Comcast Spectacor, The Cordish Companies and Populous announced plans for a $50 million, next-generation esports and entertainment venue in the heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex. Fusion Arena, future home to the Philadelphia Fusion esports franchise, will sit up to 3,500 guests and stand as the western hemisphere’s largest ground-up, purpose-built esports venue. In addition to serving as a premier destination for competitive gaming events and elite training, Fusion Arena’s flexible and adaptable design lends the opportunity for 365-day activation to host a variety of live entertainment programming and experiences, truly a first-of-its-kind venue for the next-generation consumer.

“Fusion Arena represents a watershed moment for the competitive gaming market,” said Populous Senior Principal Brian Mirakian. “We’re taking our 36 years of designing iconic experiences for traditional sports – settings like Yankee Stadium – and applying those same principles of design to the virtual world of gaming.”

Eliciting the venue’s first wow is the arena’s exterior, a sleek and dynamic skin that draws inspiration from the hardware powering esports’ meteoric rise around the globe. The incorporation of industrial materials throughout Fusion Arena’s design pays tribute to Philadelphia’s heritage as the “workshop of the world.” A captivating 6,000-square-foot public entry will greet guests as they enter the space with 2,000 square feet of interactive media surface hovering 30 feet above them.

The arena itself will offer unique seating experiences such as balcony bars, club seats with USB ports, flexible loge boxes and exclusive suites. Additionally, nearly 10,000 square feet will be dedicated to a training facility, broadcast studio and team offices. The training facility separates the Fusion from the pack, offering an unrivaled experience and development opportunities for players.

“We’re thrilled to introduce a venue like no other as we move forward with the next phase of development within the Philadelphia Sports Complex,” said Dave Scott, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Spectacor. “Fusion Arena gives esports fans a best-in-class venue to call home and be proud of. Beyond competitive gaming, it’s a stunning facility that will host a wide array of events.”

“Fusion Arena will set the gold standard for competitive gaming and debut on one of the country’s most exciting platforms of sports and entertainment amid Philadelphia’s Sports Complex,” said Blake Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies. “Today’s announcement marks an exciting moment for the Comcast Spectacor-Cordish partnership as the next phase of Xfinity Live! continues to unfold.”

“We are thrilled to bring this ambitious idea to life and celebrate the arrival of Fusion Arena with gaming enthusiasts throughout the region and beyond,” said Joe Marsh, Chief Business Officer of Spectacor Gaming and the Philadelphia Fusion. “This project places esports alongside all the major traditional sports that call South Philadelphia home.”

Construction on Fusion Arena is set to begin this summer. Fusion Arena continues Populous’ global footprint in esports venue design. Populous debuted Esports Stadium Arlington in November, the most robust esports venue in North America. And earlier this month, Brian Mirakian spoke at SXSW and discussed how esports venues can bring cities and sports teams new revenue streams, increased commerce and development and reinvigorated neighborhoods.

COMMENTS

In early March, the Foundation Trustees issued a challenge to all 29 of the IAVM committees to achieve 100% participation in Foundation giving by committee members by March 31.  With the help of the committee chairs and IAVM staff liaisons, we were successful in raising the percentage of committee giving for the fiscal year 2019 with 4 committees hitting the magical 100% participation!  The first committee to reach 100% was the Governance Committee, followed closely by the Executive VenuConnect Program Committee, the Board of Regents, and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.  See the end- of-challenge percentages below.

Challenge %        Committee
30%.                      Allied
57%                       Amphitheaters & Fairgrounds
31%                       Arenas
85%                       Audit
33%                       AVSS Faculty
71%                       Board of Directors
44%                       Board of Governors
100%                     Board of Regents
94%                       Board of Trustees
55%                       Certification Board
29%                       Convention Centers
70%                       Diversity
50%                       Editorial Advisory
100%                     Executive Committee
100%                     Executive VC Program Committee
100%                     Governance
18%                       Guest X
71%                       Industry Affairs
71%                       Leadership Development
42%                       Membership
66%                       Mentoring
60%                       Performing Arts
28%                       Research
35%                       Stadiums
69%                       Strategic Leadership & Resources
72%                       Universities
62%                       VenueConnect Program Committee
53%                       Venue Safety & Security
 

Whether you’re a member of a committee or not, it’s not too late to make a donation to the Foundation today.

Thank you to everyone who invested and all who worked to make this challenge a success.

By typing the word Golf Tournament, a dozen people just stopped scrolling and mentally putted that dimpled white ball across a green oasis towards the tinking sound at the bottom of the cup…happy place found.  So when I tell those golf enthusiasts that we are golfing in Chicago this year, they pencil in the date, click on the REGISTER link, and it’s a done deal.   

But what about You? 

That twice a year golfer who likes the camaraderie of a tournament but hesitates to commit to time away from the conference you’ll have taken time out of your busy schedule to attend.  Well… here’s why you should make time to join us.  

• It’s for a good cause:  this event is a significant IAVM Foundation fundraiser that allows us to fund Foundation programs such as the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship & Internship Program and the 30 UNDER 30 Program and bring professional development opportunities to the IAVM members.
• Facility Managers you need to meet and get to know better will be there.  Industry professionals who are the backbone of what make our facilities great will be playing or sponsoring holes and give-always.  This is a relaxed setting to make new acquaintances and it’s geared towards making new industry contacts.  
• It’s going to be an epic day…with a view of the Chicago skyline in the distance, we will be making the Harborside International Golf Center an extension of the city with Chicago Dogs, Capone-a-ritas, great food and of course, lots of chances to win golf fame and fortune with our contests.  

So go ahead, stop right now and click the link to sign up to join us on sun day, July 21^st for a morning round of golf with plenty of time to get back to the conferences evening events.  

Join the fun, help the cause, and find your happy place with us in Chicago!  Fore!!!!

Jenifer Johnson
The Golf Committee 

*****Early Bird Registration Special – Register to play golf by May 15 and be entered in a drawing for a Scott Cameron Putter.  Drawing to take place at the tournament.

By Maria Talbert, CVE

All of us know how important connections outside our own organizations are — you wouldn’t be on the IAVM.org website reading this blog if you didn’t believe in the importance of learning from others outside your venue.

There are a number of ways that our amazing association facilitates connections, but the Mentor Connector program offers something truly special: the structure and support it provides mentors and mentees helps to appropriately match individuals and provides them with tools to ensure that their discussions are as beneficial as possible.

The Mentor Connector program creates the opportunity for an industry professional to provide guidance and encouragement to a member who has an identified professional development need. Together, the mentor and mentee create a one-on-one, tailored 12-month program that focuses on improving the skill set of the mentee, enhancing the mentor’s contribution to the industry, and provides a forum for an exchange of ideas between both participants.

Indeed, we ALL have wisdom we can impart and things we can learn from each other, and it is important to know that you are never too young or too old to be EITHER a mentor or mentee.

The next round of mentor/mentee pairings will be completed by Wednesday, May 15, so the application deadline for the spring cycle is in just a few months: Tuesday, April 30.

For more information about this incredible program, visit here or feel free to reach out to me at mtalbert@indiana.edu.

Maria Talbert, CVE, serves as Managing Director at Indiana University Auditorium, a 3,200-seat theatre that has been a model of campus and community programming and engagement since it was built in 1941. She holds a master’s in Arts Administration from IU and has over 20 years of marketing, event, and venue management experience. When she’s not at the Auditorium, you can find her at Vibe Yoga, McCormick’s Creek State Park, or at home with her spouse, Brian, and their daughter, Emily.