COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER ACHIEVES GOLD LEED CERTIFICATION

DENVER - MAY 15, 2014 - The Colorado Convention Center has improved its LEED status to LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council through the recertification process required every five years. The venue is now the largest existing building in the region to attain LEED Gold within the Existing Building Operation and Maintenance (EBOM) criteria through recertification. Owned by the City and County of Denver and managed by SMG, the team at the Colorado Convention Center achieved LEED Gold through their efforts and continuous commitment to sustainable operations, which include:  Maintaining the building to be more energy efficient than 83% of similar building types Allowing for a rooftop solar array 54% of all waste generated was diverted from landfills through recycling, composting and donations Over 50% of Convention Center employees utilize mass-transit or other forms of alternative transportation to commute to work. Diverted 100% of reusable items that are leftover from conferences and convention center operations Operating the Blue Bear Farm, which produces fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey (from on-site beehives) "The City of Denver has a commitment to sustainability in all of our venues and we're especially proud of the trailblazing being done by SMG and our partners at the Colorado Convention Center," said Kent Rice, executive director of the City's Denver Arts & Venues division.  "The Colorado Convention Center staff's forward thinking on sustainability issues are in keeping with Colorado's image as a clean, vibrant state and we're pleased that image resonates with visitors and residents alike." LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. The LEED green building rating system, developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is intended to promote designs that reduce the environmental impacts of a building and improve the health and well-being of its occupants. The four certification levels are Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. These levels correspond to the number of credits accrued in six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. "The Colorado Convention Center's improvement to LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous leadership in Colorado's green building industry," said Sharon Alton, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council Colorado. "The magnitude of this facility's sustainable initiatives should pave the way for other commercial building owners to realize the benefits of analyzing their own sustainable possibilities related to resource, energy and water savings. The Colorado Convention Center is a leader in sustainability, with a number of firsts including being the first facility of its kind to receive LEED certification (2010) blazing the trail for other Centers across the country. The Center was also the first event and conference venue in the world to be certified to the international sustainability standard introduced in 2012, the ASTM Certification E2774-11. John Adams, General Manager of the Colorado Convention Center said "The achievement of GOLD continues our commitment to sustainability and overall occupant health for the facility."   ### About the Colorado Convention Center The Colorado Convention Center is a top economic engine to Colorado and home to over 250 events which attract nearly 1 million people annually. The center is owned by the City and County of Denver and operated by SMG the world leader in venue management, marketing and development.

SMG and McConnell Valdés Form Joint Venture: SMV Advisors

San Juan, PR – Monday, May 12, 2014 – SMG, the world leader in facility

management, and McConnell Valdés Consulting, an affiliate of McConnell Valdés LLC, one of the nation’s largest Hispanic owned law firms and Puerto Rico’s leading law firm, have joined forces to create SMV Advisors, a venue consulting and event promotion company. This new venture will draw on SMG’s success in Puerto Rico and its 37 years of experience in managing facilities around the world, plus on McConnell Valdés Consulting’s expertise in project management, financing, development and marketing of mixed-use real estate projects in Puerto Rico and Latin America.

“We have enjoyed more than a decade of successful operation at the two premiere entertainment facilities in Puerto Rico: the Coliséo de Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Additionally, we manage Bahía Urbana, an urban park, as well as provide food and beverage service at the Antiguo Casino. These operations and facilities have become the industry standard in the region,” stated SMG President and CEO Wes Westley, “we are now interested in expanding our knowledge and success to Latin America and the Caribbean. McConnell Valdés, given their market knowledge and unrivaled expertise, is the perfect partner to further this goal.” 

“When conceptualizing this venture we knew from the start that we would only work with a company of SMG’s pedigree with their outstanding credentials, and the international scope of their expertise. Combined, the company that we have created will be the valuable resource that cities and countries throughout Latin America are looking for,” stated Harry Cook, President of McConnell Valdés Consulting. 

SMV Advisors is destined to become the most complete entertainment management company in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Already SMV Advisors is positioned to provide services in various municipal venues in Puerto Rico, and it is expected to provide services in Chile and Costa Rica in the near future. The opportunity for venue consulting in Latin America, caused by growing demand for entertainment venues and facilities, make this the perfect time to launch SMV Advisors. 

PAINTER RECEIVES WOMEN OF INFLUENCE NOMINATION

(Tulsa, Okla.) May 8, 2014 –Kerry Painter, Assistant General Manager of the Cox Business Center, has been nominated for the Women of Influence Award by industry trade magazine Venues Today. The award honors women who have made a difference in the sports, music and convention industry and will be announced in the July issue of the publication.

Painter said: "The dictionary defines Influence as the ‘Capacity or power of persons to be a compelling force on actions, behaviors, opinions, etc...’ I love that definition and hope that is a legacy I leave behind, compelling others to grow into their best selves by influencing them in some way.” 

Painter joined the SMG team this past February. Prior to coming to Tulsa, she served as President of the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario for six years.

With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Painter has held positions in a variety of venues including convention centers, theatres, arenas and stadiums. Over the course of her career she has become an expert in overseeing and facilitating construction and grand openings for five different facilities.

Painter has dedicated a great part of her career to numerous trade organizations including serving as Chairman of the University of Cornell’s Facility Management School, serving on the Board of Regents and teaching annually at IAVM’s Facility School and was a guest instructor in November 2013 at the Venue Management School in Brisbane, Australia.

“It's definitely a great honor to be nominated,” Painter added. “I feel just by that alone I've already won!"

CenturyLink Center Named in Top 50 of Worldwide Ticket Sales

Bossier City, Louisiana – (April 10, 2014) - Bossier City’s CenturyLink Center has been named among the Top 50 Arena Venues in Worldwide Ticket Sales in for the First Quarter of 2014 by Pollstar Magazine. Nationally, CenturyLink Center attained a ranking within the Top 20 United States Arena Venues in Q1 Ticket Sales.

In addition to these accolades, CenturyLink Center has been designated a “Top Stop” (among venues with a capacity of 10,001 - 15,000) by Venues Today Magazine in their January, February, and March issues.

With events like George Strait, Elton John, Winter Jam, and more – CenturyLink Center is excited to continually offer Bossier City and Shreveport first-rate entertainment. 

Without our community in Northwest Louisiana, CenturyLink Center could not have reached such a distinction. “I and the rest of the SMG staff at the CenturyLink Center are grateful to the Bossier – Shreveport communities that have demonstrated such tremendous support and excitement for the events during the first quarter.  It’s their support that makes these rankings possible and provides the opportunities for continued success.” says General Manager, Brodie McMahon.

For up to date information on events at CenturyLink Center, visit www.centurylinkcenter.com.