From arenagroup.com

The deal, which will see the company continue to operate under the name of Stadium Solutions, marks a major expansion of Arena’s presence in the UK and Europe stadia market.

Stadium Solutions, based in West Sussex, has been operating since 1994 and specializes in building seated spectator stands, covered standing terraces, turnstiles and turnstile buildings, and dugouts.

It has delivered projects at football stadiums and training grounds across the UK, including Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, Cambridge City, and Salford City.

“We’re delighted to have acquired Stadium Solutions,” said Tom Evans, CEO of Arena UK & Europe. “It’s a company with a fantastic track record for permanent stadia and seating solutions and one we’ve admired for a long time. This is an exciting moment for Arena, and we’re looking forward to the opportunities which lay ahead.”

Terry Smith, Arena’s Managing Director of Global Seating, said, “Arena has already established itself in the stadia market with a number of high-profile clients, but this acquisition gives us the opportunity to both cement and increase our presence. As well as its existing client base, Stadium Solutions also brings new opportunities for Arena including in-house manufacturing capabilities and new products.”

“This is a deal which makes perfect sense to both us and Arena Group,” said Phill Harris, CEO and Founder of Stadium Solutions. “Our interests and ambitions align perfectly and, working together, we can look to become a major player in both the permanent and temporary stadia markets. “I’m very proud of everything we have achieved as a company and now, as part of Arena Group, I’m excited about this next chapter in our story.”

From press@NYCFC.com

New York City Football Club (NYCFC) has selected HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor to design and build New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium. The Club is confident that HOK and Turner will successfully deliver the Club’s vision for a world-class 25,000-seat stadium that will become a community resource. NYCFC is proud to work with Queens Development Group (QDG) to bring forward a once-in-a-generation project for Willets Point that will include 2,500 units of 100 percent affordable housing, a 650-seat new public school, a hotel, open space, and NYCFC’s fully privately financed stadium. Following the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval process, construction on the $780 million project aims to be completed for the Club to play in its new stadium for the 2027 MLS Season.

Brad Sims, NYCFC CEO, said: “We’re extremely excited to announce HOK as the architect and Turner Construction Company as the general contractor for our future home. It is clear that HOK and Turner are the right partners to bring our vision of a world-class stadium that is integrated into the local community. Soccer is known around the globe for its incredible in-stadium atmospheres, and we are committed to delivering a best-in-class experience for our fans in a stadium that reflects the greatest city in the world.

“This project will be transformative for Queens; the World’s Borough is the perfect location to build the City’s first stadium for the world’s game. Stadiums are where people come together, and we share a vision with HOK to ensure our stadium becomes a destination of soccer for our fans while playing an important part in the development of Willets Point. HOK is renowned for designing some of North America’s most successful stadiums, arenas, and entertainment districts, and we are looking forward to working with them as we enter the ULURP approval process. Turner is recognized as a leading builder of stadiums, arenas, and ballparks – including one dozen Major League Soccer stadiums – that support the communities in which they are built.”

HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment key projects include St. Louis CITY SC’s new CITYPARK, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (home of NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS Atlanta United) and the renovation of State Farm Arena in Atlanta, the renovation of Footprint Center in Phoenix, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Rogers Place and the ICE District in Edmonton, Alberta, and Little Caesars Arena and The District Detroit. HOK also designed the new award-winning Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, which was designed and constructed as one of the largest public-private partnerships in U.S. aviation history. With 1,600 people across 25 offices worldwide, HOK will draw on its interdisciplinary team of planners, designers, and engineers for the project.

Rashed Singaby, principal and senior project designer at HOK, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, citing a shared commitment to community-focused design. “We’re honored to work with NYCFC to design New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium for the 2021 MLS champions. The stadium will embody New York City’s dynamism and cultural diversity and will become a vibrant example of urban placemaking. Our design will embrace the multi-faceted identity of Queens, Flushing Meadows and the site’s industrial heritage, offering fans an unprecedented, hospitality-driven game-day experience while integrating into the local community as an everyday asset.”

HOK’s design will strategically position the stadium along the edge of 126th Street, integrating into the city grid to optimize land use and incorporate public open space. In addition to providing a home for NYCFC, the stadium will provide a variety of year-round amenities and events. Designed with a pedestrian-friendly scale, the stadium will showcase cutting-edge technology, offer flexibility, and create a grand arrival experience. The site is adjacent to the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center and the New York Mets’ Citi Field, creating a world-class destination for sports and entertainment in Queens.

Turner Construction Company has a dedicated Sports Group that brings together an enormous breadth of specialized resources in the unique aspects of sports construction. Turner’s Sports Group is made up of dedicated, passionate staff with the experience, industry knowledge, creativity, and resourcefulness to deliver on commitments. Turner clients include professional teams in soccer, football, baseball, hockey, and basketball.

Turner has worked on many of the top sports venues in the world, including TQL Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Lower.com Field, the Golden 1 Center, Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Levi’s Stadium, and the Intuit Dome. Turner has earned a reputation for safe, efficient project management and innovative solutions to complex challenges.

“We are honored to be a part of the team building the new home for NYCFC. The stadium will elevate the experience for this incredible team and their fans,” said Turner Vice President and General Manager Charlie Whitney. “From the very beginning of our involvement, we understood the importance of this project and the positive impact and transformation it will bring to the entire community. We look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with HOK and the entire team over the next several years to achieve our common goals, deliver on our commitments, and make this project a reality for NYCFC and New York City.”

HOK and Turner Construction Company’s relationship dates back 50 years, and in that time, the firms have completed more than 400 projects together. They have successfully delivered large-scale projects in the New York market and across the United States spanning corporate, healthcare, science + technology, and sports + entertainment facilities.

For nearly a decade, NYCFC has been investing in local communities across New York City through its foundation, which will be housed in the new stadium, enabling the organization to expand its free-soccer programs available to the local Queens community.

Queens Development Group, a joint venture between Related Companies and Sterling Equities, will oversee the stadium and district’s development. The entire project will enter the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval process later this year and will be reviewed by the New York City Public Design Commission. NYCFC will work to finalize the stadium design to align with entering the ULURP approval process later this year. The stadium and development are projected to generate more than 14,200 local jobs during construction, with 1,550 permanent positions created upon completion.

By Mike Tishka

Sightline Commercial Solutions, a leading fabricator and global supplier of architectural railing, metal, glazing and portable platform solutions for the commercial, sports venue, live entertainment and performing arts industries, has ushered in a new era of sales strategy with the appointment of Tiffany Duncan as its new Vice President of Sales. Bringing a creative and analytical skillset to the company, Duncan is responsible for leading the company’s nationwide sales team and implementing initiatives for near- and long-term growth.

“Tiffany’s forward-thinking mindset and solid track record of inventive and successful marketing and sales approaches make her one of the best in her field,” said Chad Bailey, CFO of Sightline Commercial Solutions. “We are confident her motivational attitude combined with her proven leadership skills will effectively broaden our reach, empower our sales professionals to excel, and further solidify our position as a leader in the industry.”

Before joining Sightline Commercial Solutions, Duncan spent more than a decade leading strategic sales organizations through complex, multi-million-dollar energy and infrastructure projects at Trane Technologies and Johnson Controls. She has held roles of increasing responsibility with a primary focus on building highly effective and transformational teams with a customer-centric approach.

“Tiffany is well known for delivering outstanding results and has a reputation for reliability, responsiveness, and driving profitable growth, making her an ideal fit for our growing business,” added Bailey.

“I am thrilled to join the Sightline team and to have the opportunity to work with an already strong and extremely talented sales organization to take the business to the next level,” Duncan said. “I’m eager to build upon the company’s strong foundation and reputation for excellence while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the industry.”

Duncan graduated from the University of Missouri and holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and history along with a master’s degree in marketing from Webster University. She resides in St. Louis with her husband and three children.

Mike Tishka is with L.C. Williams & Associates.

From clevelandbrowns.com

The Cleveland Browns and FirstEnergy Corp. announced that they have reached an amicable decision to end their stadium naming rights agreement. Terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Together with the Browns, we have worked to enrich our communities while increasing awareness of FirstEnergy as an energy leader. Since we signed this agreement ten years ago, our priorities have shifted as the company evolved from a competitive energy supplier to a regulated utility, and as a result, our corporate initiatives must also evolve,” said John Somerhalder, interim president and CEO. “Like the rest of northern Ohio, we remain passionate Browns fans and will cheer them on in upcoming seasons. We also look forward to maintaining our deep relationships with civic, arts, and other organizations to bring good energy to our communities.”

“We’ve had a great association with FirstEnergy for more than two decades, and we appreciate this partnership and what it has created for our team and the broader northeast Ohio community,” said Dave Jenkins, Haslam Sports Group COO. “We reached this amicable agreement that is consistent with the productive relationship we have always enjoyed, and we wish FirstEnergy success with their future initiatives. Our home stadium will return to its former name, Cleveland Browns Stadium.”

Timothy Alan “Tim” Riddle, 62, died unexpectedly Friday, April 28, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri while on a business trip for the County of Volusia, Florida where he served as the Ocean Center Director.

Graveside services will be conducted Monday, May 8, 2023, at 2:30 P.M. at Polk Memorial Gardens with Steve Lusk, Mitch Holman, and David Farris officiating. The family will visit with friends Monday May 8, 2023, from 12:00 noon until 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Condolences may be extended online at oakesandnichols.com. Memorials may be made to Hush Puppy Haven at hushpuppyhaven.org. It’s a nonprofit and it sponsors the Pet Meals on Wheels program with the Council of Aging of Volusia County, providing food each month to feed the pets of local seniors.

He was born March 26, 1961, in Maury County to the late Charles Riddle and the late Frances Parks Riddle. He graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1979 and went on and attended Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He began his CPA career as an auditor for Arthur Anderson. Then went on to work at the Chattanooga Convention Center where he worked his way up to Director. At the end of 2010, he took a new position as Director of the Cave City Convention Center. In 2012, he took a position as Director at the Rainwater Conference Center in Valdosta, GA from 2012-2017. In 2017, he took a Deputy Director position at the County of Volusia at the Ocean’s Center and became Director shortly afterwards.

Survivors include his wife Lisa Locke Riddle that he married on August 18, 1984, of Ormond Beach, Florida; two children, Casey Riddle of Anderson, South Carolina and Cody Riddle of Russellville, Kentucky; a brother, Roger Riddle (Connie) of Columbia; sister, Delilah Riddle Andrews Harris (Johnny) of Columbia; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Charles Brian Riddle.

SERVICES
Visitation
Monday, May 8, 2023
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home
320 W 7th St.
Columbia, TN 38401

Graveside Service
Monday, May 8, 2023
2:30 PM
Polk Memorial Gardens
6465 Trotwood Avenue
Columbia, TN 38401