Another post about virtual reality (VR), Jason? Yes, but this one isn’t about sports, music, or gaming. It’s about training, specifically for disaster response.

“This technology can be used to prepare for disasters in a number of ways. For example, people can be immersed in a virtual environment that allows them to get advanced tactical training. They can perform the planned operations in a controlled manner even before the problem strikes,” Eastern Kentucky University wrote in a post. “In this digital realm, they can practice as many times as necessary until they are able to achieve mastery of the techniques. They will get used to the chaos so that their actions will become automatic. They will no longer be rattled when faced with a real threat.”

The university created a nice infographic promoting the benefits of VR training for safety efforts and its cost savings.

Continue Reading →

The IAVM Foundation is proud to announce the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Program recipients for the 2016 Arena Management Conference (AMC), recognizing deserving individuals who demonstrate leadership, character, community involvement, and the potential to be future leaders in the venue management industry. The Foundation also offers scholarships + internships to a variety of other IAVM conferences and schools, click here to learn more and to apply. Thanks to the support of committed donors, together we are Building Amazing Futures. Click here to learn more about the Foundation’s annual campaign.

Jessi Armstrong—Student Internship
California Polytechnic State University

Favorite Team?
My favorite sports team is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Your favorite sports or entertainment memory?
My best sports memories come from being able to sit behind home plate at Angels Stadium. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to do so since I was a kid. I have grown up at the stadium and loved the atmosphere and learning the game ever since.

What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?
I am currently exploring several avenues such as marketing and in-game promotions for sports games, working and managing various events, and taking on public relations tasks to aid to a variety of clients. All of these areas have sparked my interest, and I hope to continue to explore and grow in these fields.

Favorite quote?
“Have the courage to be exactly who you are without apology.” — Iyanla Vanzant

Danny Bryant—Young Professional Scholarship
Arena & Pavilion Services Manager, The Classic Center

Favorite team?
Detroit Tigers, Liverpool FC.

Your favorite sports or entertainment memory?
Being in the stands my senior year at Central Michigan University as my Chippewas upset Michigan State 29-27 after a last-minute onside kick recovery and a game-ending field goal.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
Probably a dog. You get to go all the fun places with your humans, sleep the rest of the time, chase around the ball and Frisbee, and pretty much get loved on by everybody. Plus you get to defend the house from the scheming neighborhood squirrels and cats.

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?
Homer Simpson as “Pie Man.” Like most of Homer’s ideas that go awry, his heart was in the right place as he was avenging Lisa’s embarrassment. Plus, he made the underwear on the outside of the shorts cool, laying the path for Quail Man and Captain Underpants.

What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?
Aside from owning and operating my own mini-golf course, my dream job would either be opening my own venue or running one of the historic soccer venues in England.

Renee Musson—Industry Women Scholarship
Associate Director, University of Florida Stephen C. O’Connell Center

Favorite team?
University of Florida Gators.

Your favorite sports or entertainment memory?
In 1991, when Billy Joel showed up at our sold-out Garth Brooks concert and they played a few songs together. It was incredible.

If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?
I would love to be a real-life superhero, like Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie, Mother Teresa, etc. Women whose superpower was to never give up and to change lives. On a fictional note: X-Men’s Jean Gray. She has amazing telepathic and telekinetic powers and is a caring, nurturing, fantastic leader. She is also fierce and shows that with power comes responsibility and struggle.

What is your ultimate dream job in the industry?
I would love to be a director of an arena at a university that supports the growth of its students through real-world work experience and professional development.

Favorite quote?
My favorite quote changes depending on the situation but my lifelong favorite: “The first 100 years are the hardest”—spoken by my father many, many times during my life. It was his shortened version of “Life’s a tough proposition, and the first hundred years are the hardest” by Wilson Mizner.

Combine badminton, tennis, and ping-pong and you get Pickleball, a sport increasing in popularity, especially among seniors.

“Perhaps no organized sport since baseball, football and basketball matches pickleball’s seduction of so wide a swath of the population,” Peter T. Kilborn reported for The New York Times in 2014. “Last year pickleball was admitted to the National Senior Games, the first new sport in 20 years.”

The sport was invented in 1965 in Washington and more than 200,000 people in the U.S. play it on 9,863 courts.

A pickleball court is 20 feet by 44 feet with a net that hangs at 34 inches in the middle. A non-volley zone extends seven feet from the net on each side. It is played with a ball similar to a Wiffle ball and paddles that are twice the size of ping-pong paddles. Points are only awarded to the person or team serving, and games play to 11 points (win by two).

“As more retirement locations have adopted pickleball as an integrated sports activity for their population of residents, we have a seen an explosion of new court construction throughout the United States – especially in the southern states,” The USA Pickleball Association reported. “Tennis, racquetball, and ping pong players love the competitive nature of the sport and regularly participate in local, regional, and national tournaments.”

Pickleball’s popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, and it may just be a good source of alternative revenue for a venue, perhaps by hosting a large tournament.

(Image: Michael Martin/Creative Commons)

The IAVM family lost another long-time member in Bill Luther, CFE. He was a past president (now known as chair) in 1979 and a Charles A. McElravy Award recipient in 1984. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends.

“Bill was the District V vice-president when I initially joined IAAM in the late 1970s, and he helped work through some challenges with ‘allowing’ me to join due to some of the rules in place at the time,” said Frank Roach. “Later, of course, we worked together during his time in both Huntsville and Norfolk to do deals for events I was booking in his venues. Bill was tough when he had to be but a creative deal maker when the situation called for it. I don’t know anyone who was more dedicated to the success of this organization than was Bill.”

Bill was employed by the City of Norfolk in the late 1980s and managed seven facilities concurrently including Harbor Park, the AAA-facility for the New York Mets and later the Baltimore Orioles. He also managed the Opera House and the Concert Hall and Arena and the Douglas MacArthur Memorial Museum.

“At the time, the idea of building a ballpark downtown was a very controversial project,” John Rhamstine, CFE, told The Virginian-Pilot. “Bill was a big part of that project, negotiating a new lease with the (New York) Mets, overseeing the construction of the ballpark and then working to make sure everything was running properly.”

Bill retired in 2000 as director of civic facilities and worked as a consultant until 2009 and then returned to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he worked as the manager of the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium starting in 1967.

“My most memorable quote from Bill was after he retired as director of public facilities for the City of Norfolk, and the city manager called to ask if he would be interested in overseeing the restoration of a historic theatre property that the city had acquired,” said George Cook. “When he indicated an interest, the city manager asked that Bill send a letter confirming his interest and setting forth the cost for his consulting services. He did, and about two days later, the city manager called and said, ‘Bill, we did not even pay you that much as director of civic facilities.’ Bill said, ‘I know, but you did not pay any attention to me then; I thought that if I charged you more, you might listen.'”

Bill was a U.S. Army Veteran (World War II) and graduated from Appalachian State University. He was also an active member of Saint Paul United Methodist Church, a Boy Scout leader, and a youth football coach.

“Bill Luther was a friend as well as my ‘landlord’ at Scope when we brought hockey to Norfolk,” said Blake Cullen, former owner of the Hampton Roads Admirals. “He was always helpful in putting new ideas across. He will truly be missed.”

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Doris; his son, B.J.; and his daughters, Ola Snow and Debbie Teagan.

Memorial Service info:

Sunday, August 21, 2016
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
1320 Fernwood Glendale Road
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Lunch 1 p.m.
Receiving of Guest 2 p.m.
Service 3 p.m.

(Top image: Jim Walker/The Virginian-Pilot)

I wrote about beacons in my first post for the Front Row News blog. Major League Baseball (MLB) had just announced a partnership with Apple to offer location-based information for At the Ballpark app users. Now, almost three years later, location-based technology is widespread throughout MLB stadiums and many other sports venues.

According to a report from Proxbook, a directory of proximity companies, 93 percent of MLB stadiums use beacon technology. The same technology is used by 75 percent of NFL stadiums, 53 percent of NBA arenas, and 47 percent of NHL arenas.

“Beacons and proximity technologies are not only helping to sell more tickets. They are redefining how sports teams communicate with fans, increasing revenue from merchant sales as well as seat upgrades,” Proxbook wrote in the report. “Proximity technology also opens up brand new sources of income from enabling sponsors to interact with fans and monetize hyper-accurate visitor segments through advertising.”

One stat that stands out is organizations that have used location-based technologies “have seen an ROI as big as 40x from incremental merchant revenues alone within one season.”

“Events and conferences are also quick to adapt proximity, as the majority of top event organizers already have an app in place, therefore, adding location and proximity features is a natural addition,” Thomas Walle, CEO and co-founder of Unacast, wrote in the report. “It has become more common to use beacons or other proximity sensors for indoor navigation, smart check-ins, intelligent networking, and agenda updates. Proximity marketing has proven to enhance the attendee experience significantly.”

Please visit Proxbook to download the free, full report.

(Image via Flickr: Steven Martin/Creative Commons)