Venue Views

BETTER SEPTEMBER: The overall mood at this year's Arena Management Conference (AMC) in Phoenix was a big improvement on last year, when participants were still stunned by the events of Sept. 11. This year, the 300-plus attendees were able to focus on such industry issues as the concert business, crisis communication, and, of course, venue security.

Produced by the International Assn. of Assembly Managers (IAAM), AMC is particularly close to IAAM executive director Dexter King's heart, as the former arena manager helped get the initial conference off the ground in the late 1980s. King recalls, "At that point, we didn't know how many people would come, what the program would be, or what the parameters were."

Indeed, timing was a big issue. "We had to pick a time that was relevant to us that did not conflict with the upcoming [sports] seasons," King says. Also, the parties involved didn't want the AMC confab to be too close to the IAAM summer convention and trade show. As it stands, AMC still falls just seven weeks after the national meeting.

Current economic conditions contribute to the need for King and the IAAM staff to put together a meaningful program for both sponsors and arena managers. He says, "I'm a venue manager producing this event for our members, and it's all about the experience. I've got to look at creating the ultimate experience possible for our attendees."

As such, producing the AMC can be stressful, but King points out that arena management and stress go hand in hand. "[Arena managers] have a way of dealing with crisis in an even-keel manner. Even at last year's meeting in Miami, everybody had their wits about them."

King says this year's AMC hit budget. "That means we were able, with the committee and the planning process, to successfully project what would be a reasonable pro forma for the conference," he says, adding that the intangibles were also successful. "This conference has been a very good experience. There has been a coming together and camaraderie that I don't think I sensed in Miami.

"It's all about attitude," King continues. "And the arena fraternity is successful because they have a phenomenal attitude about service to customers and the community and attacking it with passion."



SUPER SECURITY: With a powerhouse talent lineup that included Paul McCartney, U2, Barry Manilow, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, the Boston Pops, Marc Anthony, and many others, the Feb. 3 Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans came off without a hitch, despite major security concerns induced by Sept. 11. If the event appeared seamless, it is only the result of months of behind-the-scenes preparations, of which much was detailed by Superdome GM Doug Thornton in a presentation during the AMC. Thornton was the first facility manager in the country to manage an event at a facility designated a "national security event" by federal officials. Thornton says there were 41 agencies involved in its security, with the U.S. Secret Service calling the shots.

"We felt our greatest risk was chem-bio [terrorism], such as airborne pathogens through HVAC or contamination of the food or water supply," Thornton says. "The NFL and [Commissioner] Paul Tagliabue were very concerned about that threat."

The entire Superdome was locked down four months out, including the behemoth facility's 16 huge fan rooms. Thornton recalls, "We went to great lengths to protect our HVAC system. No one was allowed in unless they were escorted by a security official, even if it was an engineer."

The Superdome already boasted 72 security cameras on campus, and the NFL came in and installed 12 more. By game day, a hard perimeter was established around the building, including 3,500 linear feet of concrete and double 8-foot fences. There were 20 entry gates for pat downs, 65 metal detectors, and credential and background checks for 5,600 employees conducted by the Secret Service.

The primo talent lineup encouraged people to arrive early, and 95% of the crowd were seated by kickoff. "This was the first year in many years the Super Bowl did not receive a bomb threat," Thornton says. "In many ways, it was easier to manage than a typical Saints game, because of all the preplanning. By far this was the biggest challenge we've ever faced in the 'dome, but the good news is we pulled it off without incident."