July 8, 2015: Philadelphia Makes Security Plans for Papal Visit, Are the Pan Am Games a Tough Sell?, U.S. Soccer Team Gets Ticker-Tape Parade

1. PHILADELPHIA MAKING SECURITY PLANS FOR PAPAL VISIT: As Pope Francis rallies millions on his tour of South America, cities in North America and preparing for the pontiff's visit in September. In Philadelphia, where the Catholic leader will make appearances at several events and crowds are estimated at 1.5 million or more, federal officials and organizers are discussing constructing a security fence around certain areas. Philly.com: "A source involved in the event planning said portions of Center City would be surrounded by fencing, but that the footprint of the security perimeter is being worked out and is largely contingent on the pope's Philadelphia itinerary, which could change in the next three months. ... [Spokesman for the Secret Service, Robert Hoback] said specific information about street closures and security perimeters would not be released until three weeks before the event. ’There are many options, possibilities, still being discussed; i.e., where exactly the secure perimeter will be, what road closures will be in effect, where the magnetometer checkpoints will be located, and what folks will be allowed to bring into the venues,’ he said.'” http://bit.ly/1Hd0WGp

2. ARE TORONTO'S PAN AM GAMES A TOUGH SELL?: The start of the Pan Am Games in Toronto is just days away, but nearly half of the tickets remain unsold and organizers are looking to drum up local interest in the major sports event. The Globe and Mail: "While organizers are optimistic that they will meet their goal of selling 1.4 million tickets, those in the business of sports ticketing and marketing say the lack of prestige compared with the Olympics means tickets may remain a hard sell. ... Mixed messaging may be to blame for slow sales. While organizers have tried to entice the public with affordable ticket prices, residents of Southern Ontario have also been discouraged from attending with the implementation of temporary high-occupancy-vehicle lanes that have irked drivers." http://bit.ly/1Tk7Pv0

3. U.S. WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM GETS TICKER-TAPE PARADE: Celebrations for the United States women's soccer team's World Cup win have already started, with a rally at the Staples Center in Los Angeles that saw an estimated 10,000-person crowd yesterday. In New York, the mayor's office announced the city will hold a ticker-tape parade in Lower Manhattan on Friday. The July 10 salute doesn't come without its challenges, financial and political. The New York Times: "Because of the sizable expense—the administration estimated a cost of $1.5 million to the city, excluding $450,000 from private sponsors—and traffic issues, the city has for years shunned ticker-tape parades for athletes who do not call New York home. The city last honored a group of national athletes in 1984, when Olympic medal winners were feted after the Los Angeles games." http://nyti.ms/1G6eYpw

4. SEE THE CASINO CHANEL BUILT: As he has in the past, Karl Lagerfeld created an immersive, elaborate set for his Chanel haute couture show, this time turning the Grand Palais in Paris into a casino. WWD: http://bit.ly/1LW8qlm


INDUSTRY NEWS

On Tuesday, Time Inc. announced its acquisition of Invnt, the seven-year-old experiential company with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Detroit, San Francisco, Laguna Beach, California, and London. Invnt's founder and global managing partner, Scott Cullather, will continue to lead the company, reporting to Tom Ford, Time Inc.'s executive vice president of global advertising.

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta may move its annual conference from Stone Mountain Park, a site that displays the Confederate flag. Atlanta Journal-Constitution: http://on-ajc.com/1eDGQeN

AUSTIN:  Proposed regulations on Carson Creek Ranch could hinder Live Nation's plans to hold multiday festivals at the venue. Austin Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1CmnTID

BOSTON:  Vanessa Williams will sing at the We Are Boston gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in November.

CHICAGO:  Lookingglass Theatre’s junior board will host its Madhatter’s Ball at Water Tower Water Works on August 29. With a nautical theme, the event will include dancing, DJs, and musical acts as well as cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

LAS VEGAS:  U.F.C. athletes, including Fabricia Werdum and CM Punk, will participate in a culinary showdown, the Ultimate Cookoff, July 9 at Lagasse's Stadium at the Palazzo Las Vegas.

Aria Resort & Casino's Sky Suites has been named the top hotel destination in the city by TripAdvisor.

Andiron Steak & Sea has a new summer dinner tasting menu, available through August.

LOS ANGELES:  Wanderlust, producer of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, announced Tuesday that it will open Wanderlust Hollywood with a two-day celebration held July 24-25. The new venue is a 10,000-square-foot multilevel community center and social club.

Crossroads restaurant by chef Tal Ronnen has introduced a catering arm.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Restaurateur Michael Sullivan and chef Tomas Prado plan to open the Golden Fig later this summer in the former OTC space in Brickell. The 55-seat restaurant will have a sophisticated farmhouse concept.

NEW YORK:  The fourth annual St. Barth Hamptons Gala will take place July 18 in Bridgehampton. Presented by Social Life magazine and St. Barth Tourism, the event will be hosted by Katie Lee, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Bridgehamption Historical Museum.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Honda will make its American International Motorcycle Expo debut October 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center.

SAN FRANCISCO:  South of Market French bistro Le Charm will close on July 31 and be replaced with another French venture, Mathilde, which is set to open August 21. SFGate: http://bit.ly/1HKZqyM

TORONTO:  Fancy Franks will host its third annual National Hot Dog Day, in support of Jays Care Foundation, on July 23.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Sneaker Mania, a consumer show featuring 50 vendors who are buying, selling, or trading shoes, will take place July 25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The show will take over more than 13,000 square feet.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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