Author: Don Muret

All With a Smile The always smooth Jimmy Earl helped make Austin arena a concert magnet Jimmy Earl is among the last of a vanishing breed, a self-made arena manager. His early training came on the job, supported by continuing education through groups such as the International Association of Venue Managers. Earl retired this fall after spending close to 40 years running the Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special Events Center, the University of Texas’ on-campus arena. The 16,734-seat home of Texas men’s and women’s basketball also stands as a lucrative concert venue.  He made a brief pit stop running the Fort Worth Convention Center from 1987 to 1990 before returning to Erwin Center after John Graham took over as director. Earl assumed his same position, senior associate director, before taking over for Graham as director after he retired in 2017. In Austin, considering UT is building the new $340 million Moody… Continue Reading Hall of Honor 2020: Jimmy Earl

Continue Reading Hall of Honor 2020: Jimmy Earl

All About Love Rick Abramson loves the concessions business and Delaware North Sportservice, and both have loved him back Rick Abramson walked by a concession stand one day at old Chicago Stadium and noticed some hot dogs looked out of place. It was the late 1970s. Abramson, Delaware North Sportservice’s on-site general manager, suspected a few game day employees were smuggling their own inventory to sell and pocketing the money themselves.   “I let go of everybody working that stand and suspended them pending further investigation,” Abramson said. Abramson was called into Bill Wirtz’s office to discuss the issue. The Wirtz family owned the arena and the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, co-tenants with the NBA Chicago Bulls. Bill Wirtz informed Abramson of a rumor floating around the building that all the concession workers were ready to walk out in protest of his actions. “I explained to Mr. Wirtz that there were… Continue Reading Hall of Honor 2020: Rick Abramson

Continue Reading Hall of Honor 2020: Rick Abramson