“Create space. Be patient.”

That’s the advice Dominic Pavone, Senior Director, Event Services at Cleveland Cavaliers/Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio, has for any other venue lucky enough to book the brand-new Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth.

It is a 27-truck production, requiring 125 rigging points to handle 128,912 pounds of equipment. It’s akin to a Vegas-type rock show in load-in and load-out, night and day from the former Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus; number one, because the new Ringling has no animals.

Cleveland presented six shows Oct. 6-8 and had the distinction of being the first big arena to host Feld Entertainment’s reimagined Ringling. Therefore, Pavone couldn’t do a site visit and advance the show.

The veteran Feld team communicated very well, and he knew most of what to expect. He knew the show was very large, very spread out. It took three days to load it in, and the first two were 14-hour days each. The third day was 11 hours, including rehearsals and lighting focus, and went into overnight.

“We had 130 stagehands for the load-in on day one and another 71 we brought back for day two, so we were at 201 stagehands for the first two days,” he said. “For the out, we brought back 156 stagehands. That’s a huge number for an event.”

He was called down to the floor the first day of load in to find out the production required more floor anchors. “I said, ‘Okay, talk to me about what that looks like. What are they for? Can we pivot away, or is it mandatory?’ It was mandatory, or they would have to remove an act from the show,” Pavone recalled.

The marquee outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland. (Photo Credit: Carrie Samek)

So, they brought in X-ray technicians who specialize in concrete to map out existing anchors, glycol lines for ice, and rebar that vein the concrete floor. “He could say, ‘you have a 2-inch by 2-inch square here you can hit if that anchor works for you.’ We let them do the drilling,” Pavone said.

“Everybody was on the same page. We understood the sensitivity to it – it was safety. It was meeting in the middle and everybody working together,” he said. There was an advance scout doing a site visit from Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee in the house that very day, and Pavone says she immediately homed in on the anchors issue, calling home to construction to prepare for the show there. Pavone shared the X-ray map.

Every arena that has hosted the circus, which left the road five years ago, still has floor anchors for the rigging and netting. But, this production is huge, spread out over a 200-by-85 foot wide hockey floor. “We were lucky; we didn’t have our ice in,” Pavone said, but even if they had, and even though Feld says it can perform over ice, he would have taken the ice out for this.

They ended up with 14 anchors on each side of the floor. In addition, to maintain integrity and hold those lines, they brought in another 8-12 concrete Jersey barriers to wrap those wires around before they were anchored, specifically for the safety nets of the trapeze artists and high wire acts.

This Feld show is different from a concert, which might have 20 trucks and 20 drivers on a show. The 27 production trucks are really trailers parked in a staging area the arena rented from the city down near Cleveland Browns Stadium. The trailers were dropped off and four drivers proceeded to hitch them to their cabs and bring them to the arena in a predetermined order for load-in.

“It was efficient. It did take some time, but because of the volume of stuff we were hanging, that time was built in. It helped soften the blow of constantly rushing. This was a methodical load-in,” Pavone said.

In addition, there are three merchandise trucks. Due to sheer volume of production trucks, the arena staff had to identify a secondary location off the street to load in merchandise because they were out of room and “we have quite a lot of room,” Pavone said. “We’ll load in 20 trucks and 12 buses on a rock and roll show like it’s no problem. The volume they had, we had to identify a second location for their merch.”

The show also required removing three rows of seats in two different sections to build audio and lights for front of house. “We knew that early on, so that was included in the on-sale map,” he said.

However, and this is just the nature of the beast when you’re hosting a show for the first time, there were quite a few relocations once production was in and up, due to obstructed sightlines. “They had the forethought to keep production holds in their pocket,” Pavone said of the Feld team. “They really did prep themselves putting veterans in charge.”

Pavone gives a lot of credit to the Feld team for splendid communications and to his own operations team for being flexible (knowing they had a hockey game in two weeks), as well as to everyone involved for being patient.

“It’s a long load in, long load out,” he said. “It’s easy to get frustrated when people are asking for more. You have to remain flexible and make sure it gets off on time and safely.”

There was a lot of pivoting, because Cleveland was the first show in such a large building. “Their team was fantastic. There were a lot of Feld veterans out on this run. We knew there would be pivots and patience needed in order to get something this size up for the first time. But then you have a deadline on the other end. Having to be ready for the show Friday.”

Pavone is going into his 17th year at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and knew a lot of the Feld production team because they have been through the building many times before. “They are all mild mannered, patient, and willing to work with us. We were lucky to have veterans on both sides,” including Feld’s Matt Gillet and Erick Del Castillo.

“When we got to load out, we did it in 10 hours. They expected 12. They overshot, so we weren’t startled. We were making ice the next day. It was efficient and awesome,” Pavone said.

Carrie Samek, senior director, event & media marketing for the arena, was tasked with educating the audience about the new Ringling. It’s been so long since the circus toured, people weren’t necessarily expecting the elephants. Feedback was positive.

She emphasized the visual, the spectacular performances, and the ticket price ($25-$95+) which is family friendly and loaded with discount opportunities. There were offers all summer long, including back to school and blood drive offers. “Feld is very good with all those opportunities for families to bring their kids,” Samek said.

She invited media outlets to come in and see rehearsals and did plenty of media drops, including cookies and cotton candy.

She had to explain the Greatest Show on Earth without the word “circus” and with no “clowns” (just comedian performers), but Ringling is still a very known brand, the famous “R” logo, and she could visually show what it would be.

In the end, 50 percent of ticket buyers had 1-2 kids and were young parents age 35-42. “I brought my own nieces and nephews. Under age eight was the hot spot for kids,” Samek said. Her nieces are in gymnastics and loved the acrobats. She worked with Cleveland Cavaliers lists for sports fans.

She also worked with local mom influencers, hosting an opening night party where a couple of performers performed for them. “They promote the show from the moment it’s announced,” she said. “Once here, they post how great it is, which is good for last minute sales.” Cleveland also benefitted from good timing — the fall season, when parents are looking for things to do with kids.

Feld’s new production has 75 performers from 18 countries. Plus crew, it’s a big stretch backstage, but Cleveland had another lucky break there. They had just debuted phase one of a $12 million renovation of the dressing and locker rooms. Feld’s cast and crew were the first beneficiaries and most complimentary.

It ended being a very good run for the new Ringling’s Greatest Show on Earth, all agreed, but how does it compare to the circus?

“Other than everything, nothing is different,” Pavone said.

Lead the conversation at VenueConnect 2024 in Portland by proposing a session today! Our sessions are interactive, full of relevant content, practical tools, and emerging best practices in venue management today.  

Becoming a presenter is a great way to expand your network, assist in the educational growth of our association, and share experiences.

Be bold and innovative!  This is your opportunity as a member to make an impact!

Submit your VC24 Session Topic here!

Deadline to submit is November 14, 2023.

TVS Sustainability Lead and Quality Principal, Paul McKeever AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, accepted the certification on behalf of the firm at this year’s WELL Summit.

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently announced TVS as the first organization to achieve both LEED Platinum and WELL Certification at the Platinum level through a streamlined pathway in their new Atlanta office. 

The USGBC and IWBI recently announced extensive interest and adoption of the streamlined pathway to LEED and WELL Certification. Since the launch of the streamlined certification pathway, 335 projects in 38 countries, accounting for 82 million square feet, have opted-in to the process.

TVS became the first organization to achieve both LEED and WELL Certification through the streamlined pathway. Its 33,000 square-foot office in Atlanta achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Certification at the Platinum level, the highest tiers for both certifications.

The dual achievement aligns with TVS’ belief that long-term gains in human health and a sustainable world rely on high performance design, as well as policies that drive thoughtful day-to-day strategies to support the health and well-being of the people inside the space. LEED and WELL, in combination, demonstrate leadership in both. As the design progressed, TVS prioritized actions that had the best long-term impact for its people and the planet.

“We challenged ourselves to achieve both LEED and WELL certifications in a fluctuating construction climate knowing that our budget was incredibly tight. We wanted to demonstrate to ourselves and to our clients that unwavering commitment and innovative thinking would lead to lasting positive impact for our people and the planet. We are enormously proud of the results and are re-inspired to carry this message to our clients,” said Janet Simpson, President and CEO, TVS.

Connection was of the utmost importance to the team at TVS, as the office provided the opportunity for all staff to meet in a single space. However, with the benefit of in-person interaction came concerns over sound and volume control – with the Sound concept of WELL becoming an area of special focus. According to the TVS team, WELL’s Movement, Nourishment and Water concepts also resonated, helping increase awareness and inspire new behaviors.

For more information on the LEED and WELL certification pathway, please visit this link.

ASM Global has appointed Angie Teel, CMP as the new general manager for the Branson Convention Center, ushering in a dynamic era for the renowned event venue.

Teel’s extensive experience and unwavering commitment to excellence make her an exceptional addition to the Branson Convention Center team. With a career spanning various leadership roles, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to her new role.

Angie Teel, CMP

In making the announcement, Dan Hoffend, ASM Global executive vice president, convention centers, said, “Angie is a superstar and we are so pleased that she will bring her talents to Branson. It’s a wonderful location, perfect for her to create a dynamic environment for all future events.”

Teel’s prior roles include serving as the director of event services at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, MO from 2010 to 2018, and most recently as the assistant general manager at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa, OK from 2019 to 2023. Her accomplishments include collaborating on successful NCAA bids, hosting prestigious events such as NCAA Basketball and NCAA Wrestling, and welcoming sporting events like USA Gymnastics, USA Volleyball, and USA Taekwondo. Teel has also overseen large conferences such as the Oklahoma FFA, SeneGence International, and Paper Pie (formerly Usborne Books & More).

“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the ASM Global team here at the Branson Convention Center,” Teel said. “Branson is such a lively and fun destination, and I’m really looking forward to working with our talented crew and continuing to make this place the go-to event hotspot. We’re all about crafting amazing experiences, sprinkling some magic into our clients’ and guests’ lives, and giving the local economy a boost all year round.”

Demonstrating her commitment to professional excellence in the event management industry, Teel has maintained a prestigious CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) designation through the Event Industry Council since 2011.

Teel is an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), where she has held various volunteer roles, showcasing her dedication to advancing the industry. Her contributions include service on the Executive Leadership Board, Membership Committee, Strategic Leadership Committee, and she has held the position of Chair of Region 3. Additionally, Teel serves as a Trustee on the Foundation Board of Directors.

Jo Dee Messina was brought to tears during that segment of the awards show that recognizes the colleagues we’ve lost during the past year. George Moffett, Variety Attractions, was on that list and a special agent to Messina, who hosted the 2023 International Entertainment Buyers Association Industry Awards in Nashville Oct 10.

Madison Square Garden was named Arena of the Year and Laurie Jacoby, Barclays Center, was awarded Venue Executive of the Year.

Other awards of the Year went to:

Club— 9:30 Club and First Avenue (a tie)

Casino — MGM Grand

Theater — Beacon Theatre

Amphitheater — The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles

Fair/Expo — Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Festival — Stagecoach

Club Buyer – Michelle Landry, The Bowery Presents

Casino Buyer — Leslie Master, Live Nation

Special Events/Corporate Buyer — G7 Entertainment Marketing

International Buyer — Steve Homer, AEG Presents

Fair/Expo Buyer — Todd Boltin, Variety Attractions

Festival Buyer — Danny Wimmer, DWP

Music & Entertainment Industry Educator — Gloria Green, Middle Tennessee State University

Agent — Austin Neal, The Neal Agency

Promoter — Adam Weiser, AEG Presents