ICE CURTAINS IMPRESS DELEGATES TO

PHOENIX SPORTS VENUES

Ice curtains have become the norm at events around Phoeniz, AZ. Kurt and Becky Herbolsheimer of Innovative Ice produced their first ice curtain 12 months ago and since that time, they have been asked to repeat the design many times.

Recently, a convention for the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) toured the four major sporting venues in Phoenix. Delegates included personnel from companies that operate luxury suites for both major and minor sporting venues - both professional and college - in North America.

The first evening it was a trip to the National Hockey League (NHL) Phoenix Coyotes at the Jobing.com arena for cocktails. The group then moved next door to the National Football League (NFL) Arizona Cardinals University of Phoenix stadium. Innovative Ice had created six sections of ice curtain, two were 11ft high and 8ft wide and four measured 6ft high and 4ft wide.

One special feature included the Arizona Cardinal logo etched in the front face of the curtain beads which were placed randomly through the design.

The curtains were placed so that as guests entered the suite areas while riding a long escalator, they were able to see the curtains. What was the reaction " 'Amazing', said Kurt. 'And it was definitely the hit of the event'. The ice curtains could also be seen through the large windows in the stadium.

'Flash bulbs were going off all evening', explained Kurt. "And it certainly helped us cement relationships for the next Super Bowl which will be held in the stadium".

Innovative Ice also produced colored centerpieces of the stadium logo, the Arizona Cardinals logo and Centerplate, the concession company for the stadium.

The following evening, Innovative Ice was back in action again at the US Airways Center where full color logos of the Phoenix Suns and Level vodka were displayed at a cocktail hour before delegates took in a baseball game at Chase Field between the Diamondbacks and LA Dodgers.

Incorporating a logo on 5in curtain bead certainly takes the design to a new level and Innovative Ice has now done this twice. 'It adds a little more pizazz to the occasion', says Kurt.

The first time was for the 20th Anniversary of Arizona Weddings magazine and two, 9ft high and 18ft wide curtains lined the entrance to the party. 'It was pretty impressive', enthuses Kurt. 'In 95 degree heat, the curtain dropped the temperature 10 to 15 degrees as guests approached to entrance and they picked up on the cooling effect quickly', he added.