Author: Tim Newcomb

United Center Opens Uber Zone

PLACE TO WAIT: The Uber Zone lounge at United Center is built to accommodate 1,000 people. (Courtesy Uber) It’s first permanent structure at an arena for ride provider Ride-hailing company Uber will monitor its new Uber Zone at Chicago’s United Center to see what it can learn as it hopes to expand the effort. The arena partnered with Uber to build the new permanent structure to house a waiting lounge and serve as the designated pickup and drop-off location for all Uber rides coming to and from the 23,000-capacity arena. The building, which opened Friday, is company’s first permanent structure at any sports and entertainment arena, it said, and includes a dedicated temperature-controlled space near the arena’s main gates. The Uber Zone space was designed to accommodate 1,000 people while featuring seating, digital screens, music and phone-charging stations.  Uber spokesperson Kelley Quinn told VenuesNow that working with arenas and stadiums… Continue Reading United Center Opens Uber Zone

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Houston Used Xtra Effort to Nab Title Game

TDECU Stadium averaged more than 17,000 fans for the Houston Roughnecks’ first two home games. (Getty Images) TDECU Stadium will host XFL Championship in April Editor’s Note: The XFL officially canceled the remainder of its 2020 season March 20 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. As Houston works to brand itself as XFL Central, preparations have started for the city to host the league’s championship game April 26. The XFL, the upstart football league that launched play in early February, recently awarded its first title game to the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium, also home of the XFL Houston Roughnecks, one of the league’s eight teams. The 40,000-seat on-campus venue welcomed over 17,000 fans in each of the first two weeks of the regular season, which began Feb. 8. Only Seattle has drawn more fans to an XFL game this season.  Getting the XFL Championship game to Houston started long before… Continue Reading Houston Used Xtra Effort to Nab Title Game

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TD Ballpark Ties Jays Closer to Community

COMMUNITY: Populous designed an updated ballpark with more social spaces for the team and city. (Courtesy Toronto Blue Jays) Spring training home in Dunedin, Fla., reopens with $102M renovation For over 40 years, the Toronto Blue Jays have made Dunedin, Fla., their spring training home. That home received a $102 million upgrade for 2020, part of a plan to keep the Major League Baseball team rooted in Dunedin for another 25 years while providing fans and residents a fresh way to experience community at the updated TD Ballpark.  “When you arrive on site, it has a totally different look now,” said Mike Sabatini, Populous senior architect and principal. “There are new entrances, new amenities. Most of the additions were about social gathering places and areas the city and county can use on non-game days.”  The Populous design came as part of an agreement between the city and the team to… Continue Reading TD Ballpark Ties Jays Closer to Community

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Rangers Double Down on New Smokers

Globe Life Field’s two smokers can handle 80 beef briskets apiece. (Courtesy Delaware North Sportservice) Local partners, ballpark-only beer part of Sportservice concessions plans Home games for Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers move into Globe Life Field in March, but preparation for its culinary strategy has been in motion since the day Casey Rapp found out about the new 40,000-capacity ballpark more than two years ago. And that preparation, while embracing some of the most popular items at the old Globe Life Park, will also involve some new ideas. Rapp, Delaware North Sportservice general manager at the Rangers’ home stadium, said fans can expect two new smokers to serve up Texas brisket and other meats, the addition of an on-site bakery, a mix of fresh stands throughout the park, licensed food partners and even a stadium-specific beer. The Rangers have teamed with Houston’s Karbach Brewing Co. to develop a beer… Continue Reading Rangers Double Down on New Smokers

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Everett, Wash., Set to Host High-Grossing Fed Cup Event

HOLDING COURT: Angel of the Winds Arena, managed by Spectra, is ready for event play Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Angel of the Winds Arena) U.S.-Latvia women’s tennis event comes to Angel of the Winds Arena Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash., will play host to what could be the highest-grossing event in the U.S. Tennis Association’s 55-year history with the Fed Cup on Friday and Saturday when the U.S. faces Latvia there.  The countries will play a best-of-five competition, known as a tie, on a single court at the arena to determine which will advance in the Fed Cup, the World Cup of women’s tennis. The first country to win three matches will advance to April’s world finals, a 12-team event in Budapest, Hungary.  As the U.S. team of Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Alison Riske and Bethanie Mattek-Sands prepares for the Everett event, Corey Margolis, general manager of… Continue Reading Everett, Wash., Set to Host High-Grossing Fed Cup Event

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