July 8, 2016: How Venues Accommodate eSports Fans, Uber Partners With One Political Convention, Schick to Unleash Shaving Superhero at Comic-Con

1. HOW VENUES ACCOMMODATE ESPORTS FANS: With large-scale eSports events on the rise, venues hosting the video game competitions are catering to fans in a variety of ways. Whether its leaner re-entry policies or alternative food and drink offerings, venues hope to attract and cash in on a new group of event attendees. Los Angeles Times: "For owners, operators and concessionaires of venues, e-sports are the biggest new mass-spectator events since raves, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the X Games. An estimated 47 million North Americans will tune into e-sports this year, according to research firm Newzoo. As venues—and cities—contend for the growing business, the same way they skirmish over concerts and conventions, they’re learning how to win over promoters and profit off gamers. To start, fans attending a marathon day of matches aren’t as willing to be held captive—forced to buy the arena’s food—as those at a three-hour NHL game. Staples Center plans to have more signage and ushers since many e-sports fans are first-time patrons. Concessions seller Delaware North expects to stock up on energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bull, preferred over beer among video game enthusiasts. And the Downtown Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which hosts weekly amateur tournaments, has started serving more food on skewers. … Fan complaints have brought experience improvements too. Bean bags became an alternative to uncomfortable floor seats. Stages got moved to create better viewing angles. And there's talk of selling luxury suites packed with computers so fans can game during intermission. Because more venues want to host e-sports events than there are competitions to go around, promoters could secure additional fan-friendly features." http://lat.ms/29kOlF3

2. UBER PARTNERS WITH ONE POLITICAL CONVENTION: As the official transportation provider of the Democratic National Convention, Uber will be a go-to service for top party officials and delegates in Philadelphia at the end of the month. The Republican National Convention—despite the fact that many G.O.P. delegates publicly use Uber—failed to reach an official partnership with the ride-sharing app. Politico: “Uber does plan to host parties at both conventions as well as offer ‘rider lounges,’ designated spaces where people waiting for rides can enjoy water, snacks and ‘information about what the company is doing around the world.’ Ahead of both nominating events, Uber will do promotions that highlight neighborhoods and drivers in Cleveland and Philadelphia, too. But the lack of a major Uber presence at the Republican convention is another headache for GOP leaders, who have seen a number of companies decide to skip or scale back their participation with Trump as the presumptive nominee. In the tech world, Apple and HP have said they will not take part; Apple's decision was in reaction to Trump's incendiary rhetoric on immigrants, women and minorities, according to sources. … In Philadelphia, Democratic VIPs will be able to request trips on a special version of Uber’s app. The company plans to rely on a pool of convention volunteers who will use rental cars to shuttle around bigwigs identified in advance by the party. The idea is that by providing a separate fleet for the convention, Uber won't reduce the number of drivers available to other passengers who want to use the rideshare service in the city.” http://politi.co/29mbKKC

3. SCHICK TO UNLEASH SHAVING SUPERHERO AT COMIC-CON: Razor brand Schick will introduce a real-life version of its brand icon—the Schick Hydro Robot Razor—at San Diego Comic-Con July 21-24. The seven-foot-tall mascot, who first appeared in a Super Bowl ad earlier this year, will be programmed to accommodate convention attendees. Advertising Age: "The effort, led by JWT, New York, with help from Edelman on PR, begins with a social-media campaign July 7. The brand is asking guys to tweet some of life's funniest irritations with the #HydroRescue hasthtag to the @SchickHydro account for a chance to win a trip to San Diego with a friend for Comic-Con -- and to meet 'Star Trek' star Zachary Quinto. Robot Razor will be handing out bottled water to people standing in long lines at Comic-Con, or offering to take their place in line so they can take bathroom breaks, said Edgewell Personal Care Senior Brand Manager Anastasia Tobias. He'll also be providing tote bags and sunscreen. Part of the idea behind putting the computer-generated Robot Razor character into Schick Hydro's TV ad in the first place was always to have him become a live-action hero someday, Ms. Tobias said. To do that, JWT commissioned costume and prop maker Shawn Thorsson to make the slightly larger-than-life walkabout, said creative director Billy Faraut. At the event, Schick also will have a Super Shave Shop, where guys can get styled in the manner of comic heroes and villains (Wolverine anyone?), and a Hydration Station, both as part of a partnership with Entertainment Weekly that also includes print and digital ads leading up to Comic-Con." http://bit.ly/29lbiHY

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  Apple Hospitality REIT has closed on a deal to purchase Home2 Suites by Hilton Atlanta Downtown for $24.6 million. The 128-room hotel opened in 2015, and is managed by McKibbon Hospitality.

BOSTON:  Madison Square Garden Co. has taken a controlling stake in Boston Calling Events, which produces the Calling Music Festival. Billboard: http://bit.ly/29jz2NK

CHICAGO:  Latin alternative music festival Ruido Fest runs today through Sunday at Addams/Medill Park. Event sponsors include Coors Light, AT&T, and Toyota.

COLUMBUS, OHIO:  Alliance Hospitality Inc. and KB Hotel Group have finalized a merger agreement and rebranded into a new company called Witness. Press release: http://bit.ly/29tEZtU

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN:  The Drury Inn & Suites has opened at 5175 28th St. SE, making it Drury Hotels Company's first property in the market and third in the state of Michigan. In addition to having 180 guest rooms, the hotel features more than 2,900 square feet of meeting and event space.

LOS ANGELES:  The inaugural LA Fleet Week will take place September 2-5 at the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center. Organizers have launched a website for the event. Press release: http://bit.ly/29qyCHg

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Sugar, a two-level rooftop bar and garden, has opened on the 40th floor of East, Miami, the flagship hotel of Brickell City Centre. Designed by Los Angeles-based Studio Collective, Sugar's decor resembles a lush, Southeast Asian jungle, and the menu offers modern Asian cuisine. The bar can accommodate 31 people, while the lower deck can hold 78 diners. Reservations are not required for parties of less than 20 people.

The Delray Beach Garlic Fest has changed its name and host city. The event, which is now called South Florida Garlic Fest, is relocating to Lake Worth for its 18th edition, which will take place February 10-12, 2017. The festival had to move from Delray Beach after the city denied an event permit due to a new law limiting public events in the city's downtown area.

NEW YORK:  Flame Con, a comic convention for L.G.B.T.Q. topics, is having a Youth Day by giving free admission to people under the age of 20 on August 21, the second day of the two-day event. Flame Con, which has partnered with the Ali Forney Center for this promotion, will take place at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Stars from Broadway and the Orlando theater community will unite July 25 to perform Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting. The event at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will include Chita Rivera, Norbert Leo Butz, Andrea McArdle, and many more.

Several food halls are in the works around Central Florida. Orlando Sentinel: http://bit.ly/29lgex3

PHILADELPHIA:  Oktoberfest, presented by Brauhaus Schmitz, will take place October 7-9 at 23rd Street Armory.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The 39th annual Mill Valley Film Festival, presented by the California Film Institute, will take place October 6-16 with screenings at CineArts@Sequoia and 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley, Century Cinema in Corte Madera, and Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.

TAMPA:  Smart City Networks will continue to be the official provider of digital communications services at Tampa Convention Center meetings and events for the next two years.

TORONTO:  IMG has cancelled Toronto Fashion Week due to a lack of local support. The Canadian Press: http://bit.ly/29rVbws

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The seventh annual Living Earth Festival will take place July 15-17 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. This year's event focuses on indigenous agriculture and foods, and includes a screening of two Seasoned with Spirit episodes, cooking demos, music, dance, and artist presentations.

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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.

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