VenuWorks Announces New Exec Director For Michigan’s Holland Civic Center

Barbara Wiggins
VenuWorks – Barbara Wiggins
While renovations continue at the Holland Civic Center in Holland, Mich., VenuWorks is getting its management team at the venue in place, with Barbara Wiggins announced as the new executive director. 
Wiggins, who began her new role May 7, most recently spent two years serving as the director of planning and logistics for the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee. She has nearly two decades of experience in entertainment business and venue management, including serving as the director of facility and services at the Chevrolet Center in Youngstown, Ohio, and the executive director of the Topeka Performing Arts Center in Topeka, Kansas. 
“I’m looking forward to being part of this exciting endeavor. The commitment and dedication of the Board of Directors of the Holland Civic Center and the community of Holland will help make the city’s progressive vision a reality,” Wiggins said in a statement. 
VenuWorks’ contract with the city to manage the civic center was approved in March. The Iowa-based management company will receive $4,000 per month for pre-opening services and then $6,500 per month after the venue reopens, along with 5 percent of gross food and beverage sales up to $400,000 (8 percent if F&B sales are more so), according to the Holland Sentinel. The contract, which included a zero-interest $150,000 loan from VenuWorks to the city, stipulates that the company will receive 5 percent of gross annual revenue up to $150,000 and 8 percent if revenue is higher. 
The venue is expected to reopen this fall. The $14.15 million renovation includes expanding the 64-year-old building from 30,000 square feet to 50,000, adding new seating, an enhanced entrance and lobby, upgraded audio and visual systems, improvements to the farmers market space, a new catering kitchen and air conditioning installation, according to the Grand Rapids Business Journal. The paper notes that once the Holland Civic Center open its doors this fall, the capacity will be 1,500 for sports games and approximately 2,000 for concerts and other events. 
The Iowa-based management company manages nearly three dozen other venues throughout the U.S. including the Toyota Arena in Kennewick, Wash..; McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn.; and the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Ill.
Pollstar reached out to VenuWorks for comment.
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