From Convention Center staff

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has named Rocsean Spencer to the position of Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). The Center recently created the position to reflect their commitment to implementing diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices, providing equal opportunities that drive innovative solutions for its internal and external communities. According to the International Association of Venue Managers, this is the first convention center in the nation to establish the position of CDO.

Spencer will be tasked with supporting the organization’s policies and directives that mitigate bias, increase equitable outcomes, and foster respect and inclusion, and ensure that the communications and People Services programs reflect the organization’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals.

Spencer most recently served as the Convention Center’s Small and Emerging Business (SEB) Program Director, a position that was created in 2019 to help promote the importance of diverse and small business inclusion at the Convention Center. Since inception of this program over $40 million in contracts have been awarded to small and emerging businesses.

Spencer came to the Convention Center from the City of New Orleans, Office of Supplier Diversity. She served as Certification Officer, where she reviewed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification applications and attended State and Local DBE (SLDBE) program outreach events. She was later promoted to Compliance Officer, where she managed a portfolio of $150 million of Public and Private Sector funds. In that role, she also supervised the DBE program, where she managed the SLDBE Certification Department as SLDBE Certification Coordinator.

“We have worked very diligently over many years to position the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention as an employer of choice through establishing and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, diverse, appealing and inviting, with contemporary business practices and philosophies that drive us to achieve our mission,” said Convention Center President Michael J. Sawaya.

“It is our long-term vision to continually evolve with a leading-edge philosophy that keeps us at the forefront of convention centers around the nation and builds on our stellar reputation as a world-class visitor destination that is Built to Host,” Sawaya continued. “New Orleans enjoys a long-standing reputation as being inclusive with our unique culture, art, architecture, food, and people. This important initiative follows this well-earned reputation and furthers our mission to be a leader in the business community. To that end, we take great pride at being the first Convention Center to establish the position of Chief Diversity Officer and adopting a guiding principle where our convention center is Built to Host. For Everyone.”

By Justin Tinder

The Oklahoma City Convention Center marks its second successful year since opening its doors.

This year Oklahoma’s largest meetings and events facility has again exceeded expectations. A total of 195,685 visitors represented a 76.1% growth over 2021’s inaugural year. Visitors come to the state-of-the-art venue for a wide range of events, including public consumer shows, tradeshows, sporting events, corporate meetings, conventions, and special events.

The OKCCC accommodated various national conventions including the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association, the Utilities Technology Council, the American Society of Animal Science, the National Brownfields Training Conference, the National Indian Education Association, the International Economic Development Council, and the TEAMS Conference and Expo. Each of these events brought in a high percentage of out-of-town guests and provided significant direct spending for OKC.

One of the highlights this year was hosting the Van Gogh Immersive event, which is expecting more than 70,000 visitors in its month-long run from December to January. The Van Gogh exhibit has brought in tourists from across a multi-state region and is getting a boost from strong local attendance.

OKCCC has hosted 149 events, an increase of 16.4% from the previous year. The Center was in use for 317 days during the year. The economic impact is estimated to be over $29.6 million, an increase of 93.4% from the previous year.

“We are incredibly proud to have welcomed both local and national events through our doors,” said Barbara Beaton, OKCCC General Manager. “There is a clear demand for and growing interest in our venue from all types of organizations considering OKC as a destination. We expect continued growth in 2023, 2024, and beyond.”

The $288 million MAPS 3 project opened in January 2021. The OKC Convention Center is located east of Scissortail Park and adjacent to the Omni Hotel. The Center covers 500,000 square feet and includes a 200,730 square foot exhibit hall, a 29,884 square-foot ballroom, 27 meeting rooms, and a fourth-floor terrace with breath-taking views of Scissortail Park and the city skyline.

Justin Tinder is Marketing Coordinator for the ASM Global—Oklahoma City Convention Center.

By StadiumBusiness.com

The Baltimore Ravens NFL team has extended its lease deal to play at M&T Bank Stadium for at least the next 15 seasons, until 2037.

The agreement, which includes two five-year options to extend the lease beyond 2037, was presented to the Maryland Board of Public Works and received unanimous approval.

The Maryland Stadium Authority will continue to work closely with the Ravens to ensure M&T Bank Stadium is upgraded to remain a “best-in-class” facility in terms of safety, amenities, and fan experience.

The Ravens said the new deal will also provide the opportunity to expand the economic impact of games and other year-round activities at the stadium. The team’s previous deal had been due to expire in 2027.

Thomas Kelso, chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority, said: “The Maryland Stadium Authority is extremely pleased with the new stadium lease agreement with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium that continues our strong partnership with the team through the end of the 2037 NFL season with two five-year options to extend.

“While fundamentally the same as the agreement presently in place, it offers greater protections to the MSA, additional revenue opportunities to the team that are in line with current stadium trends and opportunities to collaborate on improvements that will enhance the fan experience.”

Ravens president Sashi Brown added: “We thank the Board of Public Works, and Governor [Larry] Hogan for supporting this agreement. We are excited that M&T Bank stadium will be home to the Ravens for at least the next 15 seasons.

“We also look forward to working with MSA to make key investments to ‘the Bank’ that Ravens fans deserve. These improvements will allow the Ravens to continue delivering one of the NFL’s best game-day experiences and to attract world-class concerts and events to Baltimore and the capital region.”

M&T Bank Stadium has been home to the Ravens since it opened in 1998. The new lease deal has been signed as the stadium celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

By Julian Bowman

Fair Park First unveiled updated renderings of the 18-acre Community Park Complex. These new renderings showcase a bird’s-eye view of the entire Community Park Complex along Fitzhugh Avenue, a view of one of the play areas featuring a skywalk and hillside slides, and a snapshot of an outdoor market featured in the Market Grove overlooking the central lawn.

“Mayor (Eric) Johnson has made parks one of his major priorities for 2023. Public-private partnerships will have to be the cornerstone for this initiative,” said Dallas Park and Recreation Board President Arun Agarwal. “The Dallas Parks and Recreation Board is thrilled to help build a new 18-acre Community Park with our partner Fair Park First. The design team for this is world-class, and the process has been very inclusive. This park truly encompasses amenities that will benefit the community for decades to come.”

The Community Park Complex design has reached a milestone, transitioning into its final phase of design, permitting, and construction documentation. With community input, the design process has been an extensively collaborative project led by the renowned landscape architect firm Studio MLA and the global design powerhouse Gensler. Key partners on the project include Studio Outside, AGWms_studio, buildingcommunityWORKSHOP, Turner Construction, VCC, Con-Real, Rise360, K Strategies, and Biederman Redevelopment Ventures.

The Community Park will feature numerous free and accessible amenities, including WiFi, water play, a full-scale outdoor performance stage, a dog park, outdoor cafes, exercise equipment, inclusive playgrounds, and custom play structures, all with diverse native landscaping and shade woven across the site. The primary goal of the Community Park is to be a world-class park that creates gathering and recreational space for South Dallas, while serving as an attraction to visitors from across the region.

“Encouraging play and physical activity are vital to the overall health of our community, and what better way to do so than to provide a new, vibrant 18-acre Community Park,” said Ron Kirk, former Dallas Mayor and current Unity Co-Chair for the Fair Park Your Park Campaign. “I am proud to serve as Co-Chair on this capital campaign to raise the needed funds for this park. We know this new community asset will contribute to healthier, brighter, and stronger futures for the neighborhoods and beyond.”

The Community Park Complex is the signature component of Phase 1 of the 2020 Fair Park Master Plan Update and the Fair Park Your Park Campaign. Under the leadership of the Fair Park First board and leadership team, the Community Park Complex has raised $25M towards the campaign goal of $93M.

Julian Bowman is Senior Director of Marketing for OVG360 / Fair Park / Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.

Building on their shared commitment to the western lifestyle, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and Dickies Arena announced a new partnership with Ariat International.

Ariat, the leader in innovative Western, English and Work footwear and apparel, was the first company to bring athletic footwear technology to equestrian sports, forever changing the industry. This new partnership will make Ariat the official boot partner of Dickies Arena and the official western apparel partner of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

“It has been a privilege to join the local community over the past few years with the construction of our main distribution hub to Fort Worth and the opening of our brand shop in the Stockyards,” said Beth Cross, co-founder and CEO of Ariat. “Our partnership with Dickies Arena and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is a terrific opportunity to further support the Fort Worth community.”

Ariat will have a prominent presence at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, slated for January 13 through February 4. Kicking off the Stock Show is Ranching Heritage Weekend, which includes the Best of the West Ranch Rodeo and some of the event’s most prestigious horse shows and sales – all which will be presented by Ariat. Ariat will also be the presenting sponsor of the exciting lineup of entertainers in the Stock Show’s Auditorium Concert Series.

“This partnership with Ariat is exciting for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo because of our mutual passions for the western way of life and the community of people that make it unique and special,” said Stock Show President and General Manager Brad Barnes. “With Ariat presenting our Ranching Heritage Weekend and Auditorium Concert Series they’ll now be directly engaged with two unique important subsets of the FWSSR audience – working ranch cowboys and cowgirls and concert-going Stock Show fans.”

Dickies Arena’s most exclusive premium hospitality space at the arena, the North Club, will be officially renamed the Ariat Club. This club is accessible only to suite, loge box, and founders rodeo box holders. The Ariat Club exudes high-quality finishes and décor along with world-class service and chef-prepared fine dining that create the beautiful, elegant ambiance of the club. The Ariat Club is the top-notch hospitality space in the arena that offers a prime view of the arena floor, whether to enjoy a concert, family show, sporting event, or the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

“Dickies Arena is thrilled to have Ariat take on the name of our exclusive North Club and to kick off the partnership at the Legendary Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo,” said Dickies Arena President and General Manager Matt Homan. “Ariat and Dickies Arena share core values of creating quality products for our patrons and I look forward to creating a lasting and innovative partnership.”