Prof. Fried was honored at the Sport Recreation Law Association’s 37^th annual conference with the Herb Appenzeller Sport and Recreation Law Association Honor Award. This award is given for service to SRLA. SRLA is an international organization of scholars and practitioners who focus on teaching and researching sport law-related disciplines. SRLA hosts an annual conference along with the industry’s premier academic journal, the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sports (JLAS). Prof. Fried serves as a reviewer for the journal, a reviewer of abstracts for the conference, and helped edit and coordinate “Safe at First, Vol. 2,” a fundraising effort for SRLSA that contains over 120 chapters, over 1,000 pages, and combines the knowledge of over 40 sport law experts. In 2011, Prof. Fried was honored with the Betty van der Smissen Leadership Award from SRLA.

Prof. Fried was also humbled and honored to be named an SRLA Research Fellow. The SRLA Research Fellow designation is intended to:

1. Be one of distinction within SRLA and Fellows’ own academic communities, and
2. Encourage high standards of research and other forms of scholarship among SRLA members.

SRLA members wishing to gain Research Fellow status must have a continuous and high quality record of scholarship. Minimum criteria must be met:

1. Membership status: All SRLA Research Fellows must be a current member of SRLA and have maintained membership continuously for the previous five-years at the time of application. If there is a lapse of membership, the Research Fellow clock will restart. However, the publication and presentation requirements will not be affected
2. Publications: All SRLA Fellows must have at least 15 publications in refereed journals.
3. Three of the total publications must be first author.
4. Three of the total publications must appear in the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport within the past ten-years (for 2024 Fellows, publications in years 2014-2023).
5. Presentations: All SRLA Fellows must have a minimum of 20 refereed presentations.
6. Five of the total presentations must be first author, within the last five years.
7. Six of the total presentations must be first author SRLA presentations.

Allied Universal^®, the world’s leading security and facility services provider, has been selected by GEODIS Park as its event services provider offering event staffing and security services. Allied Universal’s expertise supporting large venues enables GEODIS Park to focus on promoting the success of high-profile Major League Soccer matches, as well as other sporting events and concerts.

Allied Universal Event Services division, the nation’s preeminent event security and crowd management services leader, will be provide services related to venue access, monitoring gates, checking visitor bags upon entrance, and field access control.  

Home to Nashville Soccer Club, the Nashville-based sports and entertainment complex was recently named one of six U.S. venues that will hold LA28 Olympic Soccer Tournament matches. The venue also features concerts, special events and private functions.

“Allied Universal is pleased to bring our decades of expertise in sports and entertainment staffing and security services to support GEODIS Park and the Nashville community it serves,” said Ty Richmond, president of Allied Universal Events Services. “We are honored that GEODIS Park has entrusted us to support one of the nation’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Our team looks forward to contributing to the success of GEODIS Park and strengthening our connection with the local community.

Veteran venue leader brings 25+ years of convention, sports and live entertainment experience to Fresno’s premier public assembly complex.

VenuWorks has named Marc Solis, a veteran sports and entertainment facilities executive, as the new Executive Director of the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center (FCEC) overseeing the Fresno Convention Center, Saroyan Theatre, Selland Arena and Valdez Hall. Mr. Solis joins the organization as the City of Fresno’s new venue management structure takes effect. VenuWorks and ATG Entertainment were selected as the managing partners for the FCEC complex, effective January 1, 2026, to deliver a unified approach to operations, programming and guest experience across the campus.

Marc Solis brings over 25 years of senior executive experience in the public assembly facilities industry. His extensive background includes opening and managing arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and auditoriums, where he has consistently optimized facility use, improved profitability, and delivered world-class guest experiences. Throughout his career, Solis has demonstrated exceptional skill in building beneficial relationships with promoters, agents, vendors, and community partners.

In his new role, Solis will lead the team responsible for driving the collaborative vision of VenuWorks and ATG Entertainment. This partnership aims to deliver an innovative, community-focused approach to management, maximize operational efficiencies, and establish the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center as a premier destination for arts, sports, and conventions.

“I am honored to join VenuWorks and step into the role of Executive Director at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center.” said Marc Solis. “With over 25 years of experience in managing convention, sports, and entertainment facilities, I look forward to working alongside our dedicated and professional team to take these venues to new heights. Together, we will focus on delivering outstanding value and exceptional service to our clients and patrons, ensuring that these facilities remain vibrant and dynamic destinations for the entire community. We are open for business and ready to welcome you to an unparalleled experience in Fresno!”

The strategic partnership between VenuWorks and ATG Entertainment combines comprehensive venue management with global leadership in programming and ticketing. Under Solis’s leadership, the collaboration is set to deliver a diverse array of cultural, recreational, and educational events for the Fresno community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marc Solis as the Executive Director of the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center,” said Steve Peters, Founder and CEO of VenuWorks. “Marc’s exceptional experience and dedication align perfectly with our vision for these venues. We look forward to leveraging our collective expertise, under Marc’s leadership, to elevate the guest experience, drive economic growth, and ensure these venues serve as a vibrant gathering place for the entire Fresno community.”

Wood used for exhibit booths at large corporate event donated to organization helping Altadena families rebuild after devastating 2025 fire

What could have been four tons of landfill waste instead became a vital resource for fire recovery efforts in Altadena, a residential area 14 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, thanks to a sustainability initiative at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).

“With such a significant amount of excess wood, we should explore opportunities to donate these materials so they can be repurposed and benefit the community,” said Enjoli Ferrari, Senior Sustainability Manager at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in discussions with organizers of a recent convention and trade show.

Four tons (or 8,000 pounds) of wood is about 60 percent more than the average LACC event uses, so finding a way to repurpose the material became a priority for Ferrari. After making a call to the ANE Foundation, a local crisis care organization serving vulnerable populations, the donation was secured.

“It has been a godsend to show people that the convention center cares,” said Adrienne Nicole Edwards, founder of the ANE Foundation. Her organization, which sources donations of many types, including food, toiletries and clothing, then coordinates delivery to third parties with a direct need for the items. In this case, it was a group working closely with people needing to rebuild their homes after the Eaton fire, the catastrophic Altadena blaze that destroyed over 9,000 buildings in January 2025.

The wood will be used to facilitate restoration by erecting makeshift walls and fences along property lines or covering exposed pipes in the ground.

“The donation highlights how collaboration between event organizers, venues and local nonprofits can turn waste into meaningful community support – proving that sustainability efforts can extend far beyond environmental impact to helping people rebuild their lives,” added Ferrari.

Ferrari is tasked by the City of Los Angeles with diverting 75 percent of the LACC’s waste each year. So, while appreciating that this exceptionally large donation has had a positive impact upon a community in need, she remains focused. “I simply want to ensure that if we must send waste to landfills, it’s the smallest amount possible.”

Design Reflects Contemporary Architecture Rooted in Fort Worth’s Heritage

Rendering of Aerial South View of Fort Worth Convention Center. Photo courtesy of FWCC.

With the $95 million Phase 1 of the Fort Worth Convention Center complete and the ribbon cut in December, Fort Worth is charging ahead with Phase 2 expansion and modernization plans presented to City Council Feb. 3.

At $606 million, Phase 2 will deliver a new, flexible convention building in place of the 1968 arena and modernize the existing building that has not been significantly renovated since the previous expansion in 2003.

A transparent, 4-story structure will feature a central tower at Main and 9^th Streets, reflecting the Tarrant County Courthouse on the north end of Main Street, a plaza with native prairie green space connecting to General Worth Square and terraces for outdoor events with expansive downtown views.

Inside, flexible spaces and Texas-inspired design will enable Fort Worth to host larger conventions or two large events simultaneously. Once complete, the expanded and modernized facility will feature a total of 257,268 square feet of exhibit hall space, 60,917 square feet in meeting room space, 74,033 square feet in ballroom space and 16 loading docks.

“The Phase 2 expansion positions Fort Worth to not only attract more conventions and meetings, but also to deepen engagement with downtown businesses and residents,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “As a key part of the transformation of the southeast quadrant of downtown, the new center will anchor a hub of economic growth and higher-education partnerships, and its beautiful design will showcase the Modern West brand that has helped make Fort Worth a stand-out destination among our peer cities.”

Response to Research

Previous studies estimated that Fort Worth could nearly double the convention business hosted by the City with an expanded and modernized facility. Those projections have been updated recently to also reflect focus group input from the center’s current and prospective clients and the impacts of Texas A&M’s Fort Worth campus under construction across Commerce Street, downtown residential development and post-pandemic tourism trends.

“Our customers shared their feedback, and we responded,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth. “From flexible space configurations that allow for more breakout sessions to ceiling heights required for sports competitions, the expansion and renovation will provide modern amenities and an authentic Texas experience attendees are seeking. Even within the ballroom, guests will immediately feel that they are in Fort Worth, Texas.”

Intentional Design

With Dickies Arena now the premier arena for Fort Worth, the 1968 downtown convention center arena will be demolished in early 2027 for the new building. Mobilization for demolition will begin in summer 2026, with the final event in the arena planned for September 2026. Completion of Phase 2 is scheduled for early 2030 and the center will continue to remain operational during construction

“Our construction partners, exclusive service providers and our City Public Events team successfully navigated conventions and sporting events with very high Net Promoter Scores from clients during Phase 1,” said Mike Crum, director of the City of Fort Worth Public Events Department. “Now that we have 13 new docks, a state-of-the-art catering kitchen and a straightened Commerce Street, operationally we are set to continue exceeding expectations and already are booking business into 2030 and beyond.”

Architectural language that will define the full expansion draws from downtown Fort Worth’s material palette and civic character. Brick, limestone, copper, steel, and patina finishes ground the design in the city’s urban fabric while introducing a contemporary interpretation of “The Modern West.” Interior spaces will feature leather, mesquite wood, blackened metal and exposed structural steel, complemented by warm tones and custom patterns that nod to local culture, including carpet designs and ballroom ceilings inspired by Texas sunsets, cattle brands and the City’s longhorn logo.

Convention Center design is led by Atlanta-based architecture, interior design and planning firm TVS and Fort Worth-based Bennett Partners. The successful Phase 1 Construction Manager at Risk joint venture of AECOMHunt, Byrne Construction and EJ Smith Construction will continue for Phase 2. Project management is overseen by Broaddus & Associates and Elements of Architecture, local companies with deep knowledge of Fort Worth’s character, community partners and City government procedures.

The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion has been shaped through ongoing collaboration with key stakeholders, including Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., the Downtown Design Review Board, and a city advisory committee composed of elected officials, business leaders and community representatives.