PBR Built Ford Tough Series at the SMG-Managed Tucson Convention Center becomes most watched PBR event on CBS in more than four years

PUEBLO, Colo. – On Sunday, Oct. 4, 2.3 million people tuned in to watch the PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) Cooper Tires Take the Money and Ride, presented by Jack Daniel’s, event from the Tucson Convention Center broadcast on CBS Television Network.

The 1.61HH rating, marks the most-watched PBR event on CBS in more than four years. The second most-watched event was the 2010 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals with 1.7 million viewers.

“We are wrapping up the first year of our long-term broadcast agreement with CBS and we’ve seen significant ratings growth throughout the year,” said PBR CEO Sean Gleason. “We are looking forward to an exciting World Finals that will certainly keep the momentum rolling.”

CBS Sports Network will next broadcast the PBR’s Built Ford Tough World Finals live from Las Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Saturday, Oct. 24, at 9 p.m. ET; and on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. ET. The world’s Top 40 bull riders will be competing for a total purse of $2.3 million, including the $1 million PBR World Championship title for the season’s best bull rider.

CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network are the exclusive television home of the PBR on broadcast and cable. BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer.

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 About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)

The world’s premier bull riding organization began as a dream of 20 bull riders 23 years ago and is now a global sports phenomenon. PBR broadcasts reach more than half a billion households in 40 nations and territories around the world, and more than 3 million fans attend live events each year. On its elite Built Ford Tough Series, the PBR features the Top 35 bull riders in the world and the top bulls in the business. The televised Built Ford Tough Series, the BlueDEF Velocity Tour, the Touring Pro Division and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico have paid more than $140 million in earnings to its athletes. Twenty-seven men have earned more than $1 million, including three-time World Champion Silvano Alves who, in just 54 months, won more than $5.2 million to become the richest bull rider in history. In May 2015, PBR was acquired by WME | IMG, the global leader in sports, entertainment, media and fashion. For more information on the PBR, go to PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter atTwitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

INTRUST BANK ARENA CELEBRATES TWO MILLION TICKETS SOLD AND HONORS LUCKY GUEST

Wichita, KS (October 1, 2015) – The SMG-managed INTRUST Bank Arena hosted its two millionth ticketed fan at last Thursday’s Florida Georgia Line concert. Delania Taylor was surprised at the concert with the news that she was the lucky two millionth guest.

INTRUST Bank Arena staff presented Taylor and her guest with a prize package including upgraded concert tickets from the upper level to the lower level, a meet and greet with Florida Georgia Line, a commemorative ticket which was then autographed by Florida Georgia Line, a commemorative concert poster, and more.

“We’re excited to have reached such an incredible milestone in just our sixth year of operation,” said SMG General Manager, AJ Boleski. “Having sold two million tickets is an outstanding accomplishment and a huge testament to the support this community shows our facility. We’re in the business of creating memories, one guest at a time, and are looking forward to creating those memories for the next two million fans.” 

INTRUST Bank Arena reached its one millionth ticket sold in 2012 at the sold out Jason Aldean concert. Since opening in January 2010 with a sold out Brad Paisley concert, INTRUST Bank Arena has hosted many of the nation’s top tours including the Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, George Strait,  Bob Seger, Elton John and Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Bon Jovi and more. In addition to concerts, the Arena has proven to be a great venue for college athletics hosting the Wichita State University men’s basketball, Kansas State University men’s basketball, NCAA 2011 Women’s Basketball Championship first and second rounds and being named a future site for the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship first/second rounds.

Upcoming events at INTRUST Bank Arena include Ariana Grande (Oct. 6), Def Leppard (Oct. 10), Shinedown & Breaking Benjamin (Oct. 16), Wichita State University men’s basketball vs. Utah (Dec. 12), Kansas State University men’s basketball vs. Colorado State (Dec. 19), Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 22) and more. For a full list of upcoming events and information on how to purchase tickets, please visit www.intrustbankarena.com.

SMG TO MANAGE ICONIC GREEK THEATRE

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA (September 28, 2015) - On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Board voted unanimously to approve SMG’s management agreement to operate the iconic Greek Theatre, which concluded the selection process of a private, third-party operator under the Board’s new ‘Open Venue’ model. The historic Greek Theatre is owned by the City of Los Angeles and is currently operated by Neederlander Concerts. 

In its transition to an Open Venue model, the Parks Department conducted a competitive selection process, which involved evaluating proposals from two venue management firms – Global Spectrum L.P. d/b/a Spectra and SMG. The Board’s evaluation panel ranked SMG the highest based on several scoring criteria. 

SMG will provide full management and operational services for the Greek under an agreement that will have a one (1) year term, with two (2) successive one-year options that can be exercised at the discretion of the Board. 

“We are very excited to be working with SMG at the Greek,” said Mike Shull, General Manager of the Los Angeles Depart-ment of Recreation and Parks. “They manage some of the most recognizable facilities in the world.” 

SMG is expected to assume its new role, effective November 1, 2015. The Greek Theatre season starts April 15 and runs through October 31 each year. Promoters and event organizers have already submitted a significant number of requests for date holds through a lottery conducted by the Parks Department. SMG and the Park Board are estimating the venue will host approximately 70 live events next season, which is consistent with the past. 

“We welcome the Greek Theatre to our SMG family of facilities,” said Wes Westley, SMG’s President and CEO. “We are honored to have been selected and are looking forward to getting started.” 

“Everyone in the industry knows the Greek Theatre and we are honored that the Park Board has chosen SMG to operate its crown jewel,” said Doug Thornton, SMG’s Executive Vice President. “There are so many features that make this facility unique. We recognize the legacy of the venue, its significance to the community and the standard of care that is needed to operate within the confines of a neighborhood environment. We look forward to working with all of the promoters to offer the best in live entertainment, while preserving the legacy of this great facility.” 

BOK CENTER WELCOMES FIVE MILLIONTH FAN

(Tulsa, Okla.) September 25, 2015 – BOK Center hit another monumental milestone this evening at the Florida Georgia Line concert. At around 6:05 PM, the five millionth fan walked through the doors and had their ticket scanned. That lucky person was Hunter Orcutt from Tulsa who was attending with the concert with her husband, Alan. 

Orcutt had her seats to the concert upgraded to the first row, she got to meet both Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line prior to the show and she received an assortment of other prizes.

General Manager Jeff Nickler and Assistant General Manager Casey Sparks were present to meet Orcutt to congratulate her for being the winner.

"I never win anything, this is so insane," said Hunter Orcutt. "This is me and my husband's first time to BOK Center. We just moved here from Dallas and our seats tonight were in section 308, row Q. This is the best night ever!" 

In addition to the celebration going on inside BOK Center on Friday night, there was also a commemoration to the milestone event displayed outside as well. The BOK Tower in downtown proudly displayed "5M" in lights on the south side of the building for the evening. There was also a celebratory display of lights on the BOK Center plaza at the main entrance provided by Intergrity Lighting. 

"It's a testament to the incredible long-standing support of the Tulsa community that we're able to reach this milestone and we couldn't be more grateful," said BOK Center General Manager Jeff Nickler. "We are rewarding this five millionth fan as a tribute to all of the people who have ever attended an event at the arena."

Jim Gaffigan’s Cotagious tour sells out Lincoln’s Pinewood Bowl Theater.

Jim Gaffigan’s Contagious tour played to a sellout July 31 at Lincoln’s Pinewood Bowl Theater.  SMG – Lincoln’s General Manger Tom Lorenz and Mammoth Live’s Jeff Fortier present Jim with some unique Nebraska gift items to celebrate the occasion.

Venues Today ranks Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena number 3 in the world by attendance and number 6 in the world by gross ticket sales for venues of 10,001-15,000 seats for the first half of 2015.

The report ranks the arena number 1 in the U.S. in both categories. View the rankings from the image below, taken from Venues Today:

Premier Food Services Provides Catering Services For Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015

Los Angeles, CA (July 31, 2015) – Premier Food Services is proud to have provided food and beverage services for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015). In previous years, Premier Food Services’ parent company SMG hosted the competitions in 2001 at the George M. Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, AK, followed by holding the 2003 Special Olympics World Games closing ceremony at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the first World Games held outside of the United States. Carrying the torch in 2015, Premier provided food and beverage services for athletes, guests, and event personnel during this year’s Games.

“Premier Long Beach is proud to be a Silve

r Champion of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games,” said Veronica Quintero, regional general manager, Premier Food Services.

Premier arranged food services for four different Long Beach venues from July 20 through August 2. The venues included Alamitos Beach, Belmont Pier, Marine Stadium, and Aquarium of the Pacific, where Premier provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the volunteer workforce, along with lunches and snacks for athletes during the competition days. Premier also provided snacks for honored guests and families of the athletes as well as lunches for the Special Olympics World Games officials.

“Premier is proud to be part of the Special Olympics World Games,” said Paul Tazar, managing director, Premier Food Services. “Our team has provided chef-inspired, locally sourced, sustainable menus at multiple on and off-site locations, showcasing California culinary creativity to athletes, honored guests, families, Special Olympics officials and spectators from around the world.”

The 2015 World Games was the largest sports and humanitarian event hosted by Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games, with more than 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches representing 165 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and 500,000 spectators in attendance.

The World Games were hosted for nine days from July 25-August 2 and featured 25 Olympic-type sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Half Marathon, Handball, Judo, Kayaking, Open Water Swimming, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, and Beach Volleyball. These Games showcase the unlimited potential of people with intellectual disabilities – one of the largest disability populations in the world.

To learn more about the 2015 World Games, visit www.LA2015.org.

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About the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015) 

With 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches representing 165 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games – being staged in Los Angeles July 25 – August 2, 2015 – will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. On April 30, 2014, LA2015 and ESPN announced a global programming deal that will see ESPN bring coverage of World Games to millions of fans around the world. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts. Current Founding Champions and sponsors include: The Coca-Cola Company, Mattel, Deloitte, Toyota, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, OUE Skyspace Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Davis Elen Advertising, Microsoft, Toys“R”Us, The Walt Disney Company, Google, UPS, Herbalife Nutrition, Los Angeles Times, AMC Theaters, La Opinión, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, WWE, Los Angeles News Group, AEG, Annenberg Foundation, David Geffen, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, Panda Express, LA84 Foundation, and Knights of Columbus. LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee, is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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About Premier Food Services 

Founded in San Diego in 1985, Premier Food Services is reinventing the hospitality industry. Rooted in its California heritage, Premier is passionate about creating chef-driven, seasonal menus inspired by diverse cultures and the unique West Coast lifestyle. Tailoring services to each of its 31 venues and their audiences, Premier prioritizes partnering with community vendors and giving back to others in the area who share a commitment to quality and sustainability. To learn more about how Premier is raising the bar on service and expertise, visit www.premierfoodservices.com.