New convention facility offerings, fresh and extended partnerships, and philanthropic activities comprise the latest developments for several North American convention centers as summer turns to fall. Take a look: 

Anaheim Convention Center Opens New Marshaling Yard 

The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) recently opened the Claudina Marshaling Yard, located on 6 acres of on-grade asphalt within 2 miles of the facility on the corner of Anaheim Boulevard and Claudina Way.  

Serving as a staging ground for the coordination of deliveries and shipments, the new yard provides optimal space for vehicles to wait and undergo security checks before being allowed to unload cargo. Created to enhance the efficient management of material handling for events, the yard supports everything from receiving freight and preparing for move-in and move-out to providing storage during events, according to Visit Anaheim officials. 

“The marshaling yard for the Anaheim Convention Center is the newest benefit to holding your large convention in Anaheim,” said Ronnie Collins, senior vice president of sales and services for Visit Anaheim. “We have the solution for your material handling and storage which will accommodate even the largest of conventions, all just a short distance away from our convention campus.”  

Convention and exhibition planners interested in utilizing the Claudina Marshaling Yard for their next event can contact Visit Anaheim’s sales team or go here to learn more. 

OCESA Selects OVG Hospitality to Transform F&B Experiences at Several Venues in Mexico 

A leading live entertainment company in Mexico, OCESA has tapped Oak View Group’s OVG Hospitality to redefine the culinary and hospitality experiences at its Mexico City venues. The selection extends Oak View Group’s business presence into Latin America, while OCESA venues will benefit from OVG Hospitality’s premium food and beverage offerings and customer service, according to OVG officials. 

A promoter of more than 3,000 annual events attracting nearly 6 million attendees across Mexico each year, OCESA’s venue portfolio includes the recently remodeled 65,000-seat Estadio GNP Seguros; Mexico’s leading convention center, Centro Citibanamex, boasting 2 million square feet of meeting and exhibition space; and a diverse collection of multi-use venues, theaters, arenas, festival grounds, and stadiums. 

As OCESA’s exclusive F&B provider, OVG Hospitality will integrate its industry-leading services across OCESA’s various venues, partnering with local, regional, and national vendors to craft menu items that reflect Mexico’s rich culinary heritage. Plans include enhancing the premium experience in suites and clubs, introducing new menu selections and market concepts throughout the year, and integrating technology to streamline ordering and payment processes to reduce wait times. 

OVG Hospitality is now operational at Centro Citibanamex, Estadio GNP Seguros, and Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez and is expected to begin operations at Palacio de los Deportes by the end of the year. Other OCESA venues are slated to follow in January, according to OVG officials. 

“By merging OCESA’s unmatched expertise in hosting world-class events with OVG Hospitality’s leadership in premium hospitality, we are poised to elevate the fan experience across Mexico, starting with these iconic venues,” said Chris Granger, president of OVG360. “This partnership marks a pivotal expansion of Oak View Group’s presence into Latin America, and we’re particularly excited and humbled to partner with OCESA. As hard-working operators ourselves, we appreciate their entrepreneurial spirit, their bold thinking, and their commitment to music fans across the country.”   

Pennsylvania Convention Center Hosts Back-to-School Backpack Drive 

On August 20, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority hosted a backpack drive to provide 150 backpacks filled with school supplies to students participating in programs hosted by Mighty Writers, a nonprofit that hosts free writing workshops and after-school programs for kids ages 7-17. 

Held in collaboration with the Center’s venue management partner, ASM Global and Twelve Days of Christmas, Inc, Philadelphia Chapter, the event featured more than 20 volunteers who packed the backpacks with much needed school supplies donated by the Center’s staff, vendor partners, and labor union partners, including IBEW Local 98, IATSE Local 8, Elliott Lewis, BSI, Siemens, Ernest Bock, Aramark, Schneider Electric, and PJP (Penn Jersey Paper / Brady Plus).  

“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority recognizes that we are an integral part of the Philadelphia region, and we work closely with our partners and customers throughout the year on programs that support our local community and nonprofits,” said John J. McNichol, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “We are proud to collaborate on efforts with our partner ASM Global on initiatives, such as the backpack drive, that help to improve and strengthen the communities that we serve.”  

The effort is an initiative of ASM Global ACTS, ASM’s corporate social responsibility platform launched in 2021.   

“One of the main focuses of the ASM Global ACTS initiative is encouraging volunteerism among our staff,” explained Tony Hodgins, ASM Global’s general manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “We place a strong emphasis on building partnerships with community organizations in order to create opportunities for both the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and ASM Global staff to provide support to individuals in need in the greater Philadelphia region.” 

Baltimore Convention Center Extends Utility Partnership with Edlen 

Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services, a leading independent electrical contractor in the convention, trade show, and special events industry based in Las Vegas, will continue providing utility services for the Baltimore Convention Center through 2030, extending a partnership that was established in 2011. 

“Edlen is delighted to announce our continued partnership with the Baltimore Convention Center for their utility needs,” said Edlen CEO Jim Wetterling. “This has been a valued partnership and relationship over the last 13 years, and we are honored to receive the contract renewal.”  

Edlen General Manager Diane DeBarros, who has been on site at the Baltimore Convention Center since 2010, will continue managing the daily utility operations, and Jeff Butler, who has worked at the Baltimore Convention Center since 2004, will continue to serve as Edlen’s general foreman, a role he has held since 2020.  

“I want to convey our appreciation for a mutually rewarding relationship,” DeBarros said. “Our partnership with the BCC for the past 13 years has been a successful collaboration and I am looking forward to many more years of accomplishing greatness together.” 

Have some trade show and corporate event venue news to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.

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