By Liz Davis

AMS Planning & Research, an arts management consulting practice with offices in Connecticut and California, announced the expansion of its presence in the Midwest with the addition of Jon Faris as a Director of the company. Faris assumed his new role March 1.

Faris joined AMS as an Associate in October 2021, working on a range of projects from feasibility studies to serving as owner’s counsel and guiding strategic planning initiatives. Steven A. Wolff, Principal of AMS said, “Jon brings together industry insight, an understanding of how our clients do their work and hands-on project and facility development expertise that will help our clients realize successful projects in a rapidly changing environment.”

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Faris was the Managing Director of Writers Theatre for fourteen years. He led the design and construction of its new state-of-the-art theatre center, designed by internationally renowned architect and MacArthur Fellow recipient Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects with planning support provided by AMS. Faris also partnered with Executive Director Kate Lipuma to lead the company’s day-to-day operations, working closely with the leadership team to develop strategy and support the marketing, fundraising, production, finance, facilities, education, and artistic departments.

After Writers Theatre, Faris was the Head of Production Operations for Category41, an immersive and experiential entertainment studio that creates experience-driven entertainment at the intersection of digital and physical. Category41’s experiences immerse audiences in surprising and visceral universes that shift how we see, feel, and interact with the world around us. Deeply engaged in this paradigm shift, Jon worked with creative teams to execute projects from inception to operations, including business modeling, budgeting, and production and operational management.

“It is an honor to join AMS Planning & Research during a time when the performing arts and entertainment sectors are undergoing significant change and transition,” Faris said. “Our work with clients helps them make sense of their current situations and plan for a new future. I am excited to bring my experience both in theatre and the immersive and experiential entertainment fields to serve AMS’s clients while deepening AMS’s work with arts communities in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. As those of us who have come up through Chicago’s theatre community know, we value authenticity, collaboration, and a spirit of innovation and risk-taking, qualities shared with the leadership team at AMS.”

Liz Davis is Business Development and Office Manager for AMS Planning & Research.

By Courtney Hornsby

Following a national talent search, the City of West Monroe and Sports Facilities Companies announced their selection of Jamie Johnson for General Manager of their new sports complex, West Monroe Sports & Events. The West Monroe native brings his athletics-focused professional experience, years of public and private sector management, and a life-long passion for sports to the facility. Johnson is the co-owner of D-BAT Monroe, a baseball and softball equipment company and training facility franchise. He also spent over five years playing professional ball for the Detroit Tigers.

“Until now, we haven’t had a local venue large enough for major sports and events. I am blessed to have the opportunity to make an impact through sports in my hometown,” Johnson said. “I have big first-year aspirations that include stacking our calendar with a wide range of exciting events and sports tournaments. Our goal is for people nationwide to recognize and get excited about playing at West Monroe Sports & Events and visiting our city.”

The 112,000-square-foot indoor sports venue is slated to open in Fall 2023 and will become a regional hub for multi-purpose sports tourism and local programming. The facility is comprised of eight full-size basketball courts that can convert to 16 volleyball courts or 24 pickleball courts, meeting and event spaces, an open-air spectator mezzanine, and onsite concessions.

“We are thrilled to have Jamie on board,” said Mayor Staci Mitchell. “His leadership experience, customer service expertise, and local knowledge make him a great choice for our facility. He is backed by our national management firm, and we are confident that he will be a big asset in executing the vision of the city and providing guests with an incredible experience.”

“We are working very closely with the Monroe West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau to line up a variety of exciting volleyball and basketball tournaments, gymnastic competitions, and pickleball events, to name a few. These bookings will catalyze an influx in tourism revenue for local businesses, restaurants, and hotels,” added SFC Account Executive Jessica Kuhl. “In addition to driving economic impact, this facility will bring multi-faceted benefits and create new opportunities for the City of West Monroe.”

Progress on the construction of West Monroe Sports & Events continues to progress with the walls and roof of the facility nearly completed. Currently, the focus has shifted to installing necessary infrastructure such as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The complex will feature an adjoining hotel connected by a covered corridor for a ‘stay and play’ experience that sets it apart. The venue will boost tourism for West Monroe by hosting large, notable sports tournaments that attract teams and spectators from across the Southeast.

Courtney Hornsby is with the City of West Monroe.

By Blair Cardinal

Global sports and entertainment company Oak View Group, in an effort to further disrupt business as usual in the live entertainment space, has tapped NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal, Grammy and Emmy award-winning performer and best-selling cookbook author Trisha Yearwood, and New York Times best-selling author and successful restaurateur Giada De Laurentiis to bring their distinctive culinary styles to venues around the world and up the game on how guests experience food at sports and live events.

The three culinarians will lead OVG’s new Hospitality Advisory Council, and work with OVG to help infuse new thinking, new ambition, and new social conscious into a concessions industry that rarely meets the spectacle or passion of the shows the industry supports. This trio of successful restaurateurs and globally revered personalities will be tasked with creative thinking around menu design and expansion, the elevation of premium fare, local food sourcing, and opportunities for community impact via MBE/WBE programs, sustainability, and animal welfare.

“I’m proud to serve Big Chicken at Oak View Group venues, and I’m excited to work alongside Giada, Trisha and OVG to help millions of fans see how great food can positively impact their gameday or concert experience,” O’Neal said.

“Food at live events – whether it be a sporting event, a concert, or a festival – should be fast, but speed shouldn’t be at the expense of taste and creativity,” De Laurentiis said. “We’ve proven that with Pronto by Giada at live events venues across the nation. And we’re going to show the industry our collective vision to transform arena food into something guests look forward to as part of their live event experience.”

“Home-cooking isn’t necessarily a style of cuisine you would typically associate with a concert or a sporting event,” Yearwood said, “but we’re going to show the industry that food and beverage at large events doesn’t have to be status quo. Whether it’s country or pop or heavy metal, we’ll work to surprise and delight guests so that they can’t wait to get back in the venue for another helping.”

OVG Hospitality, already the fastest growing hospitality company in the industry, now with over 350 client-partners, provides a unique platform for experimentation and delivery, given its wide diversity of venues, its commitment to community impact, and entrepreneurial DNA.

“When it comes to attending today’s biggest concerts, shows, and sporting events, appealing to fans’ evolving tastebuds and aligning unique or customized food and beverage offerings (think Watermelon Sugar offerings at a Harry Styles concert) is a significant, though often-underestimated piece of the live experience,” Ken Gaber, president of OVG Hospitality, said.

The three influencers will help shape the menus, culture, and guest experience among OVG Hospitality managed venues. Already fans can find Shaq’s Big Chicken Sandwiches in several OVG-owned arenas including Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena and Baltimore’s new CFG Bank Arena. Look for Giada-inspired menu items in the beautiful new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, CA and UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY. And Trisha Yearwood’s beloved comfort food recipes and family favorites will soon delight guests in Austin’s Moody Center at the University of Texas. OVG will roll out the branded concepts to more venues in the future.

“Trisha, Shaq, and Giada are successful restauranteurs, globally revered personalities, and unabashedly authentic in their approach to memorable cuisine,” Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO of Oak View Group, said. “They know great food and we’re excited to infuse a dose of creativity, fun and personality – that ‘wow factor’ – into the food and beverage we serve at our venues across the globe.”

Oak View Group’s Hospitality division has grown exponentially since launching in February 2022. The division was created following OVG’s acquisition of Spectra in November 2021 and currently manages food and beverage operations at 356 venues across the world. Last year, OVG Hospitality also acquired Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Event Services, which expanded OVG’s reach into non-traditional areas such golf tournaments, music festivals and immersive experiences, and UK-based Bovingdons, which marked OVG’s official foray into international full-service hospitality.

Blair Cardinal is VP, Communications for OVG360.

Pictured in photo, courtesy of Oak View Group (left to right): Ken Gaber, President, OVG Hospitality; Shaquille O’Neal; Trisha Yearwood; Chris Granger, President, OVG360; Tim Leiweke, Chairman & CEO, Oak View Group

By Cara Vanderhook

Lee Zeidman, President of Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE, announced the hiring of Jeff Olson as the Vice President of Booking for Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE. In his new role, Olson will be primarily focused on sourcing talent, negotiating, and securing deals with high-priority clients and promoters for shows for all three venues. In addition, he will be responsible for working with the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, and Los Angeles Sparks to assist with the scheduling and maintaining Crypto.com Arena’s calendar as well as working with the award shows and residencies to assist with the scheduling and maintaining Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE venue calendars. Olson will report directly to Hallie Yavitch, Senior Vice President, Booking & Marketing for Crpyto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE.

“We are incredibly excited to have Jeff Olson joining our team at Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE,” Zeidman said. “He brings over 23 years of experience and knowledge of booking and event production to our venues and to the market, along with strong industry relationships. We are looking forward to having Jeff joining us here in Los Angeles and booking a variety of content for our venues in this competitive market.”

“I am elated to have Jeff join the booking team and delighted to welcome him back to Los Angeles,” Yavitch said. “His impressive resume, experience, and relationships will help our venues continue to grow and succeed in a competitive landscape.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE team,” Olson said. “It has always been a dream of mine to be a part of such premier and iconic venues that are continually active and busy. I am also grateful to be back in the Los Angeles market and I look forward to working with some of the best people in the business.”

Olson started his career in the live entertainment industry with Meridian Entertainment in Holt, Michigan, in 1998 as Talent Buyer and Event Producer. He then moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and worked for Arena Network as Talent Buyer and Marketing Director for twelve years. Olson then moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2014 as the Director of Booking, Events & Marketing for the Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx Forum where he worked with the NBA to schedule Memphis Grizzlies games, the University of Memphis to schedule their Men’s Basketball games, and he also booked all major concerts, family shows, and other events. In his time at the FedEx Forum, he delivered multiple record years in both the number of events as well as fiscal performance for the venue.

Most recently, Olson was the Director of Booking & Special Events for Snapdragon Stadium/OVG360 from November 2021 – February 2023. In his role there he was in charge of booking, planning, and overseeing the execution of all concerts, dirt shows, international soccer matches, and other major events. Olson worked with San Diego State University to schedule games for the SDSU Aztecs Football team as well as the San Diego Wave (women’s soccer) and the San Diego Legion (rugby) teams to create their schedules. He was also responsible for booking Kaiser Permanente Thrive Park for major music and food festivals as well as scheduling various other events throughout the Snapdragon Stadium complex. He also oversaw an active special events department that sells, schedules, plans, and executes private and corporate events throughout the complex.

Olson is a graduate of Michigan State University and in his free time he enjoys watching college and NFL Football, college, and NBA Basketball, working out, hiking, days at the beach, and attending concerts and events.

Cara Vanderhook is Vice President, Marketing & Communications for Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, and L.A. LIVE.

Photo by Joe Murphy, NBA

By Richard Oliver

The Alamodome in downtown San Antonio continued a remarkable hot streak on Sunday, February 19, when more than 24,000 people attended the first game for the city’s new XFL franchise, the Brahmas. It was by far the largest crowd for any of the spring football league’s ballgames on opening weekend.

The contest was the latest exclamation point in an amazing timeline for the facility, which celebrates its 30th anniversary May 15. Since January 2022, the Alamodome has hosted more than 1 million patrons, including concerts, sporting events, and other headline moments.

An added bonus at the Brahmas game was an announcement by actor and entertainer Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a co-owner of the league, that the XFL championship game has been awarded to the Alamodome on Sunday, May 13.

It’s part of a powerful lineup of events on the horizon. it was just revealed that rock band Guns ‘N Roses will include a September 24 stop at the Alamodome, part of what is expected to be the world’s top concert tour in 2023. Already announced for this year are performances by global superstars P!nk (Sept. 25) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (May 17).

“Simply put, the Alamodome is a valued asset that has put our community on the map, time and again, and improved our quality of life on so many levels,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.

On January 13, the San Antonio Spurs set the NBA record for single-game attendance when 68,323 fans packed the Alamodome for the team’s 50th anniversary celebration game against the Golden State Warriors. Two weeks later, WWE held its Royal Rumble there, and more than 51,000 showed up as the wrestling circuit set records for gate revenues.

The Dome will host its fifth Men’s Final Four in 2025, and recently was selected to host the Women’s Final Four in 2029. On December 29, the Valero Alamo Bowl attracted 63,000 fans.

“There is little doubt that the Alamodome ranks today as one of the diverse, popular entertainment venues in the country,” said Patricia Muzquiz Cantor, Director of Convention & Sports Facilities for the City of San Antonio. “Over three decades, it has served as an iconic, unique destination for performers and fans alike, lifting the quality of life for our historic community. And there’s so much more to come.”

The Alamodome just completed one of the most successful years in its history. In the final five months of 2022 alone, the stadium hosted five headline stadium concerts that drew nearly 230,000 fans and generated more than $31 million in gross receipts. The events included the Motley Crue and Def Leppard Stadium Tour, Bad Bunny, Rammstein, Grupo Firme, and Elton John.

The Bad Bunny and Elton John shows were part of the two largest tours in the world in 2023. The Bad Bunny concert broke the facility mark for gross ticket sales for one show when more than $11 million was recorded for the Sept. 8 performance, which drew 54,000 people.

Additionally, the Dome saw more than 150,000 spectators attend seven University of Texas at San Antonio football games, including the Conference USA championship on Dec. 2. In total, the Alamodome held 135 event days in 2022, with a similar schedule for 2023, exceeding the average of 115 event dates in previous years.

Roughly $109 million in capital improvements are planned for the facility by 2028.

Steve Zito, CVE, Interim Assistant Director of Convention & Sports Facilities, acknowledged the promoters who have helped make the facility so successful, including the Valero Alamo Bowl, Live Nation, Feld Entertainment, University Interscholastic League, Cheer Power, NCAA, San Antonio Home and Garden Show, San Antonio Sports, the Spurs and AEG, among others.

“None of this would be possible without the countless hours and commitment from the team of the Alamodome,” said Zito, who also serves as General Manager of the Alamodome. “We always focus on our ‘One Team’ philosophy, and that team has many players. San Antonio has become a very viable market for all genres of entertainment, and over 30 years the Alamodome has been the centerpiece of that.”

In January 2023 alone, more than 54 million people viewed content that was generated from the Alamodome across all media, including those in attendance.

Richard Oliver is Communications Manager at City of San Antonio Convention & Sports Facilities.