ArenaFest To Debut Next Summer, Incorporate Social Networks

ArenaFest will debut next summer with "several draws, including live sports, live music, and live contests," and the event will allow social networks to "interact with what’s going on inside the arena," according to Erick Schonfeld of TECH CRUNCH. Arena Works Entertainment CEO John Ossenmacher, whose company operates ArenaFest, calls it "our version of live social networking." People who attend the event "will be able to interact with their friends on Facebook and MySpace." At ArenaFest, the audience "will be encouraged to participate" in a "variety of contest stations, including a Lacrosse Challenge, Guitar Hero, Next Top Model (to lure the ladies), Dodgeball and Break Dancing." There will also be "some sort of dating game." The event will cost $27.50 per ticket. ArenaFest "will start with 10 arenas in places like Dallas, Detroit, Cleveland, Phoenix and Anaheim" and "will eventually be held at 50 major sports arenas around the country" (TECHCRUNCH.com, 12/1).