AEG Presents announced that it has acquired PromoWest Productions, one of the country’s most prominent and respected independent live music promoters and the premier concert promotion company in Central Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The partnership with PromoWest expands AEG Presents‘ presence throughout the Midwest and comes one year following its acquisition of the historic Agora Theatre in Cleveland.

Columbus, Ohio-based PromoWest Productions was founded by Scott Stienecker in 1983 and has grown to be the largest independent promoter in the Midwest. PromoWest Productions is responsible for the ground-breaking design of their indoor/outdoor venues; EXPRESS LIVE! in Columbus, and STAGE AE in Pittsburgh. PromoWest Productions also books and operates the iconic Newport Music Hall, the Basement, and the A&R Music Bar in Columbus, and will retain the ownership of Bunbury Music Festival in Cincinnati.

Stienecker will continue to oversee the growth of PromoWest Productions as a division of AEG Presents.

“After getting to know AEG Presents and their senior management, it became more and more clear to me that both of our organizations were built from a common entrepreneurial spirit and culture, Stienecker said. “I am certain this partnership is right for PromoWest and AEG Presents is truly the right fit for us. I believe our partnership with AEG Presents will provide us an additional collection of resources and assets that will allow us to continue to build on our achievements and take our company to an even higher level.”

“PromoWest and AEG Presents share a passion and commitment to delivering the best music experiences to fans,” added Shawn Trell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer of AEG Presents. “Scott and his team have built an incredibly respected organization with a proven track record of success and we are pleased that they chose to partner with us. We look forward to working closely with them to continue to deliver first class concert experiences and further grow the PromoWest brand.”

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by AEG Facilities, is proud to be the first convention center in the United States to permanently install a 5G wireless network. This cutting-edge technology was deployed at the LACC in conjunction with the “GSMA Mobile World Congress Americas, in Partnership with CTIA” on September 12-14, 2018.

“The establishment of 5G at the Los Angeles Convention Center will serve as a catalyst across all of Los Angeles,” said Doane Liu, Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development. “This is a significant development that will drive technological advancements in our city, reinforcing Mayor Eric Garcetti’s goal that Los Angeles will continue to be the number one digital city in the United States.”

5G is the fifth generation of wireless internet and voice services, improving on 4G LTE that currently accounts for around three-quarters of total mobile connections in the U.S. (excluding licensed cellular IoT). 5G will move data faster and be more responsive, dramatically increasing wireless speeds and capacity to transform services such as AI, VR, and video calling. It will facilitate additional technology uses including improved Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and more. Launching a powerful 5G network enables the next level of technology, as showcased in demonstrations at the 2018 Mobile World Congress Americas, a three-day conference and exhibition convening the mobile ecosystem and its adjacent industries.

“5G will transform the way billions of people consume media and entertainment on their mobile devices and the LA entertainment and mobile tech communities will be key in shaping how it will all come together,” said Reed Peterson, Head of Mobile World Congress Americas, GSMA. “The LACC is taking a visionary approach in deploying its new 5G network, providing next-generation capabilities for exhibitors and attendees at Mobile World Congress Americas, and many other events, well into the future.”

“The 5G installation will be the legacy of MWCA at the Los Angeles Convention Center,” said Ellen Schwartz, General Manager of the LACC. “In addition to 5G, approximately 100 new antennas have been connected in the facility. All 4G LTE networks have been upgraded, bringing the best in wireless to future events held at our convention center.”

McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center has partnered with Daktronics to manufacture and install the largest high school video display in the country. The north end zone video display measures 54 feet wide by 32 feet tall and features Daktronics patented 13HD pixel layout. For comparison, the display stands 7 feet taller than McKinney North High School and, if set on its side, is just 5 feet shy of McKinney’s five-story hospitals.

Fans can view the end zone display as either one large image or divided into multiple zones to show any combination of live video, instant replays, game information and statistics, graphics and animations and sponsorship messages.

“While these systems can start as simple as a basic scoreboard or an entry-level video display with a camera, we are proud of the evolution of high schools like McKinney ISD, Katy ISD and Dallas ISD as they lead the market with our patented technology similar to professional venues like Houston Astros, FC Dallas, Pittsburgh Steelers and many more,” said Kyle Sydow, Daktronics High School, Parks & Recreation market manager.

Also a first for high schools, the seating fascia along each sideline and the south end zone showcases 482 feet of ribbon displays with a 15HD pixel layout. These displays bring supplemental game information and graphics to the main display. It also offers additional opportunities for sponsors to be highlighted throughout events.

Complementing the digital displays is a state-of-the-art audio system. McKinney chose the Daktronics Sportsound SS2000HD audio for its high-fidelity sound, reaching everyone in the stadium with consistent volume and clarity, in addition to its ease of operation. Fans experience a dynamic audiovisual experience with Daktronics Sportsound® SS2000 HD audio system. This audio system integrates with the video and scoring to provide full-range sound reproduction while delivering clear and intelligible speech.

Daktronics Show Control System powers the displays. This industry-leading display control software provides a combination of simple operation, expandable production and proven experience. Additionally, world-class video processing, data integration and playback hardware all form a user-friendly production solution for all levels of play.

“In choosing Daktronics, McKinney ISD and schools throughout the country have the reassurance of a long-lasting display built with Daktronics smart sourcing strategies and rigorous reliability testing methods, ensuring an engaging audio-visual system for well into the future,” said Sydow.

Populous announced the expansion of its American footprint into the Texas market. The firm’s Dallas office will be led by noted
designers Byron Chambers and Jonathan Kelley. This new office will focus on a wide range of project types and services including sports and entertainment venues, convention centers, aviation experience architecture, hospitality architecture, and interior design. The expansion is Populous’ fifth in the United States in recent years and supports Populous’ growth trajectory in the Americas.

“Having a physical presence in the Texas market has been on our radar for many years; it is indicative of our desire to continually adapt to changing market needs,” said Populous Americas Managing Director and Senior Principal Earl Santee, FAIA. “The stars aligned for us in finding Byron and Jonathan and with their leadership, we will now have a nucleus of talented designers who all unite under the same desire to create the places where people love to be together.”

Chambers and Kelley, along with their team in Dallas, will be integral in connecting Populous to opportunities throughout the Southern United States as well as Latin and South America.

“What attracted us to Populous, in addition to its massive brand recognition and design expertise, was our alignment with Populous’ cultural values around client service,” Kelley said. “We have always admired Populous’ focus on relationships, ideas and design, and we look forward to expanding those standards within the footprint of the South.”

Chambers and Kelley will lead a Dallas staff of eight, with the plans for Populous to continue to grow its presence much as it has done with other upstart markets across the Americas.

“Very few firms have the reputation Populous does,” Chambers said. “As designers, we will accept the challenge of creating the places that connect our communities; iconic buildings where lifetime memories are made.”

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) announced the appointment of Darren Waite as Director of Sales.

Waite joins MCEC from AccorHotels where he was Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Prior to joining AccorHotels, Waite was Director Asia Pacific for CWT Solutions Group. He has held a number of senior positions with well-known global brands including IHG and Accenture Procurement Solutions.

Commercially minded and target focused, Waite has extensive sales, consulting, procurement, and stakeholder management experience.

MCEC Chief Executive Peter King said he was excited to have Waite join the MCEC team in this critical role. “After an exhaustive search, I am excited by the skills and experience that Darren will bring to our team,” he said.

“Our future will be determined by the innovative way we attack our sales targets and our partnerships with our customers, and Darren’s background is strongly focused on leadership and customer centric behaviors. I can’t wait for him to inject a new energy to our sales function. With our new expansion having recently opened, this is an exciting time for MCEC as we reset our business for the future.”

Waite said he was looking forward to new challenges at MCEC.

“I am delighted by the opportunity to join this inspiring and capable team at such a pivotal stage in the MCEC journey,” he said. “I look forward to working with the sales team to focus on our revenue growth goals, while creating an environment for customers and partners to thrive will ensure MCEC remains as a leader in the venue industry worldwide.”

Waite will begin his new position on October 15.