CONSHOHOCKEN, PA - SMG, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment services, teamed up with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes to bring some extra holiday cheer to those less fortunate this past holiday season. SMG and the Rockettes worked hand-in-hand at seven SMG-managed facilities: 1st Mariner Arena, BOK Center, CenturyTel Center, Ford Center, Nationwide Arena, Peoria Civic Center, and Van Andel Arena.
At the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, the Christmas Spectacular donated more than 100 tickets to the Casey Cares Foundation and their families. The Casey Cares Foundation works to provide uplifting programs to critically ill children and their families. The show also donated tickets to the St. Jude Hospital in Peoria, as well as helped local NBC affiliate WEEK with promos for their “Coats for Kids” campaign at the Peoria Civic Center.
While at the BOK Center in Tulsa, the Rockettes, along with Santa, participated in a meet and greet with members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and then invited them all to attend the show. And at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, the Rockettes paid visits to elementary school classrooms for story time, and to the DeVos Children's hospital. Then, the night of the show, the Christmas Spectacular played host to more than 100 children and their families from the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan.
In Shreveport at the CenturyTel Center, “Coats for Kids” collected new and slightly used coats for children in the area. Likewise, at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, local news channel KFOR ran their annual Warmth for Winter Campaign coat drive at the show.
“During the holiday season, it's very important to think of those who may not be as fortunate as us. In the cities where we have a presence, we see it as our responsibility to give back to the surrounding communities,” said Hank Abate, SMG Senior Vice President. “SMG is privileged to have such a sensational show in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to help us bring the spirit of the holidays to thousands of people across the country.”
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes toured in 23 cities across the United States. The tour began on Novemember 7th in Minneapolis, and finished in Houston on January 4, 2009.