By Emily Eades

As the largest in-person tradeshow hosted at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) since the onset of the pandemic, Design and Construction Week, held Feb. 8-10, 2022, left a lasting impact on a local non-profit agency.

The co-located National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show® (IBS) and the
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), owned by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), featured
1,200 exhibitors, occupying 750,000 net square feet of exhibit space and 70,000 energized attendees and
provided $180 million in economic impact in the community.

The co-located tradeshows generously donated $13,300 in kitchen, bathroom, living room, and outdoor
furniture to West Orange Habitat for Humanity. The OCCC is collaborating with West Orange Habitat for Humanity to ensure the donations go towards building stronger and more sustainable neighborhoods for families in Orange County.

The donations consisted of gently used household goods and building materials from exhibitors and booths on display during Design and Construction Week, which were sent to the ReStore in Winter Garden.

Trade shows held at the OCCC this year provided nearly $250,000 worth of donations to West Orange Habitat for Humanity.

For organizations like West Orange Habitat for Humanity, trade shows and conventions are traditionally a
reliable source of donations. Items donated by events like Design and Construction Week are used in the
construction of local homes to benefit the organization’s mission of building decent and affordable housing in Orange County.

The Center of Hospitality continues to support local organizations to benefit the local economy and remains committed to doing Business Better than Usual.

Emily Eades is Public Relations/Information Officer | Marketing & Communications for the Orange County Convention Center.

By Claire Kramer

Populous has been selected by Pegula Sports & Entertainment (PSE) to design the new home stadium for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. Populous, the lead designer and architect of record on the project, will work with PSE, Legends Project Development, and a construction manager to be announced. The stadium is set to open in 2026.

“Together with PSE, we are reimagining the Bills fan experience of the future,” said Populous senior principal Scott Radecic. “This stadium will connect fans to the action on the field and engage the Buffalo community in exciting new ways. It’s going to be a world class venue built for Buffalo, and we’re honored to bring our experience to this transformative project.”

Populous is known for its dynamic design approach, which synthesizes architectural expertise and understanding of fan experience to deliver stadiums authentic to their cities and primed for economic impact. The global firm has been a trusted designer for NFL franchises for decades.

“This stadium will be visioned, designed, and built for football and all it encompasses – the team, the organization, the fans, and the community,” said Populous senior principal Jonathan Mallie. “A storied franchise and fan base deserve an innovative and authentic place to call home with a presence and adaptable quality that transcends time.”

Populous has designed some of the most iconic stadiums and venues throughout the world, including 17 NFL stadiums, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Climate Pledge Arena. Populous, the Buffalo Bills, and PSE have a rich history of successful projects completed over the firm’s history, including the LECOM Harborcenter, the ADPRO Sports Training Facility, and the 2015 renovations to Highmark Stadium.

Populous specializes in drawing people together through design. In 2022, Populous was named one of Fast Company’s Top 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World and the Most Innovative Architecture Firm in the World. Populous has been recognized by Fast Company as a Most Innovative Company six times in the firm’s history.

More details regarding the new stadium will be released at a later date.

Claire Kramer is Senior Public Relations Coordinator for Populous.

By Nancy Walker

On the recent April 19 Earth Day, the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by ASM Global, announced a ban on single-use plastic bottles throughout the facility.

Levy Restaurants, the LACC’s exclusive food and beverage partner, has replaced single-use plastic bottles with aluminum bottles throughout cafés and catering operations. Beverages sold in the Center’s vending machines have followed suit.

“As an environmentally-responsible facility, this was an obvious next step,” said Ellen Schwartz, General Manager of the LACC. “The long-term cost of single-use plastic to our environment was something we could no longer ignore.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s goal to eliminate plastic bottles throughout city-owned facilities includes replacing single-use plastic water bottles with sustainable alternatives, including recyclable aluminum, glass, or certified compostable material.

“The climate crisis demands that we take bold action now to fight climate change and phasing out plastic bottles at the Convention Center is an important step we can take to meet our goals,” said Mayor Garcetti. “I applaud the Convention Center for making this change and look forward to continuing the push to make our city spaces a model for sustainable economic growth.”

“Eliminating plastic water bottles at the LA Convention Center is an important milestone in addressing climate change, reducing waste, and meeting Mayor Garcetti’s ambitious goals in L.A.’s Green New Deal,” said Doane Liu, the City’s Chief Tourism Officer and Executive Director of the City Tourism Department. “LACC has been a leader in sustainability, not only with this effort, but by installing the largest solar array on a municipally owned convention center in the USA. I am grateful for Ellen Schwartz’s leadership in making the LACC a model for sustainable economic growth.”

In addition to reducing plastic pollution, the newly introduced aluminum bottles are easily refillable from one of the 21 hydration stations on-site. To date, these water refilling stations have saved an estimated 150,000 plastic bottles.

Recently, the LACC teamed up with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) to more clearly identify these water refilling stations. “Fill Up Here” signs have been added to each hydration station to encourage guests to take advantage of the city’s clean/safe water supply.

“Hydration stations provide access to the most reliable, cleanest, and safest drinking water there is, and without plastic pollution,” said Nancy Sutley, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer. “We urge Angelenos to fill up reusable water bottles with confidence knowing your tap water meets all state and federal drinking water standards. So, fill up! This drink is on us!”

LADWP is expanding access to clean, drinking water by supporting the installation or refurbishment of at least 200 drinking water stations citywide by the end of 2022 and beyond. As the city looks forward to the 2028 Olympics, the Hydration Station Initiative Program aims to promote L.A.’s high quality drinking water for the health and enjoyment of all residents and visitors.

Nancy Walker is VP, Sales & Marketing, for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

BEST Crowd Management — a GardaWorld company and nationwide provider of event staffing and security services — announced that it has recently secured contracts with AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, as well as MLS team venues for Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati, and Inter Miami SC.

BEST will be providing services in metal detection, bag checks, access control, security rovers, and field security — plus other critical crowd management functions including customer service, ticket scanning, ushering, and concierge services. In addition to staffing home games at AT&T Stadium, BEST will also be working concerts and other major events.

“No matter the event, we know that a crowd’s energy is vital to a team’s success,” said VP of BEST Jeff

Spoerndle. “From planning to intervention, we facilitate crowd management to keep the event energy on track. We’re humbled by this recent growth and honored to add these world-class teams to our portfolio.”

AT&T Stadium is the largest, most technologically advanced entertainment venue in the world. In addition to being the home of the Dallas Cowboys since opening in 2009, the stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV, the 2010 NBA All Star Game, the annual Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2015 inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game, the 2015 50th Anniversary Academy of Country Music Awards show, and WrestleMania 32.

BEST has over 25,000 employees and services 125 sports venues and convention centers in the U.S. — ranging from the NFL to the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and NHL. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., and in Montreal, Canada, BEST Crowd Management is part of GardaWorld Security Services, one of the largest privately held integrated security services companies in the world.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in March 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.

Anthony Alba, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Akmal Ali, Aluma, McLean, VA

Erika Arms, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Bulganbayar Baatar, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Richard Barker, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Kevin Bauer, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Doug Billingsley, Oilers Entertainment Group Canada Corp., Edmonton, AB, Canada

Nargil Bold, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Scott Braudt, RiverCenter | Adler Theatre, Davenport, IA

Daniel Butler, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Gankhishig Buyankhishig, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Jade Calhoun, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Heather Calvin, Keen Independent Research, Phoenix, AZ

Jeffrey Chabon, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

Randy Christensen, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Delvin Clanton, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Dana Cole, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Douglas Conner, Sodexo/Centerplate, Orlando, FL

Sophie Curtis, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Jodi Davis, Bank of Springfield Center, Springfield, IL

Pearson Davis, XL Center / Pratt & Whitney Stadium, Hartford, CT

Jordan Devine, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Kate Dickerson, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Gabriel Eisenbarth, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Todd Ferrario, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Jesus Flores, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Jeff Foster, T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO

Dani Fricke, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Kindra Fry, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Tamir Ganbold, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Mandy Garza, Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, TX

Jonathan Geller, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Melissa Glickman, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA

Kevin Gossett, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Erika Hammerschmidt, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO

Kevin Harry, The BCJ Group, St Petersburg, FL

Mikenzee Heidrich, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Melanie Henkes, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN

Tamara Herold, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Henderson, NV

Linnea Holt, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Lindsey Horstman, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Austin Hostetler, Anderson University, Anderson, IN

Amanda Hurd, Renasant Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Genendarama Jargalsaikhan, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Bill Carl Johnson, The BCJ Group, St Petersburg, FL

Marcie Kamerick, Bridge View Center, Ottumwa, IA

Dylan Kawa, University of Florida, Tampa, FL

Candace Kidman, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Hongyoung Kim, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Brian Kitts, Arts and Venues Denver, Denver, CO

Adam Kopperud, Staging Concepts/Trex Commercial, Minneapolis, MN

Carol Krueger, Arts and Venues Denver, Denver, CO

Yukio Kuniyuki, San Angelo Performing Arts Center, San Angelo, TX

Jelena Lane, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ

Taylor Marcine, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Dakota Marsden, Rice-Eccles Stadium/Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Sam Maton, Bonnetts Energy Centre, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada

Keaten McDonald, Rice-Eccles Stadium/Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Carla Miller, The Fairgrounds Nashville, Nashville, TN

Brianna Morgan, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC

Kevin Newton, Parker Arts, Parker, CO

Travis Noble, DI Build, Overland Park, KS

Ciara O’Halloran, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Efren Ortiz, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Morgan Palmer, The BCJ Group, St Petersburg, FL

Kristina Pappas, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture, Salt Lake City, UT

Tsagaan Puntsag, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Heather Rector, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Tameka Rish, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Lindsey Ritter, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Isaiah Rodgers, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Matthew Rollins, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Nawar Saadi, San Diego Theatres/San Diego Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA

Brandon Samsury, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Gianluca Sardo, The Glasshouse, New York, NY

Emily Schierenbeck, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Courtney Schmitz, Staging Concepts/Trex Commercial, Minneapolis, MN

Eric Schmitz, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Kathleen Serangeli, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Tarena Smith, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Tron Stamper, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Megan Stewart, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Christopher Strassner, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL

David Taylor, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Hayley Tice, City of Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA

Kayla Tomlinson, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Munkhtuvshin Tsagaan, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Odontuya Tsendsuren, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City,

Bayasgalan Tsogtsaikhan, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Nathan Uetz, Enterprise Center/Stifel Theatre, Saint Louis, MO

Sugar Unurbayar, Steppe Arena, Ulaanbataar City, Mongolia

Nina Urban, Tampa Sports Authority, Tampa, FL

Hayden Wadsworth, Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, Ogden, UT

Faith Ward, Palmer Events Center, Austin, TX

Stephen Wascher, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL

Heather Watson, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL

Tim White, Staging Concepts/Trex Commercial, Minneapolis, MN

Kody Wood, Texas A&M Athletics, College Station, TX

Anastasia Yulia, Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI