By SportsBusiness.com

CFG Bank has acquired naming rights to the revamped Baltimore Arena, which is scheduled to open in February 2023.

CFG Bank, which is headquartered in Baltimore, agreed to the multi-year deal with Oak View Group, which is overseeing the project. As part of the deal, the venue will officially be known as CFG Bank Arena.

The agreement also includes prominent exterior and interior signage, exclusive benefits for CFG Bank clients, cardholders and team members, and the launch of a new community engagement program.

Financial terms of the deal, which is the first stadium or arena sponsorship for CFG Bank, were not disclosed. The deal was announced the day following the 60th anniversary of the original arena’s opening on October 23, 1962.

OVG commenced work on the $200 million redevelopment of Baltimore Arena back in June, as US rapper and record producer Pharrell Williams signed on as the latest partner of the project. The project aims to transform the city-owned arena into a new multi-purpose, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue.

Bill Wiedel, CFG Bank chief executive and president, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Oak View Group and secure the naming rights for Baltimore Arena, now CFG Bank Arena. We are so much more than a traditional bank and this partnership is a great example of our entrepreneurial approach and how we do things differently to make change happen for the better.

“We have grown tremendously over the years, and CFG Bank Arena reinforces our commitment to Baltimore and our leadership position in the banking industry. We look forward to continuing to support the growth of Baltimore through the excitement and benefits CFG Bank Arena will bring to our community and our clients.”

Tim Leiweke, chairman and chief executive of OVG and leader of the arena project, added: “CFG Bank has had a long-standing presence in the Baltimore area for nearly 100 years, and we are pleased to have them on board as our naming-rights partner.

“CFG Bank understands our vision for the project and recognizes the economic need for a modern world-class arena. CFG Bank Arena will be a major destination for the biggest shows and be life-changing for the entire community.”

Once fully renovated into its new 14,000-capacity guise, the arena will serve as a key anchor on the west side of downtown Baltimore and help drive further investment and development in the area. Fundamental Advisors and Thirty Five Ventures (35V), a company co-founded by NBA star Kevin Durant and businessman Rich Kleiman, are also involved in the project.

As part of the planned renovations, OVG, Fundamental Advisors and 35V will fully fund the cost of the arena’s total reconstruction through a combination of private debt and equity, which in aggregate is estimated to $200 million, up from the previously reported $150 million. In return, they will lease the building for the next 30 years through an entity called Baltimore Arena Co.

Renovations include the removal of the permanent stage, adding seats and suites, refurbishing concourses, upgrading concessions areas, and changing the building’s appearance. Additional upgrades to the facility will include focuses on sustainability such as using locally sourced materials, LED lighting, low flow and waterless fixtures, and more.

World-class acoustics will be introduced to amplify the audio experience; along with next-generation touchless and self-serve technologies for food & beverage and merchandise purchases. Renovations will be made to the venue’s back of house, while the arena’s telecommunications infrastructure, wireless network, and video/network/security systems will be upgraded.

By Jim Yeager

ASM Global has appointed Kimberly Weedmark of Universal Studios Hollywood as the new general manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Weedmark, who brings a wealth of experience to the LA venue, has worked in the LA convention space for over two decades. Los Angeles Convention Center is part of the ASM Global portfolio, the largest and most diverse network of premier convention and trade show venues for millions of exhibitors and attendees across an extensive worldwide footprint that spans five continents.

In making the announcement, ASM Global’s Dan Hoffend, executive vice president of convention centers, said, “Los Angeles continues to grow as a hub for many of the world’s significant conventions and events; and with Kimberly’s longtime experience with one of the city’s iconic and most popular destinations, we anticipate LACC’s growth will be even more robust in coming years.”

In Weedmark’s new role, the former vice president of special events and group sales of Los Angeles’ most popular tourist attraction will work closely with the City of Los Angeles to grow even more beyond what is already one of the industry‘s leading convention halls.

“Playing a role in continuing to expand the growth of the LACC is an amazing opportunity,” Weedmark said. “It’s a venue with a remarkable history and a remarkable path ahead. “I‘m excited to be working closely with our clients and partners in one of the greatest cities on Earth to provide customized solutions that are the hallmark of ASM Global. I’m looking forward to working with our convention center leadership team to leverage ASM Global’s industry-leading innovations to deliver exceptional experiences for organizers, attendees, and exhibitors.”

“Kim Weedmark is an outstanding addition to the LA Convention Center team, and we are excited to work with her,” said Doane Liu, chief tourism officer for the City of Los Angeles and executive director of the city tourism department. “I know that Kim will continue the excellent stewardship that has marked ASM Global’s management of the convention center for the past nine years. Kim brings unmatched leadership qualities and experience, and I look forward to her invaluable input as the city moves forward with the expansion and modernization of the convention center.

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the award-winning LACC recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

By R.V. Baugus

We are a couple of months late to this retirement party, but want to wish Jody Ulich, Convention & Cultural Services Director at City of Sacramento, all the very best in her next exciting chapter of life.

The retirement actually happened in August and from here we will let Jody tell from her LinkedIn page why that particular month made the most sense to her. We know you will understand!

“Well – today is the day to let all of you know about “Infinity and Beyond”. Or at least my beyond. As I told the Executive team – 8 is my favorite number. My birthday is in August (8), on the 18th – and for this message – I will be getting to that 8 years of service with the City of Sacramento. What better way to bid adieu and announce my retirement than surrounded by the incredible infinity symbol – 8 – signifying a concept of limitless eternity.

“I have been so privileged to serve the cities I have worked in: Phoenix, Tempe, Fort Worth, and now Sacramento. My time in each has been etched in eternity – leaving my mark, ever so subtly in each. Helping to establish the Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture; a new Performing Arts Center (The TCA) in Tempe, secured funding for the arts in Fort Worth; and renovations to our facilities here in Sacramento – those accomplishments in each city will live on way past my time and I am honored to have been a part of each (and so much more in all reality!). Overall – a total of 35 years of service to these four communities!

“Ready to be “RED” – retired, extremely dangerous.”

Eight is great and so are you, Jody. Thank you for an incredible career!

By Convention South

Georgia International Convention Center executive director Mercedes Miller was recently inducted into the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter.

Awarding her efforts in the City of College Park, Miller oversees the Gateway Center Campus including Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course.

“To be inducted into an illustrious organization such as the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter is an honor,” Miller said. “I have always strived to live up to the organization’s mission to advocate on behalf of black women and girls because representation and mentorship are essential to our community.”

Miller began her hospitality career in sales and marketing at the Stouffer Waverly Hotel. She then became part of the opening team for The Renaissance Concourse Hotel at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Her career path led her to the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) as the airport’s national sales manager before her long tenure on the Gateway Center Campus.

Miller attributes her success to her community involvement. She sits on several boards including the ATL Airport District CVB, the Motherless Daughters Foundation, the Atlanta Airport Chamber, and the ACVB. While working in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, Miller has been honored many times as a leader in her community, most notably by Who’s Who in Black Atlanta and Top 100 Leaders in Hospitality by the Atlanta Business Chronicle (2012-2018).

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate on behalf of black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment.

By New Orleans CityBusiness

New Orleans CityBusiness, a weekly business newspaper, has named Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President, as one of New Orleans’ most notable Industry Newsmakers in the field of tourism. This special distinction is given out to individuals who make headlines for their newsworthy contributions to their respective industry and consumers they serve. Since joining the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in early 2018, Sawaya has stewarded multiple transformative projects that will reshape the facility, positioning it to enhance its competitiveness in the national event industry and its place in the New Orleans community.

Among the largest projects of the $557 million Capital Improvement Plan that Sawaya has seen to completion was the construction of a 7.5-acre Pedestrian Park that runs the entire length of the Convention Center, transforming the way New Orleanians interact with the facility, improving the safety of Convention Center Boulevard, and providing external customers with brand-new ways to enjoy their stay at the facility.

Sawaya also implemented one of the largest environmental improvement projects to ever be completed in the gulf coast area, which saw the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center transition to energy-efficient LED lighting, improvements to the facility’s water usage, as well as upgrades to its heating and cooling systems, significantly reducing the Convention Center’s carbon footprint by lowering the amount of water and electricity needed to run the three million square foot facility.

Additionally, Sawaya implemented policies that have positioned the Convention Center as a national leader in providing real opportunities to Small and Emerging Businesses (SEB) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). Through its policies during his tenure, the Convention Center aggressively promotes the hiring of local vendors for the purchase of goods and services and has created easy access to new business opportunities.

Since the program launched in 2019, the Convention Center’s program has increased SEB/DBE contracts by 36%, increased payments from 2% to 20%, registered 1187 new businesses, grown the database to 1250 vendors strong, and created the SEBconnect app.

Under his leadership, Sawaya put policies in place that helped the Convention Center thrive throughout the uncertain times of the COVID-19 Pandemic, investing in the facility’s staff who continued to make improvements and upgrades to the Convention Center.

Sawaya also encouraged facility leadership to pursue certifications, like the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR Certification, which proved to be critical in getting the New Orleans tourism industry back on track. As a result of these bold initiatives, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center emerged on the other side of one of the most threatening times in the New Orleans tourism industry as a premiere venue and industry leader.

Looking toward the future, Sawaya is at the helm of a $557 million Capital Improvement Plan that will transform the facility to exceed the expectations of current and future users and support the destination in being more competitive nationally. The massive, transformative project also includes laying the groundwork for construction of future developments, including new facilities like a headquarters hotel and mixed-use entertainment district that includes the construction of an exciting new residential neighborhood adjacent to the Convention Center.

“It is indeed a very distinctive honor to be named a Tourism Newsmaker in a city that is very well known for its unique take on expositions and events,” Sawaya said. “I sincerely appreciate the responsibility that I have to ensure that this great city and its convention center continues to be heralded as a leading-edge organization known for innovative delivery of exceptional event experiences in our world-class destination.”