Wisconsin Center District Names Marty Brooks New CEO

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For Immediate Release December 21, 2017 Contact: Steven Michels, (608) 267-7874 Wisconsin Center District Names Marty Brooks New CEO MILWAUKEE The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) Board of Directors,

1 For Immediate Release December 21, 2017 Contact: Steven Michels, (608) Wisconsin Center District Names Marty Brooks New CEO MILWAUKEE The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) Board of Directors, named Marty Brooks as the new CEO for the Wisconsin Center District. Marty Brooks brings to the WCD firsthand experience managing facilities for the NBA, NHL, NFL, Division I Men's and Women's college basketball and minor league hockey. He has booked major concerts such as, the Rolling Stones, Beyoncé and One Direction. He has also run multiple convention centers, theatres, and stadiums throughout the country. We commend the current district staff for laying a solid foundation for us to build upon, said Scott Neitzel, WCD Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Administration. Marty s hiring signals a new and dynamic era for the Center District. The Board looks forward to working with Marty and our community partners to further expand economic activity in and around southeastern Wisconsin. Most recently, Brooks served as the senior vice president and general manager of America s Center Complex in St. Louis since December America s Center Complex is owned by the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission and maintains the Cervantes Convention Center, Edward Jones Dome, and an executive conference center. Brooks was hired as executive vice president and general manager there in 2008, and prior to that, he worked as an executive for the Scottrade Center and Peabody Opera House in St. Louis and Madison Square Garden from 1985 until The selection of Brooks as the new CEO was recommended by the WCD CEO Search Committee comprised of members of the board and community partners. The search committee identified Marty as the person to add more fuel to the renaissance that is happening in Milwaukee, said Jim Kanter, General Manager for MillerCoors and Chair of the WCD CEO Search Committee. Marty brings great energy and experience to take the wonderful suite of assets we already have with Miller High Life Theatre, UWM Panther Arena, Convention Center and new Bucks Arena to the next level. Brooks has an extensive background successfully managing diverse venues, including: Edward Jones Dome - 67,000-seat football stadium and multipurpose arena America s Center Convention Complex - 502,000 square-foot convention center Scottrade Center 20,000-seat multipurpose arena Peabody Opera House 3,100-seat theatre

2 Rentschler Field - 40,000-seat football stadium XL Center (Hartford Civic Center) 15,000-seat multipurpose arena and convention center Marty is the perfect leader to help execute on a new vision for the WCD, said Omar Shaikh, Chairman of VISIT Milwaukee and search committee member. I look forward to partnering with him and his team. Brooks first day will be January 22, His annual salary will be $260,000 plus available performance incentives based on customer satisfaction, venue attendance, bookings and revenue growth. ABOUT WISCONSIN CENTER DISTRICT The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is a government body created under Wisconsin State Statute in 1994 to fund, build and operate the then-midwest Express Center (now Wisconsin Center) in downtown Milwaukee, and to continue operating the existing venues now called the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre (formerly Milwaukee Theatre). ###

3 Q&A with Marty Brooks Q: What s something we d be surprised to learn about you? A: I was a huge fan of the television show Sea Hunt when I was a young boy and inspired me to get NAUI SCUBA diving certification when I was in college. Q: Why Milwaukee? A: Milwaukee reminds me a lot of my home town Baltimore. Charming city that is going through a dramatic revitalization, great sports teams and never-ending choices of distinct food and beverages. Q: Looking at the WCD opportunity, what are 3 things that excite you most? A: Being a part of the improvements in downtown and the WCD facilities. Enhancing the guest experience to the WCD. Being able to enjoy the waterfront. Photo by Donna Andrews Q: Looking at your past successes, what have been your favorite concert you ve booked in and why? A: My favorite concert is always the one playing in the facility at the time. Each act needs to be treated as the center of your universe. Most memorable was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. The stadium was still under construction and I had booked two dates back-to-back a year before it was scheduled to open. The stadium opened with two University of Connecticut football games. The third and fourth events were the concerts. While walking the concourse on the afternoon of the first show I heard the band on stage doing their sound check. I had to sit down as I was overcome with emotion realizing we were really going to pull this off. Q: In your experience, how should CVBs and convention centers best work together? A: Understanding that you need to collaborate and appreciate the success of an event is measured by the total economic impact to the region, not one of the participant's measure of success. Q: What are you reading now? A: Tom Clancy's Power and Empire.

4 Q: If you could have a coffee or a beer with one person, who would it be and why? A: My dad. There is so much I would want to tell him that I never had the chance to and so many questions that went unasked. Q: Finally, define success. A: Being able to look yourself in the mirror and know you have been true to yourself and your family.

5 MARTIN BROOKS Senior level executive with extensive experience in business, sports, and entertainment. Creative thinker, fiercely loyal, dedicated and strong leader. Experience and Accomplishments Senior Vice President and General Manager, Edward Jones Dome and America s Center Complex December 2012-present Oversee and manage events, building and food and beverage operations along with formulating and monitoring operating budget for the 67,000 seat domed stadium and 503,000 square foot convention center complex. Primary contact between facility and St. Louis Rams football team. Negotiated and significantly improved the financial terms of a seven year agreement with Ticketmaster. Secured One Direction concert in August First concert to play the Dome in eleven years. Subsequently secured dates for the Beyoncé World Formation Tour September 2016 and Guns N Roses July Negotiated agreement to host Real Madrid versus Inter Milan soccer match which required installation of natural grass field. Develop responses to event proposals and formulate strategy for contract negotiations. Negotiate Memorandums of Understanding with electrician, carpenter, guest services and housekeeping unions. Oversaw the development of the design specifications, RFP process and negotiated agreements for the installation of a neutral host Distributed Antenna System and complete upgrade of the WIFI system throughout the complex. Executive Vice President and General Manager, Scottrade Center and Peabody Opera House July 2008-November 2012 Developed and monitored operating budgets for event operations, building operations, guest services, security, St. Louis Blues merchandise and human resources. Directed the execution of over 120 events each year. Identified and implemented over $5 million in capital improvements. Negotiated and improved financial terms of seven union collective bargaining agreements. Negotiated multi-year agreement with Ticketmaster resulting in a significant increase in ticketing commissions. Directed the execution of 2009 the NCAA Division I Women s Basketball National Championship Semi-final and Final and 2009 and 2012 NCAA Division I Men s Wrestling National Championship. Lead executive on $79 million renovation of Peabody Opera House. Developed all operating procedures, negotiated six union collective bargaining agreements, hired and trained front of house staff. Senior Vice President & General Manager, Madison Square Garden Connecticut (Hartford Civic Center, Rentschler Field and Hartford Wolf Pack) December 1996-June 2007 Northland/AEG July 2007-June 2008 Negotiated a ten year agreement with the State of Connecticut to operate and manage the Hartford Civic Center under financially favorable terms for MSG. Secured consultancy agreement with State of Connecticut for the design and construction of Rentschler Field. Agreement led to five year management deal. Directed sponsorship sales, luxury seating sales, ticket sales, marketing, booking, box office, finance, human resources and operations departments. Booked three high profile and profitable concerts at Rentschler Field (Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones and The Police) and secured highly sought after and profitable concerts for the Hartford Civic Center. Negotiated all vendor and union agreements. 1

6 Established all operating procedures and policies for Rentschler Field. Developed and implemented business plan and budgets. Oversaw and directed $14 million in improvements to the Hartford Civic Center including new seating, center hung scoreboard, scorers table video boards, renovated luxury seating areas, ticket scanning system, end zone basketball seating, basketball court and backboards. Increased the number of University of Connecticut men s and women s basketball games played at the facility. Directed the execution of the first and second rounds of the 1998 NCAA Men s Basketball Tournament; the 2004 NCAA Women s Basketball East Regionals and the first and second rounds of the 2007 NCAA Women s Basketball Tournament. Secured an agreement with the Big East Conference to move their Women s post season basketball tournament off campus to the Hartford Civic Center. Subsequently negotiated a five year extension making Hartford the long term home of the Tournament. President and Executive Producer, Miss Universe Inc., Madison Square Garden August 1993-November 1996 Negotiated $16 million, three year sponsorship agreement with Procter & Gamble. Served as executive producer for nine two hour live broadcasts on the CBS Television Network that were also distributed worldwide by Paramount International. Presented and negotiated event hosting proposals to convention and visitors bureaus in the United States and to government agencies and businesses in Africa, the Philippines and Aruba. Oversaw all marketing, sales and merchandising of the events and title holders. Senior Vice President Programming, Production and Network Operations, MSG Network August 1985-July 1996 Responsible for the production, acquisition and scheduling of all events and programming. Negotiated all on-air talent agreements. Developed and oversaw the production of Emmy and CableAce award winning sports television programming. Created, staffed and oversaw a nightly sports news operation. Negotiated an agreement with St. John s University for the production and distribution of their available men s basketball games and the production of the weekly Lou Carnesecca Show. Director Sports Programming, USA Network October August 1985 Negotiated agreements with various NCAA Division I conferences for the national distribution of their regionally televised men s basketball games. Acquired and scheduled all sports programming. Developed highly rated television programming with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Producer and Network Coordinator, METROSPORTS May 1978-September 1981 Developed radio network distribution for various professional and collegiate sports teams. Coordinated regional basketball telecasts with national cable carrier. Produced weekly college basketball coach s show. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland B.S., Journalism Education 2

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