You don’t say

Friday4:08 p.m.

“I’m very happy because the first thing those folks thought of was Hartman Arena.”

— Wink Hartman Sr. on how some people wanting Intrust Bank Arena tickets are calling his Park City arena

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Arenas, Intrust Bank Arena, You don't say | Comments (0)

John Nath is out as general manager of Hartman Arena

July 23, 20092:01 p.m.

nath2WICHITA — On the heels of Jacque Wedel’s departure from Hartman Arena, general manager John Nath (pictured left) is now gone, too.

“Effective today, John Nath is no longer associated with the Hartman Arena,” says Wink Hartman Sr. “Arena management has decided to go in a new direction at this time.”

Nath couldn’t be reached for comment.

Wedel, who was marketing and advertising manager, and Nath used to be in similar positions at the Kansas Coliseum and joined Hartman Arena in 2008 before its March 2009 opening.

“Effective immediately, Mr. Eric Blockie will fill the general manager’s position at Hartman Arena,” Hartman says.

Earlier this month, Have You Heard? reported that Blockie joined Hartman Arena as director of financial and marketing development, which resulted in Wedel’s departure.

“I just felt when Eric came on board, it was time for her to pursue other opportunities,” Hartman said at the time.

Blockie is from the St. Louis area, where he worked for Live Nation, the world’s biggest promoter.

“Eric brings a diverse background in the industry to Hartman Arena,” Hartman says, “and will continue to bring a wide range of entertainment options to the community.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Arenas | Comments (11)

Wink Hartman Sr. makes changes at Hartman Arena

July 6, 200911:22 a.m.

winkWICHITA — 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.”

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County courts Hartman Arena management

April 13, 200910:54 a.m.

Sedgwick County officials are interested in possibly having Hartman Arena managers also manage the pavilions near Kansas Coliseum.

“They need to deal with the situation up there,” arena owner Wink Hartman Sr. says. “We would be very happy to sit down and talk with whomever.”wink1

SMG, which runs the county’s new Intrust Bank Arena, is running the coliseum for now. But that’s not a long-term arrangement.

“We don’t want to run two arenas that are in competition with one another,” County Commissioner Dave Unruh says.

But Hartman isn’t interested in the coliseum itself.

“I want nothing to do with that,” he says.

“I don’t blame (him),” Unruh says. “That’s one of the problems we’ve got.”

Park City administrator Jack Whitson says Chris Chronis, the county’s chief financial officer, called to see if there would be any objection to Hartman Arena managers also managing the pavilions.

“We have no objection,” Whitson says. “We want those facilities to continue because the bulk of our benefit is those outbuildings.”

For instance, a horse show in those buildings attracts participants to Park City hotels for days.

“It’s a weeklong deal instead of just a one-night concert,” Whitson says.

“Anything to keep those facilities running up there, we’re in favor of,” he says.

In recent years, the county has spent close to $7 million on pavilion upgrades.

“We need to do our best to keep something viable,” Unruh says. “I’d be willing to talk about something that sounded (like) a win-win. That’s how deals are made — where everybody comes out a winner.”

Hartman says he’s always open to new deals.

“If somebody calls, we’ll talk to anybody.”

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