SMG's Rockefeller Receives Women of Distinction Award

SMG Tulsa's Janet Rockefeller was honored with the Women of Distinction Award Tuesday by the Tulsa Business Journal. The annual award honors accomplished female professionals in the local business community. Rockefeller is assistant general manager of the Tulsa Convention Center where she has worked for more than 15 years.

“I can't think of anyone more deserving of this honor than Janet,” SMG General Manager of the BOK Center and Tulsa Convention Center John Bolton said. “Her passion and enthusiasm for the Tulsa Convention Center can be seen all throughout the building, especially in the new Tulsa Ballroom.”

Rockefeller serves on numerous boards throughout the community including the Metro Tulsa Hotel and Lodging Association. She's also a member of Rotary, the OneVoice Regional Tourism Task Force and a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

SMG and JAM Theatricals set to take the reins at the National Theatre in Washington, DC

The Trustees of the National Theatre Corporation (NTC), in Washington, D.C.,  are announcing  that they have entered into an arrangement with Chicago-based JAM Theatricals, Ltd. and Philadelphia area-based SMG that will expand the presentations at the historic National Theatre to include an annual Broadway series, concerts, leading classical artists and other attractions.  JAM and SMG are combining to provide booking, advertising, marketing and promotional services, venue management and operational support for the Theatre.

Located at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, the National Theatre opened in 1835 and is one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the nation.  Over the years, the Theatre has hosted a multitude of memorable events, including the pre-Broadway presentation of the musicals Showboat, Hello Dolly! and West Side Story.  Many of the world's greatest performers have graced the National Theatre stage including Robert Redford, George C. Scott, Will Rogers, Helen Hayes, James Earl Jones, Eartha Kitt, Sir Laurence Olivier, Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno, Katherine and Audrey Hepburn and Sting.

Situated just three blocks from the White House, the Theatre has entertained U.S. Presidents  since Andrew Jackson.  Winston Churchill himself once spoke from the National Theatre stage.

“We are truly excited about the future prospects for the National Theatre with this new management team,” said Sterling Tucker, President of the NTC Board.  “Our discussions with JAM and SMG helped us envision the potential for increased and diverse programming at the National.”  NTC Executive Director Tom Lee added, “I am personally delighted over the prospect of bringing a broad variety of artists and attractions to the National Theatre stage.”

Steve Traxler, President of JAM Theatricals stated, “JAM Theatricals is happy to have an opportunity to work with NTC and SMG to present Broadway musicals and plays in the Nation's Capital, and we look forward to adding to the rich cultural history of this Theatre.”  Arny Granat, JAM's Chairman, added, “Washington is a great city and the National is a great venue.  We want to work with people in the community to encourage bringing more shows to this historic theatre.”

Bob Papke, SMG's Vice President of Theaters echoed the sentiment, saying, “SMG looks forward to working with NTC and Jam Theatricals to bring the very best performers and events to the residents of the Metro area.”

Rabobank Arena & Theater Wrap Up Highly-Successful August

The summer of 2012 ended with numerous sold out performances at Rabobank Arena and Theater in Bakersfield, CA, capping off a very busy summer at all SMG-managed venues.

Comedian Kevin Hart brought his latest show to Rabobank Theater on August 18. The sold out event was part of Hart’s current “Let Me Explain” tour throughout the United States, and generated positive reviews from fans who were fortunate to attend.

The month ended with a record-breaking engagement of Feld Entertainment’s Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus “Dragons” August 29 – September 2. The engagement included several sold out performances and generated record-breaking numbers. Feld Entertainment will return to Rabobank Arena November 8-11 with Disney On Ice’s presents “100 Years of Magic.” Tickets for Disney On Ice are currently on sale.

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.