INTRUST BANK ARENA RECEIVES MULTIPLE MARKETING AWARDS IN JUNE

(Wichita, Kan.) – The SMG-managed INTRUST Bank Arena has received multiple awards in the marketing category throughout the month of June. Recognition has come from both the Wichita American Marketing Association and SMG.

INTRUST Bank Arena was awarded the SMG 2014 Best Social Media Promotion Award for the “12 Days of Entertainment” promotion for the second straight year at the 2014 SMG Marketing Summit. The Summit was held at the SMG-managed Mercedes -Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA last week and marked the second year that more than 50 SMG marketers gathered to discuss venue marketing, share ideas and network. While at the summit, attendees voted on awards in five categories. In 2013, INTRUST Bank Arena took home Best Trade Ad in addition to Best Social Media Promotion.

In addition, INTRUST Bank Arena was recognized by the American Marketing Association, Wichita Chapter, in two categories at the 2014 MAX Awards. Judges from the American Marketing Association, Omaha Chapter, used 10 different criteria for each entry submitted. In the Annual Report category, the arena received a Silver MAX Award, or second place. In the Social Media category, the arena received third place.

“It’s an exciting honor to be recognized by different marketing organizations for the work we’re doing at INTRUST Bank Arena,” said Christine Pileckas, SMG Director of Sales & Marketing. “Our team strives to be trendsetters and innovators in the industry, and these awards are a testament to their hard work and passion for the live entertainment industry.”

BOK Center Trade Ad Wins National Award

 (Tulsa, Okla.) June 23, 2014 – The SMG-managed BOK Center was honored for its 2013 trade publication advertising campaign during the recent 2014 SMG Marketing Summit held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. 

Tulsa-based creative agency AcrobatAnt designed the ad which features a woman looking at her reflection in a BOK Center mirror and seeing her “inner rock star” and was published in Pollstar and Venues Today. The ad was voted 2014 Best Trade Advertisement by more than 70 SMG marketing professionals from 46 venues across the United States and Puerto Rico. 

“We are incredibly proud of the work AcrobatAnt does for the BOK Center. This ad was one in a series of ground-breaking industry trade advertisements that have received national attention from both promoters and other venues,” said Sarah Haertl, SMG Regional Director of Marketing. 

“It’s an honor to have other SMG marketing professionals acknowledge the work we are doing in Tulsa,” Haertl added. 

IEBA Announces “Buyer/Promoter” Category Director

John Bolton Returns to IEBA’s Board of Directors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 17, 2014) – The members of IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association), the leading non-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals, have elected John Bolton, Vice President of Entertainment for SMG, to their Board of Directors in the “Buyer/Promoter” category.As part of the corporate team at SMG Entertainment, the world leader in venue management, Bolton works with record-breaking stadiums and arenas across the country in the presentation of over 28,000 live events annually.  Bolton supervises a national network of Regional Marketing Directors who are responsible for some 140 arena marketing professionals.
Bolton has had a significant impact on the entertainment business in his 25-year career.  In addition to his role as General Manager for SMG in Tulsa, where he managed a multi-complex campus of venues, Bolton acted as Regional Vice President for SMG for its venues in Puerto Rico and the West Coast.  Bolton was responsible for creating five new festivals and events in Tulsa that attract more than 200,000 people per year.  His success in booking, programming, and marketing consistently placed BOK Center as one of the Top 10 venues in the nation and earned Bolton “Venue Executive of the Year” recognition from IEBA in 2011 and from Pollstar in 2012, as well the “Venue Excellence Award” from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) in 2011.  He fulfilled two terms on IEBA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 2005 to 2008 and from 2009 to 2012.  Bolton also serves as the current Chair of the Board of Directors for IAVM.
“My work on IEBA’s Board allows me to collaborate with the best and the brightest in the business,” says Bolton. “IEBA’s goals for the industry mirror my goals at SMG:  to provide leadership and support for initiatives in entertainment booking and marketing.  We are committed to achieving our objectives through innovation and teamwork.  We are dedicated to maximizing our brands and our businesses.  With our collective industry expertise, we can set new standards for success.”
Bolton replaces outgoing Director, Leslie Master of Live Nation.  “Leslie was an invaluable asset to IEBA and we appreciate her dedicated service,” said Pam Matthews, IEBA Executive Director.
IEBA’s 44^th Annual Conference will be held September 27-30, 2014 at the Omni Nashville.  Registration is open now.  For more information, including a Conference schedule, please visit www.ieba.org.

First Direct Arena Named Best New Venue in the World.

West Conshohocken, PA (June 16, 2014) The first direct arena in Leeds, operated by SMG Europe has been voted ‘New Venue of the Year’ at the Stadium Business Awards in London.

The 13,000 capacity entertainment venue beat off stiff global competition at the prestigious event at the RAF museum in London on Wednesday night. The new Leeds Arena opened in the summer of 2013 and has already welcomed some of the world’s biggest acts with opening performances by Bruce Springsteen and Sir Elton John followed by a host of top artists. Leeds beat a high quality list of nominees including the new Olympic Stadium in Sochi, the SSE Hydro in Glasgow and the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice.

The award is assessed by a panel of industry experts worldwide including judges Australia, the USA and Europe.

Speaking on the success, John Knight, Senior Vice President UK Operations said “Opening the first direct arena has been the result of over five years work where we have pooled all of the SMG group’s experiences to deliver a world class venue. 

This award is the culmination of an amazing 12 months for SMG’s newest venue. From Bruce Springsteen’s barnstorming test run to 8 million viewers of BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, the venue has shown its versatility and Leeds is now firmly on the map for the biggest events in entertainment and sport. We look forward to welcoming the world’s media to the venue for the opening ceremony of the Tour de France in a month’s time.

The award sits alongside the excellent feedback we’re already getting from ticket holders, promoters and artists alike that tells us, the first direct arena is a special place to be.”

Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Keith Wakefield said:

“When the council chose to pursue our vision of providing a world-class entertainment venue  for the city we were sure we could deliver that. I’m delighted world experts agree that the SMG Europe operated first direct arena means Leeds has a venue people in this city can be proud of.”

The award winning First Direct arena joins SMG Europe’s portfolio of major arena in four key cities offering 55,000 seats and forecasting over 3 million ticket sales in 2014.

SMG’s Lynn Carlotto, Wesley Cullen Honored as 2014 Women of Influence by Venues Today

For Immediate Release

West Conshohocken, PA (June 5, 2014) — Lynn Carlotto, General Manager of the Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario and Wesley Cullen, General Manager of the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico have been honored  as Women of Influence for 2014 by Venues Today Magazine. The prestigious award celebrates women who have proven themselves as mentors and leaders in the sports, entertainment, and meetings industries. 

Carlotto, a 20 years veteran of venue management, has held key management positions in all three public sports and entertainment venues in Connecticut. She currently serves as General Manager for SMG Canada’s Rogers K-Rock Centre. She has also served as GM of New England’s largest theatre, Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Conn.

Cullen joined SMG and Coliseo de Puerto Rico in 2006 as Director of Events and has been General Manager since 2009. She was recently recognized by Caribbean Business as one of the Puerto Rico’s “40 under 40” and is very active in the community. She founded and heads the nonprofit organization Super Positivo, dedicated to keeping the beaches clean in Puerto Rico. During the fall of 2011, she became an Adjunct Professor at the Universidad del Este and enjoyed her first teaching experience with the course “Advanced Special Events Planning.”

SMG President and CEO, Wes Westley said, “We are very pleased to see the recognition given to these two hardworking executives. SMG is fortunate to  have so many excellent female professionals among us. I, along with all of their SMG colleagues, congratulate both Lynn and Wesley and wish them continued success.”

A profile of both Cullen and Carlotto will be included in the July issue of Venues Today.