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Virginia’s capital city knows a strong entertainment venue management partner when it has one. In addition to recently renewed its management contract with SMG for its Richmond Coliseum through June 2012, the worldwide management company will manage two additional Richmond venues—the Landmark Theater, and the Carpenter Theatre—an exciting new arts and entertainment complex due to open in Fall 2009.
 

 The announcement was made in August in a reportedly unanimous vote by the Richmond Performing Arts Center (RPAC), a city government appointed board that oversees the Landmark Theater and the Richmond CenterStage project, which includes the Carpenter Theatre.  “RPAC is pleased to engage SMG and we are confident SMG's talent and experience will greatly assist us in the execution of our responsibilities to operate the Landmark and Richmond CenterStage theaters in the best interest of the community,” said Joe Farrell, RPAC Chair. 

SMG has been a present in the Richmond venue market since 1985, when they began their management of Richmond Coliseum, a city-owned facility. Since 200s, SMG, through the Richmond Coliseum Joint Venture, LLC—has partnered with Johnson, Inc., a Richmond-based marketing and public relations firm to further market the venue.

"The 22 year partnership between SMG and the City of Richmond has been very successful,” declared Wes Westley, President/CEO, SMG. “ We look forward to continuing that success with RPAC and the many outstanding Richmond arts and community organizations.  Our current Richmond management team's performance signifies their trust in SMG's management philosophy.”

 Located in downtown, the 3,565 seat Landmark Theater was built in 1926 by Shriners as their Acca Temple Shrine and was named “The Mosque.” The theater was later purchased by the City of Richmond in 1940, underwent a major renovation project in 1995 and was renamed the Landmark Theater. 

In addition to its management duties, SMG will play a role in the development and preparation of the new downtown Richmond CenterStage project, a $65- million performing arts complex. The nucleus of the project is the upgrade and expansion of a Richmond landmark, the former Carpenter Center, which originally was built in 1928. The venue, closed in 2004, will be renamed the Carpenter Theatre when it re-opens in 2009, when it will again become the home of The Richmond Symphony  and The Virginia Opera, as well as theatrical, concerts and other entertainment events. In addition, a new 200-seat theater, a multipurpose hall, and a performing arts education center as part of the Richmond CenterStage project.