INTRUST BANK ARENA TO HOST WSU NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH PARTY FOR THIRD ROUND GAME

Wichita, Kan. (March 17, 2015) – INTRUST Bank Arena announced today plans to host an NCAA Basketball Championship watch party in support of the Wichita State Shockers. If the Shockers defeat Indiana this Friday, March 20, the watch party will take place on Sunday, March 22 for the third round of the championship. The third round game times and opponents have yet to be determined. Once tip-off times are set, doors for the watch party will open one hour prior to the scheduled game time. The event is free and open to the public.

The game telecast will be shown on the Arena’s center hung LED hi-res videoboard for fans in attendance. In addition, the Arena’s Guitar Bar, Cox Lounge and Budweiser BrewPub will be open and televisions in these areas will also be airing the game. Parking will be free and available in the INTRUST Bank Arena parking lots and surrounding City owned lots. Food and beverage will be available for purchase at select concession stands including the Budweiser BrewPub, Chisholm’s West, Dog Pound and more. Beer and liquor will also be available at the Guitar Bar, Cox Lounge and Budweiser BrewPub. 

Fans attending the watch party can enter INTRUST Bank Arena through any of the three main entrances. For additional information or questions, please visit www.intrustbankarena.com, call 316-440-9000 or tune into an iHeart Media radio station, the official radio sponsor of the WSU Watch Party event. 

Dinosaur Ad Earns Award for SMG Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, OK (March 2, 2015) - The marketing team at the SMG-managed Chesapeake Energy Arena has been honored by the Oklahoma City Ad Club with a 2015 ADDY Award.

SMG was presented with a Silver ADDY in Interior Still or Static for its promotion of Walking With Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular. The ADDY Awards annually recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising.

"I'm always impressed by the creative efforts of our marketing team," said General Manager Gary Desjardins. "We at SMG are proud of the marketing expertise we offer to promoters bringing events to Chesapeake Energy Arena."

SMG's winning entry was an escalator wrap installed at Penn Square Mall advertising the Walking With Dinosaurs shows at the arena. The ad featured a brachiosaurus with its neck extending the length of the escalator and helped increase the show's exposure. It even served as a backdrop when the show brought its Baby T-Rex to the mall for an appearance to promote the show.

This is the second ADDY SMG has won in three years. It also received the Silver ADDY in Special Event Material for chalk art used to promote Batman Live in 2013.

SMG Managed Big Sandy Superstore Arena Nominated for Academy of Country Music “Venue of the Year” Award For Second Consecutive Year

HUNTINGTON, W.V - The SMG Managed Big Sandy Superstore Arena is proud to announce their second nomination for an Academy of Country Music award in the “Venue of the Year- Medium Capacity” category.

Last year the venue was nominated in this same category, with the award going to Ryman Hospitality Properties out of Nashville. This year the Big Sandy Superstore Arena will compete against Amphitheater At The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL; Filene Center At Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA; Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO; and Resch Center, Green Bay, WI.

“Being nominated is always an honor, more so when it happens in consecutive years,” stated Les Crooks, Interim General Manager. “This nomination is a great testament to former general manager Brian Sipe, the staff at the venue and Huntington’s love for country music.”

In recent years the SMG Managed venue has hosted country artists such as Allison Kraus and Willie Nelson, Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes, Jake Owen, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, Martina McBride, Kelly Pickler, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band and many others. Many of these artists are nominated in their respective categories this year as well.

Superstars Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will co-host the 50TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, LIVE from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (home of the Dallas Cowboys), on Sunday, April 19, 2015. For a complete list of nominees, visit http://www.acmawards.com/nominees.