The industry’s top award reserved for five outstanding venues across the globe.
Baird Center is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious 2026 IAVM Venue Excellence Award by the International Association of Venue Managers.
This award stands as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the public assembly industry, honoring facilities that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, guest experience and community stewardship. For Baird Center, this distinction reflects the dedication of the nearly 500 employees that works to make Milwaukee a world-class destination for conventions, trade shows and live events and affirms the venue’s position as a benchmark for innovation and inclusive, forward-thinking facility management on a global stage.
“Receiving the Venue Excellence Award from IAVM is a tremendous honor, but what makes it truly meaningful is what it represents for Milwaukee,” says Brian Rutkowski, Vice President and General Manager of the Wisconsin Center District. “This recognition belongs to every member of our team whose hard work and dedication make Baird Center a place where the world comes to connect, collaborate and celebrate. We are proud to carry this city’s spirit into everything we do and this award inspires us to keep raising the bar.”
Since opening its expanded facility in 2024, Baird Center has achieved record-breaking performance across every key metric. In 2025 — the first full calendar year following the expansion — the venue hosted 213 events, welcomed more than 510,000 attendees and generated $154 million in economic impact for the Milwaukee region.
Baird Center draws a diverse portfolio of events spanning technology, finance, sports, corporate, education, arts & culture, health & fitness and medical industries, cementing its position as a premier destination for world-class gatherings of every scale.
“This recognition reflects the incredible work our team delivers every day and underscores Milwaukee’s continued rise as one of the nation’s premier destinations for events and conventions,” says Megan Seppmann, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of the Wisconsin Center District. “Every event we host brings visitors who fill our hotels, dine at our restaurants, patronize our businesses, utilize Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and experience everything this city has to offer. We’re proud to be a driver of that impact and we see enormous runway ahead.”
The Venue Excellence Award recognizes five IAVM venues across all sectors of membership that demonstrate excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. Award applicants must show distinction in areas such as operational excellence, safety and security, team building and professional development and service to the community. A committee of IAVM members selects the finalists, and winners are approved by the IAVM Board of Directors.
The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) represents public assembly venues across the globe, with a mission to educate, advocate and inspire professionals in the industry. Its 6,800+ members include senior leaders and managers from a wide range of venues—auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university facilities, amphitheaters and fairgrounds.