GARTH BROOKS BREAKS HIS TULSA RECORD

(Tulsa, Okla.) November 14, 2014 – Garth Brooks has broken his Tulsa record! Garth sold 79,855 tickets over 5 shows during July 17th-21st back in 1997 at Driller Park. Today he ha15,000 tickets for BOK Center and is still selling!

About Garth Brooks
Certified by the RIAA in 2000 as the #1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, Garth Brooks is now certified at 134 million albums and has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist.

In 2001, Garth retired and moved back to Oklahoma to raise his children. In 2008 the President-elect, himself, requested that Garth headline President Obama's Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. A crowd of over 300,000 did the "wave" to Garth's performance of "Shout" while the President sang along. That same year the Governor of California asked Garth to help the State. Garth performed 5 concerts in 2 days with the proceeds from 83,000 tickets sold donated to efforts to prevent fire catastrophes. Portions of the live concerts were shown as a TV special, "Garth Brooks: Live in L.A." allowing viewers to donate as well.

In December 2010, Garth finished an astonishing 9 sold out concerts in 6 days to raise money for the flood relief efforts in Tennessee. ABC World News Tonight declared Garth The Person of the Week and the Mayor of Nashville announced that this was a record December for downtown Nashville merchants due to the over 145,000 who attended the concerts.

In January, 2012 he was named the best-selling artist of the last two decades by Billboard, Nielson and SoundScan, with a whopping 68.5 million sales. Brooks also sold out his recent appearance at the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. The sell out 15,000+ seats happened in less then a minute. Garth was recently inducted into the International Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In October he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Performing for his induction were his heroes George Strait, James Taylor and Bob Seger.

On November 29th, 2013, Garth took the night with almost 9 million viewers watching his CBS special "Live From Las Vegas." That very day Garth released his new boxed set, Blame It All On My Roots, which debuted for the 13th time in Garth's career at #1 on the country charts. The boxed set also rose to the top of the Billboard 200 Chart making it the 9th time Garth has been able to achieve that feat.

Garth's performance of "Friends in Low Places," was the last thing heard on The Tonight Show as Jay Leno ended his 22 year reign as The Tonight Show host.

On Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014, Garth released a new single, "People Loving People." It was his first new single since 2008.

On Tuesday, November 11th, 2014, Garth released Man Against Machine, his first new studio album since 2001.

For more information please visit www.garthbrooks.com

Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Nominated for Best New Major Concert Venue

SIOUX FALLS, SD (November 10, 2014) – The SMG-managed Denny Sanford PREMIER Center received one of the entertainment industry’s highest honors this week with a nomination for Pollstar’s Best New Major Concert Venue. Other nominees include the Forum (Inglewood, Calif.), PPL Center (Allentown, Pa.) and The SSE Hyrdo (Glasgow, UK).

The facility opened last month with the sold out Jason Aldean’s Burn it Down tour with Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr, and has hosted several additional concerts. A diverse line-up of other events are scheduled including sold out Cher and Eric Church concerts, Nickelback, Cirque du Soleil, WWE, Disney Junior Live, Monster X Tour, and Sesame Street Live.

“We appreciate the commitment the touring industry has shown in the Sioux Falls market and the PREMIER Center,” said Chris Semrau, SMG Assistant General Manager in charge of booking the facility. “This market is hungry for great entertainment and we are committed to securing diverse programming and continuing to host fantastic touring events.”

SMG General Manager Terry Torkildson added: “This nomination is a testament to the City of Sioux Falls and the ticket purchasers who have supported this venue since our very first concert. To be nominated along with venues from much larger markets proves that Sioux Falls is a viable destination for live entertainment.”

“The wait was worth it and we think our new Event Center is extra special,” Mayor Mike Huether says. “Concerts have proven to be one of a kind here!”

Pollstar is an industry trade publication covering the worldwide concert industry. Each year the publication hosts the Concert Industry Awards. The nominating committee is comprised of industry leaders in all facets of the entertainment business including arena managers, artists, artist managers, agents and promoters from across the country and abroad. Winners are determined by votes from international readership and will be announced February 21 at the Pollstar Live! Awards Ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

SAVOR Receives State of Illinois Sustainability Award

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA (November 10, 2014) – Confirming SAVOR’s sustainability commitment, SAVOR…Chicago and its team at McCormick Place, the largest exhibition and meeting facility in North America, received the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award (Governor’s Award). The recognition from the Office of the Governor recognizes the organization in Illinois that demonstrates a commitment to economy, society and the environment through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices.

The award from the Governor of Illinois commended SAVOR’s green practices, “Your organization’s commendable green practices serve as a model of environmental stewardship for residents, businesses and institutions throughout our state. Implementing energy efficiency upgrades, fuel savings, pollution and waste reductions, and other sustainability improvements requires vision, strong leadership, and the dedication of individuals throughout an organization.”

“SAVOR…Chicago has a commitment to both sustainability and to innovation,” said Connie Chambers, general manager, SAVOR…Chicago. “We are doing it because it is the right thing to do. We want our guests to know that we have put thought into their meal and with care for the environment. With recognition like the Governor’s Award and our Green Seal Certification we know we are moving the right direction and we will continue to make an impact for each guest.”

Sustainability has been a part of SAVOR’s culture for over thirty years, with its parent company SMG, operating the greatest number of LEED certified buildings in the industry. A number of these facilities are locations where SAVOR provides food and beverage services – McCormick Place, Knoxville Convention Center, Irving Convention Center, Wilmington Convention Center, Jekyll Island Convention Center and most recently Moscone Center, Broward County Convention Center and ShoWare Center attained the prestigious LEED Gold Certificate for the entire operation.

Many of SAVOR’s locations contribute to its sustainability efforts and success by participating in the SAVOR Earth Program, a robust and industry forward program founded in 1983 with guidelines for making food and beverage services as sustainable as possible within a venue’s geographic, regulatory and economic confines.  “Our mission is to be the industry leader in “green” initiatives and sustainable programs by minimizing our carbon footprint through recycling, composting, purchasing locally” states Shaun Beard, SAVOR Senior Vice President.

Another example of SAVOR’s commitment to sustainability is the sustainable seafood program.  SAVOR, in partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, and the Seafood For The Future Program, offers seafood choices that come from documented sustainable wild stock and aquaculture sources.  Menus for all locations include sustainable seafood choices to make it easy for patrons to select this option.  “Stewardship of the ocean and the natural environment is an important consideration in everything we do”, says Beard.

Sustainability has been a part of SAVOR’s culture for over thirty years, with its parent company SMG, operating the greatest number of LEED certified buildings in the industry. A number of these facilities are locations where SAVOR provides food and beverage services – McCormick Place, Knoxville Convention Center, Irving Convention Center, Wilmington Convention Center, Jekyll Island Convention Center and most recently Moscone Center, Broward County Convention Center and ShoWare Center attained the prestigious LEED Gold Certificate for the entire operation.

SMG Awarded Management Renewal for ShoWare Center in Kent

SMG, the Worldwide Leader in Venue Management, is proud to announce that the Kent City Council has unanimously voted to approve an extension of the SMG contract for continued management of the ShoWare Center in Kent, WA. The vote occurred during the council meeting on Tuesday, November 4. SMG will continue to provide top quality, industry-standard-setting day-to-day operational services for the region’s newest sports and entertainment arena. The new agreement is for an additional five years and also calls an additional five year renewal option after the initial term.

"SMG is proud of its partnership with the City of Kent and we are thankful for the opportunity to continue to build upon the success of the ShoWare Center," said Joe Romano, Senior Vice President for SMG.

“SMG has done a tremendous job for Kent establishing ShoWare Center as a community asset in a highly competitive market and doing it in tough economic times,” said Ben Wolters, Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Kent and Contract Administrator for ShoWare Center. “Together with SMG and our anchor tenant the Seattle Thunderbirds, we look forward to continue growing ShoWare Center as the premier destination in the city and the region.”

“The Kent City Council’s unanimous approval of the SMG contract is a proud moment,” said ShoWare Center’s General Manager, Tim Higgins. “As we approach the celebration of our 2 Millionth guest, this multiyear renewal is a testament to the energetic efforts of our entire staff. Thank you to the City of Kent for their confidence in the SMG/ShoWare Center team.”

ShoWare Center, home to the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds, annually hosts over 175 events. These events include concerts, family shows, and community events, attracting approximately 400,000 people to downtown Kent each year.

SMG has provided full management services, as well as preopening responsibilities, for the ShoWare Center in Kent since the building opened to the public in 2009.

ORPHEUM THEATRE DIRECTOR NOMINATED FOR INDUSTRY AWARD

Wichita, KS (November 5th, 2014) – Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre, an SMG-managed facility, is honored to announce that Theatre Director, Barney Byard, received a nomination for the Venues Today 2014 Hall of Headlines Award. The annual awards celebrate individuals who made a difference in the facilities industry in the last year and are awarded in four categories-News, Bookings, Marketing and Concessions.

Byard received a nomination in the Bookings category for instituting new programming at the Orpheum Theatre with the Emerging Artist Series. The series is designed to bring new musical talent to the community, help those artists grow a following in Wichita, and place the Orpheum at the forefront of the effort to promote interesting and eclectic new music.

With the support of presenting sponsor, Scholfield Honda, and media sponsors, KMUW, 105.3 The Buzz, F5 Paper, ICT Music + Art, Fliphound and City Blue Print, the Orpheum and SMG Wichita hosted the following up-and-coming acts: The Tontons, Jared & the Mill, Graham Colton, Wild Moccasins with The Eastern Sea, The Nearly Deads with Not A Planet and Rev Gusto, and Love Canon.

“We are very proud of Barney and our entire SMG Team at the Orpheum Theatre for creating this series from the ground up. The Emerging Artist series received a lot of positive support in its first year, while offering a diverse lineup of young new musical talent in our market,” said A.J. Boleski, General Manager of SMG Wichita.

Venues Today is an industry trade magazine that reports on live entertainment and events and tracks industry trends internationally. Hall of Headline nominees are voted on by Venues Today subscribers and staff, and the winners will be featured in the Year-End December 2014 issue.

SMG Hires Peter Jelinski as General Manager of Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre

West Conshohocken, PA (November 4th, 2014) - SMG Canada is pleased to announce that Peter Jelinski will now be taking over as General Manager of Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, effective immediately. The Regional Event Centre, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in August, 2015.

As a 20+ year veteran of the entertainment industry, Jelinski most recently worked as the Booking & Entertainment Manager for Edmonton Northlands in Edmonton, AB.  In this position, Jelinski handled booking at the Rexall Place Arena at the Edmonton Northlands, developing and maintaining relationships with regional and national promoters and producers of live entertainment and maximizing revenue for both the venue and the shows.  Before that, Peter held the position of Assistant General Manager for the University of Regina Students Union.  During his time with the University of Regina, Peter was involved with campus event programming, policy and strategic plan development, talent buying, and department budgeting.

“Peter Jelinski is a very well respected industry professional with a track record of success in both venue marketing and the live entertainment business,” said Harry Cann, SMG Senior Vice President of Operations & Business Development.  “Peter’s experience, positive working relationships and enthusiasm made him the ideal choice for this position. We are thrilled to have him join the SMG Canada team and I am confident that the Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre and the City of Medicine Hat will benefit substantially from Peter’s expertise, creativity and leadership.”

“I am truly honored that SMG has entrusted me to lead their efforts in Medicine Hat,” said Jelinski. “Having been part of the live entertainment industry for many years, I am very much aware of the solid reputation SMG has earned at many venues and I am proud to join their team. Working with local government, businesses, and the community to achieve the City’s goals for the Regional Event Centre and helping to position Medicine Hat as a destination of choice for businesses, visitors, and residents is an exciting opportunity.”

“The City of Medicine Hat welcomes Peter Jelinski to our community.  With his extensive experience in the industry and the support of SMG professionals, we are confident that he will hit the ground running and be a great addition and provide strong leadership to the new Regional Event Centre,” said Grant MacKay, Project Lead for the Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre project.  “The City is looking forward to a long term successful relationship with SMG and appreciates being involved in the hiring process of this very important General Manager position.” 

Taylor Swift to open tour in Bossier City

(Taken from The Shreveport Times).

Taylor Swift is headed back to Bossier City.

The Grammy award winner announced Monday she will launch her 1989 world tour May 20 at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City. The tour will hit North America and Europe before heading to Australia in December 2015.

The first tickets go on sale to the general public Nov. 14, with TaylorSwift.com members and American Express Card members having access to tickets Nov. 7.

“SMG has a great relationship with her management and promoter team, and this is something we’ve been working on for a number of months,” said CenturyLink Center general manager Rebecca Bonnevier. “The fact we’re able to announce it today (Monday) and be part of not just the tour but have her kick off her tour here means a lot to us.”

The upcoming show will not be Swift’s first performance at the CenturyLink Center. The 24-year-old previously performed in 2009 and 2011, both of which were sold out shows, Bonnevier said. She anticipates the same for the May 20 show.

“1989” is Swift’s fifth studio album. It was released Oct. 27 and and has exceeded two million downloads in the U.S., according to a news release announcing the tour. The album is poised to surpass one-week sales records for an album by a woman, set by Britney Spears’ “Oops! ... I Did It Again” in 2000, according to Billboard.com.

Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy will open North American dates. Shawn Mendes will join the tour on select dates.