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September 7, 2007 - Candidates Vow to Fight Cancer in Cedar Rapids Forum
For Immediate Release: September 7, 2007
Contact: Tammy Koolbeck 319-929-5755
Scott Schoenike 319-398-5211
Presidential candidates from Democratic and Republican parties promised to make cancer a national priority if elected during the two-day Lance Armstrong LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Aug. 27-28.
The U.S. Cellular Center is one of three venues in Cedar Rapids managed by VenuWorks. The others are the Paramount Theater and Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
Armstrong, who overcame testicular and brain cancer to win seven Tour de France cycling championships, and Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball With Chris Matthews," co-moderated the forums. They heard testimony from Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson the first day, and Republican hopefuls Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee the following day. Crowds estimated at 3,000 and 1,000, respectively, attended each day.
The forums were held from 10 a.m. to noon each day. During that time "Hardball With Chris Matthews" was taped for showing later in the day. The forums also were taped and rebroadcast each night on MSNBC.
"They traded attendance for timing, but that was how they needed to do it to get 'Hardball' taped and ready to go," U.S. Cellular Center Executive Director Scott Schoenike said. "MSNBC and Lance Armstrong's people said they were extremely happy with the building and event."
"This was a good event for the city and for the building. We looked on the Internet and we were on ten websites at 10 a.m. each day. We had our name out there."
Schoenike said LIVESTRONG Foundation representatives told him they would like to conduct the forums again next year and, perhaps, beyond. He said if that happens he would like to get more schools involved.
"This is more of a civic-minded event than a political event," he said. "It was a good forum. The questions were pointed. They were not softballs."
BACKGROUND
VenuWorks (formerly Compass Facility Management) is well known for its success in providing full management services for arenas, theaters, and convention centers, which are primarily under the governance of municipalities, counties, colleges, and universities. VenuWorks, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, is the third largest facilities management company in the United States, serving 26 facilities in 15 communities throughout the US. It also manages food and beverage operations and provides event booking and promotion services. VenuWorks also performs feasibility studies and consulting work for clients with existing and prospective public assembly facilities.
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