During the last year, I’ve been experiencing a lot of “lasts.” Last summer, I attended VenueConnect for the last time and, in the fall, the International Convention Center Conference for the last time. This will be the last time I will be sending information to all IAVM members and HQ staff. I will be retiring Wednesday, March 2. Cleaning out my office and files has been a roller coaster ride down memory lane. You all have been an important part of my life for well over 20 years. It is impossible to touch base with each of you personally, so I am reaching out through this message to say thanks for sharing your expertise over the years, quickly responding to my numerous phone calls/email on various crazy topics, and for your friendships, which will continue to be priceless.

To new members of IAVM and others, I am going to take this last opportunity to encourage each of you to become active in IAVM. Don’t sit on the sidelines. IAVM is your organization, so if you haven’t expressed an interest in joining a committee, now is the time to do so. It doesn’t matter what position you hold at your venue. Stephen Covey once said, “Leadership is a Choice, not a Position.” IAVM needs your leadership and, whether you realize it or not, by committing your time and energy to IAVM, you will reap more benefits than I can possibly relay in this short message. In addition to committee work, include becoming a graduate of Venue Management School, obtaining your CVP and/or your CFE on your list of personal goals, if you haven’t already done so.

I’ve talked about a lot of “lasts,” but am looking forward to a lot of “firsts” around the bend. In addition to spending more time with family and traveling, I plan to devote more time enhancing my photography skills, like the picture I took of the gator recently. No, I wasn’t that brave, or rather that stupid, to be eye-to-eye with him; that’s what long lenses are for.

I know you all have work to do and I need to get back to cleaning out my files, but I didn’t want to miss this last opportunity of saying thank you once again and I will truly miss seeing you on a regular basis. I know you take good care of your venues, but remember to take good care of yourselves, also. We are supposed to work to live, not live to work but somehow in this business that balancing act isn’t always balanced in the right direction. Enjoy!

These are selected news articles that showed up in our inboxes on Monday morning that we want to pass along to you.

Street View Now Shows You the Inside Of Sports Arenas and Stadiums (AndroidPolice.com)
“The feature is not limited to any one sport. In an announcement post, Google shows such views as the 40-yard line of CenturyLink Field, (Seattle Seahawks)….”

Big Top Gala in Palmetto Raises More Than $250,000 for Cancer Research (Bradenton Herald)
“It was just the second year the cancer society has partnered with Feld, and Karr said the partnership and opportunity to hold the event in Feld’s massive headquarters was a key element of the gala’s success this year.”

Live Nation Reports $7.2 Billion in Revenue for 2015 (Billboard)
“The company cites on-site advertising as its prime growth driver for the year, with growth in that division at 17 percent for the year.”

4 Secret Plans Unveiled for a Cultural Center in Downtown Miami (Miami Herald)
“Miami Dade College’s purchasing office told developers they wanted projects to include a 3,000-seat conference center, 1,600-seat performing arts theater, and a museum around 100,000 square feet in size.”

K-State Athletics Announces Clear Bag Policy for Next School Year (KUSports.com)
“…the goal of the new policy is to provide a safer environment and speedier entry into venues.”

(Images: Google Maps/AndroidPolice)

VenuWorks plans to produce theatrical events under the banner VenuWorks Theatricals, led by IAVM member Steve Peters, VenuWorks founder and president, and Michael Londra, an international singer and producer.

“In 2014, VenuWorks joined the ranks of Broadway producers. This afforded me involvement in an area that I am quite passionate about – producing shows,” said Steve Peters, VenuWorks founder and president, in a statement. “VenuWorks Theatricals is something that I have dreamed about creating for years. With Michael’s partnership and the business plan we have established, I could not be more excited about the future of VenuWorks Theatricals.”

VenuWorks Theatricals’ first project is a Christmas musical titled NOËL, written by Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer with music by Liam Bates. It will debut at the National Opera House in Ireland on December 19, 2016, with plans for a U.S. premier in 2017.

VenuWorks Theatricals will also produce a Michael Londra national tour in 2017.

“I have always enjoyed producing as much as performing in events. Working with Steve while producing and performing was an opportunity that I could not pass up,” said Londra in a statement. “I am excited to produce new shows for Broadway, to bring artists and theatrical events to the Midwest, and to collaborate with the entire VenuWorks team.”

Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is selling the naming rights and commercial sponsorships for the London Convention Centre (LCC) in Ontario, Canada.

“Spectra has an outstanding reputation in London for their many successes at the Budweiser Gardens,” said Lori Da Silva, general manager and CEO of the London Convention Centre Corp., in a statement. “With their incredible resources, their knowledge of London and the Province, and their ability to identify the best sponsors for the right situations, this is a win-win situation for the LCC and Spectra. The naming rights partner will be integral in the economic growth and subsequent improvement in the physical property.

“We are always exploring new strategies that will help us generate revenue for the London Convention Centre,” Da Silva continued. “Spectra’s Corporate Partnership Services is a leader in valuing, soliciting, and negotiating naming rights for an assortment of clients worldwide. Their experience and expertise in this field will assist us in developing potential additional revenue for the convention centre.”

The LCC plays host of up to 400 annual events, contributing up to CAN$20 million to the local economy each year. The center is an internationally certified AIPC Gold Standard venue offering more than 63,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.

“The naming rights to the London Convention Centre presents a significant opportunity for a business partner to integrate their brand into a venue that has become so important to the people of southwestern Ontario,” said Spectra’s Liam Weseloh, regional vice president for the company who will lead the team’s efforts in securing the naming rights in London, in a statement. “Not only will the naming rights partner receive millions of unique impressions from the local community, but will also have the ability to showcase their products and services in front of hundreds of organizations from around the world who will visit and use the centre.”

(Image: Facebook)

The IAVM Foundation is proud to announce the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Program recipients for the 2016 Performing Arts Managers Conference (PAMC). The awards recognize deserving individuals who demonstrate leadership, character, community involvement, and the potential to be future leaders in the venue management industry.

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