Congratulations to the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) on its most successful financial and operational year to date. The center tripled the previous year’s profits of more than US$2.8 million to a record-breaking $8.1 million and added $6.1 million to its financial reserve.

“We are impressed with AEG’s LACC team and their ability to consistently deliver exceptional financial results, which in turn save millions of dollars for the City’s General Fund annually,” said Bud Ovrom, executive director of the Los Angeles Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD), in a statement. “A strategic business vision, efficient business practices, and entrepreneurial spirit have led the LACC to unprecedented financial achievements; we look forward to our continued partnership and to a bright future ahead.”

The LACC also had a 30 percent increase in citywide convention bookings.

“Forming a cohesive partnership with both the LATCB [Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board] and CTD has been an underpinning of AEG’s success at the LA Convention Center and the substantial rise in citywide bookings attests to the fantastic work being done by the organizations involved,” said Jon F. Vein, president of the board of Los Angeles Convention & Tourism Development Commissioners, in a statement. “Citywide conventions stimulate the local economy and help sustain thousands of jobs through attendee direct and indirect spending.”

The center completed several projects in fiscal year 2015-2016. Some of the highlights include carpet replacement in public areas, repairs to chillers and cooling towers, and the purchase of 20 magnetometers. The venue also added a guest services department in 2015, which now included nine employees.

In 2015, the LACC became the largest U.S. convention center to attain LEED EB:OM GOLD recertification and diverted one million pounds of construction and demolition waste, achieving an overall waste diversion rate of 72 percent.

“While achieving positive financial results and operating in a fiscally responsible manner is important to us, we are also pleased that the LACC remains a symbol of environmental and social responsibility in the local community,” said Brad Gessner, general manager of the LACC and senior vice president at AEG Facilities, in a statement. “Attaining LEED© GOLD recertification was a monumental feat for the LACC-AEG team and we are very proud of this great achievement that would not be possible without the contribution of LACC employees – especially in the Facilities and Operations departments, and support from the Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD) and AEG1Earth.”

Do you have news about your venue you’d like to share? Please email it to our senior editor!

(Image: EnerGov)

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)