1. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE RATINGS DOWN 20 PERCENT: Ratings for the second U.S. presidential debate on Sunday between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump fell 20 percent, with 66.5 million viewers tuning in on TV. The first debate last month brought in a record 84 million viewers. The New York Times: “Sunday’s figure was nothing to sneeze at. It was roughly the same number of people who watched the first two debates between President Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012. And it is unusual for a second debate to draw a bigger audience than the first. Still, the release on Friday of a bombshell recording, which showed Mr. Trump boasting in vulgar terms about aggressively kissing and groping women, had seemed to promise a dramatic showdown, on a night of the week when many Americans stay in. But one broadcast network, NBC, ran an N.F.L. game instead of the debate. There was a baseball playoff game airing on TBS. And, perhaps, the novelty of Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump clashing on the same stage had worn thin. CBS had the largest viewership of any network, with about 16.5 million viewers. CNN, whose anchor Anderson Cooper served as a moderator alongside Martha Raddatz of ABC News, was the winner on cable, drawing 11.2 million viewers, its biggest-ever debate audience.” http://nyti.ms/2dRRjEU
2. VENUENEXT APP RAISES $15 MILLION TO EXPAND INTERNATIONALLY: VenueNext, a Silicon Valley-based venue management app that helps streamline live event experiences for venue operators and guests, has raised $15 million in Series B funding. The app plans to expand to Europe, as well as outside of live entertainment. TechCrunch: “Among other things, using VenueNext apps, people can wave their mobile tickets at the gate to get into a game or concert, order food, drinks or merchandise to be delivered to their seats, and get information and amenities that they need when they are in the venue. The SAP Center in San Jose, home to the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, is the most recent major venue to adopt VenueNext for the 2016-2017 hockey season. The Sharks join a long list of sports teams and venues to adapt VenueNext. The app will be familiar to anyone who has recently attended a game, concert or races at: Yankee Stadium, Churchill Downs, Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium, Dallas Cowboy’s AT&T Stadium, Belmont Park & Saratoga Springs, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium, where it debuted. … While VenueNext has found its early traction with stadiums and theme parks, the company’s founder, John Paul reports that hotels and hospitals are also signing up to use the app, at this point. ‘In a venue, we want to improve your guest or fan experience, through your smartphone. For the venue operators, we’re helping them improve their business through real time data that we collect about who is in the building and what they are doing during an event or their visit,’ he said. One feature of VenueNext’s platform that sports organizations like, Paul said, is a ticket ‘forwarding’ feature. This allows a ticketholder to easily give a ticket, via mobile, to friends or family when they can’t attend.” http://tcrn.ch/2e5W6Ch
3. TRUMP TAJ MAHAL CLOSES AFTER 26 YEARS: Iconic Atlantic City hotel and casino the Trump Taj Mahal closed on Monday after years of losing money and failing to find a solution to an employees’ union demands. USA Today: “The shutdown, which leaves 3,000 employees out of work, was widely expected after management announced the planned closure in August. Beset by labor strife and the decline of Atlantic City as a resort and gaming destination, the hotel lost ‘almost $350 million over just a few short years,’ billionaire investor Carl Icahn said in a statement Monday. About 1,000 employees, including cooks, bartenders, housekeepers and cocktail servers, went on strike July 1, seeking health care and pension benefits. Icahn said his last offer, which included medical benefits, was rejected and keeping the Taj open would have required additional investments and result in losses in ‘excess of $100 million over the next year.’ The union, Unite Here Local 54, says many workers at the hotel ‘have seen only 80 cents per hour in total raises over the last 12 years’ while the cost of living in Atlantic City has risen more than 25% during the period. ‘Workers are trying to reenter the middle-class after Icahn used the bankruptcy court to strip them of pay and benefits worth more than one-third of their total compensation,’ the union said in a statement released last month. ‘Housekeepers, servers and other casino workers at the Taj Mahal earn on average less than $12 and hour.’ Icahn's clash with the union employees cost the Taj Mahal an estimated $150 million, the union said. Meanwhile, Tony Rodio, CEO of Tropicana Entertainment Inc., which manages the hotel for Icahn Enterprises, said in August Icahn has lost about $100 million in trying to run the Taj Mahal after he acquired it from bankruptcy proceedings in February. Tropicana Entertainment is controlled by Icahn Enterprises.” http://usat.ly/2e3NiwU
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Boston Hot Pink Luncheon & Symposium will take place November 3 at the Boston Harbor Hotel. The event will feature a conversation between author Elin Hilderbrand and honorary chair Kelley Tuthill.
LAS VEGAS: Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas will host "Turn up the Pink," a champagne brunch raising awareness and support for breast cancer research, on October 23. The event will feature a performance by singer and Flaming Las Vegas headliner Olivia Newton-John.
LOS ANGELES: The second annual Burbank Beer Festival will take place Saturday on San Fernando Boulevard. The street fest will showcase more than 85 brews from more than 45 breweries.
Kaizen Dining Group debuted Tengoku Ramen Bar on October 6 in Arcardia. The ramen concept, which is helmed by executive chef Masa Kurihara and was designed by architect David Cun, seats 49.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The fourth annual South Beach Seafood Festival, hosted by Finlandia and Coca-Cola, will take place October 22 at Lummus Park.
NEW YORK: Tech conference Techweek New York runs through October 16. Speakers include Indeed president Chris Hyams, Audible founder and C.E.O. Don Katz, and Forbes reporter Kathryn Dill.
The team behind floating oyster bar Grand Banks will turn an FDNY boat called the Governor into a floating restaurant next year. Eater: http://bit.ly/2ekl3go
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Master sommelier George Miliotes will open Wine Bar George at Disney Springs in fall 2017. The 6,000-square-foot space will seat 210 people and serve a menu of small plates, cheese, and charcuterie to complement the wine list.
Paragon Events has named Jessica Zell marketing and communications coordinator.
TORONTO: The inaugural Toronto Catering Showcase will take place Sunday at the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon. The event will feature samples from catering companies including 10tation, the Food Dudes Inc., Eatertainment, and Parts & Labour Catering.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Boo at the Zoo will take place October 21-23 at the National Zoo. The family-oriented event will have more than 40 treat stations, after-hours access to exhibits, and Halloween-theme trails.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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