WICHITA — There are several changes at Hartman Arena, including the departure of one half of a well-known duo.
Jacque Wedel is no longer marketing and advertising manager.
Wedel and general manager John Nath both left the Kansas Coliseum to join Hartman Arena early last year prior to its opening in March of this year.
A few weeks before Wedel’s departure last week, Eric Blockie joined Hartman Arena as director of financial and marketing development.
Blockie is from the St. Louis area where he worked for Live Nation, the world’s biggest promoter.
“I just felt when Eric came on board, it was time for her to pursue other opportunities,” Wink Hartman Sr. says of Wedel.
Wedel couldn’t be reached for comment.
Hartman says Nath’s position isn’t affected.
“That’s what I hope,” he says.
Nath expresses the same sentiment when asked if he’s going anywhere.
“I hope not,” he says.
Hartman also is forming a new company, Hartmoor Concessions, to handle food and beverages at the arena.
He’s given Sodexo notice that he’ll be canceling his contract, effective in early September.
“We will have 100 percent control of the concessions,” Hartman says.
“It’s just my nature,” Hartman says of creating new companies to keep services in house.
“Yes, I will make more money,” he says. But he says he’ll also be able to offer better food and drink products. Hartman says he wants to expand the arena’s menu.
Sue Montalbano will run Hartmoor Concessions. She’s been pastry chef at Hartman’s Chester’s Chophouse for four years.
“So she’s got just a little bit of experience,” he says.
Hartman doesn’t have more changes to announce now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t in the future.
“We’re always trying to improve the arena,” he says. “We’re going to keep kicking it till we get it 100 percent right.
“I want it to be right.”
29 Comments
Controlling your own concessions will likely mean more intensive price gouging to the consumer.
And how about teaching your parking people what a hybrid car is so they don’t charge us parking. Or is the statement on your web page just a joke?
“The parking fee is $5 per car. If you drive a hybrid or carpool with four (4) or more people, you park for FREE!”
My wife argued with the parking guy that she was driving a hybrid and didn’t have to pay to park but he wouldn’t buy it. It’s a Toyota Prius, not too hard to figure out its a hybrid.
I was thinking maybe they were going to announce they’d hired a new guy to start and run that wind turbine. Does that thing ever spin? What’s wrong, too windy in Kansas?
P.S. Kinda makes you wonder if those hired from public sector jobs aren’t as aggressive or knowledgeable as those hired from the private sector….
Why not tack on a few dollars to the darn ticket prices and skip this whole parking fee.
Hard enough to get butts in the seats for games…it’s nuts paying for parking.
My god he owns the land and everything on the land..not like there is some sort of fee he is charged.
Nice arena but hose it down once and awhile..the dust is thick from the concrete and hard to get off the clothing.
Oh and make sure next season Don Hall gets the cost of the football right…last saturday it was either valued at $70…$80-or $90.00 depending on when it went out of play. Is there a stock market variable we don’t know about that changes throughout the game? Oh well it was good for a laugh.
Great season WILD!!!
Wow, what’s with all the crying…?
rafterrat, you must be new to Wild games, the price of the football is a joke, he changes it on purpose.
As for the rest of you, if you don’t like Hartman arena, don’t go. Damn, people in Kansas cry and complain a lot if things don’t go their way. I for one love Hartman arena. I’ve been there several times and appears to be run 1st class the whole way. I’m just glad somebody is coming in here and doing something to give us something to do in the area.
You would think with the price of tickets, parking, and concessions, they could afford to run the air conditioner. It was uncomfortably hot and humid inside the arena.
Not to mention the game clock didn’t work half the game I went to. It’s one of those glitches you would expect at the ancient Coliseum, not the brand new “1st class” barn across the street.
Martymoose,
Wink built that arena only because he didn’t want to pay the rental fee at the new IBA. So he goes off and builds is own arena for his 3rd class indoor football team. And he advertises all this parking, but he makes you pay to park. That’s just more money in his pocket. I am not against someone making money, but at least have your workers educated and knowledgeable about your parking policy. Even though I think Wink was thinking of only himself when he built this arena and not the good of the Wichita area, I will still attend events if he brings in good acts. This is different than most on here who say they will never attend a show at the new IBA cause they think its a waste of money.
WOW…The Hartman is a great midsize venue, all the bugs are not worked out yet (like the parking and wind turbine). When the downtown arena opens The Great City Of Wichita will be able to land any and all the events that Tulsa, Omaha, Kansas City, OKC, etc. have stolen from us in the past. Thank you to forward thinking DooDaanians and I hope Mr. Hartman Makes Millions with the Hartman arena, more jobs, more cool events….Geez this is America, you know free enterprise..hardworking entrepreneurs. If you Don’t like the place stay at home.
Controlling your own concessions will mean, they can provide a BETTER quality of food to their patrons, instead of the same old corporate crap being served. Has any of you eaten there? Why are you folks always so negative? Let’s be optimistic about what the changes could mean for everyone!! I myself can’t wait!! I know the person taking over and think she would make an awesome addition to the Hartman Arena team!! Kudos to Wink!!
I agree, as much as the ticket and parking was, I would think Mr. Hartman could have ran the air conditioning! It was so hot and humid in that place, it felt better when you left and it was 90 outside!
I feel he should include the cost of parking in the ticket prices, too.. Not all people carry cash.
I am also thinking about the performers and their merchandise, as well as concessions.. Charging on the spot for parking cuts down on available cash the consumer can spend at the arena.. and most of the time tickets are purchased a few weeks ahead of the event.
Just my 2 cents..
I’d bet that we’ll see better quality concessions at the same price, or possibly a bit less.
There’s been issues with the computer controls overriding the A/C unit(s).
The turbine guy has been working his butt off to get it up and running.
Our family can count to four(4)when attending events.
The arena is right sized for a lot of the events that could not sell out the Coliseum (Thunder). Just think how rocking that place would be with 5,000 fans there to see a hockey game, and how empty Intrust will look.
I’m sure that the bugs will be worked out soon.
the whole arena is a rip-off in my opinion.
Wink, before you put Sodexho on the bricks, please have them fulfill their promise of pay to the volunteer concession groups. From the first day setting up the stands and bars, some of the people worked 12 hour days and more and were never compensated for their time. It has happened with every event including the last where the meet and greet people received nothing for their hours of time. The groups that these people represent are in need of funding and when volenteers put time in an event they expect to show something to their organazations for the long hours worked.
What are some of you thinking! We have a WICHITA resident ready and willing to put in a GREAT venue for entertainment in our area and you want to complain.
Please think about what you are saying. Mr. Hartman is financially capable of putting an arena wherever he chooses, yet he elected to do it here as he is truly interested in making Wichita a better place.
@ jdl.. There’s a bit more to the pi$$ing contest between Wink & the county, but those details aren’t important.
Fizz is right about the turbine and HVAC systems. These are scaled versions of much larger designs and changes in software are being made to better accommodate the equipment. Hartman Arena management is *very* aware of these issues.
Something that consumed a bunch of money is one that most of you don’t see: the new “supergrid” over the west end of the arena. It was needed to accommodate larger shows that require many rigging points, quickly. The supergrid made it possible for New Kids on the Block to have a late load in and still make their day schedule. 62,000# were hung in under 2 hours. In addition, another truck loading door was added to the back of the arena. Lots of details that contribute to lowering the cost of doing a show are being tweaked, tuned, and fixed.
Issues that were unforeseen by the architects are now being dealt with. Stand by, things *are* improving. I don’t get the impression Wink wants his name on anything sub standard.
FWIW, IBA downtown will have it’s own “charms and character” when it opens, too. The problems will be different, but they will be there. I’m certain SMG, SegCo, and CoW will address those issues as they arise. Despite what some folks think, nobody in Wichita wants to be known for mediocrity. At least, not right away. LOL
Parking fees are a joke. IBA will be first-class and bring in the top-notched stuff.
This is perfect for a third-rate indoor football team and some concerts for people 20 years past their prime.
Seriously, no AC?
When you build a second class barn, you get a second class barn. I’m confident the food will improve with a pastry chef in charge. How many long johns can a guy eat. What a joke…
I admire Wink for building his own facility and still believe that the area is far better than downtown is. However I have never agreed with the idea of paying for parking. It should be included in the price of the ticket.
I would charge people in a Hybrid $25.00 to park, look at all the money they save on gas they can afford it.
Just because someone is a Pastry Chef doesn’t mean that is all they are capable of doing!! That was just one of many job titles she held!! Let’s wait and see before you start bashing. If you people are so disappointed, then why go? In a few months you’ll be wishing you did!!
I do think Jacque needed to go. Her and her buddy Nath spent most of their time in the two bars eating free food and drinking free alcohol. Maybe with her gone he will pay more attention to what needs to be done around there and actually do something. Mr Hartman on the other hand is just as guilty, he needs to consider the comfort of his customers who pay good money to attend the events. Turning on the air conditioning would be a start. Mr Hartman is more interested in turning the arena into a country club. He and his friends come out there, run up big tabs in the bar, eat free food and treat all the help like they are invisable and then they don’t even leave tips. Most of the customers who pay to attend the events don’t come out there for fancy foods, give me nachos, burgers and pretzels and charge me a fair price. I’ve already spent a fotune just to get into the place. Come on Hartman, give us a good price for a good show and a good place to attend it in and we will come! If not, you and your friends will be sitting out there in your Loge boxes all by yourself.
@ pj and others… The HVAC issue is not a matter of ownership or management failing to turn the equipment on, it’s a failure of the software that controls the equipment. The vendor/manufacturer is re-writing the package from the ground up. The problem with the wind turbine is similar: lots of stuff out there for MEGAWATT generators, but this one is in the KILOWATT league… 350kW, IIRC. At any rate, the problem is either defective sensors or wiring, and/or control software. The turbine does not point into the wind because of these problems. They will be fixed.
Most of the other physical problems being addressed came about as the scope of the project changed from a “sports barn” to multi-use facility. Those changes came about after most of the design work was done and some of the construction already underway. Mr. Hartman is aware of these problems and takes them seriously. He’s already spent (by my estimation) close to $1 million since opening to improve things and fix what got missed in the design changes.
If you’re a fan, you’ll see the show regardless of where it’s held. If you’re not a fan, you won’t go regardless of where it’s held.
As to IBA… wait and see. The fixed costs associated with it will be much higher than Hartman, and the resulting cost per seat to a promoter/presenter will be higher. Unless a presenter is likely to sell 75% of available seats he’ll probably lose money. The biggest of the national, “A” level shows will play IBA, the rest will play in Hartman presuming the show can be physically accommodated (rigging load).
Frank “works inside arenas and stadia for a living” Lingo
Thanks for the update Frank. I have a feeling Hartman will be successful while IBA will be a money pit. As you note the overhead costs at IBA will overwhelm small shows and there won’t be that many large ones. I will be very interested in seeing how things work out for the Thunder.
Frank, Frank, Frank shouldn’t all of this have been worked out before Mr. Hartman opened the doors and started charging people to come sit in his sauna for a concert? The opening act was Mar 28th that has been three months ago how long does it take for the vendor/manufacturer to re-write the package from the ground up or how long will it take to find the problem with either defective sensors or wiring, and/or control software? This all sounds serious. People should be warned ahead of time. Maybe you should put something about this on the Hartman website since you seem to be very informed!!!!
pj – based on my current experience in the building where I work – we are freezing – it can take some time to line out HVAC systems.
How come the wind turbines all seem to work in other parts of the state. The turbines in Great Bend and Jetmore all seem to be running and they aren’t the big megawatt turbines. Sure looks odd driving by seeing that thing just sit there idle.