National Firm Selected To Manage Kent Events Center
Published on February 6, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Seattle, February 6, 2008 - City of Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke announced Tuesday that the new management group for the Kent Events Center will be SMG, the largest manager of arena and convention centers in the United States.
"The proposal presented by SMG was so strong that it led the selection committee to this recommendation and my acceptance of it," Cooke said. "SMG is arguably the best in the business, and due to its size and established relationships, it will have great leverage in booking events, further making Kent a leading destination in South King County and beyond," Cooke added.
"The City of Kent has been very thorough on every step of this project and the selection of SMG as the operator is an excellent choice," said T-Birds General Manager Russ Farwell. "They are a proven company and we look forward to working with them." "We are very excited about this tremendous opportunity to partner with the City of Kent and the Seattle Thunderbirds. It is clearly a great partnership that exists already, and we enthusiastically embrace being a new member of the team," said Harry Cann, Senior Regional Vice President of Operations for SMG. "The Kent Events Center will be an important centerpiece for the city and region on many levels, and we look forward to contributing to the venue's success," Cann added.
With construction well underway, the Kent Events Center, a 6,025 seat arena, will be the new home of Seattle Thunderbirds. The T-Birds are the anchor tenant at the Kent Events Center and are expected to play roughly 40 games a year at the new facility. The Kent Events Center is set to open in January 2009.
An open invitation for bid went out in October 2007, and three national firms responded. Besides City staff, the selection committee included John Christison, President and General Manager of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center; Katherine Kertzman, Program Director of Seattle Southside Visitor Services; Russ Farwell, owner and general manager and Colin Campbell, owner and assistant general manager of the Seattle Thunderbirds; and Mike Miller, Chair of the Kent Special Events Center Public Facilities District.
The committee followed standard evaluation processes and assigned points in various categories. After in-depth research, interviews and reference checks, the selection committee recommended SMG.
Philadelphia-based SMG was founded in 1977 to manage the Louisiana Superdome. Since then, it has grown to manage more than 200 facilities worldwide including 76 arenas, 9 stadiums, 62 convention centers, 49 performing arts centers, and 13 other recreational/equestrian facilities.
SMG arenas stage everything from professional, minor league and NCAA collegiate sporting events to family shows such as Sesame Street Live and Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, plus concerts for every age and musical taste. SMG- managed facilities grossed more than $1 billion in 2006, hosting 10,000 events and attracting more than 50 million patrons.
Beyond booking events, SMG will also manage the day-to-day operations of the facility including the budget, vendor selection, public relations and marketing, as well as staffing.
"While the selection of SMG is a big step in the process, we still need to get through the negotiation phase," said Ben Wolters, Economic Development Director and project lead for the City. "Once an agreement is reached, it will be presented to the City Council for final approval," Wolters added.
The City of Kent is the fourth largest city in King County with a population of more than 86,000. As a culturally rich destination, Kent's dynamic quality of life features captivating neighborhoods, award-winning parks, an exceptional school district and nationally accredited police and fire departments. Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known as a prime location for manufacturing. Learn more at www.chooseKent.com
More information on SMG can be found online at www.smgworld.com.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2008
- Salmon Kings Introduce Minor Hockey Night - WHL
- Blades January Community Involvement - Saskatoon Blades
- Blades Weekly - Saskatoon Blades
- WHL and Canada West Universities Enhance Scholarship Offer - WHL
- National Firm Selected To Manage Kent Events Center - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Americans Celebrate Red Cross' High School Blood Drive Success - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Offer Customized "Holiday Ice" Prints to Support The Lung Association - Swift Current Broncos
- Raider Alumni Makes NHL Debut - Prince Albert Raiders
- Americans Sweep Bruins with SO Win; Pickard Claims Ams Single-Season Wins Title - Tri-City Americans
- Americans Edge Bruins in Shootout 5-4 - Chilliwack Bruins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
