jan-2018

208 209 At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. We provide elevators and escalators, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization, which add value to the lifecycle of any building. Contact our Phoenix branch at 623-434-3599 or visit kone.us/phoenix to learn more. GILA RIVER ARENA tion,theSuiteLevelClubconsistsof400upscaleseats withuniqueclubanddiningopportunities.While the FireballTerrace,abar andeatery,isopentoall guests in attendance,theBMWLounge isanupscale,privateclub, openexclusivelytoseasonticketholders. Namingrights totheArenawere initiallyheldbyJobing. com,aPhoenix-basedemploymentwebsite,but in2014, theywere transferredtotheGilaRiverCasinos,ownedby theGilaRiver IndianCommunity.Thenine-year sponsor- shipmarkedthe first time that aNativeAmericantribe heldthenamingrights for avenue inwhichoneof the fourmajorNorthAmericanprofessional sports leagues, competed.Inthat sameyear,thehockeyteamofficially changed itsname fromthePhoenixCoyotes totheArizo- naCoyotes. In2016,theCityofGlendaleselectedfacilities-manage- ment company,AEG(AnschutzEntertainmentGroup),to operate theArena,cancelling itscontractwith IceArizona, its formeroperator.AEG,aLosAngeles-basedcompany, and itsaffiliatedcompaniesown,operate,or consultwith, more than120venuesworldwide,includingtheStaples Center,which is thehomearena for theKingsof theNHL, theLosAngelesLakers,andtheLosAngelesClippers. AEG alsodevelopedL.A.Live,abustlingsportsandentertain- mentdistrict adjacent totheStaplesCenter.Thecompa- ny’sentertainmentdivision,AEGLive,ranksas theworld’s second-largest concert-promotioncompany. SeanLanger,DirectorofOperations,believes that the relationshipwiththeparent companyisacompetitive advantage for theArena,as is thebuilding’s location in PREFERRED VENDOR n Kone www.kone.us theWestgateEntertainmentDistrictnext tomanyother venuesandattractions,includingthenearbyUniversityof PhoenixStadium,homeof theArizonaCardinalsof the NFL.Inaddition,hesays thathis staff of40 is“first-rate” andthebuilding,itself,“isbeautiful.”“We’recontinuallytry- ingtomake improvements,though,andpartof our job is makingsurewe’rekeepingupwithtechnologyanddoing all thenecessaryupgrades tomake itmoreattractive for concertsandother typesof tenants,”heaffirms. “Inthe lastyear,we’vebeentryingtobuildtheback- boneof the infrastructure togetus tothepointwherewe canstartofferingmore interestingandfunthings for the public,”says ITManager,LynseyDowning.“We’veupgrad- edtheentirenetworkinfrastructure–wired,aswell as back-of-housewireless.Inthecomingyear,we’re looking toupgradeour fiberbackbone fromonegigtotengigs. Thatwill allowus tobumpupourwirelesscapabilities ifwewant tostartofferingpublicWiFi;we’ll havemore digital signageandthings like that.But,rightnow,we’re focusingonthehiddensideof that,which is the infra- structurebackbone.” OnewayinwhichtheArena isattemptingtodothat,is byparticipating inAEG’s1Earth,acorporateenvironmen- tal sustainabilityprogram.“Itsmission is toreduce the company’senvironmental impact,andreduceour carbon footprint,”Langer explains.“Sowe’reactiveandaggressive when it comes tothat area.We’re replacingsomeof our lightingwithLEDlights incertainareasof thebuilding; upgradingandchangingour lightingprogram;wedo mixedrecycling;water conservation; andwe’restarting upour foodcompostingprogram.It’sabigpartofwhat wedoatAEG.”