First Direct Arena Named Best New Venue in the World.

West Conshohocken, PA (June 16, 2014) The first direct arena in Leeds, operated by SMG Europe has been voted ‘New Venue of the Year’ at the Stadium Business Awards in London.

The 13,000 capacity entertainment venue beat off stiff global competition at the prestigious event at the RAF museum in London on Wednesday night. The new Leeds Arena opened in the summer of 2013 and has already welcomed some of the world’s biggest acts with opening performances by Bruce Springsteen and Sir Elton John followed by a host of top artists. Leeds beat a high quality list of nominees including the new Olympic Stadium in Sochi, the SSE Hydro in Glasgow and the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice.

The award is assessed by a panel of industry experts worldwide including judges Australia, the USA and Europe.

Speaking on the success, John Knight, Senior Vice President UK Operations said “Opening the first direct arena has been the result of over five years work where we have pooled all of the SMG group’s experiences to deliver a world class venue. 

This award is the culmination of an amazing 12 months for SMG’s newest venue. From Bruce Springsteen’s barnstorming test run to 8 million viewers of BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, the venue has shown its versatility and Leeds is now firmly on the map for the biggest events in entertainment and sport. We look forward to welcoming the world’s media to the venue for the opening ceremony of the Tour de France in a month’s time.

The award sits alongside the excellent feedback we’re already getting from ticket holders, promoters and artists alike that tells us, the first direct arena is a special place to be.”

Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Keith Wakefield said:

“When the council chose to pursue our vision of providing a world-class entertainment venue  for the city we were sure we could deliver that. I’m delighted world experts agree that the SMG Europe operated first direct arena means Leeds has a venue people in this city can be proud of.”

The award winning First Direct arena joins SMG Europe’s portfolio of major arena in four key cities offering 55,000 seats and forecasting over 3 million ticket sales in 2014.

SMG’s Lynn Carlotto, Wesley Cullen Honored as 2014 Women of Influence by Venues Today

For Immediate Release

West Conshohocken, PA (June 5, 2014) — Lynn Carlotto, General Manager of the Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario and Wesley Cullen, General Manager of the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico have been honored  as Women of Influence for 2014 by Venues Today Magazine. The prestigious award celebrates women who have proven themselves as mentors and leaders in the sports, entertainment, and meetings industries. 

Carlotto, a 20 years veteran of venue management, has held key management positions in all three public sports and entertainment venues in Connecticut. She currently serves as General Manager for SMG Canada’s Rogers K-Rock Centre. She has also served as GM of New England’s largest theatre, Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Conn.

Cullen joined SMG and Coliseo de Puerto Rico in 2006 as Director of Events and has been General Manager since 2009. She was recently recognized by Caribbean Business as one of the Puerto Rico’s “40 under 40” and is very active in the community. She founded and heads the nonprofit organization Super Positivo, dedicated to keeping the beaches clean in Puerto Rico. During the fall of 2011, she became an Adjunct Professor at the Universidad del Este and enjoyed her first teaching experience with the course “Advanced Special Events Planning.”

SMG President and CEO, Wes Westley said, “We are very pleased to see the recognition given to these two hardworking executives. SMG is fortunate to  have so many excellent female professionals among us. I, along with all of their SMG colleagues, congratulate both Lynn and Wesley and wish them continued success.”

A profile of both Cullen and Carlotto will be included in the July issue of Venues Today.

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER ACHIEVES GOLD LEED CERTIFICATION

DENVER - MAY 15, 2014 - The Colorado Convention Center has improved its LEED status to LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council through the recertification process required every five years. The venue is now the largest existing building in the region to attain LEED Gold within the Existing Building Operation and Maintenance (EBOM) criteria through recertification. Owned by the City and County of Denver and managed by SMG, the team at the Colorado Convention Center achieved LEED Gold through their efforts and continuous commitment to sustainable operations, which include:  Maintaining the building to be more energy efficient than 83% of similar building types Allowing for a rooftop solar array 54% of all waste generated was diverted from landfills through recycling, composting and donations Over 50% of Convention Center employees utilize mass-transit or other forms of alternative transportation to commute to work. Diverted 100% of reusable items that are leftover from conferences and convention center operations Operating the Blue Bear Farm, which produces fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey (from on-site beehives) "The City of Denver has a commitment to sustainability in all of our venues and we're especially proud of the trailblazing being done by SMG and our partners at the Colorado Convention Center," said Kent Rice, executive director of the City's Denver Arts & Venues division.  "The Colorado Convention Center staff's forward thinking on sustainability issues are in keeping with Colorado's image as a clean, vibrant state and we're pleased that image resonates with visitors and residents alike." LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. The LEED green building rating system, developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is intended to promote designs that reduce the environmental impacts of a building and improve the health and well-being of its occupants. The four certification levels are Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. These levels correspond to the number of credits accrued in six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. "The Colorado Convention Center's improvement to LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous leadership in Colorado's green building industry," said Sharon Alton, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council Colorado. "The magnitude of this facility's sustainable initiatives should pave the way for other commercial building owners to realize the benefits of analyzing their own sustainable possibilities related to resource, energy and water savings. The Colorado Convention Center is a leader in sustainability, with a number of firsts including being the first facility of its kind to receive LEED certification (2010) blazing the trail for other Centers across the country. The Center was also the first event and conference venue in the world to be certified to the international sustainability standard introduced in 2012, the ASTM Certification E2774-11. John Adams, General Manager of the Colorado Convention Center said "The achievement of GOLD continues our commitment to sustainability and overall occupant health for the facility."   ### About the Colorado Convention Center The Colorado Convention Center is a top economic engine to Colorado and home to over 250 events which attract nearly 1 million people annually. The center is owned by the City and County of Denver and operated by SMG the world leader in venue management, marketing and development.

SMG and McConnell Valdés Form Joint Venture: SMV Advisors

San Juan, PR – Monday, May 12, 2014 – SMG, the world leader in facility

management, and McConnell Valdés Consulting, an affiliate of McConnell Valdés LLC, one of the nation’s largest Hispanic owned law firms and Puerto Rico’s leading law firm, have joined forces to create SMV Advisors, a venue consulting and event promotion company. This new venture will draw on SMG’s success in Puerto Rico and its 37 years of experience in managing facilities around the world, plus on McConnell Valdés Consulting’s expertise in project management, financing, development and marketing of mixed-use real estate projects in Puerto Rico and Latin America.

“We have enjoyed more than a decade of successful operation at the two premiere entertainment facilities in Puerto Rico: the Coliséo de Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Additionally, we manage Bahía Urbana, an urban park, as well as provide food and beverage service at the Antiguo Casino. These operations and facilities have become the industry standard in the region,” stated SMG President and CEO Wes Westley, “we are now interested in expanding our knowledge and success to Latin America and the Caribbean. McConnell Valdés, given their market knowledge and unrivaled expertise, is the perfect partner to further this goal.” 

“When conceptualizing this venture we knew from the start that we would only work with a company of SMG’s pedigree with their outstanding credentials, and the international scope of their expertise. Combined, the company that we have created will be the valuable resource that cities and countries throughout Latin America are looking for,” stated Harry Cook, President of McConnell Valdés Consulting. 

SMV Advisors is destined to become the most complete entertainment management company in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Already SMV Advisors is positioned to provide services in various municipal venues in Puerto Rico, and it is expected to provide services in Chile and Costa Rica in the near future. The opportunity for venue consulting in Latin America, caused by growing demand for entertainment venues and facilities, make this the perfect time to launch SMV Advisors. 

PAINTER RECEIVES WOMEN OF INFLUENCE NOMINATION

(Tulsa, Okla.) May 8, 2014 –Kerry Painter, Assistant General Manager of the Cox Business Center, has been nominated for the Women of Influence Award by industry trade magazine Venues Today. The award honors women who have made a difference in the sports, music and convention industry and will be announced in the July issue of the publication.

Painter said: "The dictionary defines Influence as the ‘Capacity or power of persons to be a compelling force on actions, behaviors, opinions, etc...’ I love that definition and hope that is a legacy I leave behind, compelling others to grow into their best selves by influencing them in some way.” 

Painter joined the SMG team this past February. Prior to coming to Tulsa, she served as President of the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario for six years.

With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Painter has held positions in a variety of venues including convention centers, theatres, arenas and stadiums. Over the course of her career she has become an expert in overseeing and facilitating construction and grand openings for five different facilities.

Painter has dedicated a great part of her career to numerous trade organizations including serving as Chairman of the University of Cornell’s Facility Management School, serving on the Board of Regents and teaching annually at IAVM’s Facility School and was a guest instructor in November 2013 at the Venue Management School in Brisbane, Australia.

“It's definitely a great honor to be nominated,” Painter added. “I feel just by that alone I've already won!"

CenturyLink Center Named in Top 50 of Worldwide Ticket Sales

Bossier City, Louisiana – (April 10, 2014) - Bossier City’s CenturyLink Center has been named among the Top 50 Arena Venues in Worldwide Ticket Sales in for the First Quarter of 2014 by Pollstar Magazine. Nationally, CenturyLink Center attained a ranking within the Top 20 United States Arena Venues in Q1 Ticket Sales.

In addition to these accolades, CenturyLink Center has been designated a “Top Stop” (among venues with a capacity of 10,001 - 15,000) by Venues Today Magazine in their January, February, and March issues.

With events like George Strait, Elton John, Winter Jam, and more – CenturyLink Center is excited to continually offer Bossier City and Shreveport first-rate entertainment. 

Without our community in Northwest Louisiana, CenturyLink Center could not have reached such a distinction. “I and the rest of the SMG staff at the CenturyLink Center are grateful to the Bossier – Shreveport communities that have demonstrated such tremendous support and excitement for the events during the first quarter.  It’s their support that makes these rankings possible and provides the opportunities for continued success.” says General Manager, Brodie McMahon.

For up to date information on events at CenturyLink Center, visit www.centurylinkcenter.com.

WrestleMania XXX Sets Mercedes-Benz Superdome Record SMG Leads Local Coordination Efforts

New Orleans. LA –April 10, 2014  - SMG announced this week that WrestleMania XXX shattered the record for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome’s highest grossing entertainment event. World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) annual pop-culture extravaganza grossed $10.9 million from a sold out crowd of 75,167 who travelled to New Orleans from all 50 states and 37 countries. The Superdome’s previous gross revenue record for an entertainment event was held by the 2013 Essence Music Festival.

WrestleMania XXX was the centerpiece of a week long celebration of WWE events that included the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Monday Night RAW, both held at the SMG managed Smoothie King Center, WWE Axxess at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Superstars for Kids Auction at the New Orleans Museum of Art, and various legacy projects including construction of a new playground at Woodland West Elementary School. Several members of SMG’s staff volunteered their help with this project.

WrestleMania XXX was the culmination of a five year process that began in April 2009 when SMG formally submitted a bid on behalf of the City of New Orleans to host this event. SMG served as the leader in coordinating the necessary support of community leaders for the bid, and upon being awarded WrestleMania XXX in late 2011, took the lead in facilitating and delivering on the bid requirements. Alan Freeman, SMG’s General Manager at the Superdome and Smoothie King Center noted “We were familiar with WrestleMania, having attended it at our sister venue in Houston - Reliant Stadium. We knew that it would be a perfect fit for New Orleans, and it certainly did not disappoint. I’m sure years from now people will still be talking about what a spectacular experience WWE produced. We are obviously thrilled with the outcome and look forward to the having the opportunity to host WrestleMania again.”  Ron Forman, Chairman of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, underscored the overwhelming local enthusiasm for WrestleMania by stating “This event certainly compares in stature with, and continues our unprecedented success in staging major entertainment events, that in just the past few years have included the BCS Football Championship Game, NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours, the Super Bowl, and the NBA All-Star Game. No city is better suited or does a better job of producing these major events than New Orleans. I want to personally commend our facility manager, SMG, on the wonderful job they have performed in helping to secure and manage these events.” Added John Saboor, WWE Executive Vice President of Special Events, “SMG has served as one of the absolute key principals on behalf of the New Orleans Local Organizing Committee, and has done a magnificent job of supporting the various other local stakeholder groups, which include the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, and the Morial Convention Center”.

The New Orleans economy, which is driven by tourism, will realize an economic windfall from this event. Based on independent analysis from previous host cities, it is expected that WrestleMania XXX will have a local economic impact of approximately $100 million.