Name: Nick Langella
Position: Alamodome GM
Where I’m from: Long Island
Where I call home: San Antonio
Focusing on right now: Tonight we host a METALLICA concert, and then next month we host a CONCACAF Gold Cup match. We have a really good relationship with SUM (Soccer United Marketing), and we plan to do lot of soccer events here. CONCACAF is a little more challenging because we have to bring in grass, but we’re getting good at it. We also want to be the full gamut. We’re looking at bringing in more boxing events, too.
Current events: Security is a big concern. With the events that have taken place in London in the last couple of weeks, everybody has heightened security. We’ve gone to almost an NFL-type of security system here. We’ve pushed out our perimeter. Anybody who, after the London events, is not re-evaluating their security, needs to really look at it. It’s not just getting people through the door anymore. It’s about getting people off the property as well and creating a safe environment. That’s the new challenge.
Talking tech: The companies are now coming fast and furious with new theories and new technologies. Our focus recently has been on the use of bomb dogs. They’ve expanded from just sniffing out devices to now they have different levels of what dogs can do. We’ve also made investments into the new types of scanning we need to do, and spent a lot of time and money on training our people on what to look for and say.
Best advice: In order to be really successful, you have to love the business. We do spend a lot of time talking to other venues. It’s that type of business where people share. It’s probably unlike any other business in that regard. We’ll be doing the Final Four in March ’18, and we’ve gone to previous facilities that have hosted, who have shared a lot of information with us. At the end of the day, some of the best things I’ve seen have been the ideas of other buildings. People are willing to share.
Must-have music: San Antonio is really a great heavy metal audience. We do well here with those types of shows. Metallica is almost sold out; we’re set for about 54,000. I like old Rock ‘n’ Roll. Everyone from GUNS 'N' ROSES to the ALLMAN BROTHERS and that brand of music, country rock. I’ve had the opportunity to listen to a lot of music, including the ROLLING STONES and the EAGLES.
Day in the life: One thing I’ve never stopped doing in this business is inspecting my facility, and I do that with the team. It’s important to get out and make sure you’re engaged and seeing people who are doing the types of things we want to stress. Making sure our security force is the best it can be, and that our concessions and operations are just what we want to present to the public.
