The city of Bridgeport, CT, has signed a 20-year
contract with SC-based Volume Services America (VSA) to
operate the $52M, 10,500-seat Bridgeport Arena currently
under construction and scheduled to open in the fall of
2001, according to Cara Matthews of the CONNECTICUT POST.
VSA is contributing $8M to the project, while the state will
contribute $35M and the city $9M. The arena will be home to
a new AHL franchise. Bridgeport Economic Development Dir
Michael Freimuth said that VSA offered more money than the
other bidders on the contract -- NY-based Mentmore Holdings
and Comcast. Freimuth added that the city "anticipates
corporate sponsorship" of the arena, as a "combination
package" is possible for a ten-year arena naming-rights deal
with adjacent Harbor Yard ballpark (CT. POST, 7/26).
NEW DIVISION: VSA has also launched its new facility
management division, Facility Management Plus, for which
Daniel Smith will be Senior VP/Facility Management Services.
Also, former Ogden Entertainment facility management
division Dir of East Coast Operations Harold Bannon has been
named VSA's Exec Dir of Bridgeport Arena. Bannon brings 23
years of facility management experience (VSA).
