By The Sports Facilities Companies

Seasoned Industry Leader Jeff Bemis Named General Manager for Both Venues

(CLEARWATER, Fla.) Feb. 19, 2026– The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation's leading provider of management and development services for sports, recreation, and events venues, has expanded its partnership with East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) to include management of the new East Texas A&M Agricultural Multipurpose Education and Training Center in Commerce, Texas. The venue is scheduled to open this spring.

SFC was previously selected to manage the university's new Rene' Griffin Event Center, scheduled to open in spring 2027. With this expanded agreement, SFC will now oversee operations for both venues, providing unified, full-service facility management that supports athletics, academics, and year-round community events.

Under a multi-year services agreement with ETAMU—a member of The Texas A&M University System—SFC will serve as the exclusive operator of both facilities, delivering staffing, booking, marketing support, maintenance, financial reporting, and sponsorship and advertising sales.

SFC has also appointed Jeffrey Bemis as general manager for both venues. A seasoned venue leader with a career rooted in event and facility management, Bemis served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force before moving into the live events industry and working his way from usher in Anchorage, Alaska, into leadership roles across collegiate and high school athletics, professional ice hockey, concerts, and high-profile political visits.

“I'm honored to lead the Agricultural Multipurpose Education and Training Center and the Rene' Griffin Event Center as we bring these venues to life for students, faculty, and the broader East Texas community,” Bemis said. “Well-run facilities can bring people together, create opportunity, and showcase a community's strengths, and I'm excited to build a culture here that reflects East Texas A&M's values.”

“East Texas A&M University is making a meaningful investment in facilities that connect classroom learning with real-world experiences in agriculture, rodeo, and regional events,” added John Sparks, SVP of Venue Management for SFC. “By pairing a purpose-built agricultural complex with the new event center, ETAMU is creating a powerful platform for student success, community engagement, and year-round programming, and with Jeff's leadership and our industry experience, these venues are positioned to quickly become signature destinations for East Texas.”

Located on State Highway 24 just south of Commerce and totaling approximately 190,000 square feet, the Agricultural Multipurpose Education and Training Center will feature two covered arenas to support rodeos, equine studies, livestock expos, concerts, and other events. The main arena will provide seating for up to 1,250 spectators.

The Ag Center will also feature a flexible multipurpose hall that can convert between classrooms and exhibition or meeting space, stall capacity for up to 200 horses, and an RV lot designed to support multi-day events.

Serving students and faculty in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the Ag Center will be home to the university's Rodeo Team, which competes in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region. The facility will host a year-round mix of rodeos, livestock expositions, educational programs, meetings, and community celebrations that connect classroom learning with real-world experiences in agriculture and events.

“Bringing this complex from vision to reality requires a partner who understands the dual importance of our academic mission and our commitment to financial stewardship,” said Tina Livingston, Vice President for Finance & Administration/CFO at East Texas A&M. “SFC's expertise in managing high-performing venues, coupled with Jeff Bemis's leadership, ensures that these facilities will not only strengthen our agricultural programs but also serve as a significant economic engine for the Commerce community and the broader East Texas region.”

“We are excited to be working with SFC to manage and promote the new facility,” said Dr. Bryan Rank, dean of the College of Ag at ET. “We are looking forward to hosting FFA and 4-H contests and co-sponsoring AgriLife events that serve our regional agricultural community.”

To learn more about the Sports Facilities Companies, please visit our website at sportsfacilities.com. Stay tuned on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates, programs, and job postings.

About The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC)

The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) is the nation's leading resource for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. With over 90 managed venues and approximately 3,500 team members, represented by the SF Network, SFC welcomes nearly 30 million guest visits and produces almost $1 billion in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.

Ali Yenchick

CONTENT MANAGER

THE SPORTS FACILITIES COMPANIES

MANAGEMENT | DEVELOPMENT | ADVISORY

Office: 727.474.3845

Cell: 313.595.0222

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