Seeing Red

There was a spirited discussion yesterday about the value of hosting a Capitals exhibition game in Baltimore. No one disputed that it was a pretty cool thing to do, but there was a question of the financial impact. Was it indeed a “million dollar” hit?

While there are numerous economic indicators beyond ticket sales and admission taxes, the one I’ve always found most reliable is both visual and palpable, and best measured in the hospitality community.

Baltimore to Rock the Red in September

The Washington Capitals and the City of Baltimore announced the team will play an exhibition game against the Nashville Predators on September 20, 2011, at the First Mariner Arena. The game, which is being referred to as the Baltimore Hockey Classic, will be the first professional hockey game at the arena since the Baltimore Bandits last took the ice in 1997.

The much anticipated announcement was officially made on Monday by Baltimore City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young. Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee and First Mariner Arena General Manager Frank Remesch joined Young in making the announcement.

Turning on the Charm

The call came at exactly 5:00PM today (Friday) but it was enough to warm my heart after a very hectic week.  Due to an overload of activities (Earth Day, Olympians visit, son’s birthday, Terry’s reception, etc.) I wasn’t aware that WWE was bringing Extreme Rules to Baltimore Sunday for a championship match, which will be broadcast on Pay Per View.

The call came from a producer of the show, seeking permission to film inside Oriole Park for a montage of beauty shots he wants of Baltimore.  Seems his head producer is from here and wants to show his hometown’s attractive points of interest as part of the show.

Broadcasts like this are where sports meets tourism and economic development.  High def footage of Baltimore’s attractions in the spring, showning their proximity to downtown and the harbor, are what draw individuals and even meeting planners to consider coming to Maryland for their vacation or event.

I wasn’t able to help him out with his request to shoot in the ballpark, but we spend quite a while talking about other options that show the town at his best.  (Having been through this with the Dew Crew, I have a pretty good idea of the panoramic shots they like.  I just don’t want to go to the top of Silo Point again.)

I won’t be around when Jack Swagger (who is supposed to be a really wholesome guy despite his ring reputation) defends his title.  But 1st Mariner expects quite a crowd and it seems like many will be out of towners.  Those watching on Pay For View will also feel some of the ambiance of Baltimore as part of the action.

I love those calls, and the folks who realize the importance of a sense of place in setting the stage for their production.

It was worth working late on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

1st is First!!

The First of the Year brought us another First, as in A-#1, Top of the Heap, King of the Hill, etc.

1st Mariner Arena was named top arena of its size in the U.S., according to industry publications Billboard Magazine and Venues Today.

Despite its age and quaint design, 1st Mariner (even in its previous incarnations as the Civic Center and Baltimore Arena) has always been a top producer.  This year, it zoomed to the top, thanks in part to some star studded concerts which included performances from Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Jay-Z.

The City-owned facility is superbly managed by SMG, who are responsible for booking diverse concerts, family-oriented entertainment (yes, I took the boys to both Sesame Street and Disney on Ice) with dynamic sports events. 

1st Mariner is also a community center.  In 2008, Senator Barack Obama filled the seats for his presidential stump speech. (I could hear refrains of “Yes, We Can!” from the Warehouse.)   Every spring, high schools and universities conduct numerous graduation events in the auditorium.

The success of 1st Mariner is a credit not only to its versitility and excellent management, but also its location and market.  We know, from the groundwork done this year by Sports Marketing, that Maryland has some tremendous built in advantages, and 1st Mariner offers a microcosm of these assets.  Among them — light rail transit onsite that connects both an international airport and Northeast Corridor of Amtrak, with suburban neighborhoods and park and rides in between.  A central location — not only in the city core, but the population center of the Mid-Atlantic.  Numerous attractions and accommodations (which include the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards) are within walking distance; heritage and cultural sites (including our nation’s Capital) are within an hour’s drive.

So congratulations to SMG and the City of Baltimore for this well-deserved recognition.  This was not a popularity contest — it was calculated on ticket sales and gross revenue.  It is tangible proof that Baltimore and Maryland deserve to be in the top tier of locations to consider for major events.

Arena Action

NFL playoffs have yet to start, and the final college bowl is still a few weeks away. But make no mistake — arena season is well under way.

Arenas aren’t just for professional and top NCAA teams — they are the staple of youth tournaments and pro tours every winter. They take place all over the state, and draw regional — even national — competitors and audience.

And “arenas” aren’t the only facilities hosting these events. Because many take place on courts, the convention centers get into the act. A few weeks ago, the Ocean City Convention Center hosted a regional youth wrestling tournament that brought about 800 grapplers into town during the resort’s off season. In Baltimore, Christmas on the Chesapeake Gymnastics competition, held at the Convention Center Dec. 11- 13, brought over 1700 gymnasts of all ages and levels from all over the US and Burmuda to the area.

1st Mariner Arena has been around since my junior high school days (yes, I actually went to see the Beach Boys perform at the Civic Center and have the ticket stub to prove it.) While critics bemoan the facility as archaic and functionally obsolete, it is still a top performer. In fact, 1st Mariner is one of the most productive facilities its size in the country. People flock there on a regular basis to see acts as diverse as Ringling Brothers, Disney on Ice, WWE, and The Boss (who rocked the town a few weeks ago.)

The Baltimore Blast began their season before Christmas (special shout out to our friend, Kevin Healey, who has been such a big help in our World Cup bid) but their home appearances are woven seamlessly with other popular indoor sports.

January 2-3 will bring the Professional Bull Riding Tour (and the Buckle Bunnies who follow them) back to Baltimore. While the BB’s cheer for the cowboys, I favor the bucking bovines. Look for a dynamic performance by my favorites, Booger Butt and Blueberry Buckle. Those beefburgers are BAD.

Two weeks later, action sports enthusiasts (a highly caffeinated crowd) will visit 1st Mariner for AMA Arenacross, a motocross tour competition that gives Baltimore a traditional early stop on the annual circuit.

Both of these events are televised, and both bring an economic bump to the state during a bleak time of the year.

For high energy, though, it’s hard to top the dance/cheerleading teams who have their competitions during the winter season. They are in arenas, gyms, and community centers all over Maryland. Again, it’s an example of what Terry says about youth sports — they are a major part of the economic impact because of the travel and parental involvement they represent. Hosting a major national competition over several days represents a sizable out of state presence in local hotels. You can see a schedule here:

Also ongoing in sportsplexes throughout Maryland are gymnastics meets. These highly disciplined athletes compete from a very young age, so tournaments include toddlers to teenagers (with family and friends.) Maryland has a number of successful clubs with teams. I’ll have to put that on the to-do list for the winter, even though watching those agile contortionists makes my bones creak. (The much more supple Tweety may have to cover instead.)

So when the weather outside is frightful, remember there’s always some competition heating up the arenas of Maryland.  Check our calender and get in on the action.

Seeing, feeling "Raw"

How much excitement can we take?  Yesterday, it was the invasion of the terrible towels (they arrived early and took over most of the bar stools by mid afternoon.)  After they were safely dispatched up the Yachagheny, a convey of semis rumbled into town.  For anyone wondering why 1st Mariner was under seige, they thoughtfully wrapped the 18 wheelers in pictures.  So for those commuting down Cathedral, the lovely diva Maryse provided a better jolt than morning latte.

Yes, the WWE is back and broadcasting live.  Tonight, “Raw” will be coming to viewers from Baltimore, with special guest host Mini Me from the Austin Powers series.  (Wouldn’t Ray Lewis have been more appropriate?)

I can’t say this event will make my dance card, but I’ll probably tune in between breaks in the Saints-Patriots rumble.  Baltimore is a great wrestling town and 1st Mariner is sure to be jumping.