Thomas D. Minter, 87, passed away at home on January 23, 2023, in Lexington, KY, where he resided since 1975. Tom was born December 21, 1935, to Colie and Thelma Minter in Beckley, WV. Tom was a 1953 graduate of Greenbrier Military Academy, then Marshall University, before establishing his career in arena management.

His first stop was the Raleigh County Armory (now Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center), where his premiere gig was “three skinny girls” called “The Supremes” which he booked for $150. He and the family arrived in the Bluegrass in 1964 where Tom was General Manager of the Louisville Convention Center for a decade.

Tom finished out his career as the President and CEO of Lexington Center Corp., opening Rupp Arena (now Central Bank Center) and its various facilities in 1976, until his retirement in 2000.

He served on the boards of the Society of Yeager Scholars of Marshall University, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Lexington Visitors and Convention Commission, Kentucky Horse Park, International Association of Venue Managers (where he earned his CVE in 1980) and as a founding member, continued to serve on the commission for Picnic with the Pops well into his retirement.

In retirement, Tom continued to fuel his passion for golf at Lexington Country Club, as well as annual winter stays in Vero Beach, FL. Long-time members of Southern Hills United Methodist Church, Tom is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carolyn; daughters, Bambi Hughes of Cypress, TX, and Lisa Stephenson of Farmersville, TX (husband David), and grandson, Harold Hughes of Cypress, TX. Tom is also survived by sister, Colette Meadows (Frank) of Ghent, WV and brother, Mike Minter of Pittsburgh, PA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Bluegrass Care Navigators at www.bgcarenav.org/give or at habitat.org” target=”_new” rel=”nofollow”>www..org. A private service will be observed by family. To share a remembrance of Tom or to offer condolences to his family, please visit milwardfuneral.com.

From Theater Design

After nearly 25 years working on a variety of projects Theater Design has become a sought-after firm due to our reputation in the industry, the success of our projects, and the acclaim of our clients. As we look to the future, we have decided that our website should reflect that diverse experience and expertise with a new website (expertly designed by DABBOTT Design). We wish to provide architects and performing arts organizations with a website that is easy to navigate and that describes our services, philosophy and approach to projects.

Visitors to the website will find easy access to the services we provide, past and present projects, and solutions to common and unique design issues. Our FAQ page clearly explains the value of our services and that while designing a new theater is similar to designing a show, it is vastly more complex. These issues are discussed in greater detail in Building Better Theaters, by Theater Design founder and president Michael Mell.

Our NEWS section keeps our clients up to date on the activities of the firm and staff. As well, future press releases and items of interest to the theater design industry are presented. We encourage our clients to BE IN TOUCH via the contact page where they may send an email or find our phone number to speak to us directly.

To view the new website, click here.

By Mary Tucker

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) is now offering an on-demand option for 11 of its 15 CEM Learning Program courses. Participants may engage in self-paced learning with 24/7 access to the course content including videos and knowledge checks.

“We understand that professionals want to advance their knowledge and skills but are also pressed for time given the current demands placed on our industry’s workforce,” said Senior CEM Learning Program Manager Jennifer Potter, CEM. “The on-demand solution allows those seeking to complete their certification journey the convenience and flexibility to grow their career on their terms.”

IAEE’s on-demand CEM Learning Program courses can be accessed at any time and allow participants to complete the course in as little or as much time as needed. Users may learn at the pace that best suits them while engaging in a self-guided online learning experience.

The courses that will be available include:

Event Marketing (available)
Conference and Meeting Management (available)
Floor Plan Development
Finance, Budgeting and Contracts
Event Operations
Security, Risk and Crisis Management
Housing and Registration Management
Selecting Service Contractors
Exhibition and Event Sales
Facilities and Site Selection
Strategic Planning and Management

IAEE’s on-demand CEM Learning Program courses are $350 USD for members and $605 USD for non-members. To register and stay up to date on courses as they become available, click here.

Mary Tucker is Sr. Content and Communications Manager at IAEE.

By Alex Hargis

The United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) announced that the Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus project would be receiving the top honor in this year’s Architecture Awards Programs. The winning design team includes architectural firm, LIVE Design Group, theatre consulting firm, TheatreDNA, and acoustic firm, SoundArts. Sponsored by the USITT Architecture Commission, the competition has honored the excellence in design in theatre projects for the last twenty-five years. Past judges include industry leaders such as Norman Pfeiffer FAIA, Yasu Toyota, and Malcolm Holzman FAIA, and they evaluate submissions based upon creative image, community contribution, performance venue design, functional operations between front and back of house, as well as other criteria.

“A large part of the success of this project was the powerful vision of Keith Cromwell, Executive Director
for Red Mountain Theatre,” said Craig Krawczyk, President of LIVE Design Group. “Keith’s vision, along
with the contributions from a great team of designers and consultants made the transformative outcome
possible. This award is truly a testament to the power of collaboration.”

Located in the Parkside District of Birmingham, Alabama, Red Mountain Theatre is known for their arts education, developing new work about societal topics such as human rights, and telling traditional stories from a diverse perspective. The 53,000 sq.ft. facility has been adapted from a collection of 100-year-old mechanical supply warehouses into a vibrant performing arts campus that includes a 455-seat flexible theatre with reconfigurable cabaret seating, a black box theatre, four rehearsal rooms, costume shop, an
education wing with a recording studio, and a donor’s lounge with reclaimed sliding fire doors. The nonprofit theatre currently provides arts education to over 17,000 kids from 72 zip codes and serves as an
economic driver for the area hosting 75,000 patrons across 300 events annually. Creating this new home
for the theatre required a community-wide effort and would not have been possible without the vision
and leadership of angel donors Kathryn and Raymond Harbert.

“The heart of what we do as theatre planners and designers is to create homes for artists,” said Michael Ferguson, Founding Principal of TheatreDNA. “For this project, it’s about bringing the organizational family under one roof instead having rehearsal rooms, scene shops, and performance spaces spread throughout the city. Creating a cultural hearth that is practical, affordable, and large enough to accommodate everyone allows the Red Mountain Theatre staff to better serve their community and local artists.”

LIVE Design Group, TheatreDNA, and SoundArts will be presented with the architectural award for Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus at this year’s USITT’s annual conference held in March in St. Louis.

The Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus project received the top honor in this year’s Architecture Awards programs during the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) annual conference recently concluded in St. Louis. The winning design team included architectural firm, LIVE Design Group, theatre consulting firm, TheatreDNA, and acoustic firm, SoundArts. Sponsored by the USITT Architecture Commission, the competition has honored the excellence in design in theatre projects for the last twenty-five years. Past judges include industry leaders such as Norman Pfeiffer FAIA, Yasu Toyota, and Malcolm Holzman FAIA, and they evaluate submissions based upon creative image, community contribution, performance venue design, functional operations between front and back of house, as well as other criteria.

Alex Hargis is Principal, Marketing & Business Development, for TheatreDNA.

The University of Toledo Athletic Department announced a partnership with global sports and live entertainment company Oak View Group (OVG) to secure a strategic naming rights partner for the Glass Bowl, the school’s historic football stadium located in the heart of its beautiful main campus. 

“We are excited to partner with OVG to identify a naming rights partner that shares our vision of Toledo Athletics and the University as a premier destination,” said Vice President and Director of Athletic Bryan Blair. “The Glass Bowl is not only the historic home of our football program, but it is a focal point of our campus, well-known for bringing great value to this region as its largest outdoor venue. We are excited to lock arms with OVG, and a naming rights partner who will help continue Toledo Athletics’ unprecedented momentum.” 

OVG’s Global Partnership division, which will spearhead the search for a naming rights partner, has successfully secured 19 naming rights partners totaling approximately $3.45B, including UBS Arena in New York City, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, and the new CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md.

“We are going to help The University of Toledo – and its student-athletes, students, faculty and alumni – find a naming rights partner who understands and values the Glass Bowl’s rich history, its significance to the community, and the opportunity to renew and reenergize an iconic college venue,” said W. David Livingston, VP of OVG Global Partnerships.

Since 1937, the Glass Bowl has been the home of Toledo Football and has hosted numerous concerts, commencements, and other signature events. The stadium has a seating capacity of over 26,000, including 45 private suites and 300 premium club seats, and hosts upward of 50 events and over 150,000 visitors annually. 

The Glass Bowl has been named the “best football stadium in the MAC” by Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. It has played host to 12 Mid-American Conference championship teams, including the Rockets’ most recent title in 2022.  

Through the years, the Rockets have hosted many major college opponents, including Miami (Fla.), Missouri, Arizona, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Purdue, Iowa State and Minnesota. Future home opponents include Kentucky and San Diego State. 

Toledo has been ranked No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference in attendance over each of the past four seasons. The Rockets appeared on national television nine times in 2022, with a total viewing audience of over 6.1 million. 

The City of Toledo and the greater Northwest Ohio community plays host to a thriving business community. Located in the heart of the Midwest, the city features a revitalized downtown attracting millions of dollars in new investment, with approximately six million people residing within a 100-mile radius of Toledo. The Toledo Region features five Fortune 500 companies and has been ranked top 10 for new business investment for six consecutive years.

Photo from University of Toledo Athletics.