Last week, we spoke with Howard August Wheeler, better known as H.A. or “Humpy” Wheeler, the former President and GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway, and one of the premier auto racing promoters and venue managers in the industry. IAVM’s venue managers attending the upcoming International Convention Center Conference, Oct. 3-5 in Charlotte, NC will have the pleasure of hearing Humpy give the opening keynote at the conference. We wanted to take a few minutes and get a “sneak peek under the hood” before the conference begins. With two weeks left before registration closes, there’s still time to make your plans and hear Humpy in person. It’s certain to be an amazing experience you won’t want to miss.

You may be a bit biased having worked in Charlotte, but if you had to choose your favorite speedway/venue in the world where would that be and why?
Humpy: My favorite track was one I ran in my twenties — the Robinwood Speedway in Gastonia. Built for midgets, it was a very high banked, fast quarter mile with great red clay. We ran inexpensive stock cars and filled the place every week. The action was tremendous. Unfortunately, its success spelled its doom because we blocked the road in front of the hospital an hour before and after the races. I wish I could duplicate it now. For what I call “big time” tracks I guess I like Richmond because it is smaller — 3/4mile — and tight with plenty of action. Daytona and Talladega are also great action tracks.

What amenities do you see as being the most critical to a good customer experience whether it’s at a race, in a stadium or even in a convention center?
Humpy: Amenities…wider seats…from the old 18 inch to 22 inch. I came up with the idea of the big screen TV for Charlotte and it really works. As tracks cut down on the number of seats traffic flow will improve. I see Daytona and Charlotte becoming 100,000 seat venues; Richmond, 80,000. Better restrooms, everything more comfortable. Continue Reading →

Orton Entertainment has announced the appointment of Dana Stoehr as General Manager of The Craneway Pavilion at historic Ford Point on the waterfront in Richmond, effective September 16. Stoehr brings over 20 years of event experience to The Craneway Pavilion, having spent the past 7 years as the Assistant General Manager of the San Mateo County Event Center, where she demonstrated particular expertise in attracting new events to the venue and created successful partnerships with event producers, local community organizations, city, and county officials.

Prior to that, Stoehr was the Events Sales and Services Manager for the Alameda County Fair, where she designed a modern events department and implemented marketing strategies to expand new business development for the organization. In both companies, Stoehr was a catalyst for double-digit revenue growth.

“In order to be benevolent, a venue must be profitable, if the venue is not profitable they cannot be benevolent.”

Just this August, Stoehr, an IAVM member since 2004, was among 14 venue industry professionals worldwide who received their Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) designation from IAVM during VenueConnect 2013 in New Orleans, LA.  CFE applicants are rated on their experience and accomplishments in public venue management. Managers who earn the CFE designation are recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as experts in their profession. Stoehr currently serves on the IAVM Region 7 Board of Directors for the West Coast as the Assistant Regional Director.

We wanted to ask Dana about her plans as she moves into her new role as GM, and she pleasantly replied in the midst of a what we are certain is a very hectic week. Continue Reading →

Through the support and resources of the IAVM Foundation, IAVM has filed an amicus brief supporting the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCCC) in a legal case with United National Maintenance (UNM) that carries significant industry wide implications. Here is the full amicus brief filed on August 2, 2013.

View IAVM’s postition on this litigation and additional details on a previous blog post, IAVM Files Amicus Brief to Support Industry, Member Venues.

Industry Is Angered Over Move by Cuomo
-The New York Times

Matthew Barbara, regional president of Marine Max, the largest boat dealer in New York, was contemplating pulling out of the century-old New York Boat Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Attendance had fallen sharply, and it was not worth hauling 40 or 50 Boston Whalers, Sea Rays and other pleasure boats to the Manhattan show. He had asked for dates that he felt were more favorable, and had been rebuffed.

But he did not pull out. Instead, he called Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

“I got lucky; he actually picked up the phone,” Mr. Barbara said. “I explained what’s going on; the amount of business we’re losing, the sales tax we collect and the amount of people we’re letting go. I explained it to him, and he made it happen.”

The governor — whose love of outdoor sports and the lakes of upstate New York is well known — intervened. The boating industry got the dates it wanted in January, and even a September event on the Hudson River.

But there was a problem. The new dates for the boat show meant that five other trade shows and conventions had to be moved to less favorable dates. And those shows have an arguably greater economic impact.

See also: IAVM Letter to Governor Cuomo in Support of Javits Convention Center

NFL Stadium Falls Leave One Dead, Two Injured
-NBC News

A football fan tumbled to his death from an elevated walkway outside Candlestick Park, moments after the San Francisco 49ers kicked off their final season home opener at the stadium.

In a separate incident, two people were injured Sunday when a railing collapsed as the Colts played the Raiders in Indianapolis.

This week, IAVM announced that Peggy Daidakis, the executive director at the Baltimore Convention Center, is the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient on behalf of IAVM’s Convention Centers/Exhibit Halls Committee. The award will be presented to Peggy this October 3-5, at the 2013 International Convention Center Conference (ICCC) to be held in Charlotte, NC. The award is presented to an individual recognized by their peers for outstanding contributions to both IAVM and the convention center industry.

For almost 40 years, Peggy Daidakis has served the city of Baltimore and for 20 has served as the Executive Director for the Baltimore Convention Center. She started her career as a public servant in 1973 while working in Mayor William Donald Schafer’s office. Peggy has been a part of every major redevelopment in Baltimore’s meetings and tourism history, beginning with the restoration of Baltimore’s famed Inner Harbor. Her early roles involved representing the Mayor at community meetings and grew to the planning of festivals. Continue Reading →