Members of Global Spectrum's leadership team will present information about the firm's management of the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex's Ed Fry Arena on Monday, September 28, 2009, at 7:30 a.m. at the Crimson Events Center.
On hand for the event will be Doug Higgons, regional vice president, and Dan Rubino, director of projects, both of Global Spectrum.
In July, IUP selected Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor, to manage, market, and operate the Ed Fry Arena (See “Global Spectrum to Manage Convention Center's Ed Fry Arena”).
The arena was named for Fry, a retired faculty member in the Department of Music and longtime track and field coach, following a $1-million gift from Chad Hurley, a 1999 IUP graduate, in honor of his former coach. Hurley is cofounder of video sharing website YouTube.
A leading firm for managing university arenas, Global Spectrum will handle all pre-opening phases of managing the arena. That includes working and consulting on the final stages of facility design and construction; preparing marketing programs and marketing the arena; recruiting and hiring a general manager and all staff for the arena; assisting in the procurement of furniture, fixtures, and equipment; booking the arena; consulting on the selection of subcontractors; and analyzing all operational details.
Global Spectrum will also work with IUP to establish and implement financial and accounting programs and procedures and prepare the arena for its opening. The Global Spectrum staff will handle, upon opening, the day-to-day management of the arena, including booking, scheduling, marketing, maintenance, contracted services, and staffing.
In addition to serving the needs of men's and women's basketball, the new arena will be the site of concerts, family shows, special events, and other community attractions.
Global Spectrum was chosen by a committee of university and community members following a national search.
University officials broke ground in November 2008 for the Kovalchick complex, a $53.4-million facility along Wayne Avenue, adjacent to the university. Named in honor of the Kovalchick family, of Indiana, the complex will include a 650-seat Christine Toretti auditorium, a conference center, grand lobby, commercial kitchen, and offices for IUP athletics. Construction, which began in March, will be completed in June 2011.
Currently, seven major conferences have been tentatively scheduled for the first year of operation of the Kovalchick complex. They include a state convention, state youth athletic tournament, and other university and community-related events.