July 25, 2007
Based on their highly successful marketing, sales and operational efforts and their outstanding customer service program, Old Dominion University today renewed the management contract at the Ted Constant Convocation Center with Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field and a subsidiary of the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor.
"We are extremely impressed with all Global Spectrum has done for the Old Dominion University community and how they continue to successfully operate the Constant Center for us," said Old Dominion University Vice President for Administration and Finance Robert Fenning. "Global Spectrum has done an exceptional job of making the Constant Center a premiere venue for the entire Hampton Roads community."
While continuing to schedule, book, market and oversee all day-to-day operations of the Constant Center, Global Spectrum will also have a more active role in the game-day operations and marketing efforts for the Old Dominion University Football program scheduled to begin play in the fall of 2009.
Old Dominion University officials first selected Global Spectrum in 2002 prior to the construction of the 8,600-seat arena. Since its opening a number of well-known acts, including Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Counting Crows, 50 Cent, Green Day and The Blue Man Group, have all played and sold out the Constant Center. The Constant Center is also home to Old Dominion University Men's and Women's Basketball teams, who play in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The first six months of 2007 continued a positive trend, with the Constant Center selling more tickets than any other North American arena under 10,000 seats, according to Pollstar Magazine. In 2005, the same publication named the Constant Center as the highest ranked arena under 10,000 seats in the world in their year-end edition.
"We're proud to continue our extraordinary partnership with Old Dominion University by being retained as the manager and operator of the Constant Center," commented Global Spectrum Regional Vice President and Constant Center General Manager Doug Higgons. "We were welcomed to the Old Dominion University community immediately. With that support, we have been able to bring new and diverse events to the Hampton Roads region. We look forward to providing continued success to the Constant Center, as well as providing our management expertise as ODU Football comes on the horizon in 2009."
In addition to managing the Constant Center, Global Spectrum also operates the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach scheduled to open in November, along with 11 other university arenas and convocation centers.
Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) is the fastest growing firm in the public assembly facility management field with more than 70 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies, Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League, 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 and 3601 Creative Group, a full-service in-house advertising agency. In a partnership with Disson Skating, Comcast-Spectacor annually produces 10 nationally televised figure skating spectaculars on NBC.