Author: Don Muret

Rays Make a Bold Move With Cashless Conversion

Rays Make a Bold Move With Cashless Conversion

Posted by | Feb 26, 2019 |

Concession stands at Tropicana Field will no longer take cash this season. (Courtesy Tampa Bay Rays) Experts agree that’s where industry is heading, but some say hard money still has a place Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays are fully committed to cashless technology. They’re the first big league team to convert all food service, merchandise, parking and ticketing operations at their stadium to cash-free systems. At Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the Rays’ home since their inaugural season in 1998, baseball fans must use credit or debit cards, the team’s affinity card, mobile technology such as Apple Pay or gift cards to pay for concessions and retail.  When fans buy gift cards with cash at merchandise stands and from team employees roaming the ballpark, it’s the only time currency is exchanged as part of the cashless program. The gift cards are available in all dollar values, said Bill Walsh,… Continue Reading Rays Make a Bold Move With Cashless Conversion

To access this content you must be a subscriber and logged in with your subscriber credentials here. To subscribe to VenuesNow, click here for more information or here for combo subscriptions including sister-publication Pollstar.

Continue Reading Rays Make a Bold Move With Cashless Conversion

Read More
For Ballparks, Market’s Right for Naming Rights

For Ballparks, Market’s Right for Naming Rights

Posted by | Feb 26, 2019 | ,

A rendering shows the Seattle Mariners’ ballpark once new signs and lighting have been installed. (Courtesy Seattle Mariners) Milwaukee, San Francisco, Seattle all find partners for new long-term deals The recent trend for Major League Baseball teams nearing the end of stadium naming-rights deals has been to find new partners for long-term agreements. Over the past few months, the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners announced new deals to rebrand their venues for American Family Insurance, Oracle and T-Mobile, respectively. The agreements for Oracle Park in San Francisco and T-Mobile Park in Seattle took effect before the 2019 season. In Milwaukee, American Family’s deal kicks in after the 2020 season. The agreement extends to the Brewers’ spring training facility in Maryvale, Ariz., which is now called American Family Fields of Phoenix after going through $60 million in upgrades. Brewer MillerCoors, AT&T and Safeco Insurance all declined to renew naming… Continue Reading For Ballparks, Market’s Right for Naming Rights

To access this content you must be a subscriber and logged in with your subscriber credentials here. To subscribe to VenuesNow, click here for more information or here for combo subscriptions including sister-publication Pollstar.

Continue Reading For Ballparks, Market’s Right for Naming Rights

Read More
AEG Facilities-SMG Merger: Watch for the Ancillaries

AEG Facilities-SMG Merger: Watch for the Ancillaries

Posted by | Feb 26, 2019 | ,

AEG, as a corporation, owns and operates Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Getty Images) Food, ticketing and events components could be key as companies with differing strategies combine as ASM Global The blockbuster merger of AEG Facilities and SMG Worldwide should not greatly affect the venue operations side, industry officials said. But they say it’s worth keeping an eye on the evolution of the companies’ ticketing, events and food service businesses, because all three ancillaries provide critical revenue sources.  The companies, which are the two biggest players in the private management of sports and entertainment venues, announced in early February that they have formed a definitive merger, creating a new entity that will be called ASM Global. Financial terms were not disclosed.  AEG Facilities and Onex, a private equity firm that acquired SMG for $1 billion in 2017, will each own 50 percent of the new company. The merger will… Continue Reading AEG Facilities-SMG Merger: Watch for the Ancillaries

To access this content you must be a subscriber and logged in with your subscriber credentials here. To subscribe to VenuesNow, click here for more information or here for combo subscriptions including sister-publication Pollstar.

Continue Reading AEG Facilities-SMG Merger: Watch for the Ancillaries

Read More

Opening Number: Miami Open

Posted by | Feb 26, 2019 | ,

The Miami Open tennis tournament enters a new era after relocating to Hard Rock Stadium from Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Fla., where it had been played since 1987. The stadium, which is home to the Miami Dolphins in the suburb of Miami Gardens, expands amenities for both attendees and players, as you’ll see in this issue. The venue is home to the event for the next 30 years; here are some other numbers from the tournament’s new home, courtesy of event producer IMG and the Dolphins.   12,513 More parking spaces for general admission, premium, overflow and player parking. 30 Total competition and practice courts, up from nine. 32,474 Total seating, up from 25,062. 4 Corner videoboards framing the center court inside Hard Rock Stadium. One large screen is attached to an exterior wall on the building’s south side. 30,000 Square feet for player dining space, up from 9,000.… Continue Reading Opening Number: Miami Open

To access this content you must be a subscriber and logged in with your subscriber credentials here. To subscribe to VenuesNow, click here for more information or here for combo subscriptions including sister-publication Pollstar.

Continue Reading Opening Number: Miami Open

Read More
Lower Super Bowl Food Pricing To Stay?

Lower Super Bowl Food Pricing To Stay?

Posted by | Feb 26, 2019 | ,

Low-cost pricing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium concession stands in Atlanta carried over from the regular season to the Super Bowl. (Courtesy Levy) The NFL could potentially expand fan-friendly concessions pricing for Super Bowls after seeing a record total of transactions for the 2019 game, according to league officials. This year’s game took place Feb. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. For the game, the NFL adopted the “Fan First Pricing” program of AMB Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Falcons. The program cuts the price of hot dogs, soda and popcorn to $2 and to $5 for small beers, among other items. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has had the model in place for all events since it opened in 2017. For Super Bowl LIII, AMB Sports reported 110,184 food and beverage transactions, a single-event record for NCR, the stadium’s point-of-sale supplier. Levy runs the food service at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “It’s… Continue Reading Lower Super Bowl Food Pricing To Stay?

To access this content you must be a subscriber and logged in with your subscriber credentials here. To subscribe to VenuesNow, click here for more information or here for combo subscriptions including sister-publication Pollstar.

Continue Reading Lower Super Bowl Food Pricing To Stay?

Read More

This Month's VenueNow

Most Recent