Many contracts have been secured for locally owned and operated small businesses across the Valley for the Super Bowl in 2023. phoenix
With only 66 days left before the 2023 Super Bowl that's set for State Farm Stadium in Glendale, small businesses in Arizona are working to secure the remaining opportunities left to benefit from the big game.
Through the National Football League's Business Connect program, which aims to diversify contracts with businesses, numerous Valley companies have already inked a deal, including a new downtown Phoenix venue called Warehouse215, which was founded by Heather Lennon, owner of Imagine General Contracting & Development and Racontense Cigars. In October, Lennon held a launch party for her new venue in a warehouse that was first developed as far back as 1918 and was used as linen laundry building. Lennon converted the old building into a new, private venue located at 215 E. Grant St. this year. Through Business Connect, Lennon said she was able to land a six-day buyout for thousands of VIP guests for the Super Bowl at her venue space, which incorporates the historic features of the 28,000-square-foot building and Phoenix's warehouse district with the former industrial facade and clerestory, or ceiling-level windows. "We're excited to put our toe in the water of events," Lennon told the Business Journal."It's a great way to get our name out there, it's a great way to have some financial influx at the beginning of a business. If we're able to get national coverage, that's something we seek to do and hope to do. We're huge proponents of the downtown area, all of those warehouses."Lennon was one of dozens of local business owners who gathered Wednesday evening at State Farm Stadium stadium, the site of the 2023 Super Bowl, to network and connect with procurement executives for potential contracts for a variety of services such as catering, transportation and security for Super Bowl 57 and beyond. "What I've heard from all of our friends around the state, around the Valley, from the NFL, we are right on track, we're right where we need to be," said Jay Parry, CEO of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, at Wednesday's event."Hosting the Super Bowl is an incredible lift for our community, and what I can say is it takes collaboration of our businesses, our elected officials, our community and tribal leaders, and you guys are a really important part of that." The event was part of the Business Connect program, a supplier diversity initiative that provides enhanced exposure, opportunities and connections to more than 200 Valley businesses. So far, the committee said more contracts with Business Connect suppliers have been secured than any past Super Bowl at this point in the planning process. "This event is going to be amazing," said BJ Waymer, program lead for Business Connect NFL."Every contract that is signed for a Business Connect supplier for Super Bowl ripples through the community of Phoenix and all of the counties around it. Every contract we sign means a caterer is going to have to go out and find a staff to work their events, they're going to have to buy their food, beverages from somewhere. That somewhere is in their local community." A committee spokesperson said they won't have a final number of contracts until the Super Bowl, but added that Business Connect members have seen about 400 engagements between suppliers being asked for proposals or being interviewed or selected for a job.Another local company that was recently founded in the Phoenix area and secured a major contract with the NFL for January and February 2023 is Desert Wall Security Agency. Anthony Wright, the managing director and co-owner for the company, said he and his partners formed their company in 2021. Malik Russ, field director, and Jarrod Watson, director of personnel, are the other co-founders. Desert Wall Security, which has about 15 existing contracts, first learned of the opportunity with Business Connect through a friend, so they signed up for the program and are now working on a contract to provide security services through the NFL in the two months leading up to the big game. "It was big, we were totally shocked that we got it," Wright told the Business Journal."We wouldn't have the opportunity if it weren't for Business Connect. That's the only reason why we're here, is because of that. There's so many security companies out here, there's tons of them, so it was a big deal for us." Wright said they currently have about 42 employees but will need about 100 total employees for January and February, including 24-hour shifts. The Super Bowl contract will be the largest one-time contract the company has received, Wright said. Other companies in attendance on Wednesday who were speaking with procurement executives such as Phoenix Convention Center and Local First Arizona include Mr. Momo, a new food truck that serves Nepali-style dumplings in the Valley, and The Sparkle Bar, an all-inclusive makeup artistry studio based in Scottsdale. Subash Yadav, co-founder of Gilbert-based Mr. Momo, said that they were one of 35 businesses selected as potential food vendors out of about 600 initial applicants. Services like catering will not be needed until closer to the Super Bowl, so not every supplier has landed a contract yet, he added. Parry said about 175 people flew out to Arizona from primarily New York for planning and production meetings this week before returning and staying in the Valley in January through February. During those meetings, Parry said its Business Connect program was brought up multiple times. "Business Connect is a major priority for the league and a major priority for why they wanted to come back to Arizona, because of the fantastic supplier network that we have, so hats off to you all for making Arizona look amazing to the NFL and all the visitors that will come to town," Parry told business owners at Wednesday's networking event. The committee also highlighted Kingpin BBQ, which was selected to cater lunches and dinners for NFL officials while they were visiting the Phoenix area this week.This event brings together more than 100 of the Valley’s most influential, connected, and informed business executives.2023 Most Admired Leader Awards presented by Arizona Bank & Trust The Phoenix Business Journal will recognize leaders for their strong leadership, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, financial performance and commitment to the community.
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