KENT, WA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The City Council of Kent last month unanimously approved a
naming rights agreement with ShoWare by VisionOne and today, the City and SMG unveiled
the facility’s new logo. The arena’s name is “ShoWare Center at Kent” and will open on January
2, 2009. ShoWare will be the exclusive provider of ticketing services for ShoWare Center, an
SMG managed facility and the new home of the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
“This opportunity allows VisionOne to showcase our innovative ticketing service – ShoWare – in
an emerging entertainment environment like Kent,” said VisionOne Senior Partner Ralph Fasi.
“Our partnership with the City of Kent and SMG will provide a firm foothold for ShoWare in the
ticketing market for larger venues and sports teams in the region and throughout the United
States.”
"We are delighted that a company with an international presence has chosen to invest in Kent on a long-term basis," said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke.
The agreement between the City and ShoWare is for 10 years, with a total value of $3.175
million. ShoWare offers the benefit of total in-house control, private labeling, and content
management at substantially lower costs to the venue as well as to their patrons. The solution
optimizes the complete reservation and sales process to reduce personnel and costs for any
event organizer.
“SMG is honored to add the ShoWare Center at Kent to the SMG family of facilities. This
beautiful new arena will provide the city and surrounding area with the best in sports, concerts
and family entertainment. We at SMG are proud to be the stewards of this great facility,” says
Hank Abate, SMG’s Senior Vice President of Arenas.
ShoWare’s user-friendly ticketing service offers an easy and convenient online shopping
experience. With a “Select-a-Seat” feature, buyers can choose their exact seat location or use
the automated “Quick Pick” pre-loaded seating preference.
“We are excited about partnering with a company whose vision is aligned with everyone involved with this facility in terms of providing an innovative approach to serving our guests,” said Tim Higgins of SMG, the center’s General Manager. “This unique partnership will place ShoWare Center at the forefront of technological advancements in customer service.”
Colin Campbell, VP & Assistant GM of the Seattle Thunderbirds added, “We are excited to enter
into this partnership with ShoWare and SMG. We know our fans will benefit.”
VisionOne provides ticketing services for over 300 customers around the world with the ShoWare comprehensive, custom-branded box office solution. US venues as diverse as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Red Bull Air Race Series and Seattle’s Teatro ZinZanni have turned to ShoWare for their ticketing needs. ShoWare was developed as a technology
solution for St. Gallen FC, in Switzerland in 2000, and afterwards VisionOne realized a need for a simple ticketing alternative for sports & entertainment venues. In 2008, the Swiss fútbol club
moved into the 21,000- seat AFG Arena, and utilizes ShoWare for all of its ticketing needs.
Another significant user of ShoWare is the Spengler Cup, the second oldest international ice
hockey club tournament in the world behind the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Played annually at the
7,080-seat Valliant Arena in Davos, Switzerland, the tournament attracts teams and fans
worldwide making its demand for tickets very high. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
