Baycourt Community and Arts Centre and Eden Park's Nick Sautner secure 2019 EVANZ Supreme Awards

Nick Sautner, Chief Executive of Auckland’s Eden Park, and the Baycourt Community and Arts Centre have secured the top accolades at the 2019 Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) annual awards.

Presented during the annual awards dinner as part of the EVANZ Annual Conference at the Christchurch Town Hall on Tuesday evening (26th November), awards were made in nine award categories as well as the Supreme award Winners.

In addition to being named EVANZ Supreme Person of the Year Award, Sautner was named VMA Venue Executive of the Year while his Eden Park colleague, Event Manager, Chynna Laughton received the Simpson Grierson Operational Manager of the Year Award.

The Baycourt Community and Arts Centre was also named Ticketmaster Small Venue of The Year before being recognised as the EVANZ Supreme Venue of the Year Award. 

Commenting on the awards, Sautner advised “to be recognised within Aotearoa for the steps we are taking at Eden Park is heartening for not only me but also my team.

“The stadium creates significant economic benefit and remains a strategic asset for the country and a community asset for the city. I am privileged to be one part in driving this stadium towards its goals and aspirations.”

Eden Park Trust Board Chairman Doug McKay says all three award wins are testament to the culture and driving force behind the venue, adding "since stepping onto our turf, Nick has led an incessant mission to ensure Eden Park holds its place on not only New Zealand’s map but also the world stage.

"It’s satisfying to see staff like Chynna Laughton grow through the business and be offered continual opportunities to develop. Our Board has no doubt that the stadium is in safe hands as it looks to the future.”

Earlier this year Nick Sautner won ‘Executive of the Year’ at TheStadiumBusiness Awards in Manchester. In 2018, the stadium was awarded the ‘Best Community Integration’ award at the World Stadium Congress, the ‘Business Award’ at Australasian Leisure Management's industry awards, and ‘Excellence in Host Responsibility’ at the EVANZ awards.

The EVANZ Award Recipients for 2019 are:

General Categories
Health Promotion Agency Excellence in Host Responsibility Award 
Winner: Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata 
 
Spotless Best Industry Supplier Award
Winner: Red Badge

EVANZ Contribution to Industry Award 
Recipient: Ian Reid (formerly of Napier Municipal Theatre) - who recently retired after 30 years at Napier Municipal Theatre. 

Venue Categories
Eventfinda Large Venue of the Year Award (Over 5,000 Seats)
Winner: Claudelands, Hamilton

Pixel Medium Venue of the Year (1,001-4,999 Seats)
Winner: Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Ticketmaster Small Venue of The Year (1-1,000 Seats)
Winner: Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, Tauranga

People Categories
VMA Venue Executive of the Year 
Winner: Nick Sautner, Eden Park
The Winner of the VMA Venue Executive of the Year award receives complimentary registration to the Venue Management Association (VMA) Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress for 2020.
 
Simpson Grierson Operational Manager of the Year Award
Winner: Chynna Laughton, Eden Park
The Winner of the Simpson Grierson Operational Manager of the Year Awards receives complimentary registration to the 2020 EVANZ Annual Conference. 
 
Ungerboeck Rising Star of the Year Award 
Winner: Kyle Evelyn, H3 Group
The Winner of the Ungerboeck Rising Star award receives a $5,000 scholarship to VMS – the Venue Management School in Australia. This scholarship covers years 1 and 2.
 
Supreme Awards
EVANZ Supreme Venue of the Year Award (highest scoring nomination across the three venue awards - large, medium and small)
Winner: Baycourt Community and Arts Centre
 
EVANZ Supreme Person of the Year Award (highest scoring nomination across the three people awards)
Winner: Nick Sautner, Eden Park, Auckland

Images: Nick Sautner at the 2019 EVANZ Annual Conference (top), the EVANZ Awards (middle) and winners of the EVANZ Awards come together (below).

Article corrected 2.20pm 28th November 2019. The earlier version of this article failed to mention the Baycourt Community and Arts Centre as the winner of the EVANZ Supreme Venue of the Year Award.