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Sprint Center executive gets industry's recognition
By STEVE PENNThe Kansas City Star
Brenda Tinnen, general manager and senior vice president of the Sprint Center, has been nominated as the facility executive of the year by Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The Pollstar award winners will be announced Feb. 7 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
The successful opening of the Sprint Center probably had a lot to do with the nomination. With 36 events in 60 days last year, the arena drew just over 400,000 people, said Shani Tate-Ross, director of communications and marketing for the Sprint Center.
The 36 dates included performances from Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Elton John, R. Kelly and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, as well as basketball games hosted by the University of Missouri, the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.
“It was just a really diverse offering,” Tate-Ross said. “To have that kind of activity over just 60 days kept us busy. We were here almost every other two days having an event.”
The Big 12 Basketball Tournament, which starts March 13, will be one of the center’s next big events.
“This year promises to be just as busy and exciting at the arena,” Tate-Ross said. “We’re looking forward to bringing acts to Kansas City that haven’t been here recently. So in the next three to four weeks, we expect a number of good announcements both for the city and for our fans.”
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It’s a new way to reach out and teach young people about the history of Negro League baseball. And it’s taught in a language that young people can easily relate to.
The rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony has been added to the list of performers tonight at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Legacy Awards, which will recognize the best baseball performances in 2007.
The rap group has forged a connection with the museum and has created a song about the leagues that should be released soon.
Bob Kendrick, the museum’s marketing director, has an advance copy.
“It’s a way to hopefully draw in that generation,” Kendrick said. “We want them to see the history as cool. The museum must go out and reach young people where they are. We can’t wait for young people to come to us. We have to go to them. You have to be able to bridge the gap.”
Kendrick predicts the song will be popular.
“Kids will be singing it and rapping it,” he said. “At the same time, it will mean something to them.”
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If you know someone, especially a minority, who might have what it takes to become a Kansas City police officer, tell them about an upcoming test.
The Kansas City Police Department will hold open testing later this month for police officer cadets. The test will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 26 at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy, 6885 Pleasant Valley Road. Applicants are advised to arrive at 8:30 a.m. and are required to bring a valid driver’s license.
A week before, at 9 a.m. Jan. 19, the department will provide a tutoring session at the academy. It will be a first for the department.
“We’re hoping the pre-test session will increase the number of people passing the test,” said Capt. Dan Haley, commander of the department’s employment division. “We’re hoping this will give us more good candidates to choose from.”
People interested in taking the test should call Officer Jackson Lyle at 816-234-5273 to sign up.