Bottom Line for Georgia Total New Dollars $841.4 Million Total Economic Impact $2 Billion Total Tax Revenues $102.8 Million Bottom Line Performance for Georgia Since its 1970's conception by State government and business visionaries, the Georgia World Congress Authority has grown stronger each year as a dependable, self-sustaining economic-development engine for Georgia. While our unequaled combination of amenities has firmly established our status as a leader throughout the hospitality industry worldwide, each of our three component operations enjoyed individual successes in fiscal year 1998 including: THE GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER One of the nation's largest international trade show and convention facilities. CONTENTS Director's Report page 5 GWCCRevenue & Expense page 8 GWCCEconomic Impact page 10 GWCCSales & Event Attendance page 11 Georgia Dome Revenue & Expense page 14 Georgia Dome Sales & Economic Impact page 15 Centennial Olympic Park Update page 17 Human Resources Report page 18 Authority Balance Sheet page 19 Authority Board of Governors page 20 Generated more than $1.7 billion of economic benefit for the citizens of Georgia. Welcomed an estimated 1,425,645 attendees, including approximately 676,468 from out-of-town. Served as the venue for 45 major conventions and trade shows, 23 public shows, 221 meetings and corporate affairs, and 50 other events such as fashion shows, graduations, licensing exams, sports, concerts, and theatrical productions. Received Georgia General Assembly authorization for $10.5 million funding to pursue the planning and design phase for a 450,000-square-foot exhibit space expansion. Initiated extensive upgrades to our original Phase I facility including roof and air conditioning replacements. Hosted THE SUPER SHOW for sports apparel and equipment for the 13th straight year, attracting 88,000 attendees. Signed the SuperComm computer show with its 45,000 annual attendees to a five-year agreement beginning in 1998. Hosted 125,000 visitors at the annual holiday Festival of Trees to benefit Egleston Children's Hospital. Enhanced customer service by privatizing our parking and expanded business center operations. page 2 THE GEORGIA DOME A premier sports and events facility and the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world. Contributed more than $298.7 million of economic impact to the State. Welcomed some 1,908,835 million visitors, including an estimated 268,192 out-of-town attendees. Booked more than 110 events with more than 1.5 million people attending 50 sporting events, 212,000 attending six entertainment events, 94,000 attending four trade/public shows, and 56,000 attending more than 50 other type events such as meetings, receptions, graduations, and religious rallies. Refinanced our debt at a lower interest rate, realizing future savings of more than $78 million in interest and letter of credit fees. Set an NBAattendance record of 62,046 when the Atlanta Hawks hosted Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls on March 27. Hosted sellout Rolling Stones, U2 and Fox 97 Ultimate Oldies concerts. Upgraded our facilities by adding food-service buffet areas and serving carts, re-carpeting more than 38,000 square yards of floor space, refurbishing the cooling towers and chillers, and reconfiguring our Club Seat section to enhance service and exclusivity. Already designated as the 2002 host of the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Tournament, we won the honor of doing so again in 2007. Gave "Dome-field advantage" in the 1997 season to a rejuvenated Atlanta Falcons NFLfootball team during its first full season under new head coach Dan Reeves. CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK 21-acre state park, the nation's largest urban-center park built in the last 20 years. Commemorated completion of Phase II in March with a weekend-long celebration that featured national acts and attracted more than 200,000 guests . Acts as tangible anchor for building a sense of community and goodwill in the revitalization of downtown Atlanta. Serves as Georgia's most visible and most visited legacy of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Hosted 174 events during the year, including the traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit and a variety of receptions, free concerts, festivals, reunions, and athletic fundraisers. Grew as a performing arts venue with appearances ranging from wandering troubadours to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra accompaniment of a spectacular fireworks display . Became the first park in the U.S. to operate entirely with a fleet of electric vehicles. Hosted 1.4 million visitors to FY1998 events/festivals. Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight page 3 Who We Are What We Strive for What We Stand For Our Missi on: The State of Georgia established the Georgia World Congress Center Authority to develop and operate the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome, Centennial Olympic Park, and related facilities. These facilities exist for the primary purpose of promoting and facilitating events and activities that generate economic benefits to the citizens of the State of Georgia and the City of Atlanta, as well as enhance the overall quality of life for every Georgian. Our Vision: Our vision is to earn our reputation relentlessly as one of the world's finest convention, sports and entertainment venues. Every day we exemplify our steadfast commitment to excellence in our expertise, efficiency and quality of service. Our vision is to lead our industry through innovation; to operate successfully in an ethical manner; to satisfy our customers' expectations with motivated, service-oriented employees; to provide a safe, clean environment; and to foster both the personal and professional growth of our people. Our Values: To achieve our vision, we make our customers the focus of everything we do. We take pride in providing friendly and courteous service to our guests and customers. We strive constantly to improve productivity and to promote the best interests of the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park. page 4 GeorfJia World ConfJress Center Authorit DIRECTOR'S REPORT: An excellent year by many measures, 1998 again proved the Georgia World Congress Center Authority to be a solid investment for the people of Georgia. Almost one million out-of-town visitors attended events at the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park and injected directly more than $841.4 million new dollars into our state's economy. That stimulated a ripple effect of $2 billion total economic impact and total tax revenues of more than $102.8 million that benefited all Georgians, from Tybee Island to Brasstown Bald. Our overall impact helped the state's second-largest industry, hospitality, flourish and raised our state's progressive image as a great place to do business. Not taking time to slow down after the monumental effort involved in hosting a myriad of Olympic events the previous year, we moved vigorously and confidently in 1998 to take on the challenges of keeping old customers and winning new ones. You will find as you look through this report that we did well. Still, the convention and trade show market is fiercely competitive. Other facilities in other states present a growing threat. Refurbishing and upgrading our facilities constantly, introducing efficiencies, finding ways to improve the quality of our already excellent service - all helped us maintain our position of leadership. We also focused diligently on developing an expansion plan for the World Congress Center. Designed to give us greater flexibility in meeting customer demands for exhibit space, Phase IV should, if approved, give us the edge we'll need to stay competitive beyond the year 2000. The hundreds of men and women employed by the Authority take justifiable professional pride in the value we delivered to Georgia in 1998. We look forward to continuing to serve our fellow citizens as we advance together into the new century. DanieL A. GraveLine Executive Director Georgia World Congress Center Authority Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight page 5 GeorJ{ia World ConJ{ress Center Fiscal year 1998, ending June 30, gave the Authority important reassurance that we could sustain our positive growth trends. The World Congress Center generated operating revenues of $30,030,518, a profit of $6.9 million and new tax revenues of $88.6 million from the trade and consumer shows, conventions, corporate meetings, and miscellaneous events it hosted. The World Congress Center has as its primary mission the creation of economic benefit for the state. Trade show, convention and other events' attendees, including exhibitors, bring "new dollars" into our economy from out of town. Thanks to the Congress Center, more than $704.4 million new dollars went directly into circulation here in 1998. As they were re-spent throughout Georgia's economy, those dollars generated $1.7 billion-worth of economic impact. In addition, Congress Center activities sustained more than 31,000 jobs related directly and indirectly to the state's hospitality industry. With the strength of our success in FY98 as one of the nation's busiest major convention facilities and with events now scheduled into the year 2017, we have reassured our confidence that the GWCC can sustain its steady growth trend that predates the 1996 Olympic Games. I page 7 Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight GWCC 1998 Revenue 6- Expense Statement REVENUE OPERATING REVENUE Rent Exhibit Utility Services Food Services Parking Hotel/Motel Tax Other SUBTOTAL NON-OPERATING REVENUE Centennial Olympic Park Transfer from Reserves SUBTOTAL Hotel/Motel Tax (ACVB) TOTAL Exhibit Utility Services 22% $ 12,091,445 6,585,970 4,127,571 2,192,866 3,325,666 1,707,000 $ 30,030,518 354,512 3,823,792 $ 4,178,304 7,890,442 $ 42,099,264 / Rent 40% Food Services 14% Hotel/Motel Tax 11% Parking 7% EXPENSE OPERATING EXPENSE Personal Services Regular Operating Equipment Contracts/Fees Other SUBTOTAL NON-OPERATINGEXPENSE Centennial Olympic Park Special Projects SUBTOTAL Hotel/Motel Tax (ACVB) TOTAL NET GAIN $ 14,050,005 6,527,114 58,698 4,237,078 440,735 $ 25,313,630 1,280,827 667,919 $ 1,948,746 7,890,442 $ 35,152,818 $ 6,946,446 Personal Services 55% Regular Operating 26% ----,---.2'=::,"'70 EquipmentjContracts/Fees 17% Other 2% The Georgia World Congress Center's primary sources of operating revenue remained rent, utilities and food services totaling 76 n percent of our operati ng revenue. We managed to bring operating revenues in at approximately 18.6 percent over budget. Rent went down compared to the previous year because in FY 1997 we had so much Centennial Olympic Games business during our normally slow summer months. However, we did enjoy significant increases in parking, utility and food and beverage revenues in FY 1998. Through careful management, we held our operating expenses at 5.4 percent below projections without affecting the high quality of customer service. "Other Expenses" refers to telecommunications, computers, supplies, equipment leases, travel, printing, and miscellaneous expenses necessary to the efficient conduct of our business. "Special Projects" included the Centennial Olympic Park Springfest, Park programming and International Plaza. page 8 Geor'l"ia World Con'l"ress Center Exhibit Hall Bookin'l"s Days Booked 365 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 300 285 PRACTICAL MAXIMUM 250 - [, II ~ I II II I I I! " I 200 - Ii II r r I! II ~r I 150 - II Ii II I rl i -I100 , 50 -, I I I I ,[ l I Ii I I " Ii II Ii l ~ I ~ I I I t I I ~ ~ I II II Ii 'I II Ii o 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 HALLSABC HALLS DEF HALLS GH The Georgia World Congress Center measures bookings in terms of "Exhibit Hall Days" for each of three exhibit hall groupings (i.e., Halls ABC, Halls DEF and Halls GH). One Exhibit Hall Day equals a full day in which the Congress Center could book all the space in Halls ABC, DEF or GH. Every trade show and convention facility must take into account a number of scheduling gaps due to national holidays, seasonally slow periods and an average of three days per month between major events. As a result of these industry-inherent "lost days," the "Practical Maximum Bookings" achievable in a year equals 285 Exhibit Hall Days. page 9 Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight -C> GWCC Estimated FY 98 Economic Impact 1998 ECONOMIC IMPACT GWCC ACTIVITY "New Dollars" Impact Total Economic Impact Personal Income Employment TAXES Georgia Sales Local Hotel/Motel Personal Income TOTAL $ 704,372,305 1,690,493,532 644,500,659 31,406 45,784,200 11,269,957 14,791,818 16,764,061 $ 88,610,036 1997 1998 TWO-YEAR ECONOMIC SUMMARY "New Dollars" Generated $ 693,353,520 Total Impact of "New Dollars" 1,661,550,420 TAX REVENUES State Local Hotel/Motel TOTALTAXREVENUES $ 61,854,480 11,223,000 14,665,000 $ 87,742,480 704,372,305 1,690,493,532 62,548,261 11,269,957 14,791,818 88,610,036 GWCC 1998 ATTENDANCE Total out-of-town attendance .. (691,055 in '97) 676,468 uuuu u Total daily attendance uu uuuuu UuuUu 3,624,166 (6,657,296 in '97; number reflects Olympic Games attendance) Total daily attendance equals 4.25 visits by every out-of-town attendee plus one visit for each local resident who attended meetings or public shows at the Georgia World Congress Center. TOTAL ATTENDANCE 672,425 .. .. Uuuu. at 45 Major Trade Shows & Conventions 438,618 ... uu uuuuuu. at 23 Public/Consumer Shows 314,602 at 271 Meetings, Corporate Events and Others* u uu 1,425,645 u uu uuuuu TotaL Attendance uu u u * Includes fashion shows, Licensing exams, graduations, sports events, concerts, and other performing arts productions. Major Trade Shows & Conventions 47% Public/Consumer Shows 31% Meetings & Corporate Events 22'% page 10 Direct Benefit to Georgia TOTAL EXPENSE I: Debt Service Expense Operati ng Expense TOTAL REVENUE Tax Revenue Operating Revenue , , ij-1l:l ~ ---ifl ---HI n. --u I -II I -til rTI +'" In ~ ---III n. --In ~ ---in z ~III i ,I ~-. II III II -. III ~I: II rJE 1-: I~ II -. UI~ Z .n I fuI .t I~ I FY87 $21.1 FY88 $37.2 FY89 $43.6 FY90 $49.3 FY91 $47.8 NET PROFIT TO STATE OF GEORGIA IN MILLIONS FY92 $34.7 FY93 $37.6 FY94 $33.3 FY95 $47.3 FY96 $23.2 FY97 $44.4 FY98 $40.2 Fiscal year 1998, ending June 30, was another excellent year for the Georgia Dome. The Dome is one of the nation's premier sporting venues. It is home of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons and - until their new home is built - also the Atlanta Hawks National Basketball Association franchise. One of the largest concert arenas in the Southeast United States, the Dome hosted blockbuster concerts like the Rolling Stones and U2. We handled an incredible variety of events ranging from the annual Chick-fil-A Peach and McDonald's Heritage Bowls to trade shows and corporate meetings, from Monday Night Nitro wrestling to religious rallies, from motor sports to college graduations. We set national attendance records for two major sporting events - an NBAgame featuring the Atlanta Hawks vs. the Chicago Bulls and the SEC Football Championship. All together, the 174 sporting and entertainment event days and 72 other types of event days combined in 1998 to deliver a Dome net profit of $6.1 million. Our 268,192 out-of-town visitors spent more than $137 million in "new dollars," which, when circulated through the state's economy, generated a total economic impact of more than $298.7 million. Dome business also contributed to Georgia's economy more than $14 million in new tax revenue and provided part- and full-time work in more than 5,100 hospitality industry-related jobs. These numbers are down from FY97, which included the 1996 Olympic Games; but they track well with our long-term trends. Looking to the future, some major events we are scheduled to host include Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 and the NCAAMen's Final Four Collegiate Basketball Championship in 2002 and again in 2007, a date we were awarded this year. 1 page 13 Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight Georgia Dome 1998 Revenue 6- Expense Statement REVENUE OPERATING REVENUE Rent Food Services Parking Other License Fees Advertising SUBTOTAL NON-OPERATING REVENUE Transfer from Reserves Hotel/Motel Tax TOTAL Hotel/Motel Tax 32% $ 3,813,170 3,023,252 629,505 4,148,386 15,385,920 2,068,504 $ 29,068,737 2,071,501 13,781,971 $ 44,922,209 License Fee 36% / EXPENSE OPERATING EXPENSE Personal Services Regular Operating Contracts/Fees Other SUBTOTAL I NON-OPERATING EXPENSE Debt Service Refinancing Expense TOTAL NETGAIN $ 5,425,917 3,332,199 10,503,940 234,420 $ 19,496,476 17,663,486 1,649,303 $ 38,809,265 6,112,944 Regular Operating 9% \ Personal Services 141 Rent 9% Food Services 7% Advertising 5% Other 10% Fees from executive suite and club seat licenses continued to be the Dome's largest source of revenue during 1998. While our rent and food services numbers went down compared to those influenced by the previous year's Olympic Games, we more than offset them with an almost $1 million jump in our "Other" revenues, which includes interest earned, utilities, labor, telecommunications, novelty sales, and venue productions. Other 5% Debt Service 45% The Dome refinanced its revenue bonds this year. That resulted in a one-time expense of $1,649,303 but will realize future savings of more than $78 million in interest and letter of credit fees over the life of the bonds. page 14 Georgia Dome Estimated FY 98 Economic Impact 1998 ECONOMIC IMPACT DOME ACTIVITY "New Dollar" Impact Total Economic Impact Personal Income EmP!Qyment TAXES Georgia Sales Local HotelLMotel Personal Income TOTAL $ 137,016,005 298,694,891 109,612,804 5,126 7,535,880 2,192,256 2,329,272 2,055,240 $ 14,112,648 TOTAL ATTENDANCE 1,545,723 m 212,433 94,269 56,410 1,908,835 m m 50 Sporting Events ..m 6 Entertainment Events _.-4 Trade & Public Shows* 51 Other Events** TotaL Attendance * Does not include Georgia WorLdCongress Center events that used Dome space. ** Includes corporate events, receptions, graduations, and reLigious assemblies. GEORGIA DOME BOOKINGS, 1997-2001 Day booked 365 300, 250 200 150 100 50 o I I I I I I II 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Sporting & entertainment events All other events 1997 TWO-YEAR ECONOMIC SUMMARY "New Dollars" Generated $ 190,597,399 Total Impact of "New Dollars" 414,342,172 TAX REVENUES State Local HotelLMotel TOTALTAXREVENUES 13,558,983 3,157,095 3,382,603 $ 20,098,681 1998 137,016,005 298,694,891 9,591,120 2,192,256 2,329,272 14,112,648 Sporting Events 80% Trade & Public Shows* 5% Entertainment Events 12% -.-, __ ~ Other Events** 3% GA. DOME 1998 ATTENDANCE Total out-of-town attendance ........ ...... ......... 268,192 mm ... Total daily attendance _ 2,199,892 Total daily attendance equals one visit for each local resident who attended a Georgia Dome event, plus one visit for single day events and 4.25 visits for multiple-day events attended by every out-of-town attendee. page 15 Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight Centennial OlvmDic Park Centennial Olympic Park generates economic benefit for the state by supporting stand-alone functions and serving as an adjunct site for events at the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia Dome. As a gathering place for formal business and informal relaxation, this urban gem has become the focal point of a resurgent neighborhood, accommodating transient convention and permanent community needs alike. The Park hosted 174 events of various shapes and sizes such as festivals, receptions, weddi ngs, concerts, reunions, and athletic fundraisers. As a result, it raised $350,000 to apply toward its own operating budget. Originally an eyesore of urban decay, the site was converted into an Olympic Games gathering place. Following the Games, we closed a significant section of the Park and redesigned it for civic use. We completed Phase II of the Park last year; and in late March, more than 200,000 well wishers thronged to the Park for a weekend-long celebration that included entertainment by Ray Charles, Chumbawamba, Sister Hazel, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. This past year confirmed our hope for the mUlti-purpose potential of the Park to: Serve as an important catalyst for continued development of surrounding properties, Facilitate business in the area, Enhance pedestrian traffic, Improve the neighborhood's quality of life, Support Atlanta and Georgia's spirit of community with special events that include performing arts, and Provide a serene haven in the heart of the city. The State's 21-acre Park achieved another mark of distinction in 1998 as the first park in the nation to operate a fleet made up entirely of electric vehicles. The clean-running, quiet EVs are used for security, landscaping, maintenance, engineering, and local event transportation. page 17 Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight -~ Human Resources Department The people who work at the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park radiate our well-earned reputation for superior hospitality and customer service. We had 502 full-time employee positions authorized in FY98. We supplemented our full-time staff in 1998 with 325,000 hours of part-time help, or the equivalent of 156 full-time jobs. This year, 76 of our employees achieved service milestones that combined represent 580 years of experience, dedication and exceptional service to our facilities and our customers. Four employees completed 20 years of service; eight completed 15 years; 12 completed 10 years; and 52 completed five. Our employees' personal and professional development is critical to our continued success in keeping ourselves competitive. We, therefore, invested 17,364 hours of training to further our people's professional skills and value to our facilities. Training topics ranged from customer service techniques to basic job skills to computer skills. Our employee body exemplifies the diversity found in metropolitan Atlanta, and we continue to work with area organizations to provide job and community support. The Atlanta Housing Authority recognized us for our ongoing support and commitment to the welfare-to-work job-training program. The Authority received an award from Community Friendship, Inc., a non-profit psychiatric program for metro Atlanta, for our involvement in its work opportunities effort. WORK FORCE DISTRIBUTION ~ Authority Work Force Metro Atlanta Work Force 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 oercentaqe 0 I. II Female Minority I Female Caucasian I Male Minority Male Caucasian page 18 Georgia World Congress Center Authority Balance Sheet as of June 1998 ASSETS Cash Accounts Receivable Inventories Fixed Assets TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES & FUND BALANCE LIABILITIES: Vouchers Pavable Debt Service Term Loan/Bond Payable Interfund Pavable RESERVES: Desiqnated Deferred Revenue Investments in Fixed Assets/Bld FUND BALANCE: Pre-Deoreciation Less Deoreciation TOTAL LIABILITIES & FUND BALANCE GWCC 16,826,176 4,686,517 20,815 243,242 4,212,216 ------ 248,689,884 (2) 274,678,850 GWCC 2,835,637 19,451,160 247,511,954 DOME 54,349,259 (1) 2,256,136 9,652 ----------- 3,127,740 172,722,846 232,465,633 DOME 6,187,304 (1 7,406,327 191,632,092 4,212,216 14,630,593 18,550,517 10,682,122 TOTAL 71,175,435 6,942,653 30,467 243,242 4,212,216 3,127,740 421,412,730 507,144,483 TOTAL 9,022,941 7,406,327 191,632,092 4,212,216 34,081,753 18,550,517 258,194,076 NOTES:(1) includes (2) $ 10,725,166 14,517,820 244,150,000 Oebt service interest and credit enhancement Security deposits (suites and seats) Land and building (funding provided by State of Georgia general obligation bonds) page 19 Annual Report for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-eight 1998 GeorfJia World ConHess Center Authorit Governors CHAIRMAN Robert S. Prather Jr. President & CEO Bull Run Corporation VICE CHAIRMAN Alfred K. Barr Regional Vice President Simon Property Group Bill Archer Executive Vice President Georgia Power Company Thomas W. Dortch Jr. President & CEO TWD, Inc. Glenn E. Hicks III Managing Director Eagle Bancshares Capital Group Stephen R. Leeds Partner Rogers & Hardin I LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Senator Paul C. Broun Senator Charles C. Clay Senator Steve Henson SECRETARY Howard J. Spiller President & CEO HJS & Associates TREASURER & CHAIRMAN John Aderhold Chairman Aderhold Properties, Inc. EMERITUS Rubye Mims Lucas Vice President - Community Affairs Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. William P. Payne Chairman Premier Technologies C. Jere Sech ler J r. Chairman & CEO Eagle Bancshares, Inc. VICE CHAIRMAN Representative Grace W. Davis Representative Roger Byrd Representative Louise McBee page 20 GeorJ{ia World ConJ{ress Center Facilities - Plan On It~ Marketing research we conducted in 1998 revealed that a major factor that differentiates the Georgia World Congress Center Authority from its competitors is our willingness and ability to solve problems. That means people have come to expect us to do the right thing the right way. The result: Customer satisfaction, repeat business and an enviable reputation for professional excellence. To underscore and capture the essence of our can-do attitude, we adopted this year a new advertising slogan of "Plan on it." In developing our ad campaign, we compiled an "Amazing Story File." It chronicles specific incidents of our employees' commitment to ensuring our guests' experience with us is unrivaled. For example: By organizing 700 servers around 100 buffet lines, the Congress Center managed to feed in under two hours the more than 70,000 attendees of the largest ever AMWAYmarketing group convention. A visiting food service executive credited an Authority receptionist for "laying the groundwork for a multi-million dollar deal" through her prompt response to a request for a room in which to hold an ad hoc meeting. A Honda executive left his personal digital assistant at a public phone inside the Congress Center. A housekeeper retrieved it; and three days later our Security was able to track down the delighted owner, who had given his electronic helper up for lost. When the Atlanta Hawks decided to use the Georgia Dome as their home venue for part of their 1997 '98 and 1998 - '99 seasons, they asked for modifications in the facility's basketball seating configuration. Not an easy task considering fixed seat restrictions, line-of-sight concerns, building codes, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, the need for quick conversions from NBA basketball court to NFLfootball field for the Atlanta Falcons, and the short time frame within which to fulfill the request. By combining creativity and customer service, however, the Dome had one-of-a-kind moveable risers designed, manufactured and installed in time for the opening tip-off. Thanks to precise GWCCplanning and execution, four Apache helicopters were landed at the Congress Center and towed inside for the Army Aviation show in less than 90 minutes instead of the entire day that such an operation would usually take to accomplish. A National Auto Dealer Association director praised the Congress Center as "unique among all facilities nationally in its cleanliness, professionalism, physical plant, contiguous halls, modern look, and traffic flow," which led to "the most successful meeting ever had by NADA." The file is large and growing but can be summed up in a quote from Rita Shea of Manhattan, an exhibitor at both the E' and SuperComm shows in 1998: "The Georgia World Congress Center facilities are simply a civilized place to do business." plan on it.