Business View Magazine | July 2019

148 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 been able to run the gamut on the types of event that we do, and I think that’s what really makes the facility unique – its ability to accommodate any end user or client. In 2018, we had 217 events and that translated into 329 event days. So, there were not too many days when the lights were off.” Speaking of lights, McClaine reports that the lighting at the ACC is particularly expressive. “The lights in the second level, the main room of the facility, are all LED,” he notes. “We can do 16 million different colors; we can put logos in the ceiling; we can change graphics and make them move and flash. It allows the user of the facility to create a brand with a click of a button. Then we have a series of changing colored lights throughout the lower level of the facility and also on the walkways coming in. So, if your company’s color is blue, we can introduce blue, right from the walkway when the attendee leaves his or her car, all the way into the facility. You mix that with the digital signage capabilities and it really allows a building user to help engage their attendees.” McClaine adds that the LED lighting in the Center also saves money on its energy bills. “When you’re doing 329 events and the lights are on, right there is where you see your energy efficiencies,” he explains. “It’s the same thing with our HVAC management platform. To be able to reduce the energy and the run times on those optimizes our energy savings. We’ve seen that in our annual budget, where our energy costs are less than what was projected before opening.” Regarding other New York State venues, McClaine says that Buffalo is the Center’s main competitor for business, but being the “shiny new toy on the block helps. Then there’s location, location, location,” he adds. “If you’re a state association, and you want to talk to your representative who might be at the Capitol, then, obviously, we’re right here. But one of the things that we’ve really been able to hang our hat on is our customer service. Once we get folks in here, and they work with our event managers, and they interact with our guest service staff - that is what sets us apart. The difficulty is getting them in the facility once, but once we get them here, I’m comfortable that they’ll have a