1. N.F.L. BANS TAILGATING AT THE SUPER BOWL: Fans planning on partying at MetLife Stadium before the Super Bowl face strict restrictions: No grills, no lounge chairs, and no taking up more than one parking lot space for a get-together with other fans. The host committee laid out the rules and other transportation logistics at a news conference Tuesday. Fans will not be allowed to arrive via taxi or limo or on foot; they must take a designated charter bus, New Jersey Transit, or have a parking pass. Sports Illustrated: “That getting to and from MetLife Stadium might be difficult is not exactly a new revelation—one that will prove doubly true if the weather is inclement on that night. But the tailgate ban figures to be met with consternation, especially given how festive the atmospheres have been surrounding the stadiums in previous host cities like New Orleans, Miami and Indianapolis.” http://bit.ly/18RzdOn
2. GOOGLE SNUBBED AT MAJOR FRENCH EVENT: In a political move, the French cultural minister skipped the Paris launch of Google’s “Lab,” a hub for cultural players such as museums and fountains to collaborate with the search giant. AFP: “The French government is at loggerheads with Google over privacy and its controversial tax arrangements, but the cancellation prompted a last-resort scramble at the presidency and prime minister's office, which asked Innovation Minister Fleur Pellerin to go to the afternoon event instead.” http://bit.ly/1iW9gBb
3. MARKETING SUCCESS PROMPTS N.H.L. TO ADD MORE OUTDOOR GAMES: After the success of events such as Winter Classic, the N.H.L. is planning to expand its slate of outdoor games from one to six a season. And cities are eager to host them. Globe and Mail: “Some skeptics have moaned about the proliferation of outdoor games, but the contests are being embraced by fans and marketers. Sponsors pour money into the games, and tickets sell fast. A sellout of the 55,000 available in Vancouver for the March 2 game against the Ottawa Senators is expected, and two games at Yankee Stadium scheduled near the Super Bowl are close to sold out.” http://bit.ly/1cohw3S
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: According to Meetings Net, "The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority wants to change the economic model for conventions centers: It’s working to produce or co-produce its own events and develop other new revenue streams for Boston’s two major convention facilities." http://bit.ly/1aSAC14
CHICAGO: The Spa at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is offering "Healthy Holiday Parties" for as many as 12 guests. The parties include private yoga, belly dancing, spin, or belly-dancing classes, and guests get access to the locker room's amenities, which include steam rooms and saunas.
LAS VEGAS: Gaming Today: "The 2013 Global Gaming Conference was the biggest since 2008, attracting nearly 16,250 attendees, an increase of 3 percent over the 2012 event, according to the American Gaming Association, which sponsors the Las Vegas event with Reed Exhibitions.” http://bit.ly/1buU8Eq
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Convention Center will be managed by AEG Facilities. The management team will be headed by Brad Gessner, regional vice president of convention centers.
Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma along with actors Aziz Ansari, Zoe Saldana, and Olivia Wilde will announce the nominations for the 71st annual Golden Globe awards Thursday from the Beverly Hilton, which NBC’s Today show will air live.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Paragon Events of Delray Beach announced it will open its first international office in Sydney, Australia, in January.
NEW ORLEANS: BUKU Music & Art Project takes place March 21-22 at Mardia Gras World. The initial lineup includes the Flaming Lips, Ellie Goulding, David Guetta, Tyler the Creator, and more.
NEW YORK: The New York Times: “Aqueduct Racetrack is no one’s idea of an art gallery. But Paul Kelleher, a corporate development executive at the New York Racing Association, which operates the track, was keen to broaden his customer base and he saw potential. The place is big. It has lots of walls. Why not unleash a few street artists and let them do what they do best: spray-paint?” http://nyti.ms/1e579J9
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort has hired Laure Hitzig as director of catering and conference services. The hotel is expected to open next summer.
SAN FRANCISCO: SF Sketchfest is hosting its annual Comedy Festival from January 23-February 9.
TORONTO: Shawn Whalen is the new executive chef of the InterContinental Toronto Centre. As part of his new role, Whalen will oversee cuisine in the hotel's 20,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space.
WASHINGTON: The Washington Post reports from the after-party of the Kennedy Center Honors. “[Sonia] Sotomayor, who hosted the tribute to opera diva Martina Arroyo, made history as the first Supreme Court justice to appear in the Honors show in its 36 years. And the crowd went nuts. … And can we talk about that dress? The woman most often draped in a black robe looked positively soignée in a midnight blue sleeveless gown with a scoop neckline.” http://wapo.st/IY8UcZ
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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