By Paul Colston

City of Glendale (AZ) officials have approved a new long-term lease agreement and $40 million renovation plan with ASM Global –the world’s largest venue management company – for its Desert Diamond Arena. The aim is to increase the Arizona, USA venue’s fiscal returns and prominence as a key element in the city’s growth as a national entertainment hub.

ASM Global has successfully operated the city-owned venue for the past six and one-half years and 2022 marked Desert Diamond Arena’s best financial performance in 17 years. Management expects 2023’s figures to surpass the 2022 fiscal record.

“This agreement demonstrates that ASM Global, an internationally recognized leader in arena and venue management, is aligned with our belief about the tremendous future for our ever-expanding Sports and Entertainment District,” said Glendale City manager Kevin Phelps.

ASM Global president and CEO Ron Bension said: “We passionately believe in Glendale and Desert Diamond’s potential to live up to its name as a diamond in the entertainment sphere. The area’s track record of hosting spectacular events – like the Super Bowl – can grow even more to enrich the community. We’re looking forward to further leverage our worldwide expertise in this market.”

Utilizing its global relationships in content, programming, planning, technology, sustainability, and guest safety, ASM Global will partner to fund renovation plans to enhance the guest, artist, and athlete experience at Desert Diamond. The Glendale site is part of ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues around the world that host 20,000 events and welcome 165 million guests every year.

HOK has been selected to help with the renovation and design.

The new agreement includes a lease/buy option for ASM.

Paul Colston is Managing Editor, Conference News & Conference & Meetings World.

By Larry Mayer

Last fall the NFL Chicago Bears released an open letter confirming that they had reached an agreement to acquire 326 acres of property in Arlington Heights “to secure the potential of beginning a new and exciting chapter for the Bears, our fans, the Chicagoland community, and the State of Illinois.”

The organization released a second open letter recently, announcing that it has closed on the Arlington Park Property, describing it as “another step toward realizing” the vision that was stated in the first open letter last fall.

The Bears stressed, however, that closing on the property does not necessarily mean that a new stadium will be built on the site.

“Finalizing the purchase does not guarantee the land will be developed, but it is an important next step in our ongoing evaluation of the opportunity,” the letter reads. “There is still a tremendous amount of due diligence work to be done to determine if constructing an enclosed state-of-the-art stadium and multi-purpose entertainment district is feasible.”

Other highlights from the letter include the following:

If the Bears proceed, the development of the Arlington Heights property would be one of the largest mega-projects in Midwest history. Possible construction of a stadium-anchored development is projected by analysts to create more than 48,000 jobs, generate $9.4 billion in economic impact for the Chicagoland economy and provide $3.9 billion in new labor income to workers across the region.

The Bears will continue to work closely with the Village of Arlington Heights, surrounding municipalities and their residents to solicit extensive feedback on how they can best benefit local communities and Bears fans across Illinois.

If a stadium is constructed, the Bears will not seek taxpayer funds for the structure. The project would, however, require assistance to ensure feasibility, including securing property tax certainty and support for infrastructure commensurate with the public benefits the project will yield to the region.

Larry Mayer is Bears Senior Writer with chicagobears.com.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in January 2023. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit here to share your story and photo.

Leila Aboujouda, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Lindsey Abrahamson, Central Bank Center/Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Jennifer Alden, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
Kate Andacht, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Airikuh Anderson, Oak View Group, Philadelphia, PA
David Andow, FOOD-TRAK / System Concepts Inc., Scottsdale, AZ
Joel Artis, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, FL
Marcus Augenstien, Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
Charles Barrette, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Aaron Bayham, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, TX
Robyn Bearden, Opportunity Central – The OC, Forney, TX
Aaron Beatty, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Shanna Benfiet, Rose Quarter, Portland, OR
Alison Benton, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, Little Rock, AR
Rich Best, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Steve Birdwell, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Matt Bishop, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Davis Bitton, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT
Jeremy Bodary, The Professional Group, Roseville, MI
Eric Bofenkamp, Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Mike Boulier, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Riley Braker, Missouri State University, Nixa, MO
Crystal Brewe, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Brittany Brown, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Jeremy Bull, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Jason Burgess, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Corey Calaycay, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Lorri Calhoun, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
John Carlson, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Matthew Castillo, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, Salt Lake City, UT
Cielo Castro, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Dana Chester, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA
Valerie Clanton, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Jeff Clark, Central Bank Center/Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Austin Connors, Abilene Convention Center, Abilene, TX
Carlos Cota, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Adrian Coye, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Mark Cunningham, Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities, Kansas City, MO
Kristy Dahlstrom, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Leslie Deason, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Annabella DeLeon, Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio, TX
David Demuth, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Antonio DiPaolo, LAZ Parking, Chicago, IL
Joseph Esile, Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn, NY
Pat Evans, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Jesi Evans-Mundell, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Tosha Faith, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
Chad Farmer, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS
Brad Farrington, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Steve Faulstick, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Gina Fergile, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Marisa Flynn, Oak View Group, Philadelphia, PA
Alexis Fort, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Zach Fortunato, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Nina Fortune, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Steve Fraser, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Mary Fugere, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Micah Garner, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Kesete Gebremariam, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Mark Geiger, CCLD Networks, Atlanta, GA
Daniel Getchell, Rose Quarter, Portland, OR
Adam Ghan, Missouri State University, Strafford, MO
Kimiko Gilmore, Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities, Kansas City, MO
Allie Glidewell, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS
Ray Gonzalez, MGM Resorts, Las Vegas, NV
Jacob Goodall, Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
Mary Graham, Gas South District, Duluth, GA
Courtney Greever-Fries, The Fox Theatre – Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Jason Grohoske, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Jordan Gura, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Melissa Hady, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Michelle Hamff, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL
Rebecca Hansen, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Jen Hazzard, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Shalanda Hedrick, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Nena Hernandez, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Renee Hernandez, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Kristina Hill, UTA Special Event Facilities, Arlington, TX
Ruth Hill, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Callie Hoch, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, TX
Joe Hoffman, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Carolyne Holcomb, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Mary Hough, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Alonzo Houston, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Jacob Hughes, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Tyler Ichella, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Marcus Jackson, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Elizabeth Jamieson, Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Alex Jeffries, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS
Brandon Johnson, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Susan Johnson, Opportunity Central – The OC, Forney, TX
MacKensie Juday, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Duane Kearsley, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT
Emily Kempe, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON, Canada
Sarah King, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Chris Knowles, Gas South District, Duluth, GA
Kathryn Kowalski, Oak View Group, Philadelphia, PA
Victoria Krivenkoff, California State University, Fullerton, La Habra, CA
Kole Kuntz, MetraPark, Billings, MT
Taylor Kyte, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Robert Lawrence, Rose Quarter, Portland, OR
Kaishin Lin, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Tyler Lloyd, CCLD Networks, Atlanta, GA
Taylor Lohman, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Michael Lopez, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, TX
Kevin Maas, Screenflex Portable Walls, Lake Zurich, IL
Nolan MacDonald, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
Edd MacKey, Central Bank Center/Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Chance Margotta, ], San Antonio, TX
Walter Marquez, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Rick McEachern, FirstBank Amphitheater, Franklin, TN
Marinah McGinnis, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Commerce City, CO
Jana Meszaros, City of Eugene, Eugene, OR
Noah Micke, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Jenna Miller, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Matt Miller, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Shannon Miller, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Geneva Moody, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Brian Moore, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, TX
Miriam Morgan, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN
Talana Morris, Opportunity Central – The OC, Forney, TX
Matt Mueller, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Sean Murphy, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Wesley Nader, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Danache Nelson, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Jeff Newsome, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
Gardy Noel, CCLD Networks, Atlanta, GA
Will Norris, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Katie Nye, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT
Ellie Oegema, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Tanner Oetting, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
William Ogg, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Erich Olschewski, Event Services – Utah State University, Logan, UT
Emily Olson, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL
Natalie Pawson, Vancouver Civic Theatres, Vancouver, BC, Canada
John Payne, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Adam Peden, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS
Chad Pennington, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Aubrey, TX
Brian Perlow, Bergmeyer, Boston, MA
Meghan Peterson, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Sara Peterson, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Stacey Phillips, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, Salt Lake City, UT
Amber Pietenpol, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS
Larry Pitcher, Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Matthew Quinn, CCLD Networks, Atlanta, GA
Ish Ramirez, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Lynnette Rancifer, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, Little Rock, AR
Ryanne Rausch, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Nick Reid, Durham Convention Center, DURHAM, NC
Kevin Reynolds, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
Alexander Richards, Los Angeles Football Club/BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Andrew Riojas, United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
Brittney Roberts, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL
David Robertson, Vanguardia Limited, Oxted, United Kingdom
Keith Rodda, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Billy Rodrigues, Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
David Roman, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
David Roth, MetraPark, Billings, MT
Jackie Rowley, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA
Carol Rushton, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Jamie Salkind, Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA
Sara Salvati, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Tim Santi, , Atlanta, GA
Tayler Savage, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT
Jeana Schiffres, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA
Matthew Schlief, The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
Russ Schroader, Sportsbeams Lighting, Inc., Round Rock, TX
Nathan Schumann, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Alexandra Serrano, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON, Canada
Sylvester Servance, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Bram Sheckels, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL
Matthew Shufflebarger, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Grant Simmons, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Allison Skok, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, Salt Lake City, UT
Alex Smith, Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Tyler Smith, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, Salt Lake City, UT
Javon Sneed, Venue Management/UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Juan Soto, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Malorie Squitieri, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Denver, CO
Nathan Stephens, Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
Joseph Strang, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA
Nancy Strening, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
James Swindell, Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Joyce Szudzik, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Alfredo Tapia, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Abby Tauber, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Haley Thelen, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Jack Thomas, Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
Payton Thomas, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
Steve Turner, Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis, IN
Paul Valenzuela, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Kimberly VanderWal, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL
Javier Vasquez, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX
Suzanne Villegas, Fairplex, Pomona, CA
Zachariah Wachalec, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Jill Wagner, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, TX
Jake Walker, Opportunity Central – The OC, Forney, TX
Julia Weagle, TD Place at Lansdowne, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Brian Weaver, Opportunity Central – The OC, Forney, TX
Amanda Wells, Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, Boulder, CO
Ruby White, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, Portland, OR
Danielle Williams, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK
Shavannia Williams, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
Jamie Wirth, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Mark Won, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Nicole Wurster, Highmark Stadium – Buffalo Bills, Orchard Park, NY
Tali Ziegler, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

By Alyssa Enwright and Stephanie Bunce

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank’s Board of Directors has elected Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, CVE, as Board Chair. Rippetoe is President and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation and serves as a board member of several San Diego-based organizations, including the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl, and Sports San Diego’s Advisory Board. In support of arts and tourism, Rippetoe is a Steering Committee Member for the Comic-Con Museum and an Advisor for the San Diego County Lodging Association and the San Diego Tourism Authority.

“The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and San Diego Convention Center have fostered a decades-long relationship built on the shared goal of helping our neighbors who are facing hunger,” Rippetoe said. “We recognize the urgency and importance of solving food insecurity in our communities. As Board Chair, I look forward to championing innovative and effective ways of meeting San Diego’s evolving needs.”

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and its North County Food Bank chapter comprise the largest hunger-relief organization in the region. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 45 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 37.5 million meals to families facing food insecurity in communities throughout San Diego County. Currently, the Food Bank feeds approximately 400,000 people per month. The nonprofit’s service population includes working-poor families, seniors on fixed incomes, children living in poverty, low-income military families, and the unhoused population.

Commenting on Rippetoe’s appointment, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo said, “The Food Bank’s Board of Directors and staff welcome Rip’s appointment as Board Chair. Rip brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to this position having served in leadership positions on a host of boards and a range of community service organizations. We are honored to have such a widely respected community leader at the helm of our Board of Directors, and we look forward to working with him as we continue to strengthen our critical hunger-relief programs and services for the local community.”

“The Food Bank continues to serve record numbers of individuals and families in need throughout San Diego County due to the lasting impacts of the pandemic and soaring inflation. I am confident that Rip’s leadership will help guide our organization as we continue to serve as the county’s safety net for those facing food insecurity. Rip’s leadership of our Board of Directors will continue to strengthen our strong ties with the San Diego community and our role as a leader of the county’s charitable food network.”

An international leader in the meetings industry, Rippetoe has worked for organizations hosting top national tradeshows and conventions, including the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, and for large-scale public assembly facilities such as the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake and the Kentucky Expo Center. From 2020-2021, Rippetoe served as Chair of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Board of Directors.

Alyssa Enwright is a Partner + Vice President at Beck Ellman Heald and Stephanie Bunce is with the San Diego Food Bank.

By R.V. Baugus

Steve Camp, CVE, is no stranger to authoring books. The Retired IAVM member based in Charlotte, NC, collaborated with Kim Mahoney, Lee Esckilsen, and Sporty Jeralds in 2015 to produce the Public Assembly Venue Management: Sports, Entertainment, Meeting, and Convention Venues in 2015. Now, eight years later, Camp sets sail in a fun and different direction with a novel entitled Unconventional Plan.

Camp said that the book was published by Innovative Ink Publishing and called it an industry-related work that could be interesting reading for IAVM members. We so happen to agree and invite members to order a copy on Amazon by clicking here.

Camp added that the book will also be available in print or digital at Barnes & Noble locations.

The advance marketing for the fiction work follows and be aware that Doug Johnson is merely coincidental to any readers by the same name.

Perhaps time was Doug Johnson’s worst enemy, but there were several other factors that would make his decision to lend expertise to an unfinished community project a questionable choice. A staff with little experience, a fast-moving construction project and a political situation that could endanger the whole process were additional issues Doug had to consider. He would have to address all these issues while he was committed to helping an acquaintance determine whether or not his band was good enough and dedicated enough to pursue a meaningful existence in the local live music industry. While Doug’s abilities were time proven, even his vast experience and exceptional career might not be enough to pull it all off. He would need to dust off his tools for management, his organizational skills and his ever-important ability to build a successful team. He would definitely need a plan and perhaps it would need to be an unconventional plan.

Hey, on second thought this kind of sounds like something some IAVM member can relate to in the real world!

Note: if the book is out of stock please continue to check back for availability.