AEG Gets LA Convention Center

Miguel Santana, the city administrative officer, recommended AEG on the results of an independent evaluation panel. The decision was based on qualifications, experience, management team, methodology and fee proposal, according to a statement from Santana.

SMG was the other candidate.

The announcement was a year in the making. AEG submitted plans to renovate the convention center February 2012 in a gesture to build its Farmers Field football stadium.

Along with competition from SMG, AEG had to shuffle some papers. Santana informed AEG this March its application to be facility manager had been deemed nonresponsive because it failed to provide corporate tax returns and three years’ worth of balance sheets and other paperwork. That hurdle was apparently taken care of.

“We are thrilled to have been selected to manage and operate the Los Angeles Convention Center in partnership with the City of Los Angeles,” AEG President Dan Beckerman said.

“This opportunity is of the highest importance to AEG and we are committed to dedicating the time and resources needed to bring the biggest and most important conventions to Los Angeles.  We look forward to completing the process so we can begin working with the City and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and all of our hospitality stakeholders to improve the performance of the Los Angeles Convention Center and increase citywide bookings.”