A packed arena is nothing new to LIVE! Technologies Inc; nor is a multi-location, multi-day event. The full-service audio, visual, and lighting company is no stranger to extensive technical requirements, or to complex logistical challenges; but the international spotlight shown on Columbus, Ohio for the 2007 NHL Draft gave everyone involved something to be proud of.
Nationwide Arena became the focus of hockey fans everywhere on June 22 and 23rd. The Columbus Blue Jackets hosted this year’s Draft event, and with it the 3000 visitors who poured into the city. As NHL executives, scouts, and coaches gathered onto the arena floor, spectators swarmed the arena bowl for the historic event of global exposure. And the electricity running through the miles of wiring between the sound, lighting, and video production elements could not compare to the electricity in the air as the top two picks were announced.
“Already prominent as the colors of the host Columbus Blue Jackets, the shades took on a more important role as American players were taken with the top two picks for the first time in draft history” reports The Associated Press.
The Philadelphia Flyers’ choice, left wing James vanRiemsdyk of the U.S. National Team Development Program remarked, “Two Americans going with the first two picks – it’s an honor. I’m happy just to be a part of it.”
That sentiment is shared by LIVE! Technologies project manager Kevin Readey. It was Readey’s amicable relationship with Blue Jackets Director of Communications, Mark Gregory that provided the opportunity for LIVE! to coordinate with event producer Keith Storey of BaAm Productions from Toronto. As a recent addition to the sales staff at LIVE!, Readey takes a lot of pride in the result of his relationship with the Blue Jackets. BaAm was able to advance multiple aspects of the event with confidence in a quality product and excellent customer service thanks to Readey’s efforts.
LIVE! Technologies, working in concert with BaAm, the Blue Jackets, and the NHL provided an ambitious production package for the weekend to include audio, lighting, and rigging on the main floor, as well as ancillary packages to highlight the Stanley Cup, and augment the Top Prospects Luncheon and the post-draft press conference.
The pre-draft party on the Plaza of Nationwide Arena boasted LIVE!’s SL250 Mobile Stagevan, along with audio and lighting for the national recording artist, Yellowcard.
Even more intricate than the technical requirements for the event were the complex logistical opportunities. “Our attention to detail and the due-diligence required to coordinate all the logistics absolutely minimized the occurrence of negative incidents and made for a seamless event,” stated Readey. In addition to fine-tuning a labor schedule to meet the needs of the multi-faceted production, LIVE! also supplied the power distribution to the main floor, the supplementary events in the concourse, and to the mobile production truck provided by TSN Broadcasting from Toronto.
The broadcast itself incurred a historic notation, as 2007 marked the first year that television viewers received the opportunity to watch the first round of the draft live on Friday night. Audio feeds provided to the truck from LIVE!’s audio engineer Steve Jones were clean and precise, warranting kudos from TSN.
The success of the overall event left the local hockey community with a sense of appreciation associated with being in the NHL limelight, while the Midwest town itself was proud to share its hospitality to international visitors. And LIVE! Technologies Inc., though no stranger to event production and creative solutions, took pride in being a part of the surprise, in being a part of history.
