INTRUST Bank Arena Nominated for Best New Major Concert Venue

The SMG-managed INTRUST Bank Arena (Wichita, Kan.) was nominated for the Best New Major Concert Venue award by Pollstar Magazine. A total of four nominated venues were announced last Friday including the SMG-managed Consol Energy Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.) along with the 1stBank Center (Broomfield, Colo.) and Williamsburg Waterfront (Brooklyn, N.Y.). The winner will be announced February 5, 2011 at the 22nd Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards and Party at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Pollstar is a weekly trade magazine for the concert industry. Voting is done by Pollstar subscribers and takes place between November 12 and December 17.

A.J. Boleski, General Manager of the Arena said: “We are thrilled with this nomination. INTRUST Bank Arena is world-class facility with a staff that has worked tirelessly this past year to provide top-notch service to tours, artists and our front-of-house guests. To be recognized by our peers is a tremendous honor.”

The $206 million dollar venue opened in January of 2010 and is owned by Sedgwick County.

Sedgwick County Manager Bill Buchanan commented: "Sedgwick County is pleased to hear INTRUST Bank Arena has been nominated for this honor. We believe the new Arena has helped encourage top performers to come to our community, and the outstanding ticket sales have demonstrated that Wichita has a great base of fans for all types of entertainment."

Since opening with a sold-out Brad Paisley concert, INTRUST Bank Arena has hosted 25 of Pollstar’s top-100 touring acts in 2010 including: George Strait with Reba, Elton John and Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Walking with Dinosaurs, Nickelback, Star Wars In Concert, Daughtry, Brooks and Dunn, Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum, Michael Bublé, Eagles, Rascal Flatts, Celtic Woman, Dave Matthews Band, Rush, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

Several major events are scheduled through the end of 2010 including: Dane Cook, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Barney, Wichita State University / University of Tulsa men’s basketball and Cirque du Soleil.

INTRUST Bank Arena Ranks 21st in the US for Third Quarter Tickets Sales

INTRUST Bank Arena (Wichita, KS) ranked 21st in the United States and 43rd in the world in Pollstar's Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Arena Venues for 2010 third quarter, year-to-date. The SMG-managed facility has ranked in the Top 50 since opening January 9, 2010, with a sold-out Brad Paisley concert.

“INTRUST Bank Arena continues to prove to the industry that Wichita is not a market to overlook when routing tours,” said A.J. Boleski, SMG General Manager of INTRUST Bank Arena. “Even during the typically slower third quarter, we were able to book big shows including Dave Matthews Band, Rush and Rascal Flatts to keep this trend going and offer a wide variety of entertainment.”

With 186,433 concert tickets sold as reported to Pollstar, INTRUST Bank Arena ranked higher than several regional venues including the Pepsi Center in Denver, the Scottrade Center in St. Louis and the United Center in Chicago.

“The schedule for the fourth quarter is full and includes Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band and the Radio City Rockettes. We expect to finish strong for the entire year,” Boleski added.

Reading, PA a Top Stop!

Congrats to SMG's Reading, PA venues for ranking as two of Venues Today's Top Stops in Pennsylvania! The Sovereign Center is the #2 concert and event center with a 5,001-10,000 capacity, and the Sovereign Performing Arts Center comes in at #4 for venues with a capacity under 5,000.

Gettin' it done in Johnstown!

The Johnstown, PA Tribune-Democrat says, "Hats off to SMG" to booking great events at the War Memorial Arena in the coming months.

Linda McCarthy Named One of Mississipp's Leading Business Women

Linda McCarthy, General Manager of the Jackson Convention Complex, has recently been chosen by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of the 2010, 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi! This is quite an honor, well deserved and great recognition for the Jackson Convention Complex and SMG. Congrats, Linda!

SMG in the News: SMG Reduces Expenses at Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center

In less than a year since beginning management operations of the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda, FL, SMG has significantly reduced expenses.

"Now we know it can be done better in the private sector," Charlotte County Commissioner Tricia Duffy said.

Read more: http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/pnnews.aspx?NewsID=462037&a=newsarchive2%2f082510%2fch6.htm&pnpg=1

SMG in the News: Superdome Super Once more

BusinessWeek
The Superdome: Super Once More
Five years after Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed New Orleans, the city and the Superdome are making a comeback
By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek

1. The Saints and Their Superdome Home Five Years After Katrina
As it was five years ago, when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans, the Louisiana Superdome is at the center of that city's revitalization. And now its tenant, the New Orleans Saints, is the latest Super Bowl champion. As the Saints prepare to kick off their 2010 season, they're celebrating not only their remarkable win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, but also the rebirth of their structural and spiritual home. ...

Forget the $185 million it cost to repair and refurbish the Superdome following Katrina. The Superdome is in the process of a $320 million renovation, which will make it one of the most modern sports facilities in the U.S. Among the planned upgrades are 16 new luxury suites (bringing the building's total to 153), 3,100 new sideline seats, two new field-level lounges, and a remodeled Saints' locker room.

Last year, the State of Louisiana and the Saints reached an agreement to extend the team's Superdome lease through 2025. What's more, according to the Saints and Superdome management contractor SMG, the Superdome upgrades will increase opportunities for more ancillary revenue for the franchise, thereby reducing Louisiana's obligations to the team under the old agreement. ...

Champions Square presented by Verizon (VZ) is the new special events space at the site of the former New Orleans Centre mall. The new fan entertainment area, Phase I of which opened to the public on Aug. 21, features a large music stage, street vendors, and food and merchandise kiosks, and it can accommodate more than 8,000 people. Visitors to Champions Square will be able to dine on food from an iconic group of restaurants that celebrate New Orleans's rich culinary heritage, including Acme Oyster House, Galatoire's, Drago's, and Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse.

"As New Orleans and the Louisiana Superdome host numerous national sporting events over the coming years, including the 2013 Super Bowl, this new infrastructure will accentuate the fan experience," says SMG Senior Vice-President Doug Thornton. "Champions Square also can be an economic engine outside of sports, serving as the site of corporate events, festivals, and concerts."

Read more: The Superdome: Super Once More