2015 A REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

ERIE EVENTS ADMINISTRATION Michael Bane – IT Services Manager Dawn Betza – Marketing Coordinator Elizabeth D’Aurora – Communications Coordinator Charles Iverson – Director of Finance and Administration Jessica Keith – Staff Accountant Brighid O’Brien – Premium Services Coordinator John “Casey” Wells – Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cheryl Wodecki – Controller Neal Wurst – Chief Mechanical Engineer

The board of directors is made up of ERIE INSURANCE ARENA 11 members who each serve four year Rick Balsiger – Building Maintenance Superintendent Ann Brunner – Kitchen Manager terms without compensation. The mayor Sonia Ferrante – Food and Beverage Coordinator of the city of Erie appoints two members, Brittany McGrorey – Server Coordinator Ed Snyder – Assistant Operations Manager the governor of Pennsylvania appoints Patti Wigham – Administrative Assistant two members, and each member of Erie Beth Wilkinson – Concessions Operations Manager County Council appoints one member. Ray Williams – Operations Manager This selection process assures the board TICKETING is a broad representation of Erie County. Reine Neal – Assistant Box Office Manager Ann Noble – Box Office Manager EIA CREW LEADERS Elizabeth Barber Tom Klep Steve Scutella Chad Sexton Steve Tomczak James Marnen, Thomas Doolin, Gwendolyn White, Chairperson Vice Chairperson Secretary JERRY UHT BALLPARK Dan Carroll – Assistant Head Groundskeeper Brandon Schanz – Head Groundskeeper WARNER THEATRE Barry Copple – Operations Manager

Bruce Whitehair, David Ciacchini Joseph Hilbert BAYFRONT CONVENTION CENTER Treasurer Ryan Callahan – Sous Chef David Robbinson – Executive Chef Lisa Di Luzio – Director of Marketing and Sales Jeff Esposito – General Manager Jacob Juliano – First Cook Supervisor Mike Kelly – Operations Manager Rachel Libra – Event Coordinator Gwen O’Brien – Food and Beverage Coordinator Sandra Olsen – Sales Manager Michael Roger Richards Eric Seggi Carolyn Phillips – Administrative Assistant McCormick Penny Stebbins – Finance Systems Manager Martha Stickner – Senior Event Coordinator Dave Yusz – Assistant Operations Manager/ Building Superintendent BCC CREW LEADERS Nick Fisher Louis Johnson Christopher Sue Sutto Bob Rinderle Sinnott 628 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES 44 erie events OUR MISSION FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES The mission of Erie Events, formerly known as the Erie County Convention Center Authority, is to provide world-class convention facilities and entertainment venues throughout the region to visitors and residents, their families and friends. Erie Events strives to present a diverse selection of performing arts and sporting events 57% enjoyable to not just residents of our own community, but also to meeting and convention visitors, travelers and vacationers. TOTAL HOTEL TAX OCCUPANCY Erie Events employs 628 part-time and 44 full-time staff members, and operates the Erie Insurance Arena, Warner Theatre, Jerry Uht Ballpark and the Bayfront Convention Center. The operation of these facilities is supported by the hotel occupancy tax. All visitors to our community who stay overnight at any hotel in Erie County pay the tax. Erie Events receives 57 percent of the hotel occupancy tax and VisitErie receives 43 percent. The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, owned by Erie Events, generates more bed tax than any other hotel in the county. Operated by the hotel management company White Lodging, the Sheraton generates sufficient operating revenue to satisfy all of its financial obligations. 2014 direct spending $94.3 MILLION

$42.5 MILLION ERIE INSURANCE ARENA $24 MILLION JERRY UHT BALLPARK $16.7 MILLION BAYFRONT CONVENTION CENTER $11.1 MILLION WARNER THEATRE * Based upon data from D.K. Shifflet and Associates for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (7.7% increase over 2013) 2014 event 2014 payments attendance made to city of erie $565,615

$ 116 , 8 7 2 $202,792 INFRASTRUCTURE PERMITS/FEES PAYMENTS

$212,149 396,418 ERIE INSURANCE ARENA $17,442 PARKING TAX AMUSEMENT TAX 222,406 JERRY UHT BALLPARK 146,451 BAYFRONT CONVENTION CENTER $16,360 86,023 WARNER THEATRE OTHER TAXES

851,298 TOTAL EVENT ATTENDANCE erie insurance arena The newly renovated, multipurpose Erie Insurance Arena is drawing bigger- than-ever crowds to downtown Erie. In 2014, our patrons enjoyed family performances, sporting tournaments and national touring artists including Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, Cirque du Soleil’s “Varekai,” Gala of the Royal Horses, Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “The Christmas Attic,” the Women’s Division II College Basketball National Championship, Disney on Ice and the Harlem Globetrotters. It was the host site for the first ever Rock the Lakes, a two-day evangelism event, drawing 14,500 people to the facility. The Arena is home to the OHL Erie Otters, the NBA D-League Erie BayHawks and the PIFL Erie Explosion. It was a record-setting season for the BayHawks as they set the single-season attendance record by averaging 3,460 fans per game. The OHL Erie Otters also set their own record with single-season attendance at 4,429 fans per game. The $1.5 million scoreboard was also installed in 2014, adding to the fan experience.

seating capacity direct spending 9,000 CONCERTS $42.5 MILLION 6,800 BASKETBALL 6,700 HOCKEY $ 13 SUITES & GOERIE CLUB

event event 396,418 attendance 134 days warner theatre

Registered as a National Historic Place, the Warner Theatre bears the name of the world-famous Warner Brothers, who commissioned it to be built in 1929. And 83 years later, it’s still shining bright. In 2014, artists including Straight No Chaser, Lisa Lampanelli and Boz Scaggs appeared on stage. The Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Lake Erie Ballet and the Erie Broadway Series also had numerous performances at the theatre last year. The entrance to the Warner is even more picturesque after all the brass finishes, including the doors and ticket booth, were restored to their original luster in 2014. With the land acquisition issues for the expansion of the theatre nearly resolved, it is anticipated the final phase of the restoration of the theatre will begin in 2016 and be completed in the fall of 2017.

seating capacity direct spending 2,200 $ $11.1 MILLION

event event 120 days 86,023 attendance bayfront convention center In 2014, the BCC played host to numerous conventions, corporate meetings and state-wide events. These events — which included the Polish National Synod Convention, PA Election Personnel Association, PA Recorder of Deeds Association, THIRST, Grand Lodge of PA, PSEA Student Conference, Summa Fall Summit, Gymnastics Invitational and the PA State Pool Tournament —drew thousands of people to the Erie region. Consumer trade shows and community events also played a vital role in the 2014 event schedule, and included the Auto Show, Sport and Travel Expo, Home and Garden Expo, Golf Show and Bridal Expo. A special JES Global Summit featuring former First Lady Laura Bush was a highlight of the year. With the addition of the Courtyard by Marriott Bayfront Hotel in 2016, the BCC will be positioned to host more conventions and regional events at the 155,000-square-foot venue. In 2014, the BCC hosted:

• 30 convention/trade/consumer shows • 422 business meetings/corporate events • 88 banquets • 29 other events building capacity direct 28,800 GREAT HALL SQ. FT. spending 13,500 GRAND BALLROOM SQ. FT. $16.7 MILLION 9,000 SUNSET TERRACE SQ. FT. $ 15 MEETING ROOMS

event 146,451 attendance 569 events jerry uht ballpark

Since 1995, the Uht has been home to the Erie SeaWolves, the AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Celebrating 20 years at the park, 2014 was a special season for the team and fans. On average, the Seawolves had 3,124 fans per game last year. Jerry Uht Ballpark hosted more than 20 additional events in 2014 including an Erie Downtown Partnership Block Party, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk, the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Home Run Derby, Fortis Institute graduation, PIAA playoffs, City/County All-Star game and baseball clinics in partnership with Chevrolet and the Barber National Institute.

seating capacity direct spending 6,000 $24 MILLION 6 SUITES $

event event 87 days 222,406 attendance sheraton erie bayfront hotel The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel welcomes visitors to one of Erie’s most magnificent assets — the bayfront. The Sheraton and its employees take pride in the community, showing its guests top-notch service. For the second year in a row, the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel was ranked first in overall satisfaction by the Sheraton Brand in North America. This ranking was generated from 203 Sheraton’s in North America. It also ranked first for restaurant quality by Sheraton globally for 2014, and was ranked Trip Advisor’s number one hotel in Erie. They were named a Triple Platinum Hotel, GSS Leader of the Year, Market Share Leader of the Year and Full Service Rookie General Manager of the Year.

In 2014, a $2 million construction project began with updates to the public areas, restaurant, banquet spaces, guest rooms and hallways —plus a new revolving door was installed. The renovations will help ensure this beautiful hotel continues to rank at the top of the Sheraton brand across the country.

employees 60 FULL TIME 50 PART TIME 20 SEASONAL

ranked in overall satisfaction # by the Sheraton Brand in hotel 1 North America in 2014 200 rooms courtyard by marriott bayfront hotel

Currently, there is one, 200-room hotel adjacent to the Bayfront Convention Center. The market has shown another hotel in close proximity to the convention center is necessary to attract larger conventions. One of the main reasons convention planners choose other cities is the lack of hotel space attached to the facility. The location of this new Courtyard by Marriott Bayfront Hotel, connected to the Bayfront Convention Center, will be able to provide more rooms and space for those who are considering Erie as their convention location.

• Room types: 56 king, 122 queen/double, 14 suites • Two meeting rooms • Two swimming pools • Outdoor terrace • Fitness center • Completion date: spring 2016

employees hotel 41 FULL TIME development 14 PART TIME $ $58.5 MILLION

hotel parking 192 rooms 283 garage spaces bayfront place The goal of the Bayfront Place Development Plan is to create a comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide growth and development of the site. The development program reflects the highest and best use of Erie Event’s 12-acre site; one of the last developable pieces of property on Erie’s bayfront. Kidder Wachter Architecture and Design, the firm responsible for the creation of the Development Plan, is committed to respecting this site as an exceptional, year-round public resource through the use of quality public spaces, access to the water’s edge, and a mix of tax generating properties.

Prior to the current planning process, Erie Events spent $7 million to environmentally remediate the site to ensure future development. Additionally, in September 2014, Erie Events opened an uninterrupted 1100-foot long by 14-foot wide asphalt pathway that borders the site along the water’s edge.

2010 2014 Erie Events Act 2 compliant 2007 purchased 2012 by DEP Spring 2015 GAF closed land for Bayfront Place Bayfront Place asphalt plant $3 million Concept Plan Development Plan unveiled 2015 2007 2010 2014 GAF plant 2012 1,100 ft. Fall 2015 demolished Pennsylvania Department walkway along Bayfront Place of Environmental Bayfront Implementation Protection Cleanup Place Opens 809 French Street Administrative • 814-453-7117 Erie, PA 16501 Fax • 814-455-9931 www.erieevents.com Box Office • 814-452-4857

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