MPINCC June 2022 Key Note Feature

A conversation with Rachel Podolsky, Director of Sales, Private Events
Venue: Oakland Arena & RingCentral Coliseum

1.    What makes events at your venue unique? 

Wow!  Where to start? We have so much to offer, I can’t contain my excitement!  Our venue complex offers infinite possibilities! Between the LEED certified Oakland Arena, the RingCentral Coliseum (home of the A’s), a myriad of parking lots with over 1million square feet of usable space, and a gorgeous plaza space that connects them all, our complex can cater to almost any event need.

Whether you are looking to host an intimate meeting, a mega-event, or something in between, we offer an aesthetically diverse selection of spaces. With over 16 unique indoor spaces (not including the over 7 greenroom spaces), an expansive selection of outdoor spaces, and of course our playing field and arena bowl (with a multitude of floor options including an ice rink) we have the space to help clients achieve their event dreams.  Plus - our concourses, suites, and patios can be activated to provide additional space for sponsor activations, breakout sessions, registration, food and beverage service, entertainment and more! You could even have a conference/meeting in one facility and a post-conference/meeting reception/concert in the other facility!  Your guests will be able to shift from meeting to party and won’t even have to leave the property!  Now that’s what I call a seamless transition from day to night!

2.    What new challenges has this presented you and your team with?

We love challenges! The biggest challenge with being able to accommodate so many different event types, formats, and demographics, is working with clients to help them narrow down the options and select the space that works best for THEM.  So often, clients will have a vision for their event, and then once they see all the spaces we offer, they discover possibilities they didn’t know existed.  That’s when the magic happens.  We love seeing the lightbulbs in their heads go off.  Whether it is the high ceiling they didn’t expect, the existing furniture and thematic designs, the dynamic lighting, the game activations, venue capabilities, or the extensive branding opportunities, our venues solve challenges before clients even have to think about it.

Plus, our ability to convert a space (overnight, if needed) and accommodate short planning timelines, make our venues ideal for commercial shoots, extensive build-outs, and out of the box events.  Our team is ready to help you tackle any challenge.

3.    What would you like people to know who might be on the fence about considering a non-traditional venue such as yours?

If you can dream it, almost anything is possible here!  Stunts, ice rinks, fireworks, over-night film shoots, festivals, ride and drive courses, inflatables, dirt courses, concerts, weddings and social celebrations, holiday parties, conferences, sales kick-offs, trainings, tradeshows, board meetings, teambuilding – we can accommodate them all!  And if you need a quick turn-key event space, last minute for happy hour… we can accommodate that too!