New managers talk up benefits of GM Centre

OSHAWA -- Global Spectrum Facilities Management is confident and prepared for its takeover of the troubled General Motors Centre on June 30.

First on its list of improvements is a major marketing overhaul.

"Over and over again I've heard that there weren't enough events and when there were no one knew about them," said Vince Vella, who will be taking over as general manager of the facility.

The company is currently developing a cyber club to notify members when new events are booked and is also planning to make better use of video boards during Oshawa Generals games.

"We want to bring in those events and make sure everyone knows about them," Mr. Vella said,

Global Spectrum replaces Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which has managed the facility since it opened in November 2006.

"Attendance was poor at a number of events that should have been better sold, because no one knew about them," said Stephanie Sinnott, manager of financial services for the City of Oshawa.

She cited a sparsely attended Toronto Rock lacrosse game as an example.

"Even the restaurant; they offer very good quality and service but no one knows that. It's things like that we noticed about MLSE; they weren't getting the word out about the building."

Philadelphia-based Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectator, currently manages 72 buildings, including London's John Labatt Centre and the soon to be opened Windsor Family Credit Union Centre.

The John Labatt Centre has attracted such big-name entertainers as the Who, Dixie Chicks, Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters and Billy Joel.

Both Mrs. Sinnott and Mr. Vella praise the GMC building and are hopeful that with some hard work, earlier deficits can be erased.

"We have all the pieces here to make this building successful," Mr. Vella said. "This is a great, thriving community and we have a great staff. The sky's the limit here."

Global Spectrum isn't intimidated by concerns about the venue's proximity to Toronto, stressing that Oshawa represents a separate, viable market,

"It's just a matter of educating the entertainment world," Mr. Vella said. "There are 600,000 people in Durham Region. Many of them don't want the hassle of travelling to Toronto, with the traffic and parking, when they could drive 15 or 20 minutes and watch a show closer to home."

He also struck down worries that casino exclusivity clauses, which prevent casino performers from playing anywhere in the vicinity for certain periods of time, might limit availability of entertainers.

"That's something we've dealt with at other locations," he said. "If an entertainer chooses to sign one and a lot of them don't, then you wait the six months and book them for the day after the contract is up."

Mr. Vella said the company has already been hard at work attracting programming for the GMC, with new events to be announced over the next few weeks.

"Hopefully, with a little hard work, we can pull in a few surprises," he said.