“We don’t sell a product, we make memories,” said Global Spectrum’s Jim Wynkoop, general manager of Chaifetz Arena. “So hopefully what we can do is make 7,000 great memories or 10,000 great memories every time we do an event.”
Last week marked five years since the new home of the Saint Louis University Billikens opened its doors. Thanks to the nearly 600 events that Chaifetz Arena has hosted since 2008, drawing 1.7 million patrons, the venue has become known as an outlet for entertainment – urban entertainment, in particular.
“When we developed our plans for Chaifetz Arena, we envisioned a world-class facility that would make a world of difference in the lives of our student-athletes, our campus community and the greater St. Louis metropolitan region,” said SLU President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “During these first five years, Chaifetz Arena has surpassed our expectations.”
And although they’ve hosted concerts from every genre, family events, sporting competitions, science fairs, high school commencements and even national gymnastics finals, the Chaifetz has built a niche for itself within the urban entertainment community.
“We’ve seen a great response from the community and a great response from the promoters and the entertainers,” Wynkoop said. “And I don’t know anyone would have expected that five years ago.”
Lil Wayne, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, Babyface, Teena Marie, Mike Epps, Steve Harvey and Jamie Foxx are just a few of the A-list stars that have graced the stage at Chaifetz over the years.
“When we got started, some of the first opportunities were urban type shows, and as a result we have developed a niche or rotation of five or six shows each year,” Wynkoop said.
“We show them that we appreciate their business, and the people of the community have responded by buying tickets. It doesn’t matter how great we are as a building to deal with, if we don’t have tickets sold it doesn’t make sense for them to keep coming back.”
Epps’ 2010 show and Maze’s 2009 were among the biggest sellers, bringing capacity crowds to both.
“We have created a place in the urban entertainment community that has really lived up to and beyond the potential that we thought it had,” Wynkoop said.
Father Biondi always intended the arena to be a “jewel of Midtown,” he said, attracting entertainment patrons from all over the region.
“That was always part of the intention, which is one of the reasons SLU looked to a private management company, Global Spectrum, to manage the arena,” Wynkoop said.”
“You’ve got a great home for SLU basketball and you’ve got a great home for SLU commencement, but if you want to take that next step and become an entertainment destination, they look to us to help facilitate that.”
Chaifetz also is leaving an impression that stretches beyond a good laugh or concert.
“We host a number of community events, high school events and FIRST robotics competitions, which bring 500 prospective engineers on campus, Wynkoop said. “And for many it’s a chance to come on campus for the first time as freshmen, sophomores and juniors to see how it is.”
One of the biggest joys for him is being in the memory-making business.
“The moment that I like the most at a concert or a show is where the crowd is in their seats and there is a bit of a buzz – and then the lights go down,” Wynkoop said. “And the cheer comes up and there’s this anticipation, and I think, ‘Okay, this is why we do this.’”
For more information about upcoming shows and events, visit http://thechaifetzarena.com/
