Award-Winning EverBank Field Ready for Jaguars Season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 14, 2012  — EverBank Field is kicking off the 2012-2013 Jaguars season with an award-winning management team. SMG’s stadium and staff preparations for Friday’s pre-season home opener proved successful as fans were ushered in and out of the stadium with ease. As the operations team continues to ready for the onset of the Jaguars regular season, fans can rest assured they will be cheering on the team in one of the safest stadiums in the NFL.

As pictured above, the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security (NCS4) presented EverBank Field with the NCS4 Facility of Merit Award on Aug. 1. The awards ceremony was held in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. Doug Thornton, SMG’s senior vice president of stadiums and arenas, accepted the award on behalf of EverBank Field.

Earlier this year, the National Football League nominated EverBank Field for the award, which recognizes facilities that demonstrate an innovative approach to enhancing safety and security and/or resolved a significant safety/security issue or incident during the 2011 season.

NCS4’s Director, Dr. Lou Marciani, presented the award to SMG. Marciani is known as one of the top security professionals in the nation and “Security” magazine named him as one of the most influential people in security in 2011.

“It is a great honor for the National Football League to recognize the significant safety and security achievements from the staff at EverBank Field,” said Marciani. “The League has recognized the staff for performing above and beyond normal operations in enhancing safety and security for their fans.”
The NFL nominated EverBank Field for the award because of the proactive approach its guest services team – led by facility manager SMG and supported by the Jaguars organization, Safe Management and Contemporary Security Corporation – took to implementing changes in screening protocols announced in 2011. These changes included moving from security pat downs to hand-held metal detector screenings.

“SMG and the entire guest services team quickly demonstrated their commitment to making the transition to metal detector screening a success,” said Jeff Miller, vice president and chief security officer for the NFL. “They have made, and continue to make, the safety of their fans a top priority while delivering a quality fan experience.”

The NFL and the NCS4 recognized SMG for implementing the League’s security recommendations and for innovative enhancements it made to ensure a smooth transition to the hand-held metal detectors at EverBank Field. This included: using express lanes for expedited screening; having screeners at entry lanes wear numbered high-visibility vests so that fans clearly know which screening location to approach; placing supermarket-style plastic bag dispensers at each gate for use by fans to hold metal objects while passing though security; and placing signage in entry areas to inform fans of the metal detector screening process.

The NFL also said that EverBank Field exceeded the League average for percentage of metal detector usage at all gates. Illustrating the effectiveness of these efforts, screeners discovered and confiscated 35 knives at the Jan. 1, 2012 game.

“The safety and security of our fans is our first concern,” said Bill Prescott, chief financial officer for the Jacksonville Jaguars. “I commend and applaud the entire EverBank Field game-day team for this recognition. Everyone involved helped make EverBank Field one of the top facilities in the NFL for safety. The implementation of these new security measures has helped us all be prepared for a safe and secure 2012 season and an excellent game-day experience for all of our fans.”

“We know how important the team and the stadium are to the Jacksonville community. We’re here to support the team, to maintain the excellent condition of EverBank Field, and to make sure Jaguars fans feel safe and comfortable at every game,” said Larry Wilson, general manager for SMG Jacksonville.

SMG is now sharing its process for seamlessly transitioning from security pat downs to hand-held metal detector screenings with the operators at other NFL stadiums, Wilson added.

Dulcie Gilmore Wins League of Historic American Theatres Award

Dulcie Gilmore, Director of the Arie Crown Theater/SMG in Chicago, has been presented The League of Historic American Theatres' 2012 Outstanding Individual Contribution Award. 

James Boese, Vice President of Nederlander Producing Company of America, New York, NY, introduced Gilmore during an awards luncheon in San Diego, opening the League’s 36th Anniversary Conference, hosted by San Diego Theatres, Inc. Gilmore served on the League's board of directors for nine years, most recently as Immediate Past President from 2007‐2011 and President 2005‐2007. Boese praised Gilmore’s vision, dedication and perseverance in her role as League Board President as well as to her service to theatres in the Chicago area. Boese credits Gilmore with making Chicago a destination for Broadway Musicals. 

The League of Historic American Theatres, Inc., celebrates excellence in the preservation, restoration and sustainable operation of historic theatres throughout North America.

INTRUST Bank Arena Ranks 31st in the United States in Top Arena Venues

The SMG-managed INTRUST Bank Arena finished 31st in the United States and 62nd in the world in 2012 Mid Year Ticket Sales by Pollstar, a weekly trade magazine for the concert industry. The rankings reflect tickets sold worldwide for shows played between 1/1/12 and 6/30/12.

“We're thrilled to consistently rank among the top venues worldwide,” said General Manager AJ Boleski. “The community continues to support our events, and we look forward to announcing the remainder of our line-up for the second half of 2012.”

In the first half of 2012, INTRUST Bank Arena hosted ten of Pollstar's top 100 tours: Brad Paisley, WWE, George Strait, Winter Jam, Jeff Dunham, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Barry Manilow and Nickelback.

Upcoming events include Hillsong Live (September 23), WWE RAW (September 30), Oklahoma City Thunder NBA preseason game (October 24), Carrie Underwood (October 27) and Eric Church (December 8).

Additional event and ticket information is available at www.intrustbankarena.com.

Seven SMG Theaters Top Charts

Seven SMG-managed Venues listed in the Top 100 Theater Venues Worldwide Ticket Sales according to the Pollstar Midyear Report.

They are:
#19 Landmark Theatre, Richmond, VA
#20 Moran Theater, Jacksonville, FL
#45 Hanover Theatre, Worcester, MA
#58 Plaza Theatre, El Paso, TX
#69 Peoria Civic Center Theater, Peoria, IL
#73 DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, MI
#92 Terrace Theater, Long Beach, CA

Dan Spellens, SMG's Director of Theaters & Entertainment, commented on his approach to operating a top-notch theater in Long Beach, CA: 

In a marketplace inundated with owned-and-operated venues by Live Nation, AEG Live / Goldenvoice, and Nederlander concerts, we (in no particular order) ...

1. Make certain that we are in regular contact with our content providers / partners;
2. Constantly seek to develop new content providers / partners;
3. Ensure that we are up-to-date with all of the artists' representatives relative to their artists' availability;
4. Foster strong and lasting relationships with our content providers / partners, artist representatives, and artists;
5. Make our venues as comfortable financially as is feasible for our content providers / partners;
6. Participate in all booking-related conference calls and all other opportunities presented by SMG Corporate to move the business forward; and
7. Present a clean, polished, well-run, and user (all users) friendly facility for all (the City of Long Beach, our content providers / partners, our performing artists, and our patrons) under any and all circumstances.

Lincoln, NE City Council Approves SMG Contract for Management and Food & Beverage Services for the Pinnacle Bank Arena

The Lincoln City Council voted to approve the SMG Management and SAVOR Food & Beverage contracts  to manage, provide F&B services and operate the new Pinnacle Bank Arena that is currently under construction in the Haymarket area of downtown Lincoln. SMG presently manages the City-owned Pershing Center.

Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler said at a recent press conference, “This new agreement goes beyond just the operation of the new arena. We have tapped into the entertainment programming expertise of Tom Lorenz and SMG and have added some additional City venues in this contract for SMG to manage for us.”

Aside from the management of the Pinnacle Bank Arena, the City has asked SMG to manage the beautiful Pinewood Bowl Theater in Lincoln’s premier Pioneers Park and operate / program a nearly 500,000 square foot festival space and parking area located northwest of the new arena.

SMG will be responsible for booking, operations, food & beverage service, promotion, maintenance, recycling / green initiatives, website development, ticketing, suite and premium seating renewals and some parking.

The Pinnacle Bank Arena will be the home to the University of Nebraska Cornhusker Big 10 Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. Concerts, family shows, civic events, tradeshows, conventions and extreme sports will fill the balance of the annual schedule.

Pinewood Bowl is a heavily wooded boutique outdoor theater located in the center of Pioneers Park. SMG and Mammoth Productions of Lawrence, Kansas are hosting the summer concerts that are currently scheduled including Crosby Stills and Nash, Train with Mat Kearney, BB King with Robert Cray, My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses and the Grand Opening concert - the Outlaw Roadshow featuring Counting Crows.

The 16,000-seat Pinnacle Bank Arena is being built at a cost of $179 million and it is scheduled to open in September 2013.

Big Sandy Superstore Arena Among Tops in the World

From the Herald-Dispatch:

HUNTINGTON -- Venues Today, an international trade magazine, recently ranked the SMG-managed Big Sandy Superstore Arena among the top venues in the world.

The magazine based its rankings on concert and event profits and determined that, from March 16 to April 15, 2012, the arena was the 11th top entertainment venue worldwide among venues with seating capacities between 5,001 and 10,000.

The ranking reflects the dedication and teamwork of the Big Sandy Superstore Arena staff, as well as the unwavering support that patrons show in supporting entertainment throughout the local community, said general manager Brian Sipe.

"This is truly a reflection of what this building is here to do," Sipe said. "Our goal is to bring people to downtown Huntington to see their favorite artists, sporting events, family shows, etc., and we could not do it without the support of our local community."

The arena ranked ahead of other internationally respected venues such as the Nokia Theater L.A. Live in Los Angeles (which ranked 12th) and the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut (which ranked 13th).

Other well-known venues that ranked ahead of the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in gross profit were Orleans Arena in Las Vegas (second) and State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas (first).

Sipe said that he fully expects the arena's success to continue.

SMG in the News: McCormick Place Chef Tasked With Feeding 19,000

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.