JOHN PAUL JONES ARENA RECOGNIZED AS 2014 GREEN ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

(Charlottesville, VA – December 5, 2014) SMG managed John Paul Jones Arena has been recognized by the Virginia Green Program as the Green Attraction of Year.  The arena was one of 12 partners chosen as Virginia Green Travel Stars, the highest level of recognition in the program.  John Paul Jones Arena will receive the award at the Virginia Green Travel Conference at the Science Museum of Virginia next week. 

The Virginia Green Travel Star Awards is the recognition program of the Virginia Green program, Virginia’s voluntary initiative to encourage green practices in the state’s tourism industry. The program is run through a partnership between the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association.

Virginia Green now has more than 1550 tourism partners that have self-certified that they are engaged in a wide range of green practices and commitments. Virginia Green partners include hotels, restaurants, parks, museums, festivals and events, wineries and breweries, welcome centers, and supporting organizations – all aspects of Virginia’s tourism industry. The program also challenges green-minded consumers to Travel Green by choosing Virginia Green partners whenever they travel in Virginia by searching for Virginia Green at www.VirginiaGreenTravel.org.

This is the 5th year of the Virginia Green Travel Star Awards. Recipients are those Virginia tourism businesses that have distinguished themselves by embracing green practices in their operations and supporting green tourism efforts in Virginia. Participants applied in the categories of (1) Green Programs of the Year; (2) Most Innovative Green Projects; and (3) Green Supplier of the Year. This year, Virginia Green chose 12 partners as Virginia Green Travel Stars, the highest level of recognition in the program. Virginia Green is also awarding 16 Virginia Green Travel Leader awards for exemplary commitments to green practices in 2014.

2014 Virginia Green Travel Star Award Winners:

·       Green Attraction of the Year: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville

·       Green Brewery of the Year: Port City Brewing, Alexandria

·       Green Hotel of the Year: Lorien Hotel & Spa, Alexandria

·       Green Inn / Cabins of the Year: Shadow Mountain Escape, Luray

·       Green Restaurant of the Year: Local Roots Restaurant, Roanoke

·       Green Winery of the Year: North Gate Vineyard, Purcellville

·       Green Supporting Organization of the Year: Norfolk International Airport

·       Green Supplier of the Year: Natural Organic Process Enterprise, Richmond

·       Most Innovative Green Projects:

·       Hyatt Regency Reston Laundry Project, Reston

·       Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program, Richmond

·       Inns at Montpelier Virginia Green Project, Montpelier

2014 Virginia Green Travel Leader Award Winners:

·       Adventure Kayak Tours, Chesapeake

·       Arcady Vineyard Bed and Breakfast, Charlottesville

·       Blue Mountain Escape, Linden

·       Broad Appétit, Richmond

·       Clay Corner Inn, Blacksburg

·       Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Richmond

·       Mountain Song Inn, Floyd

·       Natural Bridge Hotel & Conference Center

·       Oak Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast, South Boston

·       Richmond Multisports, Richmond

·       Salamander Resort and Spa, Middleburg

·       Sandbridge Blue Realty, Virginia Beach

·       The Westin Richmond

·       University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg

·       Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach

·       Virginia Living Museum, Newport News

SMG WICHITA SET TO HOST THOUSANDS OF GUESTS IN DOWNTOWN WICHITA THIS WEEK

Wichita, KS (December 2, 2014) – INTRUST Bank Arena is set to host thousands of guests in downtown Wichita this week. Two concerts and a Wichita State men’s basketball game will take place at INTRUST Bank Arena beginning this Thursday through Saturday. 

“Between Eric Church, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the Wichita State game, we’re anticipating hosting more than 30,000 guests at our venue this week,” said A.J. Boleski, SMG General Manager. “Our mission statement reads that we’re in the business of creating memories, through world-class entertainment, one guest at a time. This week, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to create thousands of lasting memories and raving fan experiences for our guests.” 

Eric Church’s ‘The Outsiders World Tour’ kicks off the busy week on Thursday, December 4 at INTRUST Bank Arena. The concert features special guests Dwight Yoakam and Halestorm. Limited tickets are still available for the concert which starts at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Fans who purchased seats in designated paperless ticketed areas are reminded that they will need to bring the credit card they used for purchase and a government-issued ID to the venue on the night of the event for entry. 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a rock holiday tradition, returns to INTRUST Bank Arena Friday, December 5 with their live debut of The Christmas Attic. Tickets are still available and range from $34.50 to $74.50. The show begins at 8:00 p.m. and doors will open at 7:00 p.m. 

For the fifth consecutive year, the Wichita State men's basketball team will compete downtown at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Shockers, who have enjoyed success in their previous four appearances at INTRUST Bank Arena, will face the Saint Louis Billikens Saturday, December 6. Limited tickets are still available for the game which tips off at 5:00 p.m. Doors for the game will open to the public at 3:30 p.m. 

SMG Venues to Host Four Upcoming NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships

West Conshohocken, PA (December 1, 2014) - SMG-managed facilities were awarded four bids when the NCAA announced host sites for upcoming NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championships last month. The Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, La.) was selected to host the Women’s Final Four in 2020 and the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Stockton Center (Stockton, Calif.) and Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Okla.) were selected as hosts for upcoming regional play.

“We appreciate the NCAA’s continued confidence in SMG-managed facilities to host women’s basketball championships at the highest level. The venues awarded championships worked tirelessly to secure these bids, and will work diligently to ensure the fans, athletic departments and student-athletes have an unforgettable experience during their time at our venues,” said Doug Thornton, Executive Vice-President Stadiums and Arenas.

The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans will host the Women’s Final Four for a record fourth time in 2020, with games played April 3 and April 5. The arena previously hosted national championships in 2004 and 2013.

Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, which opened earlier this year, was awarded its first bid for 2016, which will also be the first championship games ever played in the state of South Dakota. The Stockton Center also received its first hosting opportunity in 2017.

“The committee continues to look for new markets and venues in which to play the championship and were pleased that new hosts like Sioux Fall and Stockton joined the other more veteran sites in providing a home for our championship,” said Dru Hancock, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and senior associate commission at the Big 12 Conference.

Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., will serve as a host site in 2017. It had previously hosted regionals in 2008, 2009 and 2013.