By Blair Cardinal

The Big 12 Conference has partnered with Oak View Group, a leader in the management of collegiate athletic facilities, to assess and optimize safety and security among its member schools to improve the gameday and post-game celebration experience for Big 12 student-athletes, game officials, team personnel, and fans. In addition to safety and security, Oak View Group will evaluate all aspects of venue and fan experience at each member institution, providing best practice recommendations for multiple elements of the gameday experience.

Prevent Advisors, highly regarded security specialists in sports and live entertainment facilities and a flagship service company of Oak View Group (OVG), will conduct quality assurance audits at all Big 12 football and basketball venues. Last weekend, the Prevent Advisors team conducted gameday audits at five football stadiums and will evaluate the remaining facilities – including incoming members BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF – before the end of the season. The team will then progress to assessing all Big 12 basketball venues.

Using a proprietary systematic assessment program specifically designed to fully evaluate all components of a venue’s physical security measures, Prevent Advisors’ Red Team Assessment Services – which received a coveted SAFETY Act Designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier this year – will deliver venue-specific feedback to spotlight key strengths and areas for improvement. The team will then develop minimum recommendation standards for each facility, with particular focus on post-game celebrations. Following that, Prevent Advisors will hold a Conference-wide training summit to share results and best practices. A working committee will be formed with representatives from Conference member schools to work alongside OVG and Prevent Advisors.

“Ensuring the safety and security of all of our gameday constituents is crucial,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Our partnership with Oak View Group and best-in-class Prevent Advisors will allow us to quickly uncover our strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, this partnership will allow us to be proactive in bettering all aspects of the gameday experience across our Conference.”

OVG oversees a combination of venue management and hospitality operations at several Big 12 Conference schools, including University of Texas and Texas Tech, as well as at incoming member schools UCF and Houston.

“The Big 12 Conference is one of the most prominent Conferences in the nation, and we are delighted to be working together with them in this new increased capacity,” said Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO of Oak View Group. “The grand scale of this partnership is ideal because of OVG’s profound, broad-reaching knowledge of collegiate athletic facilities, and it’s fantastic to see Brett, his team, and Big 12 member schools placing the safety of student-athletes, fans, and employees at the top of their list. Through this deal, Big 12 is getting ahead of the curve on safety and security, which are both very important parts of the overall fan experience.”

Prevent Advisors assists its clients – stadiums, arenas, and convention centers – to further enhance their overall security apparatus by addressing security needs, creating ongoing security policies and procedures, implementing these procedures, and continuously adjusting as needed. Client-partners of Prevent Advisors include professional sports leagues and teams, sport and live music entertainment venues and festivals, and corporate campuses.

“The Big 12 Conference is taking a critical preventative step to ensure safety on the field and on the court – during as well as after the games,” said Michael Downing, Chief Security Advisor for Oak View Group’s Prevent Advisors and former Deputy Chief, Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department. “For venues, it’s about honestly evaluating a facility’s strengths and weaknesses, and taking proactive, meaningful steps to better operations to the benefit of student-athletes and fans alike so that everyone can enjoy the game in a safe and secure environment.”

Blair Cardinal is Vice President, Communications for OVG360.

The joint venture of Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company in association with 34 Group has been selected by the Buffalo Bills to provide construction management of the team’s planned new NFL stadium in Orchard Park. The project team also includes the project management firm Legends Project Development and Populous as the designer.

Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company have worked together for over 25 years, building over 5.5 million square feet together. The two companies have both built extraordinary sports venues around the country and together the companies have built or renovated 16 NFL stadiums.

“We continue to partner with a first-class team of experts and professionals to bring our stadium to life,” said Bills Executive Vice President/Chief Operation Officer Ron Raccuia. “Gilbane | Turner has a tremendous wealth of experience in stadium construction, and we look forward to partnering with them.”

“We are tremendously excited to build the new home for the Buffalo Bills,” said John LaRow, Senior Vice President, Gilbane Building Company. “This new NFL stadium will be a proud representation of the energy, passion, and dedication of the Bills organization, the team, its fans, and the City of Buffalo. Our joint-venture team is committed to driving opportunities for diverse and local businesses and working with our partners to deliver this transformational project for Western New York.”

“We are excited and honored to be a part of the team building the new NFL stadium for the Buffalo Bills,” said Turner Vice President and General Manager Carlton E. Stewart. “The stadium will elevate the fan experience for this incredible team, and we will create opportunities and engagement for members of our community during construction. This project is monumental to us as New Yorkers and Bills fans. We look forward to attending many games in this great new stadium. Go Bills!”

“34 Group is incredibly honored to be part of building a vibrant new NFL stadium for the Buffalo Bills and our community,” said Thurman Thomas, founder of 34 Group. “We are dedicated to delivering a stadium that fulfills the vision for this new venue.”

The team’s lease at Highmark Stadium expires in 2023 and all parties are set to begin negotiations on extending this ahead of the stadium move.

Highmark Stadium opened in 1973. Following the opening of the new facility, the Bills’ current home is expected to be demolished and redeveloped as a large parking lot.

By Hilarie Carpenter

The Grand Rapids-Kent County (MI) Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) announced the appointment of Michael B. Verhulst by Experience Grand Rapids to the seven-member board that oversees DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall and Van Andel Arena. Verhulst was officially sworn in at the CAA board meeting on Friday, October 7, for a term expiring December 31, 2024.

Verhulst is the Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth for Acrisure Benefits Group. Prior to starting this position in April 2022, he served as Vice President of Rockford Construction for over four years, Vice President of Business Development and Community Relations for Wolverine Building Group for over three years and President and Owner of Summit Landscape Management, Inc. for nearly 16 years. Verhulst serves on the boards of Grand Valley Metro Council, Priority Health, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Symphony, Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Experience Grand Rapids. He was recently appointed to the Foundation Board of the Grand Rapids Chamber and is an advisory committee member of ArtPrize Leadership On Canvas.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Mike to the CAA,” said CAA Chairman Rick Winn. “His extensive professional and volunteer experience focused on a number of aspects of community development will be a tremendous asset to our venues. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to look toward future opportunities.”

“It is an honor to join the CAA and to work alongside the other board members who have had such an impact in the community,” Verhulst said. “I’m excited to contribute to these venues that have proven to be such assets to West Michigan and will work hard to ensure their continued success.”

By Celebrity Access

Venue management giant ASM Global announced the expansion of its ASM Global College Collective partnership initiative with the addition of key sports and entertainment facilities at the University of Colorado.

Through the partnership, ASM Global will provide consulting, event booking, and venue services for the operations and programming for the university’s Folsom Field and the Event Center.

The addition of the University of Colorado to the initiative brings ASM Global’s portfolio of higher education partners to 18 universities representing 25 total venues throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Recent additions to that list include Texas A&M University (Kyle Field and Reed Arena), Rutgers University (Jersey Mike’s Arena; SHI Stadium), Wake Forest University (Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum; Truist Field; David F. Couch) and Wright State University (Nutter Center).

“These collaborations are truly an honor for us. Our expansion has been explosive in this category over the past six months. We have a long history of sterling partnerships with many of the top universities across the U.S. With our unparalleled worldwide experience in this category and the amazing locations and amazing venues we’ve recently begun working with it’s definitely a transformational moment to dramatically expand all of these iconic venues’ entertainment offerings beyond athletics,” said ASM Global President and CEO Ron Bension.

Photo by University of Colorado Athletics

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in October 2022. 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 http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

Hakeem Allonce, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Damon Anderson, Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX
Sarah Andrews, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Rial Baird, Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR
Ethan Balmer, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Jonathan Benedek, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Noel Bilbro, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Bob Blair, Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, TX
Olivier Brunache, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Kelly Bua, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Deb Campbell, Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Cedar Rapids, IA
Diane Cassimire, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Lisa Clark, BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Pamela Cluff, Covey Center for the Arts, Provo, UT
Hannah Conlisk, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Amber Diallo, Events DC, Washington, DC
A.J. Dinkel, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Mario Espindola, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
Spencer Farnsworth, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID
Sara Felice, FedExField, Landover, MD
Morgan Finney, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Rich Gagnon, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, Amarillo, TX
Christopher Gardner, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
Paige Grasby, Bonnetts Energy Centre, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
Simone Green, Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH
Keith Haines, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
Andra Haynes, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
Robert Helmy, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
David Hernandez, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
Hannah Holbrook, Moss Arts Center, Blacksburg, VA
Jonathan Humphrey, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
John Impelido, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Cambria Jones, Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, TX
Sean Kearns, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Mark Kerney, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Julie Krilich, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Ashlyn Kyte, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Ben Liang, Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ
Jake Lopez, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Trey Lyon, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Jorge Madrid, Bradenton Area Convention Center, Palmetto, FL
Derek Mayfield, Trail Drive Management Corp./Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX
Cathy McDonald, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Kasey McFadden, Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA), Lansing, MI
Liz McFadden, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Molly McGraw, Cincinnati Music Hall | Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati, OH
Timothy Mendolia, Florence Events Center, Florence, OR
Julia Miller, Bristol Event Center, Bristol, CT
Taylor Money, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Henry Mosley, Events DC, Washington, DC
Meredith Mulcahy, Broadway in Boston, Boston, MA
Mia O’Leary, Boise Centre, Boise, ID
Amanda Overby, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Dan Parker, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Jacqueline Parriott, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Kristin Perrone, Qwick, Phoenix, AZ
Scott Pocius, Trail Drive Management Corp./Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX
Geovana Ponce, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Nathaniel Reid, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Kristen Retzlaff, Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ
Laura Reynolds, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
Scott Sanger, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
David Sawler, Patriot One Technologies Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
Brandon Schenk, Old National Events Plaza, Evansville, IN
Callie Schuette, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Angela Sees, Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA), Lansing, MI
Sheree Selby, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Tyler Shadle, Boise Centre, Boise, ID
Sarah Shaffer, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, Amarillo, TX
Eden Shimon, Amarillo Civic Center Complex, Amarillo, TX
Susynn Snyder, Williwaw Social, Anchorage, AK
Linley Stockman, Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Sawyer Stolz, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Robbie Stone, Town of Cary, Cary, NC
Kami Testa, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Kristi Thomson, Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR
Nancy Trevino, Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX
Will Trimble, Boise Centre, Boise, ID
Travis Van Ells, Credit Union of Texas Event Center, Allen, TX
Marie Vargas, Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX
Deira Vicencio, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Alex Walsh, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Claire Wiens, INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Brett Williams, Orpheum Theatre Group, Memphis, TN
Holly Zimmerman, New York University, New York, NY