Exterior substantially complete on new $34.5M arena, which is on track for August opening

Energetic red and black hues accent the new Rosemont ice rink’s metal panel exterior.

Nicholas & Associates, a full-service contractor providing comprehensive construction management, design/build and general contracting services with offices in Illinois, Wisconsin and Tampa, today announced exterior construction is substantially complete on its new $34.5 million indoor ice arena in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago. With precast concrete up and joists and roof decking installed, the building’s shell is 95% finished and construction is on track for an August 2025 opening.

Located on three acres north of Allstate Arena, the new 103,000-square-foot twin-sheet arena will offer a “hat trick” of benefits for local ice enthusiasts: prime ice time for youth hockey groups and figure skating; evening ice time for adult hockey leagues; and exclusive daytime use by the Chicago Wolves professional hockey team, which currently practices in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and plays games at Allstate Arena. Because the new facility is only 3 miles from O’Hare International Airport, it also will draw regional and national hockey tournaments, the firm said.

“As a hockey family, we’ve seen firsthand how the sport has become more popular over the years, yet there is just not enough quality ice to meet the demand for the different teams and clubs, forcing kids to not only practice late at night, but also in aged facilities,” said Nick Papanicholas Jr., CEO and managing director of the Nicholas Family of Companies, of which Nicholas & Associates is an entity. “With this new highly amenitized arena, we are expanding opportunities for youth hockey programs in the area and providing a premier training center for the Chicago Wolves – it’s a win-win for everyone.

Nearly a half dozen hockey clubs will be signing on to use the new ice rink in Rosemont by Nicholas & Associates.

“And we couldn’t ask for a better partner on this project than the Village of Rosemont,” Papanicholas continued. “Their commitment to having a world-class ice arena has been evident each step of the way because they know what a positive impact this arena will have on families, players and surrounding businesses. This arena truly embodies what the Rosemont experience is all about.”

Designed by architectural firm ARCON Associates, Inc., the new arena will provide a family-friendly mezzanine-level restaurant, a bar with a viewing area featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking both rinks, an elevated grab-and-go concept, and a physical therapy clinic and gym. The arena also will have staff and team amenities for the Wolves and the Chicago Mission girls hockey club.

The new arena will be operated by the Nicholas Family of Companies’ Spectate Group, which also manages the Nicholas Sportsplex, the firm’s 17-acre indoor-outdoor sports complex with three ice sheets, synthetic turf fields, dedicated team spaces, a restaurant and bar and a hockey pro shop in Mount Prospect, Ill.

Spectate Group will pay the village an annual licensing fee to operate and manage the year-round facility. Under the agreement, both parties will be able to sell naming rights and sponsorships inside and outside the building.

Fueled in part by a new wave of female fans, the National Hockey League is consistently reporting higher revenue YOY, increased ratings and record-setting attendance, with arenas filled to more than 96% capacity. There were 389,820 registered youth hockey players in the 2023-24, up from 340,000 in 2009-10, and over 90,000 girls under age 18 are registered to play, almost surpassing Canada, according to USA Hockey. Several girls hockey teams and organizations look forward to calling Rosemont’s new ice arena home.

Founded in 1978, the Nicholas Family of Companies’ construction arm has become synonymous with big suburban building projects,

The rink’s mezzanine-level includes a restaurant and a viewing area overlooking the two ice rinks.

including public schools and park districts, private residential and retail mixed-use projects, and dozens of recreational facilities, including fitness centers, athletic fields, gymnasiums and, increasingly, ice arenas. The family’s interest in building ice arenas started under patriarch Nick Sr., who transformed a vacant commercial property in Mount Prospect’s Kensington Business Center into the premier ice arena in the Chicagoland area – the Nicholas Sportsplex – in less than six months. Nick Sr. passed away just months after the ice rink opened in 2016. Today, the family’s Nicholas Sportsplex has roughly 40 hockey teams that call the Sportsplex home and attracts approximately 750,000 hockey and sports enthusiasts from around the world each year.

“Rosemont is the epicenter of where families want to be for hockey,” said Papanicholas Jr. “Adding a desperately needed premier ice arena with modern conveniences for our kids to play is incredibly rewarding, especially for a hockey family like ours.”

Co-Hosted by Olympic Champion Brian Boitano, the event will feature skating superstars Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, Madison Chock and Evan Bates and more

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Entertainment Gang, and U.S. Figure Skating today announced they will host a live figure skating tribute to be held at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington D.C. on Sunday, March 2, 2025, to support the families and loved ones affected by the tragic aviation incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025. The event will be co-hosted by 1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano and will include: 

• Ilia Malinin – Three-time U.S. champion, two-time ISU Grand Prix Final champion and 2024 world champion 
• Amber Glenn –Two-time U.S. champion and 2025 ISU Grand Prix Final champion 
• Madison Chock & Evan Bates – Six-time U.S. ice dance champions, three-time World ice dance champions and 2022 Olympic figure skating team champions  
• Alysa Liu – Two-time U.S. champion, 2025 U.S silver medalist and 2022 World bronze medalist   
• Tara Lipinski – U.S. champion, World champion and 1998 Olympic champion 
• Kristi Yamaguchi – U.S champion, World champion and 1992 Olympic champion 
• Scott Hamilton – Four-time U.S. champion, four-time World champion and 1984 Olympic champion 
• Johnny Weir – Three-time U.S. champion and two-time Olympian 
• … And many more to be announced. 

More than a star-studded performance, Legacy on Ice is a powerful tribute to those lost, including members of the U.S. figure skating community. This extraordinary evening will unite the sport’s greatest legends and rising stars in a breathtaking showcase of artistry, athleticism, and remembrance. 

From heartfelt solos by today’s champions to once-in-a-lifetime performances featuring multiple generations of skating greats, Legacy on Ice will blend history, emotion, and excellence—ensuring that the legacies of those lost continue to inspire generations to come. 

Legacy on Ice will honor the 67 lives lost and raise funds to support victims’ families and the first responders and aviation professionals who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the tragedy. All proceeds will be collected by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and equally distributed to the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund, Greater Washington Community Foundation’s “DCA Together Relief Fund,” and DC Fire & EMS Foundation.  

This event is made possible through in-kind contributions. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is donating all services and event costs. For those interested in contributing directly, please visit: www.MonumentalSports.com/LegacyOnIce. 

“We are fortunate to have a platform to honor the 67 people we lost and remember the extraordinary impact they made during their lives,” said Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “By raising funds to support their families, we hope to provide a small amount of comfort during this terrible time.” 

“As we begin to heal from this devastating loss, we look forward to honoring the enduring memories of these athletes, coaches and family members who represented the best of the figure skating community,” said U.S. Figure Skating interim-CEO, Samuel Auxier. “We can think of no better way of celebrating their legacies than through the sport they loved.”   

“The victims’ families and our first responders are forever connected by this tragedy,” said Amy C. Mauro, Esq., Executive Director, DC Fire & EMS Foundation. “We are grateful that this tribute honors them together. The DC Fire & EMS Foundation will always be there for our first responders because they are always there for us.” 

“Our Greater Washington community is at its strongest when we come together as neighbors helping neighbors,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, representing the DCA Together Relief Fund established with the Capital Region Community Foundations. “Our hope is that the DCA Together Relief Fund can in some small way help bring comfort and healing to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. Through the generosity of our community and partners, we will stand united in remembrance and resilience.” 

Event Details 

• Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025 
• Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm ET 
• Location: Capital One Arena, 601 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 

Participating groups to honor the families of the fallen and the first responders:                     

• Members of the Men’s, Women’s, Ice Dance and Pairs US National Figure Skating Teams 
• Figure Skating Legends and Icons 
• Members of DMV Skating Clubs 
• Members of the Skating Club of Boston 
• NHL’s Washington Capitals 
• NBA’s Washington Wizards 
• WNBA’s Washington Mystics 
• NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go  
• MLB’s Washington Nationals 
• MLS’ D.C. United 
• NFL’s Washington Commanders  
• NWSL’s Washington Spirit 

Additional event dynamics will be announced once confirmed.  

Tickets 

Tickets will go on sale starting Monday, February 10^th at 10:00am ET on the Ticketmaster website for Capital One Arena. Ticketmaster, official partner of Capital One Arena, has agreed to waive all ticketing fees for this event. Guests are reminded that purchases made through Ticketmaster or at the venue box office are guaranteed to be authentic. Third-party ticketing agent purchases cannot be verified. 

Supporters will also have the ability to make tax deductible donations directly to a joint fund supporting the participating causes through the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation. To contribute, please visit: www.MonumentalSports.com/LegacyOnIce. 

“Legacy on Ice” Benefit Sponsorships 

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, in partnership with the presenting organizers, will assist in securing sponsorships and media partnerships for this historic event benefiting the community.   

For more information on sponsorship packages and event programs regarding “Legacy on Ice,” please e-mail globalpartnerships@monumentalsports.com.  

Proceeds Beneficiaries 

All proceeds will be collected by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and equally distributed to the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund, Greater Washington Community Foundation’s “DCA Together Relief Fund,” and DC Fire & EMS Foundation. To contribute, please visit: www.MonumentalSports.com/LegacyOnIce.  

U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund 

U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States, established the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund to provide support the families in the skating community directly impacted by the tragic plane crash that occurred on January 29, 2025. The organization suffered an unimaginable loss when 28 athletes, coaches, and family members perished aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which tragically collided with a helicopter in Washington, D.C. These individuals were returning home from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, a place where young skaters take their next steps toward their dreams. 

U.S. Figure Skating comprises more than 875 member clubs, collegiate clubs and high school teams, and more than 1,000 registered Learn to Skate USA programs representing over 246,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States, including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed. 

Greater Washington Community Foundation’s “DCA Together Relief Fund” 

For over 50 years, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has ignited the power of philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers. As a trusted philanthropic advisor, The Community Foundation connects caring donors with committed nonprofits and communities where potential often exceeds resources. During times of crisis, The Community Foundation acts as community quarterback and convener, coordinating resources to help navigate challenges from the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon to the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The DCA Together Relief Fund is a crisis response fund that will provide aid to impacted families, first responders, and nonprofit organizations supporting recovery and healing. Working in close coordination with federal and local authorities and the Wichita Foundation, the goal is to provide immediate and long-term assistance, ensuring that those affected receive the care, resources, and support they need during this difficult time. 

The fund was established in partnership with ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and Greater Washington Community Foundation.  

DC Fire & EMS Foundation 

The mission of the DC Fire & EMS Foundation is to support the DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department and its heroic members by supporting their training, wellness and recognition, equipment and facilities, and by educating the community about the Department’s life-saving mission. For more information: https://www.dcfireemsfoundation.org/ 

The New York Convention Center Operating Cooperation (NYCCOC) announced today that Joyce Leveston (CMM, CVP) will be appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The announcement follows a vote in support by the NYCCOC Board of Directors of the executive search committee’s unanimous recommendation.

Leveston will join the Javits team on Monday, February 10, 2025. After a short transition period, she will officially assume the role of CEO on Monday, March 10, 2025.

“We conducted a national search and are thrilled to select Joyce Leveston, who embodies the vision and passion that will propel the Jacob Javits Center into a new era of innovation and excellence,” said Hugh Carey, Vice Chair of the NYCCOC Board of Directors and Chair of the search committee. “Her leadership will not only inspire our team but will also enhance the experience for all who walk through our doors. We are excited to welcome her as our new Chief Executive Officer, we are confident that her enthusiasm and strategic insight will transform the Javits Center into a global beacon of creativity, class and collaboration.”

Leveston brings over 30 years of high-caliber industry experience to the chief executive officer role. Most recently, she was the Senior Vice President of Convention Centers at Oak View Group, where she oversaw strategy and operations for more than 60 convention and conference centers in the OVG360 portfolio. She has worked in convention centers across the country, including holding senior positions at Boston’s Hynes Convention Center, Boston Convention & Exhibitions Center, Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C., Miami Beach Convention Center, George R Brown Convention Center in Houston and the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. Additionally, Leveston has worked on high-profile special events such as fan fests for the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend and MLB All-Star Weekend; presidential inaugural balls; the Nuclear Security Summit for President Obama; the International AIDS Convention; the White House State of Women Summit; and Art Basel Miami.

“As soon as we spoke to Joyce during the interview process, we knew she was the person to lead Javits Center into the future,” said Lee Perlman, Chair of the NYCCOC Board of Directors. “Her dynamism and hands-on experience will serve Javits well as she guides our team through the ever-changing events industry landscape. I am excited to work with her for the years to come to grow Javits Center’s reputation as one of the premier convention centers in the country.”

In addition to her extensive experience, Leveston is well-known for providing exceptional customer experience and leading with authenticity. Her passion for the hospitality industry has led to strong relationships across the convention center sector and beyond. She holds memberships with IAEE, ASAE, PCMA, IAVM, SISO, MPI and AIPC.

Leveston’s appointment marks the first time a woman has held the chief executive officer position at Javits Center.

“Leading the convention center division at Oak View Group has been an amazing part of my journey and I am so appreciative of the people who have supported and encouraged me to be my authentic self,” said Leveston. “My mission throughout my career has been to inspire, empower and shine a light on the incredible talent that is rebuilding the industry with resilience and positive spirit. I’m eager to bring my passion for the industry to New York and to lead the talented team at Javits Center with conviction as we position Javits as a premier convention and meetings destination on an international scale. It is with deep compassion and sincere gratitude that I take up the torch to continue elevating the work that Alan Steel and the NYCCOC have started at Javits, from creating sustainable options, driving innovative solutions, and pursuing a brand that welcomes a diverse array of events.”

As chief executive officer, Leveston will be responsible for championing Javits Center’s mission to serve as a catalyst for the economic development of New York. She will be tasked with attracting world-class events while maintaining Javits Center’s position as a leader in sustainability, security and technology.

Leveston will succeed Alan Steel who has served as chief executive officer for the last 12 years. During his tenure, he successfully led the center through significant challenges, including navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the COVID pandemic, while also overseeing the completion of the building’s $375 million renovation and $1.35 billion expansion. He also spearheaded advancements in technology infrastructure, championed sustainability initiatives, and played a pivotal role in establishing the event industry’s Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have led this institution through such a transformative era and proud of all the work we were able to accomplish,” said Steel. “I feel very confident that Javits Center will continue to thrive in Joyce Leveston’s capable hands.”

Performing Arts Centers were the venue of choice for Stephen Ray (Steve) Martin, and he delighted in bringing that community together through IAVM. He served as chair of the Performing Arts Sector Committee from 1999 to 2004, leaving his mark on that group’s close camaraderie and educational focus.

Born July 3, 1955, Martin died Jan. 20, 2025, at the age of 69, in Salem, Ore., where he started his career of “enjoying retirement” in 2017. He is one who considered IAVM “family,” and benefited from mentors and mentoring his entire professional career.

Steve Martin, left, at the opening of Pikes Peak Center, Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1982, with Kirk Metzger, CVE, and Richard Cotton.

He managed the Historic Elsinore Theatre in Salem from 2005-2016. He started his PAC career at Pikes Peak Centre in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he worked from 1982-2005.

He joined IAVM in 1989 and attended just about every conference from 1997 through 2014. Martin was among the founders and organizers of IAVM’s Performing Arts Facility Administrators Seminar (PAFAS), which morphed into the annual Performing Arts Managers Conference (PAMC).

“During Steve’s long career in the performing arts, he was both a technical director and venue manager,” noted longtime friend Larry Henley, CVE, UNLV, highlighting Martin’s diverse skills.

Kirk Metzger, CVE, first met Martin in the fall of 1974 when he enrolled in the new theatre graduate program at UNLV. Martin was an undergraduate, a theatre major.

“We worked numerous plays together, for probably three years, until Steve graduated and went off to teach theatre at Centre College in Danville, Ky.,” Metzger shared in an email. “Prior to his graduation, I had been appointed to open and manage the university’s new 2,000-seat concert hall. All my stagehands were theatre undergrads including Steve and Larry Henley. Somewhere during that period Steve met (his wife-to-be) Tina. We knew that Tina was the one for Steve, because she endured the five-hour drive through the desert to Southern California without air conditioning. Steve thought using AC would adversely affect his gas mileage, so he drove with the windows open.” 

In 1982, when Metzger moved to Colorado Springs to be the executive of the new Pikes Peak Center, a 2,000-seat opera house, he needed an operations director. “I hired Steve as a known, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and dedicated theatre person. Steve brought Larry Henley to our operation as a lighting designer and stagehand.” Henley later returned to UNLV to run the concert hall.

When Metzger left Colorado Springs to open the Woodlands Pavilion (AKA Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion) in suburban Houston, Martin was appointed director at Pikes Peak Center

When Martin retired, “he concentrated on his golf game eventually achieving a handicap of, I think, seven,” Metzger related grudgingly, having played longer but apparently not as well.

Their daughters were the same age, and many an IAVM conference found them together. “I recall an IAVM conference where Steve’s daughter Allison and my Kelsey were seven-year-old trade show rats scarfing up all the food being offered.” (Metzger’s now-grown daughter, Kelsey Covart, is the COO of a VenuWorks-managed facility in suburban Minneapolis and was in the first class of IAVM’s 30-under-30. “When Kelsey joined the business, I told her that venue management was much different than free Dipp’n’ Dots on the trade show floor—she didn’t listen,” Metzger added.)

Martin gave back to IAVM in numerous ways, serving on the board of directors from 2004-2006, and joining the Professional Development Committee, the Technologies Task Force, the VenueConnect Planning Committee, and the Business Development Task Force, besides his ongoing role with Performing Arts.

He is survived by wife Tina and daughter Allison.

Social media and the industry trades filled up Thursday, Jan. 23, with accolades and fond memories of talent agent extraordinaire Scott Pang.

The former ICM agent died of a heart attack on Jan. 23. He was 69.

Doug Logan, of Ogden Corp. and MLS fame, who says Scott was his first Facebook friend, was quick to post this tribute:

“A sweet and gentle talent agent. Sounds like an oxymoron, but with this guy it was not.

Knew him at William Morris. Knew him when he was with the Globetrotters/Ice Capades. Knew him at ICM. A funny man, always cheerful. Absolute straight shooter; an honorable man in an industry that is not always that way.”

Scott Pang, left and promoter Darin Lashinsky at IEBA in Nashville in 2013.

Those sentiments were noted over and over again as hundreds of Pang’s friends and colleagues reacted to the unexpected news. Pang was a regular over the years at most industry events, often serving as a panelist and/or host at IAVM’s VenueConnect. He was practically the unofficial mayor of the International Entertainment Buyers Assn., serving on their board, and if you attended Pollstar Live!, you were sure to see him holding court.

Pang joined International Creative Management Partners in 1994 and remained there for more than 26 years. During the pandemic, he left to work independently with his clients.

He started in the business as a music agent at William Morris Agency in 1980, after graduating from UC San Diego in 1977. He was lured away after 10 years to become head of touring for Ice Capades and the Harlem Globetrotters from 1990-1994.

One of his Fair industry colleagues, Launa Rabago, posted of Facebook how “Scott and I ventured bringing rap and hip hop along with some R&B into the Fair world, breaking stigma, shattering attendance records and seeing new demographics with such acts as Kid Ink, YG, Juicy J, Jeremich, Nelly, Salt N Pepa, Boyz II Men, and many many more.”

Billboard magazine cited his work with Usher, Lauryn Hill, the Beach Boys and more while at William Morris.

Tommy Scallen, formerly of Ice Capades, related one of his favorite Scott Pang stories to Rex W. Post, as that group of former co-workers, and longtime Pang friends, shared the news of his untimely passing. Pang was Aretha Franklin’s agent for years. When she died, he flew to Detroit to attend her funeral. The funeral featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Faith Hill, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson, and more. Speakers included former President Bill Clinton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. It was a very big deal, but Pang had miscalculated and booked a flight home for 6 p.m. He had to leave before the procession to the graveside and, like all Pang stories, he laughed at and with himself.

He is survived by his wife Greta, and four children – Tommy, twins Andrew and Lily, and Katie. Lily probably said it best about a booking agent who shown with light and love. Her post on Facebook:

“The man who made a friend everywhere he went, loved Chinese food, and cracked the funniest jokes. To the first man I ever loved, it was and will forever be an honor being your daughter till we meet again.”