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

By Rick Van Warner

In a day that will go down in club history, the Toronto Blue Jays officially unveiled the completed first phase of Rogers Centre renovations featuring a brand-new Outfield District that will transform the fan experience at the 34-year-old ballpark. Blue Jays fans can enjoy the spaces starting with the 2023 Home Opener on April 11, with five distinct neighborhoods and many additional new social spaces available to everyone with a game ticket.

Mark Shapiro, President & CEO, Toronto Blue Jays, was joined by Edward Rogers, Chair of the Toronto Blue Jays and Chair of Rogers and Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reveal the largest-scale infrastructure project since Rogers Centre opened in 1989. The new Outfield District is part of a multi-year $300 million privately funded renovation that will be completed between 2024 and 2025.

“We have the unique privilege of representing a dynamic city and have reflected that energy in the reimagined ballpark,” Shapiro said. “We are extremely excited to debut these spaces to both lifelong and new Blue Jays fans.”

The result is a dramatically different Rogers Centre experience, immediately noticeable when fans enter the ballpark. Designed with Populous, the new Outfield District – available to every fan with a game ticket – features social spaces to gather with friends and get closer to the action; live entertainment off the field; and food and beverage menus that reflect the city of Toronto.

“We’ve worked to completely transform the stadium into a ballpark that features the latest amenities for a wide range of fans and provides best-in-class facilities for players and their families,” said Ben Naudet, Populous project designer for the Rogers Centre Outfield District. “We couldn’t be more excited with the design and functional changes made to modernize the fan experience and build a great ballpark.”

“Rogers Centre is home to Canada’s baseball team, and I’m delighted to see the first phase of this renovation project come to life for Blue Jays fans,” Rogers said. “We’re proud of the team and we’re proud to invest in the ballpark, a landmark in the heart of downtown Toronto.”

“We’re deeply committed to supporting the team and to delivering the best fan experience both on and off the field,” Staffieri said. “These renovations will bring the heart of the city into the ballpark and create a sense of community for fans attending the game.”

The Blue Jays began the first phase of renovation construction on October 14, 2022, with PCL Construction. The structural demolition took 35 days and approximately 21,000 worker hours, with the new build beginning on November 14, 2022.

“The dynamics for how fans experience a game and their expectations for different options are evolving quickly,” said Derek Sommers, Populous associate principal. “We designed everything in the Rogers Centre Outfield District with this in mind, fostering more of a social, dynamic atmosphere.”

Five Outfield Neighborhoods
1. Corona Rooftop Patio (500L right field) – this rooftop patio oasis is the new place to be nestled in Toronto’s iconic skyline where fans can gather with friends while enjoying live music beneath the CN Tower and a summer patio menu.

2. Park Social (500L left field) – a park within the park for fans of all ages featuring games, food truck-style bites, and comfortable places to hang out while watching the game.

3. The Stop (100L center field behind the batter’s eye) – your neighborhood bar to grab a quick drink and bite with friends on the way to your next Outfield District destination; an ode to stadium history in a space originally planned as a transit stop.

4. The Catch Bar (100L right field above the visitors’ bullpen) – the place to see and be seen; grab a cocktail and perch above the visitors’ bullpen with unprecedented views to catch all the action up close.

5. WestJet Flight Deck (200L center field) – the place fans know (and love!) has a refresh with retro arcade games, brewery-style menu, and the same great vibe.

New Social Spaces
1. Schneiders Porch (200L right field corner) – this open-air porch has epic views of right field as well as one-of-a-kind hot dog culinary creations and direct bar access, so you don’t miss a minute of the action.

2. Rogers Landing (right field corner beside the visitors’ bullpen) – bring your glove to this open-air home run landing pad with uninterrupted front-row views of the outfield and visitors’ bullpen.

3. Bleacher Seating (100L bowl behind the visitors’ bullpen) – calling all hardcore fans… watch opposing pitchers in these retro-style bleachers directly behind the visitors’ bullpen.

4. Left and Right Field Balconies (100L concourse outfield corners overlooking the home and visitors’ bullpens respectively) – prime bullpen views await to watch pitchers warm up while taking in the action over left and right field.

5. Drink Rails (throughout ballpark) – grab a drink and post-up at a new spot every inning, with countless options around the concourse.

Additional Completed Projects
1. Raised Bullpens (left and right field) – bringing fans closer to the action to cheer on their Blue Jays pitchers.

2. Player Weight Room (field level) – 5,000 square foot best-in-class facility to help players prepare, compete, and recover.

3. Players’ Family Spaces (field level) – dedicated kids’ room and spouses’ lounge to support the team behind the Blue Jays team.

4. Staff Spaces (100L) – overhauled game day staff facilities to support more than 1,000 staff who are essential to the Blue Jays fan experience.

Additional New Innovation
1. Tap N Go (section 104) is a new automated market to speed up service where fans tap payment on entry, select their food and beverage items, and are automatically charged on exit.

2. Walk Thru Bru (sections 125 and 519) are self-serve beverage-focused concessions so fans can spend more time enjoying the game.

Rick Van Warner is with Great Ink.