City of Las Cruces Selects Global Spectrum to Manage New Las Cruces Center

The City of Las Cruces Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) today made a recommendation to enter into negotiations with Global Spectrum, a leader in public assembly facility management, to manage the new Las Cruces Center, a $26-million convention and exhibition hall currently in development. City Council must still approve the final contract and selection.

“Global Spectrum has an outstanding reputation for operating similar facilities,” said Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Ken Mompellier who participated in the Advisory Committee. “They will be a tremendous asset to the City of Las Cruces in making our new Center the crown jewel of our revitalization of the region.”

Global Spectrum is a subsidiary of internationally recognized sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor. The company manages more than 70 arenas, stadiums and convention centers throughout North America.

Positioned ideally in the southern part of New Mexico, Las Cruces is a rapidly growing community and continues to be one of the nation’s hot spots for economic growth. More than 275 new hotel rooms will open in the next several months with even more planned for the following year. Annually, visitors generate over 480,000 room nights and contribute over $46 million to the local economy.

“Las Cruces is a terrific market for us,” said Global Spectrum’s John Page. “With numerous synergistic opportunities within the Global Spectrum family of facilities, we see great things for the Las Cruces Center and the residents throughout the Region.”

As operators of the Las Cruces Center Global Spectrum will be responsible for the pre-opening of facility, including working and consulting on the final stages of facility design and construction, preparing marketing programs, brochures and literature on the facility, preparing a pre-opening budget, recruiting, hiring and training a staff for the facility, supervising the procurement of furniture, fixtures and equipment, booking the facility, marketing the facility and securing subcontractors and analyzing all operational details. Global Spectrum will also establish and implement financial and accounting programs and procedures, as well as prepare the facility for its opening.

Upon opening, Global Spectrum will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility, including scheduling, booking, marketing, advertising, sales and sponsorship sales for the Center.

In addition to working with the City, Global Spectrum is establishing a partnership with New Mexico State University’s School of Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism and Management program to create opportunities for real-life experiences for student internships.

Thursday, June 12, 2008