By Julian Bowman

Fair Park First and Gensler unveiled the design for the Community Park Parking Garage at Fair Park, located off of Fitzhugh Avenue in Dallas. The challenge was to create a five-story, concrete parking garage that is contextually relevant while accounting for the history of the site, and its proximity to the surrounding neighborhoods and the park. The design also had to include a creative way to “hide” the garage and replace the surface parking currently found on site.

“The design approach envisions the parking garage as an extension of the park, bringing the landscape to the top of the structure and establishing a new public space for the City of Dallas,” said Brian Nicodemus, Design Manager, Gensler. “Leveraging the site’s height and views allows for the creation of flexible areas that can be used for a variety of activities and events.”

With a focus on health and wellness, a 47-foot ascent leading to the top of the garage encourages visitors to spend time outdoors and walk versus using the elevator. The design also draws inspiration from natural forms, such as the limestone cuestas common to the region, which influenced the shape of the garage. Meanwhile, the rich colors and texture from the neighboring community drive a vibrant material palette.

“Fair Park First is focused on making sure our investments not only address critical needs but also create enhancements and amenities for our neighbors across the street and our visitors from around the globe,” said Brian Luallen, CEO of Fair Park First.

The garage itself features 1,650 parking spaces, with 70,000 square feet of operational facilities tucked underneath the project’s north berm. By taking cues from the Community Park’s prairie-inspired landscape, the experience between the garage and park is seamlessly woven together, while honoring the rich ecological heritage of the site.

Julian Bowman is Senior Director of Marketing at Fair Park and Cotton Bowl Stadium.

By Blair Cardinal

Oak View Group launched OVG Canada, a new division focused on the Canadian sports and entertainment industry and offering strategic services in the areas of venue development and management, booking and content development, sponsorship brand consulting, and third-party partnership sales.

The formation of OVG Canada follows the October 2021 announcement that the company would be taking on its first development project north of the border: the redevelopment of the Hamilton, Ontario Arts & Entertainment District and FirstOntario Centre Arena.

Tom Pistore, President of OVG Canada, and his recently formed team of industry veterans – including Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Brand Consulting Josh Epstein and Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Revenue Zach Feldman will draw on their years of sports and entertainment experience working with global brands and properties to offer the Canadian marketplace results-driven counsel and service.

Pistore has more than 25 years working across major professional sports leagues, most recently as President of UBS Arena (home of the NHL’s New York Islanders) and, prior to that, was a member of the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) executive leadership team. Epstein joins OVG Canada from Bank of Montreal where he was responsible for leading their North American sponsorship strategy. Feldman was most recently the SVP of Partnerships & Revenue at the Premier Lacrosse League, where he helped drive triple digit revenue growth while leading the development of ground-breaking marketing partnerships.

“During my time running MLSE, I realized that the Canadian sports and facility marketplace is uniquely driven by the Canadian consumer and Canadian companies. You cannot develop, operate, or sell Canadian facilities or assets from the U.S., and therefore it’s critical for us to be a part of Canada.” Tim Leiweke, Chairman & CEO of Oak View Group and former President & CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), said, “With Tom Pistore leading the charge of our OVG Canada group, we want to create the best sports and facility sales organization in Canada. Very few companies in our industry have the infrastructure that we have now in Canada and the U.S. to serve our Canadian clients, giving OVG the competitive edge to deliver best in class results.”

“Oak View Group Canada will leverage our diverse experience, deep understanding of the Canadian marketplace, and the strength of our global leadership team to provide industry-leading solutions and opportunities to the Canadian market,” Pistore said. “After an exciting journey launching UBS Arena in New York, I could not be more excited to launch OVG Canada alongside a best-in-class leadership team that will deliver incredible results for our present and future partners.”

In addition to Leiweke, OVG Canada will be supported by a noteworthy executive team, including entertainment industry legend and OVG co-founder Irving Azoff, renowned sports executive and co-chairman of OVG360 Peter Luukko, president of OVG business development Francesca Bodie, and Chris Granger, president of OVG360 and OVG’s Arena Alliance, who also oversees all venue and hospitality operations in Canada.

“We are committed to putting capital to work in Canadian live entertainment facilities as we’ve done elsewhere around the world and are thrilled for our project in Hamilton to come to life,” Bodie said. “We look forward to expanding and growing the OVG platform with additional owned-and-operated facilities across Canada.”

Blair Cardinal is Vice President, Communications at Oak View Group.

By Shannon Donnelly

PNC Bank has signed a landmark agreement with AEG Presents, one of the world’s largest live entertainment companies, to rename two central plazas at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (Fiddler’s Green). Effective immediately, the financial institution will become the exclusive banking partner of the iconic amphitheater – operated by AEG Presents and Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA) and the venue’s two main plazas will be known as “PNC Plaza North” and “PNC Plaza South.”

“More than a venue, Fiddler’s Green has become a cherished cultural institution here in the Denver region,” said Don Strasburg, Co-President, AEG Presents-Rocky Mountains & AEG Presents Northwest. “We are proud to be partnering with PNC Bank, a category leader that understands the significance of Fiddler’s Green and is equally committed to providing our guests as well as the local communities we both serve with nothing short of the best. Our visitors will be the true benefactors of this exciting new relationship and we look forward to adding value at our venue, enhancing the guest experience and raising the bar of excellence even higher for the thousands of music and live-entertainment fans we host each year.”

As part of the agreement, PNC’s branding will be featured prominently across the venue’s social and digital channels as well as on-site at both “PNC Plaza North” and “PNC Plaza South.” Located at the north and south ends of the venue, the plazas will serve as key gathering areas for fans to enjoy throughout the year. Integral to the overall design of Fiddler’s Green itself, the plazas will also be used to enhance the guest experience with special on-site activations including pre-event parties, community events, fan fests, and more.

“We are honored to be partnering with PNC, a best-in-class bank who like us has a long tradition of community engagement and recognizes the transformative power of music to give back and bring people together,” said Brent Fedrizzi, Co-President and COO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains. “Together, we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the local communities we both serve while delivering unparalleled, world-class music and live-entertainment experiences to our fans at Fiddler’s Green.”

The multiyear agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, comes on the heels of PNC’s expansion in Colorado following its 2021 acquisition of BBVA USA.

“As a Main Street Bank, PNC is committed to supporting initiatives and organizations connected on where we do business, serve our customers, clients and community, which includes areas such as arts and culture,” said Ryan Beiser, PNC regional president of Colorado. “Recognizing the power of music and its ability to forge connection, the bank has continued to invest in local music partnerships with the goal of driving meaningful outcomes that foster growth and vibrancy in the communities in which it does business.”

In addition to its large-scale branding presence at both plazas, PNC will engage visitors of Fiddler’s Green via custom on-site activations. As the amphitheater’s exclusive banking partner, PNC will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the venue on promotional opportunities throughout the course of the relationship, including sweepstakes, premium giveaways, and more.

Shannon Donnelly is with Beck Media.

By Sue Oxarart

The management team of Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA, announced a new partnership to provide convenient service to guests. By teaming up with food delivery app DoorDash, food and beverage can be ordered on customers’ mobile device enhancing services for live-event attendees at Toyota Arena.

The partnership will include technology upgrades that will allow fans to skip traditional lines by using DoorDash’s app to order food delivery within the arena for pickup. Guests, while-on site, will be able to scan a QR code, download or open their DoorDash app to access the venue’s concession menus.

“Since taking over management of Toyota Arena in 2016 we have been committed to improving content and guest services,” said Michael Krouse, President & CEO of Toyota Arena. “With the DoorDash app our guests can place their food order from the comfort of their seat on their mobile device resulting in less lines at concession stands and a faster delivery, so you don’t miss any of the action of a sporting competition, family show, or concert.”

The new partnership officially launched at the Toyota Arena on June 11 for a live concert. “We will start with a few concessions stands and continue to add more as we become familiar with this new and exciting way to improve guest services at Toyota Arena,” said Dina Hanna, Director of Food and Beverage.

This agreement is part of the multi-year agreement which will see DoorDash become ASM Global’s “On-Demand Delivery Platform” partner at arenas, stadiums, and convention centers around the U.S. in the coming months. Gradually the DoorDash platform will roll out to other North American venues.

Sue Oxarart is Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau and Ontario Convention Center.

Convention centers, trade show venues, hotels, and event facilities are revising their rigging requirements. Among the new policies being implemented, all rigging installations must be performed under the supervision of a rigging supervisor who is certified through the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP). This requirement is an effort to enhance client and patron safety while meeting the challenges of ever-increasing technical demands and weight loads of equipment hanging overhead.

When public safety is paramount, venues need rigging technicians that are certified in proper knowledge of rigging principals, technical skills, equipment, and related engineering. With ETCP certification, venues can count on the knowledge of riggers working in their facility.

Venues looking to hire a competent rigger or entertainment electrician who is dedicated to safety on the job, can search the ETCP Technician listing by name, city, or certification type at https://etcp.esta.org/findtechnicians/search.php. Not only have these technicians passed a rigorous assessment, they also signed an agreement to abide by the ETCP Certified Entertainment Technician Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

There are three ways employees can be tested to receive certification: ETCP exams are available at 190 computer-based testing centers across the US and Canada, online live remote-proctored testing at the candidate’s location, and an employer/Local can request mobile testing where ETCP arranges for on-site computer-based test administration.

For candidate eligibility requirements, exam content outlines, and applications, visit http://etcp.esta.org, email certification@esta.org, or call 212-244-1505.

The ETCP Council members are key leaders drawn from entertainment business, labor, facilities, associations, and academia representing the diversity of the entertainment industry. Membership includes AMPTP, Broadway Across America, The Broadway League, Cirque du Soleil, CITT/ICTS, Disney Theatrical Productions, Encore, ESTA, IAVM, IATSE, InfoComm, Live Nation, PRG, NBC Universal, PRG, TEA, and USITT. ETCP is an ESTA initiative created to promote industry safety.