December 28, 2015: Auto Shows Face Major Competition From International C.E.S., Tech Companies Jumping on 'Star Wars' Bandwagon With Private Screenings, Snoop Dogg Will Host Pre-Super Bowl Talk Show for Adidas

1. AUTO SHOWS FACE MAJOR COMPETITION FROM INTERNATIONAL C.E.S.: The nation’s major auto shows face competition from an unlikely source: International C.E.S. CTV News: “When the North American International Autoshow opens its doors to the public on January 11, it will do so without Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini or McLaren. That doesn't mean that the show will be a disappointment — the new Mercedes E Class, one of the marque's most important cars, will be making its global debut, as will the new Porsche 911 Turbo. However, as the list of attendees at this year's event has contracted, the number of car companies heading to the International CES — a trade show for consumer electronics — has never been longer.” http://bit.ly/1VmcU6V

2. TECH COMPANIES JUMPING ON 'STAR WARS' BANDWAGON WITH PRIVATE SCREENINGS: The event theme of the year for tech companies is Star Wars, with firms such as LinkedIn and Lyft hosting private screenings and other events tied to the blockbuster movie series. International Business Times: “Team outings, themed parties and private screenings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens have become the hottest must-have perks for companies across Silicon Valley and the rest of the tech industry this year. Companies are throwing hundreds of these parties at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars to satisfy their employees, clients and users’ thirst for the latest film in Star Wars, one of the most beloved franchises among geeks, nerds and techies from all walks of life. As Silicon Valley perks go, the dollar amounts pale next to the millions companies often spend on lavish parties with expensive decor and high-priced artists. For Silicon Valley, the private Star Wars screening is this year’s cheapest yet most effective way of rewarding good work.” http://bit.ly/1QRDiqx

3. SNOOP DOGG WILL HOST PRE-SUPER BOWL TALK SHOW FOR ADIDAS: Snoop Dogg will host an eight-episode talk show called Turf’d Up for Adidas in which the rapper interviews former N.F.L. players, celebrities, and others in advance of Super Bowl 50. The first episode airs Wednesday on YouTube. Adweek: “Snoop Dogg may seem like a strange choice for a football talk show host, but he's an avid fan and earlier this year Adidas tapped the entertainer to be their head of football development.” http://bit.ly/1OGHVx2

4. LIVE NATION FACES FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER PRESALE TICKETS: Songkick, a company that works with artists such as Adele, Miranda Lambert, and Paul McCartney to sell concert tickets to fan clubs and through artists’ websites, has sued concert promoter and ticket seller Live Nation in federal court. The suit argues that Live Nation is violating antitrust law by pressuring artists not to use Songkick’s services. The New York Times: “The case highlights the value of the international touring market, where artists now often make the majority of their income. Live Nation, which declined to comment on the suit, is the world’s largest concert promoter, and in 2014 its Ticketmaster division sold $23 billion in tickets, according to company reports. Songkick’s case focuses on a little-known but highly valuable corner of the business: the sale of advance tickets through artists’ websites and fan clubs. While major ticketing companies like Ticketmaster often have exclusive deals with concert venues to sell tickets for all shows that take place there, musicians have historically been allowed to sell a small portion of the tickets — usually 8 percent, but sometimes more — directly to their followers through the artists’ fan clubs or websites, usually in ‘presales,’ or limited offerings before tickets go on sale to the public.” http://nyti.ms/1YzXhbT

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Maiden is now open in South Boston. The 80-seat restaurant specializes in oysters, cheeses, and meats.

Lady M Confections will open in Back Bay in February. With other locations in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Singapore, the bakery is best known for its cakes made out of stacked crepes.

CHICAGO:  Redmoon Theater is closing its doors and will cease all operations this month. DNA Info: http://dnain.fo/1MrZ0ck

The company behind Equinox fitness clubs plans to open an Equinox hotel in the West Loop. The hotel will have 145 rooms and 100 condos.

The Children’s Place Association will host its next “Once Upon a Time” gala at Morgan Manufacturing on April 16.

The Sixth is now open in Lincoln Square. From the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, the venue serves craft cocktails, beer, and wine; it’s next door to the new Roots Handmade Pizza.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is now open in Lincoln Park. The bakery serves bundt cakes in flavors such as red velvet and lemon and can prepare cakes for special occasions.

LAS VEGAS:  The Las Vegas Monorail will remain open and running around the clock from 7 a.m. New Year’s Eve continuously through New Year’s Day, closing as usual at 3 a.m. on January 2, to accommodate revelers throughout the night. Last year, an estimated 340,000 people gathered along the Las Vegas Strip.

Bandwagon Taxishare will return as the official taxi share partner for International C.E.S.

LOS ANGELES:  Jon Michaels, the vice president and co-partner of Los Angeles-based event company Extraordinary Events, died on December 14. He was 45 years old and the son of longtime event planner Andrea Michaels.

The Los Angeles Mission and Festival of Children Foundation Christmas Eve event enlisted hundreds of volunteers from the entertainment industry, politics, and the community to help needy people on the city’s Skid Row on December 24. Toyota and Nestlé were sponsors, and once again chef Ben Ford devised the menu for the feast.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The paint party and music festival Life in Color will return to Miami for its third edition on January 16 at Sun Life Stadium. Produced by SFX Entertainment, the event features a lineup including Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Ruby Rose, and Big Sean in his EDM debut.

NEW YORK:  As part of its town hall meeting series called Fashion Sharing Progress, Glasgow Caledonian University New York will host an event featuring a conversation between Jeffrey Kalinsky, vice president and fashion director of Nordstrom, and New York Fashion Week creator Fern Mallis on January 13.

Committee for Hispanic Children and Families will host its A Slice of Latin America 16th annual gala on March 22 at Capitale.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Pointe Orlando will open the first Florida location of Dallas-based entertainment brand Main Event. The 48,000-square-foot space will offer bowling, laser tag, a gravity ropes courses, interactive games, food, and a full bar. It's expected to open in the fall.

Orlando World Center Marriott now has a nightly 13-minute laser light show at the resort's Falls Pool Oasis. There are four different shows, with light and laser effects synchronized with music, and the hotel plans to offer custom shows during holidays throughout the year.

SAN FRANCISCO:  For its holiday party, Uber rented out the Pier 27 cruise terminal and hosted a silent disco with a doughnut station, an open bar, and a dog in a miniature tuxedo. Business Insider: http://read.bi/1Ojm1pB

TORONTO:  BlogTO reviews event mishaps from 2015, including the last-minute cancelation of Digital Dreams’ Saturday lineup, and the rained-out Wanderlust 108 race. http://bit.ly/1QSWhis

Next year’s Rogers Cup tennis tournament will take place in Toronto July 25-31.

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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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