FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 - (Oshawa ON) – The General Motors Centre was named Canada’s 2014 Major Facility of the Year (under 8,000 capacity) during ceremonies of the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards Thursday, May 8 at the Kool Haus in Toronto, ON. The General Motors Centre was the co-recipient of the award with the Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston Ontario and topped the Abbotsford Centre in Abbotsford, BC,  Brandt Centre in Regina, SK, Centre 200 in Cape Breton, NS, CN Centre in Prince George, BC, Consolidated Credit Union Place in Summerside, PEI, Harbour Station in St. John, NB and Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB.

“Downtown Oshawa is alive with the energy of the GM Centre. Thousands of sports and music fans come into our downtown to enjoy great restaurants and events. I would like to thank and congratulate the staff of the GM Centre for winning the Major Facility Award,” said Mayor John Henry.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this great honour,” stated Vince Vella of Global Spectrum, General Manager at the General Motors Centre. “Being named major venue of the year by our industry peers is a testament to our growth and all the hard work that has gone into developing the General Motors Centre as one of southern Ontario’s premier live event destinations. I would also like to congratulate the Rogers K-Rock Centre for being named as co-recipient of this prestigious award.”

"We are particularly proud of (General Manager) Vince Vella and his entire team who continuously assure that the GM Centre is a prime destination for touring shows throughout Ontario," said Global Spectrum President John Page. "In addition, his team does a tremendous job of presenting a high level of customer service to our guests each and every time they visit the GM Centre. This award is a true testament to everyone's dedication to making the GM Centre the ultimate experience for the guests, the entertainers and the performers."

The General Motors Centre has hosted numerous world-class performers such as the Dixie Chicks, Jason Aldean, Elton John, Blue Rodeo and Hedley in the past year. Within the next year the building will welcome Cirque du Soleil Varekai (May 21-25), Il Divo (May 27), Heart (June 17), Queens of the Stone Age (July 5), Jann Arden (September 19) and Disney Live (January 8) along with many more events still to be announced.

The General Motors Centre is home to a variety of concerts, sporting events and family shows throughout the year. Information on upcoming events can be found at www.generalmotorscentre.com.

Canadian Music Week is an industry conference and music festival that runs from May 6-10, 2014 in various venues throughout Toronto, Ontario. Further information on the Conference and Awards Ceremony can be found at www.cmw.net.

 

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ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS CENTRE AND GLOBAL SPECTRUM

The General Motors Centre is Durham Region’s premier sports and live entertainment facility and is managed by Global Spectrum. The General Motors Centre is home to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, Durham TurfDogs of the Canadian Lacrosse League and a myriad of events including concerts, circuses, ice skating and family shows. Global Spectrum® (global-spectrum.com) manages more than 115 public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.

Venue PR/Marketing Contact:
William Balfour, Marketing & Group Sales Manager
Global Spectrum at the General Motors Centre
wbalfour@generalmotorscentre.com