The NH District Corp. (NHDC) has announced that Spectra will handle management of a proposed Richmond arena, providing some perspective on how the venue will operate if it comes to fruition.
The 17,500-seat arena will anchor a new mixed-use development in downtown Richmond, under a proposal currently being reviewed by City Council.
Spectra will also make an $8 million investment into the new arena, and with its reputation, national reach, and network of premier industry artists and promoters – including Live Nation, AEG Presents, and Feld Entertainment – the company will help to position Richmond as a must-stop destination for major shows and sporting events along the East Coast. Spectra will oversee venue operations, food services and hospitality, and marketing partnerships.
“Spectra has made a long-term commitment to the future of Navy Hill and to Richmond. We believe in this project, and we know that it will be a profitable one for the City, which is why we are excited to make a significant investment in Navy Hill,” said Dave Scott, CEO of Spectra. “Richmond is a historic city with a rich arts and culture scene that will only be enhanced by a modern facility with the capacity to draw first-rate acts and sell out shows. With Spectra managing venue operations, food and beverage, and sponsorships in tandem, we will be able to seamlessly integrate all elements necessary to successfully position the new venue among major artists and sporting events interested in tours starting in D.C. and heading south down I-95. We look forward to working with City Council and earning their support.”
The Navy Hill development will build a community where one does not currently exist in downtown Richmond. As part of the project, a new 500-room convention hotel and a restored 1910-era Blues Armory will be transformed into a three-level urban grocery, music venue and ballroom. Having these facilities alongside the existing Greater Richmond Convention Center will transform an area that has been resistant to growth in recent years.
“Having a world-class operator like Spectra committed to and invested in the arena in Navy Hill demonstrates how strongly they believe this will be one of the premier sports and entertainment venues on the East Coast,” said Michael Hallmark, Founding Partner of Capital City Partners, the team engaged by NHDC to conceptualize, design and manage the development of the project.
Spectra has a strong presence in Virginia and manages the food services at Virginia Commonwealth University and partnership sales for the State Fair of Virginia. The company operates the Greater Richmond Convention Center, VSU Multipurpose Center in Petersburg, Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, and the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach. Spectra also manages a mix of venue operations and food services at other major complexes across the country, such as the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.
“Spectra has been a member of the Richmond community and driver of the local economy for many years, and we value our relationship with the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority,” John Page, Spectra’s President of Venue Management, said. “We know Richmond, and we believe in it. Spectra will tap our long-standing relationships with top promoters to bring major concerts, sports tournaments, and other big events to visit Navy Hill, which will then attract larger groups to the convention center and nearby shops and restaurants. We are ready to go and are eager to engage with the community about this exciting project.”
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