The answer to your question is a simple one. He is either completely incompetent or on the take.

Sometimes the truth hurts.

Michael,
"Hats off" to a very accurate reporting of the mess that currently exists in San Jose. We have been communicating with Team San Jose for almost two full months... to no avail!

Indeed... sometimes the truth hurts!

Michael, I worked with Stephanie on the beginning of this issue and have to congratualte you as you have nailed it, the issues, the intent and the unspoken, TSJ is in a world of hurt seemingly because of their greed.

Try working there!

TSW has done an excellent job at covering this story over the last several weeks. Mr. Hart sums up the situation pretty well with the statement "What is Dan Fenton Thinking?" as this entire situation is really unexplainable. This would be a bad move anytime, it is unthinkable in a recession that is pounding the exhibition industry. This isn't the solution to San Jose's budget challenges or revenue objectives, any short term gains will be destroyed by long term consequences.

Clients, both organizers and exhibitors, are always better off when there are options to choose from. Exclusive arrangements always increase cost and almost always decrease quality - the San Jose policies for Teamster labor, AV, and other services are no exception.

It is time for Team San Jose and Fenton to have a mea culpa and start thinking in a client centric manner, focusing on ways to improve its product and differentiate itself without hurting its clients and raising the ire of the industry.

San Jose's political leaders and the bureau and Team San Jose leaders should take charge of this situation to minimize negative impact on their destination while it is still salvageable.

....and now we discover that Team San Jose is offering reduced rental rates if clients agree to use their "preferred in-house vendors". Let me see now... "if you use our vendor, then we will credit your invoice by $20,000". Gee, I wonder who is really paying that $20,000 discount???

Sounds like a bait and switch SCAM going on there with Team San Jose. I was thinking of having a small show there, but now that I have seen all this bad press I think I'm going to Santa Clara Convention Center.

....just what I was thinking!

Team San Jose has no compassion to their clients and employees. It's all about profits in return. Another turnaround is the employees that come and go, it's a rotating door there. Glad to be outta of the TSJ environment, good luck to those left there.

I feel sorry for the poor clients who are tricked into having a show there. I heard that Dan Fenton is a swindler, his mentor was Bernie Madoff. Hey what's with the big blue circus tent that they call South Hall? What a cheap looking place. How much did that cost?

WOW! Talk about the lack of transperancy. "There is stench in Denmark" or shoudl I say San Jose.

Nobody should be surprised here. There is a conflict of interest within the organization that includes the board members, Team San Jose and the city. There is tax payers money being used to fund dirty politics. The solution is simple, pick a place either the CVB or Team San Jose. I have been bringing my event to San Jose for 6 years. The writing is on the wall, nobody is developing san jose as a destination and hiring Nederlander was a result of TSJ being in over their heads. Come on Chuck Reed, step in and get somebody qualified to run the place.

It has been the goal of TSJ to force all union labor out,so that Fearless Fenton can continue to try to take over his failing kingdom.

At the CVB Fenton runs the place like a little Hitler (there's even a resemblance). He's spilled blood all over by firing people because of color, race and sexual orientation. He intimidates his staff so boldly that in the end he’s the lucky one. Nobody has sued him (yet). Oh wait … the city will get to pay for that as well.

As the highest paid (indirect) City Employee this guy makes more $$ than the City Manager. Over $250K plus untold extras. From unlimited dry cleaning, a car (Insurance et al), memberships, airfares and hotels without anyone controlling him and an unlimited expense account.
We call him “the man with nine lives”. The CVB doesn’t produce? New tactic: take on a new job like; Team San Jose. If that doesn’t work, shift the focus to something else. Now it’s the Unions turn. Guess who will be sweet-talking to the City Auditor next year when the City does their review? That would be Mr. Fenton with a long list of excuses, caused as usual, by others.

Dear Mayor Reed; you’ve got a cancer growing in the “body politics” of San Jose. Cut it our now. Otherwise it will be spread so far that you can’t get it all. Fire Fenton!

For years I have done business with Team San Jose, back when Parkside Hall was the largest venue. What I can't figure out is the inconsistencies. I can talk to six different people in the office on any given subject and be told six different things, add 5 days a week and now we are up to 30 different answers. The organization operates with no policies or procedures, I have asked for them to no avail. Forget about getting a return call, Team San Jose should be given an award for diversion. I have been in meetings with staff and jokes have been made about drinking the kool aid. Put the kool aid away and start drinking the truth serum. Santa Clara is hungry for business and easy to work with. Good luck with that expansion, better use would be an indoor skating rink or parking lot.

This is one of many power grabs, I wonder how they are doing financially. I still don't understand how they were awarded the contract, they have absolutely zero experience managing a facility.

It really makes you wonder who let Dan Fenton continue on with his bad judgment and horrible business sense. There is no economy or $$ to help with saving the horribly run down 5th string facility. What's next? Another homicide in your building? Another reason why I will no longer do business with Team San Jose or come back to San Jose to hold my shows. This kind of customer service is atrocious. My guess would be a City Council on the "take" by looking at the financial data about Team San Jose. How else do you explain this massive incompetency?

Let’s face it, Team San Jose is a joke. The union issue is just one of many bone head moves by the City of San Jose. The real problem is not just Fenton, it’s the City Council and the Hotels who stand by and do nothing. TSJ revenue and expense numbers have never been close to what was projected by Fenton. The place is a complete mess. The building is filthily, the sales department lead by Diana Ponton is as messed up as she is. (Drink the Kool-Aid Diana). The funny thing is that the hotels put up with the bad management. Poor San Jose you don’t know any better – Just change the name to Dan Jose.

Please, Please, Please San Jose; let TSJ continue – signed by: California and West Coast Convention Centers and CVB’s.

Fenton has built his career on maneuvers with local politics. Every move he has made has not included the well being of the SJCC, the good of the city, the workers or the quality of services to the clients.

He revels in these backroom machinations. It's worked for him so far. The initial contract 5 years ago(when he was in bed w/ Mayor Gonzalez and his toady) and the renewal(when he used the scare of SJCC city workers losing their jobs) were all backroom deals. Never has he been accountable on his performance.

Funny thing is, the city doesn't seem to CARE about his performance. They care about their political alliances(be it labor or business). I would be surprised if anything happened. The media is not effective. The Metro is still thought of as a alternative newspaper and the Mercury is virtually impotent and forgotten.

This labor thing is SO San Jose. We'll take care of our own little burg and we don't care about anything in the big wide world.

Can you say one simple word about Dan Fenton / Team San Jose and the City of San Jose. That word is "CORRUPTION". It is very clear to anyone who cares to follow the bread crumbs from Fenton's Throne to the City Council members who support his small little kingdom. Personally I think there needs to be a recall of all the City Council to include the Mayor as they have pissed away millions of dollars on Team San Jose with no results. If you remember the Grand Jury said that there were major problems with TSJ and how they operate. Auditors have also found issues with their accounting practices. Not to mention the strange way they got the contract with the City,locking all other panelists out of the process. Now this guy Fenton is messing with the Teamsters? NOT a good idea, they will eat you for lunch and use your bones for toothpicks Fenton. You may be fooling the local "weak" unions, but the Teamsters haven't even started with Dan Fenton and Team San Jose yet. i agree with Tom Tigerssen

It's unbelieveable what this guy Fenton & his cronies are getting away with. These guys lost more than $5 Mil last fiscal year and still get a pass from the City of San Jose, the City Council & the Murky News. They just started another boondoggle by taking over the Food & Beverage operations and will be losing even more now. They laid off 30+ City Employees and are now losing more money than at any time under City Mgt- Where is the hue & cry??? Other than Pete Constant, Nancy Pyle & Nora Campos, I wonder who else are these guys paying off???
Scary......

Dan Fenton is a slipery one that will smile in your face and stab you in the back. He has never cared about anyone but himself or what's in it for him! I'm surprised that the City continues to let him get away with things others would be held accountable for. If you're rubbing elbows with him, you better watch your back.