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.

IAVM is excited to introduce its membership to a new, free tool for event venues: Venue Sustainalytics. Along with Honeycomb Strategies and Trade Show News Network, we’ve been at the forefront of developing this industry-wide benchmarking platform in response to our membership who want to prioritize sustainability and better prepare for the risks and challenges associated with it.

We recognize that the industry at large needs to move forward in the realm of environmental and social betterment so that we can create venues that are resistant to resource depletion, unpredictable weather, and rising costs, while nourishing great spaces for gathering, celebrating, sharing knowledge and innovation, and supporting economic growth.

Venue Sustainalytics is a tool that will help our industry move in the right direction by tracking basic environmental and social data year over year in an anonymous and aggregated fashion. The data collected includes basic annual utility data on energy, water, waste, as well as transportation, procurement, and social initiatives.

Qualified data analysts at Honeycomb Strategies, with years of background and established security and audit protocols administer the data on their platform. The submission process isn’t long or cumbersome, and tech support is available. While analysts will see who submitted, your venue’s identifying information won’t be published publicly to ensure privacy. You can download the questions ahead of time to prepare for a quick and painless process of submission. The 2024 survey is open! Submit your response now on the portal through October 31.

This data will track our path to the future, indicating where current gaps may be, where we’re already leading the way, and showing what steps to take next.  Venue Sustainalytics grants access to an industry-wide results dashboard and will publish annual reports for participating organizations to make the survey results immediately actionable. Analysis will show how you stack up against other venues in your region, or of similar size and type, useful for sales pitches, business decisions, utility and operational upgrades and retrofits, reporting, communications and social media, and for certifications. To put the icing on the cake, in the near future awards for sustainable achievement will decorate outstanding achievements in the field. With so many applications across all departments of the venue, participating in this free tool is a must-have to stay on top of our collective forward momentum.

A data project of this kind has never been done in this industry. As a first-of-its-kind exclusive opportunity, Venue Sustainalytics demonstrates the leadership of IAVM and its members venues. Participation by each and every one of you will vault the dashboard from a great idea to an indispensable year over year tool.

We invite you to learn more and participate in the inaugural data survey for 2024, open now on the Venue Sustainalytics website. Find more information, sample graphics, FAQs, and the link to participate in the survey at the link provided.

Transforming A Century-Old KU Icon Into a Modern Game Day Destination

David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium has served as the heart of Jayhawks football for more than a century. Opened in 1921 as a living memorial to the University of Kansas (KU) students and alumni who gave their lives during World War I, it is one of the nation’s oldest college football venues.

Generations of fans have filled the stands to watch Kansas legends and unforgettable rivalries unfold, making it a landmark of tradition and pride not just for the university, but for the entire Lawrence community. Today, the stadium is undergoing a new era of transformation. Renovations are reimagining the fan experience with updated seating, enhanced accessibility and modern design elements that honor its history while preparing it for the next 100 years.

To bring that vision to life, our team delivered more than 17,000 linear feet of railing in a wide range of styles from glass track rail and reed-patterned drink rail to cable, aisle and picket rail systems. Woven mesh infill adds a distinctive architectural statement to the custom VIP stairs, while anodized aluminum finishes in the bowl and brown-bronze powder coating in the back-of-house areas ensure design cohesion and durability.

The project also required versatile infrastructure. By incorporating SC Pro Risers, the stadium gains a flexible, demountable platform system that supports a variety of seating and event configurations. At the entry points, custom sunshade canopies now welcome fans and staff with protection and comfort, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.

These solutions are paired with high-end finishes that elevate the entire fan experience. Fundermax phenolic panels are integrated into drink rails and suite dividers, while Krion solid-surface drink tops give the luxury suites a refined edge. Premium-gauge woven mesh adds an upscale touch to the VIP stairs while complementing the overall design intent.

Beyond materials, design choices also transform the way fans take in the action. The reconfigured seating bowl now places suites up to 80 feet closer to the field, while individual seats gain 50% more space and legroom. New wheat stalk-inspired lighting poles further connect the stadium’s refreshed look to its Kansas roots.

In projects like this, the challenge is balancing legacy with innovation by improving comfort, safety and aesthetics without losing the character that makes it a venue iconic. That’s where Sightline Commercial Solutions comes in. With our ability to deliver custom, turnkey solutions under tight deadlines, we help historic venues like David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium evolve gracefully by blending architectural impact with engineering precision to meet the needs of partners, universities and fans alike.

Mac Campbell succeeded 28-year executive director Peggy Daidakis, the first woman to lead a convention center in the country.

Mac Campbell is walking to the Baltimore Convention Center lobby, finishing up a business conversation before meeting a guest.

Next, another colleague needs to speak with him. They step outside for a chat.

“Mac is always busy,” says the receptionist.

Campbell, executive director of the Baltimore Convention Center, oversees an operation that draws nearly 500,000 people a year to the city and surrounding areas. They bring in $10-12 million a year in revenue for the state through taxes, all of which goes to the general fund that can be used anywhere in Maryland.

“It’s an exciting environment. Every day is different. We get to be the face of this destination to so many people,” he said.

The convention center often houses multiple events simultaneously. Sometimes one convention is in full swing while another is moving in and another moving out. Sometimes they are all there together.

In early August, the FBI, a Chinese Volleyball group and emergency call center operators all overlapped.

“What I love about my job is you can have the tattoo artists, fish scientists and cheerleaders all in the building at the same time,” Campbell said. 

With constantly changing conventions, exhibitors often leave things behind that the convention center staff rehomes. Leftover food is sent to charities such as the Maryland Food Bank. Food that can’t be saved goes to Carriage House Farms in Baltimore County to feed their pigs. Plants and furniture left behind are donated to nonprofits.

Campbell is overseeing a $33 million renovation to the center, its first major upgrade since 1996. Among things customers might notice are new floors, digital signage and improved bathrooms.

“We are tackling the largest amount of capital reinvestment in this building since the mid-90s,” Campbell said. “That’s something we’re really excited about. That’s no small feat for us.”

In addition to facility upgrades, Campbell has implemented a data-driven event management system. In 2018, he put into place a separate system to track utility use by meeting room, an attractive feature for customers concerned with their carbon footprints.

Campbell sees the convention center as an introduction to visitors for what Baltimore has to offer. They carry products from the locally owned Matriarch Coffee, showcase mural artists on the center’s exterior and are in talks for “a major art institution” to loan them art.

They also help fill restaurants that have lost customers when workers began to telecommute. Atlas Restaurant Group told Campbell that they see more than a20% increase in revenue during conventions.

The center’s impact isn’t strictly within city lines. Its events fill rooms in hotels reaching out to Columbia, Campbell said. Most attendees arrive by air, passing through Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, making purchases there, renting cars or hiring transportation. 

Campbell follows 28-year executive director Peggy Daidakis, the first woman to lead a convention center in the country. He worked under her in several roles, including as deputy director. She mentored him and impressed the importance of engaging people throughout the state so they understand why the convention center is important to them.

“I never dreamed I’d be able to have this opportunity, following in the footsteps of someone I admire so much,” Campbell said.

From the Baltimore Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2025/09/11/power-10-mac-campbell-convention-center.html

Total Includes $328.2 Million In Total Economic Impact And $101.1 Million In Earned Media Value

Temple University Sports Industry Research Center has released an economic impact study finding that NBA All-Star 2025 generated $429.3 million in total event value for the San Francisco Bay Area economy, including $328.2 million in total economic impact and $101.1 million in earned media value. The study measured economic activity from the 142,881 NBA All-Star 2025 event attendees.

For an infographic highlighting the report, CLICK HERE.

NBA All-Star 2025 took place across the San Francisco Bay Area from Friday, February 14, through Sunday, February 16. The 74th NBA All-Star Game took Place at Chase Center on Sunday, February 16, where Warriors guard Stephen Curry was awarded his second career Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy. 

“Bringing global events like NBA All-Star to the San Francisco Bay Area was one of our main priorities when building Chase Center and Thrive City,” said Golden State President & Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider. “This economic impact report confirms what we witnessed throughout the weekend: the NBA and the Bay Area community showing up in a big way to create lasting memories while providing substantial impact to local businesses.”

“San Francisco shined bright during NBA All-Star 2025, as a city that knows how to host world-class events safely and successfully,” said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. “The impressive economic impact numbers show how these events power our comeback and prove, once again, that San Francisco is a city on the rise.”

Highlights of the report include:

The $328.2 million in total economic impact generated from NBA All-Star 2025 includes over $210 million in direct spending, generated from tourism and corporate production services retained in the San Francisco Bay Area, and more than $117M in indirect and induced spending, which account for additional spending as a result of those new revenues.

Over $101.1 million in earned media value was generated for the San Francisco Bay Area driven by a total media reach of more than 28 billion.

The 142,881 NBA All-Star event attendees traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area from 40 states and 44 countries, with non-local spending accounting for 22% of economic impact.

84% of attendees stated they would recommend the San Francisco Bay Area as a travel destination, and 47% of attendees reported that their perception of the region improved after attending NBA All-Star 2025.

Over 1,700 local jobs were created, supported, or expanded due to NBA All-Star 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

A total of 56,270 individuals were impacted by community programming throughout NBA All-Star 2025, and more than 200 local businesses engaged in the NBA Explorers program in the months leading up to the event.

More than $250,000 in cash prizes were awarded to emerging companies and entrepreneurs that serve the San Francisco Bay Area as part of the NBA Foundation’s All-Star Pitch Competition. 

NBA All-Star 2025 was hosted in collaboration with the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), the region’s first long-term sports entity dedicated to uniting the Bay Area through sport by building pride, connecting communities, and reenergizing the region.

The impact of NBA All-Star 2025, released by Temple University Sports Industry Research Center, is derived from direct spending and tourism that injects new money into the San Francisco Bay Area economy from hosting NBA All-Star. Direct spending includes production cost information provided by non-local companies inclusive of all expenses related to the execution of the event and non-local attendees reporting their spending on accommodations, food & beverage, retail, and entertainment. Subsequent indirect and induced benefits from this direct spending include local corporate and business activity, tax revenue generation for the city, increased media exposure, and destination branding to promote future tourism

For more information on the Golden State Warriors, please visit warriors.com.