Cleveland State University Selects New Private Manager, New Concessionaire, and New Ticketing Company to Improve Customer Experience and Rebrand Versatility of the Wolstein Center

(Press Release - Cleveland, Ohio - May 10, 2010)
Global Spectrum to Increase Arena Bookings and Marketing Athletic Programs: Ovations Food Services to Bring New Fresh Food Concepts to University Venue: New Era Tickets To Provide Full-Service Ticketing

(Cleveland, OH – May 10, 2010) Cleveland State University today created a partnership with three Comcast-Spectacor entities to enhance the customer experience and rebrand the image and scope of the 13,000-seat Bert T. and Iris S. Wolstein Center, home of the school’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, according to John J. Boyle, Vice President for Business Affairs & Finance.

Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field, will now provide full management services at the Wolstein Center on behalf of the University, Ovations Food Services, one of the leading providers of food and beverages services at public assembly facilities, will bring their Fresh Food approach to Cleveland State, and New Era Tickets will become the official ticket provider for all events at the Wolstein Center. Additionally, Global Spectrum will be active in marketing and selling the school’s athletic programs with an emphasis on enriching the student life experience.

Global Spectrum, Ovations Food Services, and New Era Tickets are subsidiaries of Comcast-Spectacor, an internationally recognized sports and entertainment provider based in Philadelphia, PA. Among the many entities under the Comcast-Spectacor Family of Companies are the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.

“The Wolstein Center is a terrific asset for Cleveland State and we want to maximize its potential,” said Boyle. “Therefore we felt it was important at this time for us create a relationship with Global Spectrum and Ovations Food Services to bring their high-level of customer service and creative planning and execution to Cleveland State to help us realize our true vision for the Wolstein Center.

“Global Spectrum was recommended by our review team because it has an outstanding reputation for managing similar university facilities,” added Boyle. “We will also rely on Global Spectrum to help us marketing our athletic programs and raise the interest and level of participation by our student body.”

Global Spectrum manages more than 85 public assembly facilities throughout North America, including 11 university arenas and convocation centers. The company will bring its industry resources and relationships to Cleveland to create new and exciting opportunities for the Wolstein Center by scheduling concerts, family shows, sporting events, trade shows and many other events.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Global Spectrum because it will allow us to bring our resources, our expertise and our successes at similar university venues we manage to maximize current and new opportunities at the Wolstein Center for the students, staff, and residents of the surrounding region,” said Global Spectrum Chief Operating Officer John Page.

Global Spectrum will oversee all of the day-to-day management of the facility, including booking, scheduling, marketing, maintenance, contracted services, staffing, customer services, and other operations.

“We are pleased to bring Ovations’ proprietary Everything’s Fresh™ approach to Cleveland State University,” said Ken Young, Ovations Food Services President. “Ovations plans to serve freshly prepared menu items through our team-inspired concept that will honor the Cleveland State University spirit and pride with newly branded and dedicated food items.”

Ovations Food Services plans to feature a menu that “attacks” hunger with such fan favorites as freshly grilled half pound 100-percent Black Angus burgers and hot dogs served up fresh with fan condiment choices. Other proprietary brands that Ovations will bring to the University include Hot Dog Nation, Scoops, City BBQ, Overture Café, and Boomer’s Bistro.  Ovations plans to work with local merchants to explore opportunities to deliver more local flavor through its menu line-up.
 
“We’re very excited to add Cleveland State University to our growing list of university clients,” said Fred Maglione, President of New Era Tickets. “Our goal is to simplify the ticket buying process for the University’s consumers and help fill the Wolstein Center for every event with our FanOne Marketing services.”

  ABOUT US

Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) is the fastest growing venue management firm in the world with more than 85 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a regional sports programming network, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, and Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor televises 10 ice skating extravaganzas annually on NBC-TV.