Events center to be available for activities besides basketball; wedding, conference availability
The Events Center will not only be used by CMU sports fans — there are plans to open the center to conferences and events, such as weddings.
The athletic, conference and event scheduling will be taken over by Stan Shingles, assistant vice president of University Recreation, events and conferences. Athletics will have to submit all schedules to Shingles, who will manage and coordinate practices and competitions, said Senior Associate Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe.
“I expect that this events center will be very busy there is a lot of interest,” he said. “That’s why it was built local and campus and community.”
Events and facility management employees working at the center will be part of a team supporting university recreation to collaborate with groups and effectively run the facility, van der Merwe said. It has always been managed like this; it effectively manages a lot of moving parts through communication and collaboration.
Another location for similar events, Centennial Hall, 306 W. Michigan St., is not expecting a decrease in business from the Events Center.
“I think it’s great, I love the university and I think the more we offer people the better,” said owner Jean Prout.
She will be attending the ribbon cutting ceremony and then the basketball game afterward.
“I’m not worried it’s just another chance we take,” Prout said.
