sports bar atmosphere, punctuated by direct views over the home dugout and into the Blue Jays batting cage; design and décor feature memorabilia and tributes celebrating the team’s greatest moments (pictured).

Home Plate Club (directly behind home plate) – from all access to exclusive, the Home Plate Club is the very best that Rogers Centre has to offer with an unprecedented culinary experience, prestigious best-in-ballpark ‘In the Action’ seats, and the only membership with access to all three clubs.

The Lounge (behind home plate – first base side) – a private and intimate atmosphere with Blue Jays baseball as the backdrop, where fans can proudly host colleagues, family, and friends; as the largest of the three clubs, fans can seamlessly flow between work and play with an expanded culinary menu, live preparation chef’s table, in-club entertainment from pre to postgame, and a professional ambiance for hosting.

By Meghan Risch

Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) president and CEO Sherrif Karamat, CAE, announced Sandra Marcus and Nicole Kern have joined the CEMA team as Vice President, Strategy and Operations, and Manager, Community Development, respectively.

“Our commitment to providing the CEMA community with new and aggressive innovations remains,” Karamat said. “The greater vision is to provide value through additional and deeper content as well as enhanced connections by leveraging a robust and global infrastructure. Sandra and Nicole will be integral as we develop new value opportunities for members and business partners that leverage the combination CEMA and PCMA, two of the global business events industry’s most powerful communities.”

As Vice President, Strategy and Operations, Marcus will work collaboratively with the PCMA team and the CEMA Advisory Board to execute the vision and lead growth initiatives for CEMA including brand marketing, new program development, events, membership, and on-going community engagement. She joins the CEMA team with more than 30 years in the corporate industry as an event professional and a marketing leader, 20 of which were with IBM in a variety of event leadership roles. She officially joins CEMA on April 24, 2023, and will report to Junior Tauvaa, PCMA’s Chief Business Officer.

In the new role of Manager, Community Development, Kern will manage CEMA membership retention and acquisition with support from the PCMA Community team. Most recently, she was the Publications and Communications Coordinator with American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Kern joined CEMA on April 17, 2023.

Karen Galatis, a long-time CEMA veteran and former Oracle executive, has supported CEMA operations on an interim basis and will continue through CEMA Summit.

Meghan Risch is PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications.

From Celebrity Access

The Nashua (NH) Center for the Arts, a new state-of-the-art performing arts venue in downtown Nashua, NH, opened its doors on April 13 with Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken and has over 20 concerts and shows on the schedule with more to be announced.

Peter Lally, President of Spectacle Management, has been contracted by the city to manage the venue and is excited about the opportunities ahead.

“The Nashua Center for Arts will serve as the premier venue in the region for entertainment, including concerts, plays, musicals, and family performances,” he said. “We’re looking forward to hosting the 100th Anniversary concert for Symphony New Hampshire later in April and the impressive line-up of artists and productions committed to playing this beautiful new space.”

In addition to Symphony New Hampshire, Spectacle Live has already announced concerts with noted musicians Boz Scaggs (May 11), Pat Metheny (June 9), Dopapod (April 20), Jake Shimabukuro (July 15), Menopause the Musical (June 10), Girl Named Tom (April 21), Safe Haven Ballet’s production of Beauty and the Beast (April 22), Mary Chapin Carpenter (August 20), Ace Frehley (August 26) and more.

The centerpiece of the Nashua Center for the Arts is The Bank of America Theater. Designed by Boston-based ICON Architecture, the $25 million project is home to a 750-seat multi-purpose performing arts venue. In addition to the 350 seats on the mezzanine and partiere levels, the auditorium features 400 telescopic seats in the orchestra, which retract into the wall, creating a space that can accommodate up to 1000 people for standing events.

“The Nashua Center for the Arts will enrich what is already here,” said Mayor Jim Donchess. “This completely changes the nature of Nashua’s downtown. It’s Visible. Vivid. Vibrant. The Center will attract audiences to Nashua, entice residents to our downtown core, and enhance Nashua’s standing as the creative community within the region.”

Planning for the center began in 2015 under former Mayor Donalee Lozeau and then president of the Board of Aldermen, Brian McCarthy. The city owns the facility and is supported by Nashua Community Arts. Richard Lanna, President of Nashua Community Arts, noted that McCarthy, who passed away in 2018, “loved the city, and he loved our downtown. Brian would be thrilled that we’re opening the doors on this beautiful addition to Downtown Nashua.”

The 24th China Northeast International Dental Equipment Exhibition & Symposium on Oral Health (CNDE) concluded on March 25th just following the sixth Anniversary Celebration of the Shenyang New World EXPO (EXPO) held on March 22nd in the EXPO.

EXPO has returned to full operating status following its 10th closure during the three-year period of COVID-19. Forty events have been booked through the end of 2023 with an expected attendance at the events to surpass 700,000 visitors.

Ms. Diane Chen, General Manager of EXPO said, “We are thrilled to be back at full strength and welcoming our loyal exhibition and meeting organizers and other customers who have patiently waited for EXPO’s uninterrupted and full reopening.”

The CNDE provided a platform where experts discussed new ideas that shape the future of the oral health industry in Northeast China. In total, more than 60,000 people visited the exhibition covered 20,000 square meters of exhibition/multipurpose space and utilized 4,000 square meters of meeting rooms.

The sixth Anniversary Celebration of EXPO included a ceremony under the theme of “Welcoming the Return of Our Exhibitions and Boosting Northeast China’s Economy”. The event was attended by notable figures such as Mr. Guo Bin, Deputy Director-General, Department of Commerce in Liaoning Province; Mr. Cliff Wallace, CVE, Honorary President, UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry; Mr. Michael Brierley, Chief Executive Officer, Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific); and, other industry professionals. Video messages were sent from Brad Mayne, CVE, CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers and Kai Hattendorf, CEO of UFI.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Guo Bin said that as a sunrise industry, conventions and exhibitions are crucial to modern service industry. He pointed to its importance in the most recent opening-up efforts and in foreign trade and investment, in addition to other factors like stimulating consumption and employment opportunities. According to Mr. Guo, this industry is the “barometer” of regional economy and the image for a modern city. China’s convention and exhibition industry is gaining an increasingly greater international influence and an increasingly higher international status. In the days ahead, we will prompt the professional, market-oriented, international, branding and digital development of the convention and exhibition industry, host first-class international brand exhibitions and national-level exhibitions, introduce international and national large-scale conventions, and contribute to the high-quality economic development of Liaoning.

In her keynote speech, Ms. Chen noted that while China’s convention and exhibition industry is recovering across the board, united efforts were needed to revitalize the local economy in Liaoning. EXPO will contribute to enhancing the image of Shenyang and Liaoning and optimize the business landscape for future investment. EXPO will continue to improve operating standards, attract high-quality events and visitors, and assist in accelerating the development of the regional economy.

After its return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic, EXPO has hosted conventions and exhibitions one after another. These include the 2023 Shenyang International Advertising Expo, after which the 25th North International HVAC, Clean Energy and Comfortable Home Systems Exhibition and the 24th CNDE were held. Future events include large-scale events such as North China Building Decoration Fair, Academic Congress of International Chinese Neurosurgical Sciences, Public Security Exposition Northeast China, Northeast China Shenyang Spring Asia-Pacific Beauty Expo, China (Shenyang) International Modern Architecture Exposition, and the China (Shenyang) International Tea Industry Expo & Purple-clay Pottery, Chinaware, Teaware Exhibition.