Steve Hyman, who opened The MARK of the Quad Cities, now Vibrant Arena at The MARK, in Moline, Ill., in 1993, and left in 2004, died earlier this year. His widow, Helen, contacted Michael Bogucki, senior principal, Venue Strategies, LLC, for which Hyman had been a consultant, with news of his death.

Venue Strategies, LLC posted a tribute on its website:

“It is with great sadness that we report the recent passing of our friend, colleague, and Special Principal Stephen Hyman.

​“Steve’s extraordinary professional career encompassed a unique mix of skills and experience across virtually every aspect of multi-purpose event center development and management. He possessed particular expertise in event creation, booking, and production and consulted on venue operations at major arenas, stadiums, theaters, and event centers throughout the United States. Steve brought excellence and passion to every project he worked on, and his insights were often the critical difference in achieving success.

“Most recently, Steve was Director of Venue Management at HB Concerts, Inc., and prior he was the Executive Director of The Stranahan Theatre and Great Hall in Toledo, Ohio. Earlier in his career, Steve was City Planner and Economic Development Director for the City of Moline, Ill., before transitioning into multi-purpose venue development and management.

“He oversaw the design, construction, grand opening, staffing and day-to-day management of the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and the MARK of the Quad Cities (now known as Vibrant Arena) in Moline, Ill., where he was one of two people responsible for the founding the Quad City Sports Commission and served as the Chairman of the Quad City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Steve also served as the Executive Director of the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D., and The Plex in Syracuse, New York.

“He earned his Master’s in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and was also a long-standing member of the International Association of Venue Managers.”

He is survived by his wife, Helen.

No official obituary was posted online, but stories about Hyman’s years in Moline abound. He made a huge success of that venue from its opening in 1993 until he departed in 2004 to oversee construction of the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Pictured: Scott Sloman, retiring from the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

After four decades in facility management and 27 years of dedicated IAVM membership, Scott Sloman has announced his retirement from the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, effective September 30.

Scott’s remarkable career began at the former Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, OH, and went on to include leadership roles across the country. Before joining the Straz Center as a Talent Buyer, he spent 22 years as Assistant General Manager and Booking Director of the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, FL. There, he helped bring marquee events to the community, including the NCAA Elite 8 Men’s Basketball Championships, WWE, FHSAA Championships, and the NBA G-League’s Lakeland Magic, as well as multiple minor league franchises in indoor football, soccer, and hockey. He also played a key role in the Center’s $17 million renovation project.

Earlier in his career, Scott helped open both the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD, serving as Director of Sales & Marketing, and the Sovereign Bank Arena (now CURE Insurance Arena) in Trenton, NJ, where he was General Manager and home to ECHL and CBA franchises. While his resume highlights major milestones, Scott takes the greatest pride in something far simpler: “helping to make memories and create smiles.”

When asked what’s next, the New Jersey native shared, “In addition to working on my third-shot drop and reviving my golf game, all these years I’ve had the pleasure of working for other people’s fun, now it’s time to have some of my own.”

New offerings include an Indigenous menu item created in partnership with Chef Andrew George, and BC’s first self-serve alcohol concession

This fall, BC Place is rolling out several new food and beverage innovations, including Canada’s first stadium-wide reusable cup program. Fans at BC Place can also now enjoy a new permanent menu item, the Salmon and Bannock burger, created in partnership with renowned Indigenous chef, Andrew George. In addition, the stadium is introducing B.C.’s first self-serve alcohol concession, part of a multi-phase plan that will eventually include full self-service experience.

Reusable Cup Program Becomes a Canada First

BC Place is the first Canadian stadium to implement a reusable cup program for all draft beer, cocktails, and wine, marking the venue’s next step towards its mission to achieve Zero Waste Certification by 2026. In collaboration with Vancouver-based company ShareWares, the program eliminates the need for new materials and manufacturing for each serving, offering a more sustainable alternative to single-use recycling and composting.

After enjoying their beverage, guests simply drop their cup in the designated reusable cups bins around the stadium. After each event, cups are washed and sanitized at the ShareWares Mount Pleasant wash lab, where they are readied for use at another event.

The reusable cup program was launched as a pilot program in select areas of BC Place stadium last year and is officially in circulation across the full venue as of late September 2025.

Indigenous Offerings Added to Permanent Menu

BC Place and Sodexo Live! are making permanent a new Indigenous food item at the stadium. Initially unveiled as special feature at select events, the delectable Salmon and Bannock burger is now available at every event at the Beast on Fire locations in sections 217 and 236. Created in partnership with Chef Andrew George of the Wet’suwet’en Bear Clan and the first Indigenous Red Seal chef in British Columbia, the Indigenous menu offering is part of the stadium’s commitment to using its events and platform for promoting Indigenous culture and delivering a true local experience. Additional Indigenous menu items created in partnership with Chef George will debut as special features throughout 2025, with plans underway for a fully Indigenous-focused concession stand in the future.

Self-Serve Alcohol Concession Now Available

British Columbia’s first self-serve alcohol concession is also now available at BC Place – the first of a multi-phased launch of an eventual cashierless and checkout-free concession experience. In Phase One, launched this September, guests aged 19 and over can visit the self-serve concession area at section 215 to hand-select an alcoholic beverage, along with hot food, snacks, and non-alcoholic options, and complete their purchase via self-checkout.

Under development for Phase Two is checkout-free concession technology, a first for any venue in British Columbia. Details will be shared closer to the launch date.

The above food and beverage initiatives are available at BC Place in time for a packed event calendar to round out the year, featuring late-season BC Lions and Whitecaps FC games, the inaugural Canada Super 60 cricket tournament, and the return of FIM World Supercross Championship. The full event calendar can be found at bcplace.com/event-calendar.

Premium hospitality spaces combine elevated United travel-inspired design, historic memorabilia, interactive elements, and curated culinary experiences

Credit: Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) and official global airline partner, United Airlines, today unveiled new design renderings and bespoke activations for the highly anticipated United Globe Club and Lounge at Capital One Arena set to open this fall. The updates showcase the next chapter in MSE’s multi-year, $800 million+ arena transformation, which will create an unparalleled ultra-premium experience that sets a new standard in luxury sports hospitality.

The design concepts, building on the vision announced in November 2024, create a sophisticated environment across more than 24,000 square feet spanning two levels. Every detail celebrates the shared journeys of athletes and travelers alike through interactive engagement walls, original artwork, displays of historic artifacts and custom United travel-inspired decor.

“Our new premium spaces will create fully immersive, VIP experiences that artfully combine the vibrance of live events, the elegance of modern travel, and rich histories from around the world,” said Jim Van Stone, President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer at MSE. “These new renderings and activations bring this vision to life, where our guests will not just have a place to watch the game or show – but a space to create moments they’ll remember for a lifetime.”

“Teaming up with Monumental, we’ve designed a best-in-class fan experience – one that showcases a uniquely elevated design and culinary elements that bring the hometown-yet-global feel of the DMV to life,” said Jennifer Entenman, United Airlines’ Managing Director of Global Sponsorships. “As the D.C. region’s largest airline, serving more than 100 destinations worldwide, I can confidently say the United Globe Club and Lounge will be destinations in and of themselves. Whether you’re there to catch a buzzer-beating finish or the encore of a world-class performance, the experiences will be incredible.”

Each new hospitality space will deliver a distinctive VIP experience, complete with its own signature design and atmosphere tailored for a variety of events.

United Globe Club

With space for more than 800 guests, the two-level United Globe Club will transport guests into the clouds with a day flight thematic including flowing ceiling installations, sunrise atmosphere lighting, and a suspended United Airlines model plane. Guests can gather at the central bar as the suspended United Airlines 777 model plane – 5′9″ from wingtip to wingtip and 6′4″ from nose to tail – soars overhead. Guests will also get exclusive access to a large-scale engagement wall with reproduced United Airlines ticket stubs from MSE and global icons, as well as a one-of-a-kind wall built of suitcases featuring items from the teams. The club will also feature an LED departure and arrivals board, showcasing upcoming schedules for both the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

United Globe Lounge

Exclusive to Wizards Courtside Row AAA seat holders and Capitals Row A seats on the glass, the United Globe Lounge will only be available to roughly 150 guests per event. The Lounge’s design will immerse VIP guests in the city at its most spectacular – under the stars – with motion-activated fiber optics, and luxurious visual installations.

In collaboration with cllct, MSE’s Official Cultural History and Collectibles Partner, the space will showcase historic artifacts embodying the spirit of travel and live events. The historic artifact display will feature a United Airlines boarding ticket envelope signed by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 – the same year King famously wrote “Letter From A Birmingham Jail” and gave his “I Have A Dream Speech” at the March on Washington.

Not to be outdone by the design, each space will offer distinct culinary experiences that blend game day favorites with locally inspired dishes, tapas-style small plates, and activation stations featuring collaborations with celebrated local restaurants and chefs.

The United Globe Club and Lounge will also feature signature food and beverage touches inspired by United’s award-winning airport clubs and lounges worldwide, including chef-driven seasonal menus and curated cocktails from its exclusive United Polaris® lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport.

United will offer unique experiences to United® MileagePlus® members to access the United Globe Club and Lounge with select game ticket packages that will be available through MileagePlus Exclusives.

In 2024, MSE named United Airlines its Official Global Airline Partner and Founding Partner of the Capital One Arena Transformation, debuting the United Globe Club and Lounge later that year. Construction on the $800 million+ arena transformation is underway, with completion expected for the 2027-28 season. This reimagined entertainment complex will serve millions of visitors annually and redefine the fan experience in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the Arena Transformation here.

Photo courtesy Oak View Group

The Kentucky Exposition Center today announced the selection of Oak View Group (OVG), the global leader in live event venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions, as its exclusive food and beverage provider. The partnership ushers in a new era for the Kentucky Exposition Center, one focused on innovation, local partnerships, and elevating the guest experience.

Beginning with the Louisville Sports Commission’s 2025 Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame celebration on September 23, OVG Hospitality will oversee all culinary services at the Kentucky Exposition Center, which hosts millions of visitors annually for several of the nation’s largest trade shows, concerts, agricultural expositions, and sporting events.

“Hospitality is central to every event we host, and our guests and clients have been clear that they want food and beverage options that consistently add to their experience,” said David S. Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues. “We listened. Partnering with Oak View Group Hospitality allows us to build on our strong traditions while introducing fresh ideas, enhanced services, and an intentional approach that strives to meet our clients’ expectations.”

Guests can expect expanded menu variety, premium offerings that highlight Kentucky’s culinary heritage, and collaborations with beloved regional vendors. Planned enhancements also introduce new technology to improve speed of service, including multiple grab-and-go markets and more cashless transaction points.

“This is a transformative partnership,” said Ken Gaber, President of OVG Hospitality. “Louisville is a proud city with deep traditions, and the Kentucky Exposition Center is at the heart of that. Our team is focused on honoring that history while bringing new energy and consistency to the hospitality experience. By combining global expertise with local flavors, we’ll deliver food and service that meet the needs of every guest who walks through these doors.”

Together, the partners are committed to redefining what exceptional hospitality means in Louisville, creating food and beverage experiences that not only elevate events but also showcase the city’s vibrant culture to visitors from across the country.