The Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct development is a step closer to reality with the selection of the preferred bidder to deliver the much-anticipated project, along with the unveiling of proposed designs.

Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing joined City of Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan to announce Plenary Conventions has been appointed to lead the project and will soon start on what will be one of the biggest developments in regional Victoria.

“With a waterfront precinct that rivals any in the country, this convention center precinct will add to Geelong’s status as a UNESCO City of Design and attract even more people to come and explore all this wonderful city has to offer,” Shing said. “Delivering the project will also be a major boost to the region, generating hundreds of jobs and injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.”

The Victorian Government is investing more than $260 million into the project as part of the Geelong City Deal, with additional contributions of $30 million from the Australian Government and $3 million from the City of Greater Geelong.

The Plenary Conventions consortium will transform the 1.6-hectare waterfront car parking site into a precinct that welcomes locals and visitors alike as part of the Public Private Partnership. The consortium comprises the Plenary Group as sponsor and investor, Built as builder, Woods Bagot as architect, BGIS as services contractor, and Quintessential Equity as developer.

The development of this world-class facility and precinct has included extensive stakeholder consultation and ongoing work with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation on critical aspects of the precinct’s design, identity, and recognition of local cultural heritage.

It will include the construction of the purpose-built convention and exhibition space, incorporating a 1000 seat venue, two large exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, conference facilities, and flexible event spaces.

The precinct will also be home to retail spaces for food and beverage offerings and a large public plaza that promises to become a feature of the Geelong waterfront. In a boost for Geelong’s up-market accommodation stocks the development will also include a 200-room hotel under the internationally renowned Crowne Plaza brand.

The investment will be a major driver of jobs and economic growth for the City of Greater Geelong and surrounding areas. It will support 600 jobs during construction and an additional 270 ongoing jobs once the precinct is complete.

To ensure lasting benefits to the region beyond the centre itself, the Government is supporting local organisation gforce to recruit up to 30 new local apprentices and trainees who are experiencing disadvantage in entering the workforce.

Apprentices will be employed full-time for the duration of their apprenticeship and until they secure full-time employment with private contractors.

The Plenary Conventions consortium has a proven track record developing and maintaining the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and enhancing the South Wharf precinct for nearly 20 years.

The Trust that operates Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will also manage and operate the new Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, once complete. The two centres will cement Victoria as a premier global destination for events.

Preliminary works on the site are underway and construction is set to begin shortly, with completion of the convention centre and hotel in early 2026.

The precinct development is the centerpiece of the Geelong City Deal – a $500+ million commitment between the Australian and Victorian governments and the City of Greater Geelong. It is revitalizing the city and regional economy, encouraging visitors to spend more time in the region by capitalizing on its natural assets.

By nhl.com

Fanatics Betting and Gaming, the online and retail sports betting division of the Fanatics digital sports platform, announced upcoming plans to open a retail sportsbook location in partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus’ Arena District.

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are constantly seeking new and exciting ways to engage with our fans,” said Blue Jackets Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scholvin. “We believe this collaboration with Fanatics Betting and Gaming on a world-class sportsbook location just outside the doors of Nationwide Arena in the heart of the Arena District does just that.”

The Fanatics Sportsbook will be located at 401 North Front Street adjacent to Nationwide Arena. The main entrance is located in the alleyway immediately north of the entrances to Buca di Beppo and Starbucks. It is scheduled to open its doors at the end of August.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Blue Jackets to bring a world-class retail experience to the arena district in downtown Columbus,” said Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer, Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “The Jackets are one of the youngest teams in the league, and we are excited to leverage our partnership to grow with them and complement our online sports betting experience that is currently being beta-tested in Ohio.”

The newly designed sportsbook is more than 5,000 square feet and features four betting windows, 14 self-service betting kiosks, one giant LED Video Wall, 16 TV monitors and a full-service restaurant with food options that every sports fan will enjoy. The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will offer viewing experiences and legal betting markets for all major sports including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, baseball, alongside tennis, soccer, golf, MMA and boxing. The development and trading of sports betting markets will be done in-house at Fanatics Betting and Gaming and supported by a number of world-class trading suppliers.

The Fanatics Sportsbook continues its online beta testing with Fanatics customers in Ohio. The Fanatics Sportsbook app is available for download on iOS and Android, but a code is needed to access the sportsbook and is currently only available to Fanatics customers at this time.

By R.V. Baugus

Adina Erwin, CVE, wrapped up her productive year as IAVM Chair by passing the gavel to Kerry Painter, CVE, to for the most part conclude activities during VenueConnect.

Erwin recounted her most recent column in Venue Professional magazine in which she equated the role of chair to a four-person relay race.

“The role (of chair) is like running a relay race to emerge stronger out of the pandemic,” Erwin said. “Each leader has a different role. Coming out of the pandemic we were blessed to have four people who had a different role in the race but with the same objective — win the race.” Those four, of course, were Eric Hart, CVE, Tammy Koolbeck, CVE, Rip Rippetoe, CVE, and Painter.

“IAVM navigated this tough time in keeping its promises to its members,” Erwin said.

Painter took the stage and accepted the gavel from Erwin before beginning her remarks. “Our focus is continued sustainability of IAVM,” she said. “Instead of new themes, like the relay race it continues on.

“My word is ‘belonging,'” she added. “In collaboration with the CEO (Brad Mayne, CVE), my intention is to make the group members feel this organization is a benefit to them. This membership is your way in. We want to make sure this membership is beneficial to all.”

Painter talked about diversity initiatives and the work that consultant Zoe Moore and University of Kentucky’s Jill Schinberg is doing for IAVM in this area.

Finally, Painter talked about how IAVM has benefited her through the years.

“I know in my heart that I owe every job I have had to IAVM,’ she said. “All I know about running first-class venues has been due to IAVM.”

By R.V. Baugus

Experience counts. And when you add the combined years of industry experience for the newest-minted IAVM winners of the Charles A. McElravy Award, Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award, and IAVM Foundation Legacy Award, there are none better than iconic veterans Beth Wade, CVE, Richard Andersen, CVE, and Tom Cornwall, CVE, who respectively were honored on Wednesday morning during VenueConnect.

Cornwall took the stage first to accept the Foundation Legacy Award. The Retired member encouraged those in the large crowd to do what he did, begin donating to the Foundation with what you can and increase from there. Wise words from one who served as co-chair of the Foundation Silent Auction in 1997-98 and has supported the Foundation since the mid-1980’s.

“I learned early on that the Foundation doesn’t just exist,” Cornwall said. “It needs our help and support. I got in the habit of giving annually so programs could continue in developing new ideas. If you’re getting started, consider reaching in your pocket and giving $10 or $15 a month.”

Cornwall retired after a 44-year career and during the 2020 pandemic worked in Edmonton in the National Hockey League “bubble” during the Stanley Cup playoffs, where he “hibernated” for 92 days.
“I consider this my Stanley Cup,” Cornwall appropriately said.

Richard Andersen – speaking of appropriate – was introduced by Russ Simons, CVE as a “hybrid” who has served on both the Professional and Allied side of the industry. Along with his better half, Kim Bedier, CVE, who also introduced Andersen, the remarks from the honoree touched on many of the consistencies in his life that have enabled Andersen to become one of the industry’s most highly regarded and successful practitioners.

“So many people have come alongside me in my career,” Andersen said. “All of us have special ones in our life.”

Andersen asked the audience for 15 seconds of silence to reflect on those who have helped them in their lives and careers. “Whomever you were thinking of, imagine how pleased they are right now,” Andersen said.

“’Things’ didn’t make me any happier,” Andersen said. “I learned a long time ago to check my ego at the door, as Russ would say.”

Before finishing his introduction to Charles A. McElravy Award winner Beth Wade, Michael Marion, CVE, was compelled to share one story from a Region 5 story involving Wade, noting that she referred to him as “my best girlfriend in a macho kind of way.” (Note: Marion introduced Wade as “my best boyfriend in a girlie kind of way.”)

“I am extremely humbled,” Wade said. “I am extremely proud to have been an IAVM member since 1981. I have learned through the years that we have the ability to make change a reality.”

Wade stressed the importance of completing surveys when IAVM sends them. She also stressed the value of earning the CVP or CVE designation. “I encourage you to get certified to communicate your value of venue professionalism.”

“When I think about the true pluses of IAVM I know I can pick up the phone and call anyone in the world,” she continued. “It is what make us unique, special, and why IAVM was formed.”

Speaking of the Association’s formation, Wade talked about her days working in Memphis and about award namesake McElravy and his work in Memphis. Wade said that McElravy was one of the early creative agents of change in the industry.

“I found an IAVM book from 1925-75 with references to McElravy when he took his job at the civic center,” she said. “He laid pipes on the floor of the civic center to do ice shows.”

“My support for IAVM will not end when I go to the Arena in the sky” Wade concluded. “I would like for scholarships to be established to help members from tertiary markets be able to go to schools and programs.”

By R,V, Baugus

Prior to receiving the 2023 Convention Center Lifetime Achievement Award, Courtney Dyer, CVE, was described as a unicorn, that rarest of public assembly venue managers who worked in one local market – Virginia Beach, VA. Not only one market, but Dyer was even born in Virginia Beach. The retired IAVM member and long-time staple of Region 5 was feted for his achievements in a distinguished 48-year that began in 1972 at the Virginia Beach Civic Center.

Putting the years in perspective, Dyer noted during his acceptance remarks that he worked when “we used 12-foot poles to put letters on 20-foot marquee signs.”

Ah, those were the days, and on this particular Tuesday morning before a room full of peers who came to recognize and honor Dyer, this was quite the day for one of the industry’s finest.

“It has been since 2019 that I have been at an IAVM event,” Dyer said. “This is like old home with so many of you that I grew up with.”

Dyer spent a large portion of his acceptance remarks thanking many of his contemporaries with anecdotes about each. From Bill Holland (who is now a 52-year IAVM member) and counting others who are in the Who’s Who book in the industry including Cliff Wallace, Lionel Dubay, Shura Garnett, Peggy Daidakis, John Smith, and others, Dyer paid homage to those who helped shape his career.

He talked about his attendance at IAVM events that began with an Operations Manager meeting at the Richmond Coliseum and included what he called the “summer camp for adults in Wheeling, West Virginia (read: Venue Management School).”

Dyer went on to work at the Virginia Beach Pavilion and then opened the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Through the years, Dyer has been active in volunteering including the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach Health Clinic, and – imagine this – playing the role as one of the world’s thinnest Santa’s.

Through it all, Dyer’s passion for Region 5 was most evident. It has been a passion and service of love that he has had throughout his career.

Dyer also looked forward in acknowledging some of the new and emerging leaders within IAVM, naming Naz Sabripour, Mac Campbell, and one of his mentees in Virginia Beach, Bryan Miller.

Finally, Dyer shared a story from one of his high school reunions. The situation was that Dyer was concerned his class would not have enough attendance numbers to meet the contract with the hotel. But as the event drew closer, Dyer was relieved to find that the hotel wanted to work with his reunion at the numbers of those who came. No attrition here.

“The message is that we all need to give a little forgiveness,” Dyer said. “We need to make people want to do business with us.”

It is a lesson that Dyer learned well in Virginia Beach. It is a lesson he carries forth in his personal life when it comes to acceptance and forgiveness. It is why Courtney Dyer became the latest and most perfect honoree for the Convention Center Lifetime Achievement Award.