New vision, new leadership at Elmira's First Arena. Meet the team now overseeing venue
Elmira’s First Arena has a new mandate, and now, a new leadership team charged with making that vision a reality.
A handful of hires were recently put in place by the Capital Resource Group, a subsidiary of the Chemung County IDA, which owns the downtown arena. The IDA took over management of First Arena this spring after terminating a five-year lease signed by Tadross Donner Sports and Entertainment LLC in late 2021.
First Arena has been beset by financial and infrastructure issues for much of its history, but the IDA believes the new management team has the right expertise to turn the venue into a community entertainment hub.
“The key thing is all these people work together very well,” said IDA Chairman Mark Margeson, who also chairs the Chemung County Legislature. “Each one has a special expertise in each area of need.”
The full-time hires will eventually be complemented by an additional 20 part-time staff, Margeson said. Here’s what you need to know about the new leadership.
Meet the new leadership team at First Arena
Brandon Vanhorn will manage First Arena. VanHorn has experience managing similar venues at Cornell University in food service, said Margeson.
Rick Noterfonzo will oversee First Arena’s finances. Noterfonzo, an Elmira College grad, previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Rochester Technical Group, Inc.
Chemung County native Mike Meck will be involved in oversight of building maintenance, including heating, cooling and other infrastructure concerns.
John Livsey will head up corporate sales. Livsey is a former top executive with the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, including a stint as director of marketing and sales for the NFL franchise.
Mike Montoro, a longtime concert promoter based in Buffalo, will lead efforts to bring non-sports entertainment to First Arena, including concerts, comedians and other shows.
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Don Kirnan is operating the Elmira River Sharks, First Arena’s new anchor hockey franchise. The River Sharks will play in the Federal Prospects Hockey League just like their predecessor, the Elmira Mammoth.
The new leadership structure is a departure from past practices at First Arena.
“We’ve changed up the way business is done in the arena,” said Margeson. “The management team will control all of the income and expenses, not the hockey team. That way, we make sure bills are paid, our income stream is good, and the hockey team can function.
"Before, for the last 23 years, hockey has controlled the income and also their expenses. They haven’t done a very good job.”
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Early returns at First Arena under IDA oversight
The IDA has made some cosmetic improvements to First Arena since taking over the facility in May, such as fresh paint, upgraded lighting and fixtures, and a new popcorn machine.
Margeson said the new leadership team put together the Brit Floyd concert coming up on Aug. 23. The Pink Floyd tribute show will mark First Arena’s debut under IDA management.
“It was probably a little early for the concert, because we’re under the gun to put it together, but we felt it would be good for the community to have the opportunity to get some activity in there,” said Margeson. “We’re trying to get some activity in the arena while we’re working on getting the ice plant back.”
The River Sharks are scheduled to play their first home game on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:05 p.m. against Binghamton. Other entertainment events are in the planning stages, but “nothing absolute” has been added to the venue’s calendar.
“The goal is to stabilize it and make it a successful community facility, not just for hockey,” said Margeson. “It’s always been managed by hockey and that’s all they care about. The community deserves a better option.”
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Meet the team now overseeing Elmira's First Arena
