Wisconsin Center Event Manager's Sourcebook
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EVENT MANAGER’S SOURCEBOOK VERSION 6.16.2 AA GUIDEGUIDE AND AND RESOURCE RESOURCE FOR FOR HOLDING HOLDING YOUR YOUR EVENT EVENT AT AT THE THE WWISCONSINISCONSIN CCENTERENTER Dear Wisconsin Center Client: Welcome to the Wisconsin Center, Wisconsin’s premier convention facility - and one of the most technologically elite convention centers in the world! Whether you’re a returning customer or a newcomer to our premises, we want to provide you the same top-flight service. We’re excited about the success of the Wisconsin Center and hope your experience here will help you share in that excitement. Opened in July, 1998, the Wisconsin Center offers abundant, flexible space for exhibitions, meetings and banquets, and up-to-the-minute technology, in a jewel-like setting graced with over $1.2 million in commissioned and integrated artworks. It is connected by skywalk to two major downtown hotels, with skywalks extending to additional hotels as well as shopping and dining. The Wisconsin Center is part of a complex also consisting of the Miller High Life Theatre and the legendary UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The Miller High Life Theatre offers an exciting setting for general assemblies of as many as 4,100 people, and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena offers even greater capacity for over 12,000. Between the two, a full calendar of sports and entertainment is available just across the street from conventions, expositions and other gatherings at the Wisconsin Center and headquarters hotels. Milwaukee offers a remarkable context for all this, too; new shops, hotels, restaurants and attractions continue to blossom all over downtown and the metro area. Milwaukee is a city not just experiencing a short-term boom, but enjoying sustained revitalization and investment, with terrific benefits for visitors and a growing audience for shows. This Event Manager’s Sourcebook is designed to anticipate questions with the basic information you need to plan your event. Naturally, specific questions will arise, and that is why a professional Event Services Manager is assigned to your event. We welcome your comments and suggestions so we can continue to improve. Have a fantastic show, and a great time in Milwaukee! Sincerely, Marty Brooks President & CEO TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION & GENERAL INFORMATION Who we are..........................................................................................................................................v Facilities............................................................................................................................................v-vi General information.........................................................................................................................v-x Our “Green” initiatives.......................................................................................................................ix SECTION 2: POLICIES AND PRACTICES Booking information..................................................................................................................2.1-2.2 Ticketing information ......................................................................................................................2.3 Operational information...........................................................................................................2.4-2.9 Fire and safety requirements ....................................................................................................2.4-2.5 City of Milwaukee Hazardous Occupancy Permit requirements.................................................2.6 Electrical services .............................................................................................................................2.7 Labor ................................................................................................................................................2.8 Signage and banners ........................................................................................................................2.9 SECTION 3: THE WISCONSIN CENTER Wisconsin Center introduction........................................................................................................3.2 Exhibit hall rental options...............................................................................................................3.3 Dimensions & capacities ...........................................................................................................3.4-3.5 Street level..................................................................................................................................3.6-3.7 Mezzanine level .........................................................................................................................3.8-3.9 Upper (exhibit) level..............................................................................................................3.10-3.11 SECTION 4: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES Information technology services introduction ...............................................................................4.1 Data communications......................................................................................................................4.1 Voice communications .....................................................................................................................4.1 Video communications.....................................................................................................................4.2 Presentations ....................................................................................................................................4.2 Business Center ................................................................................................................................4.2 Video file specifications ...................................................................................................................4.2 SECTION 5 - EXHIBITOR INFORMATION General exhibitor policy information .............................................................................................5.1 Exhibitor loading and unloading procedures .................................................................................5.2 Exhibitor services .......................................................................................................................5.2-5.3 Wisconsin tax law requirements .....................................................................................................5.4 WISCONSIN CENTER ii EVENT MANAGER'S SOURCEBOOK All information in this manual is subject to change without notice. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 6 - MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Marketing and public relations services introduction...................................................................6.1 Free services......................................................................................................................................6.1 Advertising services ....................................................................................................................6.1-6.2 Facility advertising partners and sponsors.....................................................................................6.3 Marketing/PR questionnaire............................................................................................................6.5 SECTION 7 - VISITOR INFORMATION VISIT Milwaukee..............................................................................................................................7.1 Useful websites .................................................................................................................................7.1 Parking ........................................................................................................................................7.2-7.4 Driving Directions.............................................................................................................................7.5 SECTION 8 - MISCELLANEOUS Frequently-asked questions .............................................................................................................8.1 Where’s the nearest ..........................................................................................................................8.2 WISCONSIN CENTER iii EVENT MANAGER'S SOURCEBOOK All information in this manual is subject to change without notice. WISCONSIN CENTER iv EVENT MANAGER'S SOURCEBOOK All information in this manual is subject to change without notice. General information Who we are Our other facilities The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is a The newest member of our family, the Miller municipality created by the State of Wisconsin in High Life Theatre, offers a fantastic setting for 1994 to fund and build a new convention center, convention assemblies and live entertainment. and operate a full-service complex of convention and entertainment facilities – the Wisconsin In 2001, WCD committed Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the itself to transforming the Miller High Life Theatre – in downtown 1909 Milwaukee Auditorium Milwaukee. WCD is governed by a 15-member into a modern, 4,000-5,000 Board of Directors appointed from the public and seat assembly, concert and private sectors by the Governor, Mayor, Common theatrical venue; after a two- Council President and County Executive. WCD year, $41.9 million project, the facilities are funded by sales taxes on hotel new Miller High Life Theatre opened on rooms, car rentals and food and