1st is First!!

The First of the Year brought us another First, as in A-#1, Top of the Heap, King of the Hill, etc.

1st Mariner Arena was named top arena of its size in the U.S., according to industry publications Billboard Magazine and Venues Today.

Despite its age and quaint design, 1st Mariner (even in its previous incarnations as the Civic Center and Baltimore Arena) has always been a top producer.  This year, it zoomed to the top, thanks in part to some star studded concerts which included performances from Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Jay-Z.

The City-owned facility is superbly managed by SMG, who are responsible for booking diverse concerts, family-oriented entertainment (yes, I took the boys to both Sesame Street and Disney on Ice) with dynamic sports events. 

1st Mariner is also a community center.  In 2008, Senator Barack Obama filled the seats for his presidential stump speech. (I could hear refrains of "Yes, We Can!" from the Warehouse.)   Every spring, high schools and universities conduct numerous graduation events in the auditorium.

The success of 1st Mariner is a credit not only to its versitility and excellent management, but also its location and market.  We know, from the groundwork done this year by Sports Marketing, that Maryland has some tremendous built in advantages, and 1st Mariner offers a microcosm of these assets.  Among them -- light rail transit onsite that connects both an international airport and Northeast Corridor of Amtrak, with suburban neighborhoods and park and rides in between.  A central location -- not only in the city core, but the population center of the Mid-Atlantic.  Numerous attractions and accommodations (which include the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards) are within walking distance; heritage and cultural sites (including our nation's Capital) are within an hour's drive.

So congratulations to SMG and the City of Baltimore for this well-deserved recognition.  This was not a popularity contest -- it was calculated on ticket sales and gross revenue.  It is tangible proof that Baltimore and Maryland deserve to be in the top tier of locations to consider for major events.