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In this issue:
*IAAM
District III State Representatives
*Nominations
for 2005-2007 District III Officers
*District
meeting notes and information
*2005
District III Operations Seminar
*District
III Website Update
*Swiftel
Center Welcomes New Caterer
*President
Bush Visits Qwest Center
*Alerus
Center of Grand Forks, ND details development plan
*GATEWAY
CENTER GROWS AGAIN
*A
VERY WET PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
*The
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission "Report to
the Community"
*Show
Me Center director to head IAAM
*Event
pro, llc announces new partnerships
*MISSOURI
HAPPENINGS
*IOWA
HAPPENINGS
IAAM
DISTRICT III STATE REPRESENTATIVES
The IAAM District III Newsletter is a quarterly newsletter
prepared by Terry Dederich and Rick Pruski of Event Pro, LLC.
Serving as state representatives to assist in the process are:
Missouri:
Shawn Sample, UMB Bank Pavilion,
shawnsample@clearchannel.com,
314-962-4000 ext. 417
Illinois: Jodi Meyer, Gateway Convention Center,
jmeyer@gatewaycenter.com,
618-345-8998 ext. 107
Minnesota: Judith Bergeland, Earle Brown Heritage
Center,
jbergeland@earlebrown.com,
763-569-6302
South Dakota: Tom Richter, Swiftel Center,
trichter@brookings.net, 605-692-7539
Iowa: Glenn Walinski, Tyson Events Center,
gwalinski@sioux-city.org,
712-279-4913
North Dakota: Jeremy Linstad, Alerus Center,
jlinstad@aleruscenter.com,
701-792-1416
Wisconsin: Art Fahey, La Crosse Center,
afahey@lacrossecenter.com,
608-789-7413
Nebraska: Christy Harris, Qwest Center,
charris@qwestcenter.com,
402-341-1500
Allied: Brad Schmitz, StageRight,
bschmitz@stageright.com,
651-463-3456
Please
provide your state representative with information you wish to
share with the rest of District III.
NOMINATIONS FOR 2005-2007 DISTRICT III OFFICERS
As per District III Policies, Jim Hess, District III Vice
President, has appointed three past District III Vice
Presidents to be the Nomination Committee to nominate our
slate of officers for 2005 - 2007. This committee consists of
Tim Hickman, CFE, David Ross, CFE, and Steve Peters, CFE. The
election will be at our District Business Meeting in Toledo
and this new slate of officers will take office at the end of
the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Please contact Tim
Hickman, Nominating Committee Chair, with suggestions or for
more information. Tim's phone number is: 573-884-6428.
2005 COMBINED IAAM DISTRICT I, II & III MEETING - TOLEDO, OHIO
MAY 21-24, 2005
Registration packets were just sent out. The headquarters
hotel is the Radisson Hotel Toledo. Located in the heart of
downtown, it offers a panoramic view of the city and Maumee
River. Room rates are $99 per night for both single and double
occupancy. SeaGate Convention Centre will be the host for the
IAAM District Meeting. It is conveniently located next to the
convention hotel and within walking distance to many of
Toledo's finest restaurants, attractions and entertainment
districts. Register today!
In addition, the
2006 District Meeting will be in Omaha, Nebraska. The dates
are April 8-11, 2006 with our host being the Qwest Center and
the Hotel being the Embassy Suites with a $119 single/double
rate.
The 2008
District Meeting Site Selection Committee will be chaired by
Kevin Ullestad of Assembly Hall - University of Illinois.
People interested in serving on this committee should contact
Jim Hess, who will be appointing members to this committee at
the District Meeting in Toledo. Bids for the 2008 meeting need
to be submitted to Kevin by Friday, June 3, 2005. The
committee will then review the proposals and we will vote on
the site at our District Business Meeting in Washington, DC.
2005 DISTRICT
III OPERATIONS SEMINAR
Make plans to attend the District III Operations Seminar,
which will be hosted by The Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline,
IL on April 16 - 19, 2005. The seminar will be headed up by
Mark Burrage, Director of Operations. Please be sure to mark
your calendars for this informative conference and support
this great networking event! Check out the District III
website for more information.
DISTRICT III WEBSITE
UPDATE
Check out our District III Website which is up to date and has
a new look. Our website is hosted within the IAAM website -
just click on District III, which is listed on the top of the
IAAM Home Page and then click on "Visit District III Website."
If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact Brett Cornish
at
bcornish@themark.org.
Swiftel Center
Welcomes New Caterer
The following piece was submitted by Tom Richter of the
Swiftel Center in Brookings, South Dakota.
Tom Richter of
The Swiftel Center announces a new agreement with The Swanson
Corporation as the exclusive food and beverage provider. This
association is the result of an extensive search through
requests for proposals conducted by the Swiftel Center to
partner with a provider that can be located within the
building. This allows the Swiftel Center to better serve their
patrons. Swanson Corporation officially joins the Swiftel
Center team March 1st.
Swanson brings
with them over 50 years of experience in the food and beverage
industry. The corporation prides itself on employee ownership
and their commitment to providing unparalleled service and the
highest quality dining. Swanson offers the Swiftel Center
expertise in the fields of concession management, vending, and
catering, as they have served many Fortune 500 companies and
public assembly venues.
In addition to
premiere food, Swanson provides full management and employee
training for the local staff. Training programs instruct
personnel in many facets of food service including customer
service, event planning, menu development, quality assurance,
and creative solutions for all of their customers' needs.
Swanson's local staff will join the team at the Swiftel
Center, which will increase the flexibility and consistency
for those who patronize the facility. The fully staffed team
will work closely with the Swiftel Center staff to provide
increased customer service. Their unique ability to specialize
and their "on demand" services and support staff will provide
the expertise to efficiently service the many events the
Swiftel Center hosts. Although the provider has changed, the
commitment to "Midwest Hospitality" will remain the number one
goal of the food and beverage department at the Swiftel
Center. The in-house team will fit in with the management
structure and will work hand-in-hand with the Sales/Marketing
department to conduct all events. The process of booking your
catered event is the same, so don't delay and call the Swiftel
Center to reserve your time and place. We look forward to
working with you.
President George W. Bush Visits Qwest Center Omaha in Nebraska
on February 4, 2005
The following piece was
submitted by Christy A. Harris at the Qwest Center in Omaha,
Nebraska.
Being in a brand
new facility, Qwest Center Omaha staff has been astounded with
all of the first-time moments and record-breaking events, but
February 4, 2005 is certainly a day that will be remembered
forever. In his quest to inform the public about Social
Security reform, President George W. Bush chose Omaha as one
of several cities where he wanted to hold a town-hall forum.
Qwest Center Omaha served as the host site.
The announcement
put Qwest Center Omaha staff to the test. During the week of
President Bush's visit, the Arena went from a dirt-filled
floor for the World's Toughest Rodeo, to a basketball court
for Creighton University vs. Wichita State, to an ice rink for
Smucker's Stars on Ice. After that, there was just a short
window of opportunity to set up for the President's visit.
At the end of
the day, more than 10,000 guests were thrilled to be a part of
the event. So were White House staff members. Several of them
commended Qwest Center Omaha employees on their hard work,
professionalism and assistance. As far as Qwest Center Omaha
staff, they too had a moment to bask in the sunshine. That is,
before they had to set up for a basketball tournament the
following day. That's business as usual, but none quite so
historic for the facility.
Alerus Center of Grand Forks, ND details development plan
The following piece was
submitted by Jeremy Linstad at the Alerus Center in Grand
Forks, North Dakota.
Canad Inns filed
a detailed development plan with the city of Grand Forks for
the Canad Inns Destination Center that will be attached to the
Alerus Center. The Canad Inn destination center will consist
of a 192 room hotel, an approximate 40,000 square feet indoor
water park, three restaurants concepts, and an exciting new
family entertainment center. A wellness center, day spa, and
theater complex are also shown in the development plan, which
are still being negotiated with prospective operators.
Construction is planned to start this spring.
GATEWAY CENTER GROWS AGAIN
The following piece was submitted by Jodi Meyer at the Gateway
Center in Collinsville, Illinois.
Gateway Center,
Southwestern Illinois' premier convention center is expanding
for the third time since it's opening in 1990. The 2006
expansion will increase the building by 32,500 gross square
feet, resulting in a multi-purpose facility that offers more
than 100,000 gross square feet to a variety of users from
around the world.
The City of
Collinsville approved financing of the project in December
2004. The 5.6 million dollar expansion is being financed with
tax increment financing funds from the City of Collinsville,
and with bank qualified tax exempt bonds from The Bank of
Edwardsville. The expansion ground breaking is scheduled for
the beginning of April 2005 and a grand opening projected for
April 2006.
During the
approval process, Cindy Warke, the building's Executive
Director commented to the City Council that, "this expansion
is critical to Gateway Center's ability to retain its growing
client base and to capitalize on the large amount of business
being lost due to a lack of space at the facility." Warke
continued to say, "the expansion will enable Gateway Center to
stay ahead of the increase in regional competition as more and
more meeting and banquet facilities are being built every
day." The expanded facility will offer an additional 10,000
net square feet to event planners, increasing the column-free,
contiguous exhibit space to 40,000 net square feet. For
convention planners, Gateway Center will be able to host
general sessions for as many as 2,000 people with as many as
15 other rooms to support meals and breakout sessions.
For the past 15
years, Gateway Center has hosted thousands of events that
bring people from around the world to the small community of
Collinsville, Illinois. The events at Gateway Center generate
approximately
15,000 room
nights for area hotels each year and have brought more than
1.8 million visitors to Southwest Illinois over the years.
A VERY WET
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
The following piece was
submitted by Jodi Meyer at the Gateway Center in Collinsville,
Illinois.
President Bush
came to our facility on January 5, 2005 to talk about medical
liability reform. It had been raining all night and into the
morning on the day of the event. At 8:15 am, 15 minutes before
the Secret Service building sweep, the drains started to back
up and water started coming out of them. We called out an
emergency plumber, and in the meantime, our facility crew ran
around and tried to soak up the water and spray air
neutralizer. We ended up having to contact the water
department and have them open the man holes a couple mains up
from us and pump out water to make room for our drainage
water. The bathroom the president was supposed to use had a
problem with the water level going down in the commode. We did
get everything in order and ready to go on time. Overall it
was a very successful presidential visit.
The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission "Report to the
Community
The following piece was
submitted by Judith Bergeland at the Earle Browne Heritage
Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
In this report,
Metrodome operators highlighted the many stadium improvements
that occurred in 2003-04, including the new Metrodome Plaza
adjacent to the Downtown East/Metrodome Hiawatha Line
light-rail station. Other improvements that were highlighted
include the Metrodome's new FieldTurf, its new Daktronics
"ribbon" LED displays that ring the interior of the stadium,
and completion of the two-year project to update every
concession stand in the stadium. The report also discussed the
stadium's versatility and its high rate of usage. The report
pointed out that in a stadium known mostly for the Twins,
Vikings and University of Minnesota football Gophers, the
stadium is also an important community center. According to
the report, "out of more than 300 event days per year at the
Metrodome, fewer than 100 feature professional or major
college sports." To illustrate that versatility, the report
stated that in the period from October 1, through December 31,
the Metrodome hosted:
-
Two Twins ALDS
games
-
America's Walk
for Diabetes
-
Hmong American
New Year
-
Six Minnesota
Vikings NFL games
-
Three
University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Big Ten football
games
-
Eighteen high
school football state tournament games
-
Eight high
school boys' soccer state tournament games
-
Eight high
school girls' soccer state tournament games
-
Four NCAA
Division II football games featuring teams from the Northern
Sun Intercollegiate Conference
-
Six NCAA
Division III football games featuring teams from the Upper
Midwest Athletic Conference and the Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
-
A full
schedule of amateur football, running and inline skating
Several sessions of model airplane flying
For 2005, the
Metrodome concourses will receive additional updating, with
new colorful murals and improved lighting.
Show Me Center
director to head IAAM
Written By Scott Moyers of the Southeast Missourian in Cape
Girardeau, Missouri
Show Me Center
director David Ross wants to give a voice to others in the
industry like him -- those who manage smaller arenas who
sometimes get drowned out by the megaphones of venues like
Madison Square Garden in New York or the Staples Center in Los
Angeles.
Ross' new role
as president of the International Association of Assembly
Managers will certainly help. "I want to put forward a
representation for small facilities in small markets," said
Ross, the Show Me Center's director since it opened in August
1987. "As in any organization, you have the elite like the
Staples Center, Madison Square Garden. But there are a bulk of
people who run buildings such as the Show Me Center that are
integral parts of their community. It may not be 17,000 seats,
but these places are important to the people."
In July, Ross
will take over as president of the IAAM, a trade group made up
of professionals who run entertainment and sports venues all
over the world. IAAM counts more than 3,500 members in 33
countries, a group that oversees the bulk of a
multibillion-dollar business that includes in part the travel,
leisure and tourism business. Last week, the executive of the
group, Dexter King, traveled from Coppell, Texas, and another
member of the organization, Harold Hansen, came from Chicago
to meet with Ross in Cape Girardeau to set up his agenda for
his one-year term.
Ross has been
involved in IAAM for several years, most recently as vice
president of District 3, which includes several Midwestern
states. He also has been on the group's board and served on
various committees. "He rose to the top," King said before
their meeting started last week. "We don't feel that just
because you're in a smaller market or run a smaller venue that
you don't have an impact. We're about making people's
experience safe and comfortable. David Ross knows how to do
that."
IAAM was first
established in 1924 when six auditorium managers assembled in
Cleveland to discuss common issues. Today, the group provides
educational programs and workshops for venue managers,
conferences for each venue type, sets up certified and
accredited educational schools, and establishes best practice
guidelines.
Ross says his
new role is not one many people outside of his industry know
about -- or should. "Hopefully, the people who come to the
Show Me Center won't know at all," he said. "If you're in a
safe, secure environment and you're able to go to your seat in
a clean facility, then you don't give it a second thought." As
far as giving a voice to smaller venue managers, Ross said
that is a primary goal. "I want to share my experiences with
others," he said. "We've been fortunate enough to get shows in
Cape Girardeau that, quite honestly, maybe shouldn't be here."
But by knowing
how to negotiate -- some of which was learned through his
involvement in the organization -- people can be convinced to
coming to a place like Cape Girardeau and the Show Me Center,
which has 7,000 seats. "You can still convince people that our
community can support what they're offering," Ross said.
"Other managers out there could benefit from knowing that."
Event pro,
llc announces new partnerships
The following piece was submitted by Terry Dederich of Event
Pro, LLC in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Event Pro, LLC,
which provides management services for venues and events, has
recently signed five new contracts to its growing list of
partnerships. These new partners are:
-
Downtown Green
Bay, Inc.'s Prevea Titletown 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament -
Event Management and Sponsorships
-
ShopKo
Fireworks Celebrate Americafest - Event Management and
Sponsorships
-
Outagamie
County Fair Association - Event Management , Ticketing
Operations and Sponsorships
-
Kewaunee
County Fair Association - Motorsports Entertainment and
Ticketing Operations
-
Racine County
"Spirit of Racine Triathlon" - Event Sponsorships
Event Pro, LLC
is already contracted to manage and book events at the KI
Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin in addition to other annual
festivals and motorsports bookings. Event Pro provides
complete ticketing services to venues and events. Contact
Event Pro today for more information if you are considering a
change in ticketing providers.
Check out the
Event Pro website at
www.eventprogroup.com. Please
call Terry Dederich or Rick Pruski if you're interested in any
of their services at 920-433-2003. Or, e-mail Terry Dederich
at
terry@eventprogroup.com or
Rick Pruski at
rick@eventprogroup.com.
MISSOURI HAPPENINGS
The following pieces were submitted by Shawn Sample at the UMB
Bank Pavilion in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
Local real
estate guru's "The Robert's Brothers" open recently renovated
Roberts Orpheum with a big bang. More information is available
at
www.robertsorpheum.com.
Security Giant,
Contemporary Services Corporation working hard to get a leg
into St. Louis's top venues. Contact Lance Wheeler at
636.561.4904 for more information.
St. Charles
Convention Center is opening in the spring of 2005. For more
information, please contact IAAM member Shura Lindgren, CFE,
General Manager at 636.669.3000.
IOWA
HAPPENINGS
The following piece was submitted by Glenn Walinski of the
Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Here in Sioux
City, we just completed hosting the NAIA National Men's
Wrestling Tournament, which saw Lindenwood, MO take the
Championship Trophy in the team competition. 28 schools from
across the country sent wrestlers here to compete for national
titles in 10 weight divisions. Sioux City will host this
tournament for the next two years.
Then 32 teams
from across the US came into town for the NAIA National
Women's Basketball Tournament. After a week of great games
Morningside College of Sioux City won the National
Championship over Cedarville College of Seward, OH by a score
of 75--65. This was repeat of last years championship game
that saw Morningside win its first National Championship over
the same Cedarville, Ohio school. Nearly 46,000 fans attended
the 31 games held at the Tyson Events Center over the week.
This was the 8th year the tournament has been held in Sioux
City
The event
calendar is full with Musketeer hockey, Josh Groban, Bandits
football, Harlem Globetrotters, Kenny Chesney and the Shrine
Circus at the Tyson Events Center and Contact, Miss Saigon,
Trip Daddy, The Doors, and Tim Conway with Harvey Korman at
the Orpheum Theater. |
