SMG-Managed Times Union Center Profits Up 64%

Albany County officials have announced that the Times Union Center, which is managed by SMG, ended 2012 with a Net Operating Profit of $826,341. The Net Operating Profit generated in 2011 was $531,147. The 2012 year-end results showed an increase of 64% over 2011.

The Times Union Center hosted great concerts in 2012 including Rascal Flatts, Bruce Springsteen, Sugarland, Roger Waters, Aerosmith, Kevin Hart, Carrie Underwood, the WGNA Country Festival featuring Eric Church, Trans Siberian Orchestra and an electric dance music event known as Pretty Lights. In addition, Joel Osteen brought his touring ministry to Albany. Outstanding family shows included the Ringing Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque Du Soleil, How to Train Your Dragons, Disney on Ice and the Harlem Globetrotters. High flying motorcycles raced at the Kicker Arenacross and the Monster Truck Jam thrilled young and old. The NY State High School Wrestling Championships, Section II Boy's Basketball and the NY State Federation Basketball State Championship brought in great high school sports. The Albany Auto Show and The Great Northeast Home Show drew big crowds. Professional wrestling with WWE and TNA Wrestling thrilled their fans And, the Albany Devils hockey team and Siena College Men's Basketball packed in fans.

“The Times Union Center continues to attract top notch shows under the direction of SMG and, in particular, General Manager Bob Belber. While the economy moves in a positive direction, a 64% increase speaks to the hard work the SMG staff has put in to drawing and retaining events like the NYS Federation Basketball State Championships which will now run at the TU through 2016 and the return of Andrea Bocelli. Great job! Thank you,” stated Albany County Executive Dan McCoy.

SMG Reaches New Agreement with City of Jacksonville to Manage Facilities

SMG will continue to provide management services for EverBank Field, other facilities for three years, with the option to renew

On December 22, 2012, Mayor Alvin Brown announced that the City of Jacksonville (COJ) has reached a new three-year agreement with SMG to manage the city's facilities. SMG, which has managed the COJ facilities for the past 20 years, will continue to operate EverBank Field (home of the Jacksonville Jaguars) the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, and five other venues owned by the city.

The agreement was the result of a competitive bidding process where SMG—with its breadth of experience managing facilities worldwide, and tested strategies to generate additional revenue for the city—was chosen to retain its contract with the COJ. A final agreement is expected to be signed no later than March 31.

This agreement was made possible because of the leadership and vision of Mayor Brown. His commitment to a thorough selection process means that the COJ now has a deal that will preserve the high standard of management at its facilities, generate new growth and revenue opportunities, and save taxpayers money.

"SMG looks forward to continuing its long standing and successful partnership with the City of Jacksonville, and executing on Mayor Brown's vision to establish the city as a premier tourism, entertainment, and professional sports destination," said SMG President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Westley. "Jacksonville's venues and entertainment facilities are among its most valuable assets, and SMG is committed to achieving their maximum economic potential through world-class operation and management services."

2012 Marks Another Stellar Year for SMG & SAVOR

SMG, the world leader in venue management, saw 2012 bring a number of facility top stops, industry recognition, and the start of what appears to be an even bigger and better 2013.

“Year-after-year the industry recognition received by our SMG people and facilities is very gratifying. We manage marquee facilities, provide marquee food services, and do it all with marquee people. It gives me great pleasure to see them receiving the recognition they so truly deserve,” said SMG President & CEO, Wes Westley

SMG managed facilities garnered numerous industry recognitions including 16 “top stops” in Venues Today, nominations for Arena of the Year for Coliseo de Puerto Rico and BOK Center (Tulsa, OK) from Pollstar Magazine plus Billboard Magazine recognition of 1st Mariner Arena in their Top 10 year end charts.

Venues recognized by Venues Today as “Year End Top Stops” include:

SMG stadiums

• Reliant Stadium (Houston)

• Soldier Field (Chicago)

SMG Arenas:

• Coliseo de Puerto Rico (Hato Rey)

• 1st Mariner Arena (Baltimore, MD)

• Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)

• Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids, MI)

• Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville, FL)

• Save Mart Center (Fresno, CA)

• INTRUST Bank Arena (Wichita, KS)

• Huntington Center (Toledo, OH)

• Mohegan Sun Arena (Wilkes-Barre, PA)

• K Rock Centre (Kingston, ON)

• Sovereign Center (Reading, PA)

SMG Theaters:

• Landmark Theatre (Richmond, VA)

• Sovereign Performing Arts Center (Reading, PA)

• Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center (Odessa, TX)

Members of the SMG family were also recognized within the industry with “Hall of Headlines Awards“ in Venues Today:

• Sarah Haertl for creative marketing ideas at Intrust Bank Arena

• Chef Vincent Lai of SAVOR…McCormick Place Chicago for his culinary creations.



2013 will begin with a bang as SMG is proud to welcome two new venues set to open in 2013:

• Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska

• Leeds Arena in the United Kingdom

SMG Announces Hiring of Kelly Carr as General Manager for Syracuse’s Oncenter

SMG, the worldwide leader of public assembly facility management, announces the selection of Kelly Carr as the new general manager for The Oncenter in Syracuse, New York.

“The selection of SMG veteran Kelly Carr as general manager will continue the momentum first generated in July when SMG began managing this unique venue,” said Bob McClintock, SMG's senior vice president for convention center operations. “Kelly's personal expertise, combined with SMG's booking network, client base and other resources, will undoubtedly propel The Oncenter to greater prominence and success.”

SMG assumed managerial responsibility for the facility from The Oncenter Management Corporation on July 1 and retained the existing staff.

Hired by SMG in 2004, Carr was most recently the director of sales & marketing for the Albuquerque Convention Center, where his team exceeded sales expectations and he served as the liaison between the facility and the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau and Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

“Kelly Carr will be a great addition to The Oncenter team,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.  “We are confident that Kelly has the experience to hit the ground running and we welcome him to central New York.”

SMG Wins Operational Management Contract for Bahia Urbana

SMG Latin America has won the management and operation contract of Bahia Urbana from the Government of Puerto Rico. Old San Juan's Bahia Urbana is a key project designed to impact and enhance the quality of life of Puerto Ricans forever.

“Puerto Rico is much more than a fantastic destination, ideal for tourists looking for pristine beaches and the Caribbean flavors,” said Wes Wesley President of SMG. “These islands are fertile territory to create and sustain modern and eco-friendly attraction sites for its residents. We are honored to strengthen and diversify our relationship with Puerto Rico.”

“The opportunity to bring new things to the Puerto Rican family and tourists who visit us every day is a privilege and our responsibility. We are bringing attractions targeted to revitalize and enhance the urban life for people in and around our beautiful San Juan Bay, surrounded by green spaces that will create new entertainment experiences for the enjoyment of all our visitors,” said Jochi Dávila, SMG Latin America Business Development Vice President, who worked sales and spearheaded the efforts to win the management contract.

“This project is the transformation of fully damaged and abandoned industrial areas into new clean spaces designed to create a unique experience: the perfect urban mix of beach, city and future,” explained Dávila, who added that Bahia Urbana is scheduled to open to the public at the end of the year.

SMG in the News: McCormick Place Hosts 2012 Presidential Election Night Celebrations

From Venues Today:

McCormick Place and Savor hosted more than 15,000 ticketed guests, along with media and, of course, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and their families and friends for election night celebrations on Nov. 6.
According to Connie Chambers, Savor general manager at McCormick Place, the building and staff had about three weeks' notice to prepare to host the event.
“It's definitely a compressed timeframe,” said Chambers, adding that normally they would have several months in advance to get ready. However, McCormick Place had hosted the NATO summit just six months prior, which familiarized the staff with working with and the expectations of the Secret Service. Chambers added that some of the Secret Service agents who worked the election night event were the same who worked the summit, which made things easier. “We're really trained … I hate to say [it's] easy because it really isn't,” said Chambers. “But, certainly we knew who we were going to go to and what their expectations were.”

Read more at VenuesToday

SMG Tulsa Honored as Great Company to Work For

SMG Tulsa, the management company for both the BOK Center and the Tulsa Convention Center, is recognized as one of “2012 Great Companies to Work For” in the December 2012 issue of Oklahoma Magazine. The annual list recognizes employers who were nominated and then voted on through a panel review.

“We are honored to be recognized as a ‘Great Company to Work For',” said SMG General Manager John Bolton. “We have an excellent team of employees who take great pride in working for SMG and representing the City of Tulsa. It's always nice to be recognized publicly for those efforts.”

SMG Tulsa was specifically highlighted for its charitable giving within the community. SMG Rocks is the charitable arm of SMG Tulsa and was specifically created to allow employees the opportunity to give back to the community as a part of their job. The committee meets regularly to determine which charities it will support and the best way to contribute. Contributions include donations to United Way, in kind donations of supplies, food drives and volunteering.