Excitement continues building in the Bay Area as the Oakland Athletics have revealed a new-look revised design plan for a new ballpark planned to open in 2023.

The current home to the Athletics and most recently the NFL Oakland Raiders before their announced move to Las Vegas, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum has spawned some of the public assembly venue’s most famous leaders, including Ray Ward. Opened in 1966, the stadium next to the NBA Golden State Warriors’ Oracle Arena (and on another side note that team will also be relocating) in recent years has had the misfortune of its age showing in sewage leaks, among other issues.

Now, the team not only discussed plans to develop a new stadium, but one to show some love to the team’s current home. As for the proposed new park, the waterfront Howard Terminal earned the nod and will have a capacity of 34,000 to bring a more intimate feel for guests, a trend that is moving across Major League Baseball.

Athletics’ President Dave Kaval shared some information that includes some revisions from the original plan after hearing from invested stakeholders including community members, public officials, and fans.

Most notably, fans will detect a stadium with a prevalent circular shape, a design said to enhance the fan experience by creating a more intimate feel and experience.

Kaval the new design will offer better views of the water and Oakland from inside the ballpark, along with more “seamless, efficient, and fluid” access to the stadium.

Another major goal for the project is to stimulate environmental, economic, and community benefits for the local citizenry.

The team has also agreed a partnership with the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), a resident-led community based environmental justice organization to develop a shared environmental justice agenda on issues of public health, air quality, land use, and equity.

If all goes according to plan, the team expects to break ground by 2021 and open the venue two years later.

Baltimore Convention Center Senior Sales Manager Elizabeth Berry was appointed as Convention Sales Professionals International’s (CSPI) Association Board President at the 28th annual Conference held on February 12, at The Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

Berry, a graduate of Loyola University Maryland, serves as senior sales manager at the Baltimore Convention Center where she has been employed since 2012. Berry is an active member of the PCMA Chesapeake and Capital Chapters. She succeeds Rosa Mendoza-Friedheim, assistant director of sales at the Seminole Hardrock Casino Hotel in Hollywood, Florida, as President. Berry’s goal is to amplify engagement within CSPI’s membership while focusing on strengthening industry partnerships through collaborative efforts, unity, and professionalism for the betterment of the convention sales industry. She will serve in this role for one year.

Photo: Elizabeth Berry, senior sales manager at the Baltimore Convention Center and incoming Association Board President for CSPI, presents outgoing President Rosa Mendoza-Friedheim with a token of gratitude for her term in office.

The Board of Directors of Convention Sales Professionals International (CSPI) announced that Stacey Knoppel, director of convention management for Events DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Shawn Corwin-Myland Award bestowed by the association. Knoppel has been an active member of CSPI since 2007. She served on the Board of Directors from 2012-2016 and was CSPI President in 2014.

Previously, Knoppel was with the Baltimore Convention Center where she served as the Director of Sales, Services and Marketing. She previously held positions at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center through Centerplate/NBSE and the Baltimore Convention Center through ARAMARK.

In addition to Knoppel’s leadership as past president and board member of CSPI, she has also served on the CSPI Education Committee for many years helping the association to continuously deliver leading edge education to the members. Knoppel is an active member of various industry associations. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Capital Chapter, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and is a member of IAVM.

As the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens, GF Strategies’ tracking system continues to be in place for 23rd year at the Show.

It began in 1996 when Winning Ticket Strategies, now known as GF Strategies, was engaged to bring to one of the major events in North America a sales tracking system. The system that was first implemented by the firm at the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Oregon, in 1992 would have its biggest test ever.

“Until we worked with the Houston Livestock Show we were a regional consulting firm,” said company President Greg Flakus. The show would see Flakus work with an all-volunteer group of tape reviewers that were part of the first team at the Show to track all sales as garner a percentage of gross sales from all food and beverage vendors. Prior to that time the show had charged vendors a flat fee for their space.

The show enjoyed major increases in sales after putting in place the sales tracking system.

“I have two very good memories from our first year at the show,” Flakus said. “The first was the group of volunteers who came every day committed to our job. This team is still known today as the Z team. And, of course, the major increase in show revenue from vendors under the new system.”

Another memory that Flakus recalls is being asked by one of the team members to join him at the Astrodome for the George Strait concert. “I will always remember George finishing his show and mounting a horse and riding around the floor of the Astrodome high-fiving front row patrons.”

“While all of these events continue to use our tracking system, our current business has moved to consulting on festival startups such as the Spokane Brewers Festival (now in in its fourth year) and advising events on how to increase their per capita spending at the festivals,” Flakus said.

GF Strategies would go on to bring the tracking system to 53 Fairs in 20 states including seven of the largest fairs by attendance in North America.

Wow! I am always amazed at how fast a year goes by as I get older. It seems like VenueConnect 18 in Toronto was a couple of months ago. The busy-ness of our businesses often skew our perspective of time. To that point, I was reminded earlier this week that the fiscal year for the IAVM Foundation ends on March 31^st. As Trustee on the Foundation Board, I am working with my fellow Trustees in making a FINAL PUSH to secure commitments from YOU, our members, to ensure the Foundation programs YOU support through your generous donations can continue for years to come.

• Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship & Internship Program
• 30 l UNDER l 30 Awards Program
• 100+ Women of IAVM
• Diversity & Inclusion Initiative
• YOUR Foundation. YOUR Future. Annual Fundraising Campaign

 
The last several years of my tenure as a Foundation Trustee have seen important changes within IAVM. As with any organization, success starts at the top. Brad Mayne’s arrival has ushered in much needed energy, an understanding of our business, and a focus on initiatives that are important to our members. Our new Development Director, Kathryn Eades, has been a breath of fresh air to the Foundation with her passionate support of our Mission. Robyn Williams is this year’s Foundation Chair. Her infectious creativity and energy are inspiring us to stay focused on our Mission. Her passion and drive are helping our Board of Trustees stay on target to achieve our goals.

However, to achieve these goals, we need you the members to get involved and give. There are many ways you for you to invest. You can make a one-time donation. There is an opportunity to set up scheduled giving. I give annually, but you may want to donate weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly with a recurring contribution. If we were able to get 400 individuals to donate $25/month, the result would be $10,000 per month for $120,000 annually and give us a solid foundation from which to operate. Many of our member facilities could set up Sponsorships and receive recognition for their participation. My fellow allied members that donate will receive recognition at all IAVM events.

As we Push forward, I ask that you click here to watch testimonial videos from our young venue professionals who have benefited from your contributions to the Foundation. These inspirational future leaders of our organization are why I give my time, energy, and money to the Foundation.

This is……..Your Foundation. Your Future.

Thomas L. Tingle, AIA

IAVM Foundation Board Trustee