Eutelsat OneWeb is a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group providing broadband satellite Internet services in  low Earth orbit (LEO). The company is headquartered in London, and has offices in Virginia, US and a satellite manufacturing facility in FloridaAirbus OneWeb Satellitesthat is a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space.

The company was founded by Greg Wyler in 2012 and launched its first 6 satellites in February 2019. It entered bankruptcy in March 2020 after failing to raise the required capital to complete the build and deployment of the remaining 90% of the network. The company emerged from the bankruptcy proceedings and reorganization in November 2020 with a new ownership group. As of 2021, Indian multinational company Bharti Global, France-based satellite service provider Eutelsat and the Government of the United Kingdom were the company's largest shareholders, while Japan's SoftBank retained an equity holding of 12%.

On 28 September 2023, Eutelsat announced the completion of its merger with OneWeb and the creation of a new "Eutelsat Group" company, with subsidiaries "Eutelsat" and "Eutelsat OneWeb".

History

The company was founded in 2012 under the name WorldVu, and was based in Britain's Channel Islands.

Google participation and transfer of the spectrum
Early reports of the potential involvement of Google in offering broadband internet services surfaced in February 2014, when a "very large  [satellite] constellation" was rumored to be in the plans with as many as 1600 satellites. In May 2014, the early concept had been to have at least 20 satellites operating in each of 20 orbital planes to provide consistent internet coverage over the surface of the Earth.

By June 2014, WorldVu (later to be renamed to OneWeb) had acquired the satellite spectrum that was formerly owned by SkyBridge, a company that went bankrupt in 2000, in a much earlier attempt to offer broadband Internet services via satellite.

By September 2014, the WorldVu company had 30 employees, and several Google employees who had joined Google as part of the acquisition of O3b Networks in 2013 — Greg Wyler, Brian Holz and David Bettinger — left Google to become a part of WorldVu Satellites Ltd. They took with them the rights to a certain radio frequency spectrum that could be used to provide Internet access. At the time, WorldVu was working closely with SpaceX and SpaceX's founder Elon Musk to explore satellite internet services, although no formal relationship had been established and no launch commitments had been made in 2014.

SpaceX, initial manufacturing plans
By November 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk and Wyler were considering options for building a factory to manufacture high-volume low-cost satellites, and that "initial talks had been held with state officials in Florida and Colorado" about potentially locating a factory in those states, as well as that SpaceX would likely launch the satellites. Also in November 2014, WorldVu issued a tender "to satellite manufacturers for 640 125-kg satellites", asking for responses by mid-December 2014, having secured regulatory approval for use of the requisite electromagnetic spectrum communication frequencies in mid-2014.

The 2014 OneWeb solicitation to satellite manufacturers was for a total build of approximately 900 small Internet-delivery satellites, including ground and on-orbit spares. Responses were received from both European and American manufacturers including Airbus Defence and Space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, OHB SE, SSL and Thales Alenia Space, and discussions focused on how each of these companies might "escape their status-quo histories as major space hardware contractors and remake themselves into producers capable of producing multiple satellites per month, each with a cost of fewer than US$500,000". OneWeb announced that it planned to form a joint venture with the winning bidder and open a new facility for manufacturing the new smallsats.

Funding from Virgin Group and Qualcomm
In January 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that WorldVu, now operating under the name OneWeb Ltd, had secured funding from Virgin Group and Qualcomm to build and launch the constellation. OneWeb also divulged that the planned satellites would weigh approximately 125 kg and that the plans were to deploy approximately 650 of them in low Earth orbit to operate at  altitude. Just a few days later, Elon Musk announced the rival Starlink venture, with the opening of the SpaceX satellite development facility in Seattle, Washington, with the intent of taking SpaceX itself into the business of internet provision and internet backhaul services, initially announced as aiming to build an approximately 4000-satellite constellation, with the first generation becoming operational in approximately 2020.

The satellites for the OneWeb constellation were initially announced to be in the  class, about the same size as the two Earth-imaging satellites that were then operated by Skybox Imaging, which Google acquired in August 2014. However, by the following year, sources put the satellites nearer  in mass.

Pre-launch agreements and investments
In 2015, OneWeb secured US$500 million in funding, and agreed to purchase certain future launch services, from existing aerospace industry companies Arianespace and Virgin Galactic. In June 2015, OneWeb also entered into a deal with Airbus Defence and Space for the construction of its broadband Internet satellites after a competition among American and European manufacturers.

In July 2016, one year after the initial announcement, OneWeb stated they were on schedule. In December 2016, OneWeb raised US$1 billion from SoftBank Group Corp. and US$200 million from existing investors.

In February 2017, OneWeb announced that it expected to sell all of its capacity by launch time. At the time, it had formally announced capacity sold for a joint Gogo and Intelsat venture. OneWeb's founder and then executive chairman Greg Wyler announced he was considering nearly quadrupling the size of the satellite constellation by adding 1972 additional satellites that OneWeb had priority rights to. With the original capital raise of US$500 million in 2015, plus the US$1 billion investment of SoftBank in 2016, previous "investors committed to an additional US$200 million, bringing OneWeb's total capital raised to US$1.7 billion". A merger arrangement with Intelsat that had been in negotiations during May 2017 collapsed in June 2017 and did not go forward.

Manufacturing and constellation rollout

The constellation was originally announced in June 2014 to be just half of the total of approximately 720 satellites. A quarter of the satellites were to make up the initial constellation, and these would operate in the lower of the two proposed orbits, at approximately . The initial constellation would presumably be raised or lowered into its final orbital altitude of either  or  as consumer and business use of the broadband service grows over time. By early 2015, OneWeb indicated that the first launches would occur no earlier than 2017.

In February 2016, OneWeb announced that they would set up an assembly and test facility in Florida with plans to assemble and launch the majority of the satellites by the end of 2019, while manufacturing an additional 250 of the 140 kg-satellites as spares to be used in later years.

In 2019, OneWeb had formed a joint venture, OneWeb Satellites, with the European company Airbus Defence and Space in order to manufacture its satellites in higher volume and at lower cost than any satellites previously built by Airbus. A manufacturing facility was built in Merritt Island, Florida. Initial satellite production at the new facility began in mid-2019 and by January 2020, the factory reached the target production rate of two satellites per day.

By the time the actual orbital deployment of the constellation began, in February 2019, the planned constellation size had settled once again at 648, near the original projection, with 600 active satellites with 48 on-orbit spares.

In January 2020, OneWeb reached a production rate of two satellites per day. In February 2020, the company launched its first large batch of satellites.

In January 2021, OneWeb amended its application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change the number of satellites planned for its Phase Two constellation to 6,372.

First launches and additional investments
On 27 February 2019, OneWeb launched its first six satellites into 1,200 km  low Earth orbit from the Centre Spatial Guyanais in French Guiana using a Soyuz-2 launch vehicle. The same day OneWeb announced that it had signed its first two client agreements marking the beginning of its commercialization. On 18 March 2019, OneWeb announced it had secured US$1.25 billion in funding following a successful first launch. The funding was from existing investors SoftBank and Qualcomm, as well as Grupo Salinas and the Government of Rwanda.

By August 2019, the company had six of its satellites broadcasting at the right frequencies for 90 days, meeting the "use-it-or-lose-it" spectrum conditions set by the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This secured the vital rights OneWeb needed to operate its global satellite broadband network.

In February and March 2020, the company launched an additional 68 satellites to orbit, stating that launches would be paused to allow a minor design modification to be made before planning to resume in May 2020.

Bankruptcy
On 27 March 2020, OneWeb Global Limited and 18 affiliates filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The company said the decision was made because of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company laid off approximately 85% of its approximately 500 employees, but retained the capability to control its operational satellites during the period of court protection.

On 3 July 2020, a consortium led by Bharti Global and the Government of the United Kingdom won the auction to purchase the bankrupt company. The sale closed in November, allowing the company to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Exit from bankruptcy protection
On 3 July 2020, the Government of the United Kingdom and Sunil Mittal's Bharti Global (formerly a partner of OneWeb) announced a joint plan to invest US$500 million each for equal stakes in OneWeb Global, approximately 42% each; the rest would be held by other creditors including Softbank. The UK government would also hold a golden share to give it control over any future sales. The plan was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on 10 July 2020, and the deal closed in November 2020, allowing OneWeb to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In July 2020, Hughes Network Systems invested US$50 million in the consortium. The same month, the UK government stated an intention to repurpose the OneWeb satellites for its own Global Navigation Satellite System.

Shortly after the July public announcement of the OneWeb sale, a letter from Sam Beckett, the leading civil servant in the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), was released. In the letter, Beckett raised concerns that taxpayers' money could be at risk. The comments were made as part of a request for "ministerial direction", therefore it was required that the letter be made public and any concerns raised be formally overruled. BEIS minister Alok Sharma overrode the concerns and proceeded with the bid.

On 21 September 2020, OneWeb announced that their contract with Arianespace would allow them to resume satellite launch in December 2020.

New CEO, launches accelerating
In November 2020, the company announced that Neil Masterson, formerly chief operating officer at media company Thomson Reuters, had been appointed CEO. The company launched 36 additional satellites on 17 December 2020. Furthermore, OneWeb announced plans to accelerate launches in 2021 so that the 650 satellites necessary for global coverage would be in orbit by 2022.

2021
In January 2021, a further funding round raised $400 million from SoftBank and Hughes Network Systems, with SoftBank getting a director seat on OneWeb's board. This brought available funding to $1.4 billion, which "positions the company" to fund its first-generation fleet of 648 satellites, but would be insufficient to fund full deployment of the constellation by mid-2022. OneWeb chairman, Sunil Mittal, estimated about a further $1 billion is required, but did not anticipate difficulty in raising that.

In April 2021, OneWeb launched its sixth batch of satellites to orbit. It comprised 36 units, bringing the total in-orbit constellation to 182. In the same month, it was also reported that Eutelsat was putting £400M into the company, in return for a 24% equity stake. Eutelsat's stake decreased to 19.3% when Bharti Global increased its holding in June 2021.

In May 2021, OneWeb announced plans to buy TrustComm, a U.S.-based managed satellite communications provider. After the purchase, the company became OneWeb's government distribution partner.

In May 2021, OneWeb's seventh launch took the number of satellites in orbit to 218, to create the second largest fleet behind Starlink.
By comparison Starlink had 1,700 satellites by the end of 2021.

In June 2021, Oneweb raised an additional US$500M from Bharti Global, increasing Bharti's holding to 38.6%. In August 2021, Hanwha Systems invested $300 million to purchase an 8.8% share in OneWeb, enabling Hanwha to appoint one member of the board of directors and bring its own dual-use defense and satellite technology to the company.

OneWeb became the founding member of Indian Space Association (ISpA). ISpA will act as bridge between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and private industries to form the space ecosystem in India.

2022 Russia controversy
In March 2022, media reported that OneWeb was scheduled to launch a batch of 36 satellites from Russia despite the UK's sanctions against that country due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There were calls for the UK to cancel the launch.  Russia said the launch had already been paid for and would not be refunded, and would be cancelled from the Russian side unless OneWeb provided additional assurance that the satellites would never be used for military purposes and the British Government disposed of its shares in the company. The British government refused this demand and the launch was cancelled, along with other Russian launches. OneWeb tried much through negotiations to get back the stack of 36 oneweb satellites stranded in Kazakhstan due to political reasons. However, these negotiations never progressed and as OneWeb was on the verge of completing 1st generation oneweb satellite network, they have given up hope in March 2023, on further attempting to get back the satellites valued at $50 million, potentially scrapping the batch. The satellites were insured and OneWeb received the insurance money for them.

SpaceX/NSIL launch services
On 21 March 2022, OneWeb announced that it had signed a launch agreement with United States launch provider SpaceX to launch the remaining satellites on Falcon 9 rockets, with the first launch expected no earlier than summer 2022. On 20 April 2022 OneWeb announced a similar deal with NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation. OneWeb satellites were deployed by LVM 3 both on 22 October 2022 and 26 March 2023, using a lightly modified version of the satellite dispenser previously used on Soyuz.

SpaceX was originally contracted to launch three missions for OneWeb. However, an additional flight was contracted on 11 January 2023 for summer 2023 to add backup satellites in orbit. Three flights have been completed so far, the first flight was back on 8 December 2022, and the second was on 10 January 2023.  As of early March 2023, there are 584 OneWeb satellites in orbit (two of which are nonoperational), with SpaceX having successfully launched its third flight for OneWeb on March 9, 2023, with a load of 40 satellites.

Merger with Eutelsat

The merger of OneWeb and France's Eutelsat – an operator of geostationary satellites – was announced in July 2022. OneWeb shareholders would receive 50% of the enlarged share capital while the British government would retain its golden share or "special share" in OneWeb itself, in a transaction which valued OneWeb at US$3.4 billion (£2.8 billion). The French and British governments are expected to have similar direct stakes of roughly 10% in the new joint entity as well as a seat on the board each.

The board of directors structure, when the deal is finalized in second or third quarter 2023, will have Eutelsat chair Dominique D'Hinnin and CEO Eva Berneke continue in their same roles for the combined company. Sunil Bharti Mittal, representing OneWeb, will be the co-chair.  Bpifrance, Fonds Stratégique de Participations, Hanwha Group, and the British government are set to appoint one director each to the combined group's board. While OneWeb can appoint three more independent directors and Eutelsat can select four.

Intended markets
In March 2021, OneWeb stated its market would be primarily to businesses, governments including defence, phone network operators and clusters of communities, rather than to individual domestic customers which Starlink primarily targets. Users willing to connect were advised to contact their local telecom operator.

OneWeb satellite constellation
Initially, the OneWeb satellite constellation is planned to have 648 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that can provide high-speed broadband internet to rural and isolated areas. As of January 2023, they have launched 544 satellites, with 542 being functional. The constellation is planned for completion by the end of March 2023. OneWeb engineers will then take a few months to test the system before commercial service commences in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The small satellites were built by OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between Airbus and OneWeb. The satellites are in a circular orbit, at approximately  altitude, and transmitting and receiving in the Ku-band radio frequency.

OneWeb's first six satellites were launched on a Soyuz rocket on 27 February 2019. The first large batch of 34 satellites was launched on 6 February 2020, and another 34 were put into orbit on 21 March 2020. These were followed by more launches in 2021. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 meant that launches on the Soyuz rocket were suspended, and Arianespace had to find other launch providers for OneWeb. Satellite launches resumed in quarter four of 2022 using the SpaceX Falcon 9 and the Indian LVM3 rockets.

Design

First generation
The satellites in the OneWeb constellation are approximately  in mass, a bit smaller than the 2015 design estimate of . The 648 operational satellites are to operate in 12 near polar orbit planes at  altitude, at 86.4° orbital inclination. Initially 18 orbital planes with 49 satellites per plane was planned, requiring 882 satellites plus some spares, but improved satellite coverage capability allowed this to be reduced to 12 planes of 49 satellites requiring 588 satellites plus some on-orbit spares.

The first-generation satellites do not have inter-satellite data links, so can only provide a user service when also in the range of a gateway ground station. As of 2023, OneWeb expect the final operational constellation to be fewer than 1,000 satellites, instead of several thousands being considered earlier. A number of next generation satellites of about  mass may be procured in the future.

The satellites provide user service in the Ku-band. Links to the gateway ground stations are in the Ka-band. The satellites are designed to comply with "orbital debris-mitigation guidelines for removing satellites from orbit and, for low-orbit satellites, assuring that they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere within 25 years of retirement".

Launches

On 27 February 2019, OneWeb successfully launched the first six of the 648 planned 1st generation satellites (600 active plus 48 on-orbit spares) into low Earth orbit from the Centre Spatial Guyanais using a Russian Soyuz ST-B rocket.

List of launches
In November 2019, OneWeb planned monthly launches to begin in January 2020, although the first of these launches was delayed to early February 2020, and bankruptcy and subsequent reorganization delayed the fourth launch to 18 December 2020. Since the fourth launch, OneWeb has launched five times from Vostochny; once from Kourou; thrice from Baikonur; twice from Sriharikota and four times from Cape Canaveral, with the recent one being on 9 March 2023. Due to these launches, OneWeb takes its in-orbit mega-constellation to 634 operational satellites (2 satellites failed) that account for 97.84% operating out of 648 planned satellites and making OneWeb the second largest satellite fleet in orbit. These satellites are sufficient to start operational use of the Gen 1 constellation. In their latest launch they launch a Gen 2 demo satellite called "Joeysat" to test some technicalities of OnewebGen 2 constellation.

Generation 1 satellites

Total number of operational satellites: 634 as of 20 May 2023.

Generation 2 satellites

Active internet services
In May 2021, OneWeb said that its then current constellation (218 spacecraft), as well as an additional 36 satellites planned to launch on 1 July 2021, would be equipped to service northern regions, including the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic Seas, and Canada, by the end of the year.

The company's 648-satellite network was planned for completion by late 2022, with OneWeb making global internet services available at that time. Owing to launch delays from Roscosmos (see above) the constellation was not completed until mid 2023 following three launches in the first half of the year.

By the end of June 2023, services were covering most of Europe and the United States.  Global coverage is expected to be available by the end of 2023 once all satellites are in their final positions and the ground stations completed.

Concerns

End-of-life concerns
With such a large number of satellites being added to the already crowded low Earth orbit, plans for handling the satellites once the operational life of each satellite is completed are an important consideration. Concerns about adding to the existing space debris problem have been expressed.

With OneWeb satellites having higher orbits than the competing Starlink megaconstallation satellites (which will deorbit in ~5 years without action due to atmospheric drag), OneWeb satellites will not passively deorbit in a reasonable timeframe. As such, each OneWeb satellite has fuel allocated to be able to actively deorbit at its end of life. OneWeb satellites are also equipped with an Altius DogTag magnetic grappling fixture, to make it possible for another spacecraft to attach and change the orbit of satellites whose built-in deorbit functionality fails, though there does not currently exist commercial services to carry out this active debris removal service. The risk of a OneWeb satellite becoming a source of debris was determined to be <0.01, which meets NASA's Technical Standard.

Interference with other Earth-bound transceivers
OneWeb competitor, satellite fleet operator ABS, has expressed concerns about the amount of electromagnetic interference that the OneWeb constellation could add to existing terrestrial transceivers.

Russian security concerns
Vladimir Sadovnikov of the Federal Security Service (FSB) stated in 2018 that the FSB was opposed to OneWeb covering Russia, saying that OneWeb could be used for espionage purposes. OneWeb's request for a frequency band was previously rejected by the Ministry for Digital Development and Communications, purportedly due to outstanding legal issues. FSB also proposed increasing scrutiny on other satellite Internet equipment in Russia.

Competition
As of January 2023, the major competitor is SpaceX's Starlink satellite network with over 1 million customers. While OneWeb will only work with partner telephone companies, SpaceX is also serving consumers directly.

Competition to OneWeb for producing smaller and lower-cost satellites, in general, is thought to come "from other makers of small satellites, thought to include companies such as Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corp. and Britain's Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd." as of 2014.

Amazon announced a large broadband internet satellite constellation proposal in April 2019, planning to launch up to 3,236 satellites in the next decade in what Amazon calls "Project Kuiper", a satellite constellation that will work in concert
with Amazon's previously announced large network of 12 satellite ground station facilities (the "AWS Ground Station unit") announced in November 2018.

Historically, earlier companies that have attempted to build satellite internet service networks and provide space-based internet connections have not fared well, as these services were hobbled by high costs which consequently attracted few users. Iridium SSC filed for bankruptcy protection in 1999, Globalstar did the same in 2002, and Teledesic suspended its satellite construction work in the same year.

See also

 Iridium satellite constellation — 82 operational satellites used to provide global satellite phone services.
 Orbcom satellite constellation — 29 operational satellites used to provide global asset monitoring and messaging services.
 Starlink satellite constellation — a development project underway by SpaceX to deploy nearly 12,000 satellites in three orbital shells by the mid-2020s.
 China national satellite internet project
 Lynk Global — a satellite-to-mobile-phone satellite constellation with the objective of coverage to traditional low-cost mobile devices
 Teledesic — a former (1990s) venture to accomplish broadband satellite internet services
 Viasat, Inc. — a current broadband satellite provider providing fixed, ground mobile, and airborne antennas

References

External links

Telecommunications companies established in 2012
British companies established in 2012
American companies established in 2012
Satellite Internet access
Communications satellite operators
Aerospace companies
Satellite telephony
British brands
Companies based in London
Companies based in Arlington County, Virginia
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020
Softbank portfolio companies
Bharti Enterprises
2023 mergers and acquisitions

OneWeb


Jovah's Angel is a 1997 science fantasy novel by American writer Sharon Shinn.  It is the second book in the Samaria series of novels.

Plot summary
Some 150 years have passed since the events of Archangel and weather patterns have become increasingly unstable. The current Archangel, Delilah, is injured while flying in a storm and her angelico killed. Jovah decrees that she can no longer be Archangel as she is unable to fly, and names Alleluia Archangel in her place. While many protest her elevation, others believe she has been chosen because Jovah never fails to hear her voice.

Alleluia does not feel up to the task of managing the other political powers of Sammorah, but somewhat manages with the aid of the angel Samuel. As pressure continues to mount on her, the old music machines located in Eyrie begin to fail until only one is left. Seeking any diversion, Alleluia goes off in search of the inventor/engineer Caleb, whom an Edori in Velora believes may be able to fix it. She finds him in Luminaux where she discovers the former Archangel performing in a club under the name "Lilah."

Delilah wants nothing to do with Alleluia, but Caleb agrees to visit Velora as soon as possible. Caleb is revealed to be friends with Delilah and another inventor/engineer Noah. The two inventor/engineers theorize that Delilah is seeking thrills to entertain her, so when they mention that they will be travelling to Bereven as part of their work, she decides to accompany them. They travel via Noah's "Beast," a primitive steam-powered car. When Delilah learns of the reason they have travelled there to aid the design of self-propelled ships, she wishes to join the Edori expedition to Ysral. Noah, who is falling in love with her, declares that she cannot go and that he will go in her stead.

Alleluia as Archangel, must also find her angelico. Jovah only refers to him as "The son of Jeremiah" and much of her time is devoted to searching for him, and consulting the oracles. The oracle of Mount Sinai has recently died leaving no third oracle, and in her attempts to better understand Jovah, Alleluia takes several books and begins learning the old language used at the interfaces. She learns through the interface that Jovah is in need of help, and that is also the son of Jeremiah who could help Jovah.

As these events take place, the weather is beginning to threaten their very way of life, and Alleluia finds references in the old texts and Edori songs that the weather is returning to how it originally was when the first colonists arrive. In a particularly harsh storm, Alleluia is also cast to the ground and uses that event to great effect to appease the other political powers. She manages to convince them that it is not the Angels causing the storms in purpose, but that they may all be in genuine danger.

Alleluia begins the theorize that similar to the music machines some sort of device that aids Jovah to hear the angels may begin failing and once again locates Caleb. They meet up at Hagar's Tooth to look for such a device, and amid their budding romance find it and determine that it is working correctly. Alleluia departs as rapidly as she can citing that she can not fall in love because she must marry her angelico as decreed by Jovah.

Caleb chases after her and after a circuitous route meets her at Mount Sinai where she hopes to commune directly with Jovah. Alleluia logs in and teleports up to Jehovah, the spaceship above the planet, just in time for Caleb to see her vanish. He reasons out what she must have done and follows her. On the spaceship she goes through a crisis when it is revealed that Jovah is the AI controlling the ship. Some relief is provided by Caleb being revealed as the son of Jeremiah. Caleb also manages to repair the Jehovah so that all angels' voices will be heard again.

As they leave the Jehovah, Caleb takes several batteries with him. He returns to Luminaux just before Delilah is to depart for the journey to Ysral, and convinces her to try one last time to repair her wing. The battery is inserted and somehow jumpstarts damaged nerves so that while there is no feeling, Delilah can now control her wing. She decides not to go and Noah remains as well. A short time later Delilah triumphantly returns to Eyrie to resume her role as Archangel with Noah as her Angelico.

After much soul searching, and a quick Q&A session with Jovah, Alleluia also returnes to Eyrie shortly after Delilah. She confirms that Delilah will be continue as Archangel and that she will become the new oracle at Mount Sinai. Caleb returns with her and founds an engineering college at the base of the mountain.

Samaria Series
 Archangel (Ace Books, 1997)
 Jovah's Angel (Ace Books, 1998)
 The Alleluia Files (Ace Books, 1999)
 Angelica (Ace Books, 2003) Although this is the fourth novel in the Samaria series, it is set before the first book Archangel.
 Angel-Seeker (Ace Books, 2004)

1997 American novels
1997 science fiction novels
American science fiction novels
American fantasy novels
Novels by Sharon Shinn
Samaria series
Ace Books books

Jovah's Angel


LECOM Park is a baseball field located in Bradenton, Florida.  It is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and is named after a 15-year naming rights deal was signed with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, which has its main campus in Erie, Pennsylvania, and also a campus in Bradenton.  It was formerly known as McKechnie Field, named for Bradenton resident and Baseball Hall of Fame great Bill McKechnie, who led the Pirates in 1925 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1940 to World Series titles.  He was also a coach with the Cleveland Indians in 1948.

Several members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, such as Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Bert Blyleven, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente, Andre Dawson, Vladimir Guerrero, Roy Halladay, Reggie Jackson, Fred McGriff, Bill Mazeroski, Joe Morgan, Jack Morris, Phil Niekro, David Ortiz, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Cal Ripken Jr., Mariano Rivera, Ivan Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, Mike Schmidt, Tom Seaver, Willie Stargell, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker, Ted Williams, Dave Winfield, have played at LECOM Park.

The stadium also hosts Minor League Baseball games for the Bradenton Marauders, the Pirates' Single-A affiliate in the Florida State League.

LECOM Park's nostalgic charms in its city neighborhood appeal to many baseball traditionalists and ballpark enthusiasts, some of whom consider the facility to be Florida's version of Fenway Park. It is built in a Florida Spanish Mission style, with white stucco on the main grandstand and covered bleachers over the reserved seating section. The Pirates and the City of Bradenton celebrated their 50th anniversary together during the 2018 spring training season, which included an agreement between the city and the Pirates to continue their partnership through 2037.

Built in 1923, it is the oldest stadium still used for spring training. As of the 2023 season, it is the second-oldest stadium in Minor League Baseball, behind only Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, which dates to 1914. It is also the third oldest stadium currently used by a major league team after Fenway Park, built in 1912, and Wrigley Field, built in 1914.

The stadium hosted an annual charity game between the Pirates and the State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota.

Several improvements to the field were made possible through the efforts of the Bradenton Boosters, a volunteer club of local residents that not only raises funds for ballpark improvements, but also operate LECOM Park on game day. Since 1979, members of the Boosters have volunteered as the Pirates spring training game-day staff. The booster club's 120 members currently serve as ushers, program sellers, security personnel, merchandise sellers, and press box attendants throughout spring training season.

History

Early era: 1919–1941

The Cardinals' first term
Prior to its construction, the stadium's location  was the site of Ninth Street Park, which was used by the Bradenton Growers of the Florida State League. The site was also the home to the Manatee County fairgrounds as well as a local nine-hole golf course.

On December 9, 1920, the Manatee County Board of Trade voted to bring major league baseball to the county in an attempt to stimulate the local economy. Prior to the 1920s, no major league team played south of St. Petersburg. However, Robert M. Beall Sr., the founder of the Bradenton-based department store, Bealls, as well as the team president and majority owner of the Bradenton Growers, was connected to Sam Breadon, the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals. Breadon also owned a citrus grove inside the county and was familiar with the area. Beall convinced Breadon to move the Cardinals from their training facility in Orange, Texas to Bradenton. As part of the agreement, Beall agreed to sell $2,000 in tickets for the exhibition games. In a joint venture between the Cardinals and the city, the ball field was constructed with a grandstand and bleachers for $2,000. The baseball field was just east of where LECOM Park stands today, on the site of the Bradenton Golf Club, a nine-hole golf course. After completion, city engineers discovered that the field's second base, was  lower than home plate, and the outfield was even  lower than second base.

However, the park opened in 1923. The Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, attended the field's opening ceremonies. He was flown in on a biplane, which was piloted by Harry Land, a member of Manatee County Board of Trade who approved bringing major league baseball to Bradenton. The plane landed in what was the outfield at the time, a par 5 hole. In 1923, the grandstand sat 1,300 and 700 could easily occupy the bleachers, which included separate facilities for segregated African-American fans. Meanwhile, the fairground buildings were converted into makeshift locker rooms.

The Growers era
The Bradenton Growers occupied LECOM Park, which was then named City Park, from 1923 to 1924 and again in 1926. The field was later renamed Ninth Street Park and then Braves Field.

Phillies and Red Sox
The Cardinals played in Bradenton in the very next season, before leaving for Stockton, California, in . However, they were replaced by the Philadelphia Phillies, who played in the park until , until they left for Winter Haven. In 1928, the Boston Red Sox were looking at coming to Bradenton, after spending the prior three years training in New Orleans. However, before the team would commit to the Bradenton, the Red Sox officials asked to see the attendance and financial figures of what they would see if they moved their training to Bradenton. Robert M. Beall Sr. gave the Red Sox the actual figures they requested. The Boston officials were impressed with Beall's honesty. Every other city competing for the Red Sox had given the club projected figures on what they might expect if they choose their city, not their actual figures. The Red Sox trained in Bradenton until . That season the Cardinals returned to Bradenton and would stay there for the next seven springs.

The Cardinals' second term: The "Gashouse Gang" era
In the 1930s, the Cardinals returned during what journalists refer to as "the gashouse gang era". During that time they had ball players including Paul Derringer and future-Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean. Dean, who played at the stadium in the 1930s, liked Bradenton so much, he bought a local gas station and hung out there when he wasn't playing, giving the Cardinals' famed Gashouse Gang its nickname. Dean also bought a home in Bradenton. To keep him out of trouble, the Cardinals sent him to Bradenton  weeks before spring training, and paid a local sportswriter to keep an eye on him. In  the Cardinals moved their training to City Island Ball Park, located in Daytona Beach.

Boston Braves' first era
The Boston Bees (today's Atlanta Braves) played at the stadium until , when they left for San Antonio, Texas. The stadium did not host another team for seven years.

World War II: Camp Weatherford
During World War II, many major league teams avoided the long trip to Florida for training, opting instead to hold their sessions closer to their home cities to cut down on costs. The United States military used the field as a training base from 1941 to 1945. The base was first named Camp Bradenton. However the name was later changed in 1943 to Camp Weatherford, in honor of Pfc. Willie Weatherford, who was the first Florida native killed in the war. The baseball field was filled with temporary buildings and tents and used as a United States Army Signal Corps training facility. The offices of the city's Public Works Department are next to the ballpark on land that was also part of the camp. The camp was attached to Drew Army Airfield, located in Tampa. When the war ended, that airfield became the Tampa International Airport. Meanwhile, the Camp Weatherford location was used once again for baseball. An historical marker now stands between the city offices and the stadium.

Return to baseball: 1948–1968

The Braves' second era
 In , Lou Perini, the owner of the Boston Braves (later renamed the Milwaukee Braves/Atlanta Braves) moved his club's spring training to Bradenton, after finding his club's training facility in Fort Lauderdale too windy. The Braves played in Bradenton for one year, however the city stated that if the Braves agreed to return the very next season, the city would build new clubhouses, field boxes along the first and third baselines and a new press box. The Braves agreed and stayed in Bradenton until . The Braves won three National League pennants while they trained there in 1948, 1957 and 1958, and won the 1957 World Series. In  the Braves moved from Boston to Milwaukee, but kept playing spring ball in Bradenton. Future Hall of famer, Hank Aaron played his first games in the major leagues in Bradenton as a rookie in 1954.

In , Bradenton became the first club to allow an African-American baseball player, Sam Jethroe of the Boston Braves. This was a major breakthrough because had Florida not allowed him to join, the state would have lost all of its baseball clubs.

In March 1957, the Bradenton City Council granted permission for a semi professional Negro league baseball team to play its 10 game home schedule at the ballpark. The City of Bradenton had previously segregated Black teams to the city's "Negro quarter".

In 1962, the stadium was finally renamed after Bradenton-native, Bill McKechnie, in honor of his induction that year into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager.

However, after the  spring training session, Lou Perini moved the Braves to Connie Mack Field, after spending $1 million on a development in West Palm Beach. The city scrambled to get a new major league team into McKechnie Field. The city and the Philadelphia Phillies almost landed in Bradenton, however city officials in Clearwater fixed several of the issues that the Phillies were unhappy about at Jack Russell Stadium. That same year the field was formally named McKechnie Field.

Kansas City/Oakland Athletics era
The Kansas City Athletics played at McKechnie Field from 1963–1968. Ironically, the team left Connie Mack Field for Bradenton, after the Milwaukee Braves arrived in West Palm Beach. The team was not open to sharing their spring training facilities or stadium with the Braves. The City of Bradenton talked A's owner Charlie Finley into staying at McKechnie until . By that time, the A's relocated from Kansas City to Oakland. Finley believed that his west coast team should train on the west coast, in Mesa, Arizona. During the Athletics tenure, Finley routinely tied his Athletics team mascot, a donkey named "Charlie O", to a tree inside the stadium during games."

The Pirates land: 1969–present day
Once the Athletics left Florida for the west coast, Bradenton made plans to attract a new major league club. The city would attempt to lure the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Cleveland Indians to McKechnie Field. At the time, the Indians had a ten-year contract to play at Randolph Field, located in Tucson, Arizona and were written off by Bradenton officials. However the Pirates were unhappy at Terry Park, their spring training home for 14 years, located in Fort Myers. In February 1968, Bradenton representatives met with Pirates' general manager Joe Brown and owner John W. Galbreath and both sides agreed to a lease of 40 years, with an option for another 40 years. In 1969 the Pittsburgh Pirates began their lease of McKechnie Field. Still the team threatened to move several times in the first 34 years they had been there.

The potato patch
Prior to 1993, the playing field at McKechnie was much less popular with the players than it is today. Whitey Herzog, the Kansas City Royals manager in the late 1970s, called it "the closest thing to a cow pasture I've seen." Pirates outfielder Dave Parker later stated "playing in the outfield [at McKechnie] was like playing in a "potato patch"." This led the city to finally install new grass and build new clubhouses, a grandstand and a press box in the 1980s. But McKechnie was still the oldest spring training facility in Florida, so city officials agreed to give the Pirates a renovated stadium to make sure they would stay.

The 1993 renovation
During the early 1990s, many teams began renovating their spring training sites. At this time, the Pirates were threatening to leave Bradenton for Winter Haven in search of better training facilities. Many of the complaints which were associated with the pre-1993 ballpark included red sand that clotted the infield, old boards serving as bleacher seats and panels hanging loose on the outfield walls. The city then stepped in with a plan to use tourism tax money to rebuild McKechnie Field. The project ended up costing $3.4 million.

In 1993 it was decided the aging stadium was in need of a massive renovation. Pittsburgh-based architect, Lou Astorino, of L.D. Astorino Companies, was put in charge of renovating the ballpark. Astorino's renovation was inspired by Forbes Field, the Pirates' old stadium in Pittsburgh, with its outfield walls which were covered in ivy, like Wrigley Field, and the view of trees outside the park. He also chose a Spanish Mission façade based on the old Bradenton railroad station. The Pirates and local officials agreed any renovation must preserve the neighborhood appeal of McKechnie.

After extensive interviews and months of work, an intimate park was recommended with new grounds, wide access ramps, concession stands, kiosks and improved sight lines, while maintaining a ballpark's classic ambiance. McKechnie's old metal chairs that served as box seats and the wooden bleachers were also removed, in favor of more modern stadium seating. The grandstand seen today at McKechnie was built as part of the 1993 renovation and holds 6,602 people. Construction on the new park started in late 1992, and was barely completed by spring training 1993. Workers were still putting numbers on the stadium seats while the Manatee High School band played just minutes before the first pitch on March 5.

The stadium's remodeling was applauded highly by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and essayist George Will for keeping the vintage baseball park look. Will was also a part-owner of the Pirates' opponents for their first game in the renovated park, the Baltimore Orioles and was in attendance. The renovation to the Spanish mission-style ballpark preserved the intimate, old-time atmosphere so well that  USA Today dubbed it the "Fenway Park" of spring training stadiums. As part of the renovation the red infield dirt was replaced with a darker color dirt because Pirates' manager Jim Leyland complained of the glare and heat reflecting from the reddish sand.

Lou Astorino subsequently designed PNC Park, which became the Pirates' regular season home in .

2008: Forty Pirate springs and lights

In 2008, the Pirates unveiled a commemorative logo celebrating their 40th anniversary of Spring training in Bradenton, Florida. The logo was symbolic of the club's long-term relationship with the city. The patch displayed the classic Pirates "P" on the historical façade outline of McKechnie Field. The Pirates displayed the logo throughout Spring training on a large billboard just behind the right-center field wall at McKechnie, as well as on the Pirates Spring training jerseys. The Pirates tenure in Bradenton (44 years) ranks third in longevity among teams which currently hold Spring training in Florida. Only the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland (65 years), and the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater (64 years) have been in their Spring training locations longer.

The renovations prior to the 2008 Spring training season included a new visitor's clubhouse, a new press lounge and lights. Improvements also included a renovation of Pirate City, the team's southern headquarters, with new offices, player dormitories and a fifth practice field. The work was partly funded by the state, which wants to prevent any more major league teams from migrating to the Cactus League in Arizona for spring training.

For the first 85 years no night games were played at the ballpark. However, lights were installed and the stadium hosted its first night game in 2008. Since the first night game was played at Wrigley Field in , McKechnie had been the only ballpark used by a major league team at any time of the year that lacked lights. The Pirates have always played a handful of night exhibition games each year, but never at McKechnie. Previously, the Pirates never saw the need for lights at McKechnie, and never pushed for them. Players and team officials have long been comfortable with the routine of arriving early in the morning, getting in a day's workouts and a ballgame, then enjoying a leisurely dinner at night. However, the lack of lights meant McKechnie Field could only be used for Spring training games and the facility sat empty 11 months a year.

The installation of lights was made possible after the city of Bradenton received a $15 million grant from the state of Florida to upgrade the field. The grant fund was set up to prevent any more major league teams from migrating to the Cactus League in Arizona for Spring training. Besides the lights, the grant money paid for a new visitor's clubhouse and an expanded home clubhouse. A lighted McKechnie Field allowed for night baseball and other events, enabling the city to use the ballpark as a catalyst in an area where officials envision an entertainment district.

The first night game at McKechnie was originally scheduled for March 7 as the Pirates took on the Cincinnati Reds but the game was rained out. Instead the ballpark's first night game was played on March 19, 2008. The game resulted in a Pirates loss to the New York Yankees, 12–9.

Because of the improvements, the Pirates signed a new 30-year lease that went into effect on February 1, 2008. The team is now guaranteed to play at McKechnie Field through 2037, and after playing two night games in Bradenton in 2008 the Pirates will have many more opportunities to play under the lights over the next few decades.  Pirates' alumni Bill Virdon and Chuck Tanner have both disagreed on the need for lights, stating their opinion spring training games were meant to be held in the daytime. However the lights would be key to the stadium landing a new minor league team a few years later.

The return of minor league baseball
McKechnie Field did not host a Florida State League team, since the end of Bradenton Growers era, from 1926 until 2010. From 1989–1990, the Bradenton Explorers of the Senior Professional Baseball Association played at McKechnie. The Pirates' Rookie Level minor league affiliate, the Gulf Coast Pirates, formerly the Bradenton Pirates, currently play their games at the Pirates training facility in Bradenton's Pirate City complex. However, on November 10, 2009, baseball officials voted to allow the Pirates to purchase and uproot the Cincinnati Reds' Class A affiliate, the Sarasota Reds. The team was renamed the Bradenton Marauders and play all of its home games at McKechnie Field. In return the Reds received the Pirates Class A team, the Lynchburg Hillcats. The new Bradenton team began play on April 7, 2010. The inaugural game ended in 18-3 Bradenton victory over the Fort Myers Miracle.

2012–2013: "Fan-friendly" renovations
In early 2012, Bradenton officials planned to make a $7.5 million loan to pay for "fan-friendly" renovations to McKechnie Field. The proposed upgrades included new seating, enhanced fan plazas, a boardwalk which would circumnavigate the stadium, a tiki bar, more concession stands, restroom improvements, an upgraded sound system and scoreboard. To pay for the ballpark renovations, the city planned to take out a 20-year loan, repaying it primarily from the county's "bed tax", which visitors pay when they stay at a hotel or resort located in Manatee County. Under the deal, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who contributed the equivalent of $150,000 annually to market the city of Bradenton, planned to increase their marketing donation to $400,000 annually. That money was then to be used to promote tourism in the county. The renovations also allowed McKechnie Field to host sports events, such as high school regional tournaments.

On Tuesday 7 February 2012, Manatee County commissioners agreed to an interlocal agreement which will provide McKechnie Field with the $7.5 million in renovations. The project was slated to begin after the Pirates' 2012 spring training season and will continue around the Marauders' 2012 schedule. Improvements could be completed prior to the 2013 spring training season. The renovations will allow for the metal roof that sits over the grandstand area to be repaired. In 2011, the metal ceilings that occupied McKechnie had to be removed because of corrosion. The removal forced two Marauders home games to be relocated to Port Charlotte. Temporary awnings were put in place for the upcoming 2012 season. Construction of a new, permanent roof was planned and completed in 2013. On August 16, 2012, the Pirates announced the team would contribute an additional $2 million to $3 million for the renovations to McKechnie Field, increasing total enhancement costs for their Bradenton Spring training home from 7.5 million to approximately $10 million.

The  design and construction for the renovations were performed by Fawley Bryant Architects and NDC Construction, both Manatee County businesses. The renovated ballpark was unveiled to the media on February 20, 2013. The changes come on the anniversaries of McKechnie's 90th year in existence, as well as the Pirates' 45th year at the stadium. With the changes, McKechnie became the fourth largest capacity venue in the Grapefruit League.

For both aesthetic and business reasons, McKechnie Field was chosen as the Best Ballpark Renovation, in the Over $1 Million category, of 2013 by Ballpark Digest, the leading guide to baseball and ballparks on the Internet.

2014 and beyond
McKechnie Field hosted the 2014 Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday, June 14, 2014. The Marauders were represented in the game by outfielder Josh Bell and left-handed pitcher Orlando Castro. The attendance of 5,882 fans for the game was the highest for the league's All-Star Game since 2006 and it was also the 3rd highest attendance in the All-Star Game's 53-year history.

In February 2015, the Pirates opened and began using a brand-new 22,500-square-foot facility at the ballpark. According to Trevor Gooby, the director of Florida Operations for the Pirates, "McKechnie was built in 1923, and the clubhouse was probably built right after the stadium was built, so it was the oldest part of McKechnie Field". The walls have the numbers of retired players and dates of victorious championships. There is also a quote from Pirates' legend Roberto Clemente located in the locker room area that reads: "When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth." Other areas of the building contain a weight room, rehab center and two hydrogen pools. The $6.5 million facility was funded by the Pirates. In 2016, with over 12,000 individuals voting, readers of Ballpark Digest and Spring Training Online overwhelmingly chose McKechnie Field as the leading Grapefruit League spring-training facility in the website's annual Best of the Ballparks polling. The stadium repeated as top Spring park in Florida the following season and set a new Spring training attendance record of 106,291 over 17 games.

McKechnie Field was used as the site for each game of the 2016 Florida State League Championship series between the Marauders and the Tampa Yankees due to construction at the Yankees' stadium, Steinbrenner Field. The Marauders defeated the Yankees, in 4 games to win their first Florida State League title.

On February 10, 2017, it was announced the Pirates and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine had reached a naming rights deal, renaming the venue LECOM Park.  To continue the homage to Bill McKechnie, the home clubhouse was renamed the Bill McKechnie Home Clubhouse.

Name-change controversy

The stadium was named McKechnie Field in 1962 in honor of the former Pirates manager Bill McKechnie. However, due to a deal made with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization renamed the stadium to LECOM Park in 2017. While the city of Bradenton owns the stadium, the decision to rename McKechnie Field as LECOM Park was at the sole discretion of the Pirates. Under a lease signed in 2008, the Pirates retained the naming rights for the stadium. None of the revenue from the deal will accrue to the city.

During the news conference to announce the new name, Bradenton mayor Wayne Poston said his office "was coming up empty" trying to contact Bill McKechnie's relatives. However, according to Bill McKechnie's last living daughter, Carol Montgomery, the Pirates made no effort to notify her of the stadium's name change. According to Montgomery, "[I] was very surprised and really pretty miffed, ticked off that I wasn't contacted," Montgomery said. "I had no input on it whatsoever and no one from my family did." She can't understand how the franchise couldn't track her down. Three years ago, she threw out the first pitch at a spring training game at the park in conjunction with a tour to promote her book "The Deacon's Daughter". Although the Pirates named their home clubhouse at the stadium after McKechnie to honor his legacy, his daughter still referred to the deal "as a slap in the face".

The accusation forced the Pirates to admit that their efforts to find surviving family members fell short and issued a formal apology. The press release stated: "Our intent was to locate any family members living in the area to discuss with them the partnership opportunity that we were pursuing that would include the naming rights to the ballpark. We wanted Bill McKechnie's surviving family members to know that it was important to us that we continue to honor Bill's legacy by naming the home clubhouse after him, as well as affixing a permanent plaque that would inform our fans for years to come of Bill's Hall of Fame career. Regrettably, our efforts to find Bill's surviving relatives fell short, and there is not an acceptable reason for that. We regret the fact that we did not inform Mrs. Montgomery of the name change in advance of the announcement."

The name-change proved to be unpopular with fans and the media. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune wrote that while LECOM has campuses in both Pennsylvania and Bradenton, the name change was purely financial and "foul". An NBC Sports editorial urged the spectators at LECOM Park to keep calling the stadium McKechnie Field. They argued that "The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine isn't paying you or me any money, are they? What's more, calling it LECOM Park is more likely to confuse people than enlighten them, at least for many, many years. Unless and until it becomes more misleading and confusing to refer to it as McKechnie Field than LECOM Park, people should still call it McKechnie Field."

Attendance records

Spring training single game

Spring training season

Minor League Baseball single game

Minor League Baseball season

Popular culture
In 1989, for his book Spring Training, author William Zinsser chose McKechnie Field as a classic Florida baseball setting. McKechnie Field was also used as a backdrop for the 1987 HBO movie Long Gone.

References

External links
Bradenton Marauders LECOM Park - MiLB.com
Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Ballpark | pirates.com: Spring Training

Baseball in Bradenton, Florida
Minor league baseball venues
Grapefruit League venues
Boston Braves spring training venues
Boston Red Sox spring training venues
Kansas City Athletics spring training venues
Milwaukee Braves spring training venues
Oakland Athletics spring training venues
Philadelphia Phillies spring training venues
Pittsburgh Pirates spring training venues
St. Louis Cardinals spring training venues
1923 establishments in Florida
Sports venues completed in 1923
Florida State League ballparks
Buildings and structures in Bradenton, Florida

LECOM Park


Lora is a harbor in the northwestern part of Split, Croatia, in the Bay of Kaštela. It is currently used as a naval base of the Croatian Navy. Located right next to the Brodosplit shipyard, it has been an important naval base of Yugoslav Navy (1945–1991) and its headquarters. During the Croatian War of Independence, it was the site of the Lora prison camp. Ever since its founding in 1991, Lora naval base has served as the HQ of Croatian Navy. In this capacity, it is the home port for nearly all ships of the fleet. Lora is also the HQ of Croatian Coast Guard.

Lora naval base hosts sport, educational and other naval facilities, as well as a naval memorial chapel dedicated to Croatian sailors who perished in Croatian War of Independence.

The only submarine that has served with Croatian Navy, Velebit, is on permanent display in Lora.

References

Split, Croatia
Croatian Navy
Naval installations

Lora (Split)


The Birkenhead Built-up area is an urban area in England, which covers the towns of Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington and Ellesmere Port. This built up area covers Merseyside and Cheshire. It is defined for certain statistical purposes by NOMIS (National Online Manpower Information System), within the Office for National Statistics.  The area is partly within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, and partly within the Cheshire West and Chester local authority.   The definition includes suburbs in the eastern part of the Wirral Peninsula physically contiguous with the main urban areas (such as Moreton and Bromborough), but not physically separate towns and villages (such as Hoylake, Heswall, and Neston).  The area was originally within the historic county of Cheshire.

In the 2011 census, the area was recorded at having a population of 325,264.   The gender makeup of the population was 157,220 male and 168,044 female. The ethnic makeup was 97% white, 2% Asian, and 1% others.  The religious make up of the area was:

References

Birkenhead
Ellesmere Port
Geography of Merseyside
Urban areas of England

Birkenhead built-up area


Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces. The lowest officer rank, it is usually placed below lieutenant or first lieutenant.

Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until 1986.

In the colonial forces, which closely followed the practices of the British military, the rank of second lieutenant began to replace ranks such as ensign and cornet from 1871.

New appointments to the rank of second lieutenant ceased in the regular army in 1986. Immediately prior to this change, the rank had been effectively reserved for new graduates from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea which closed in 1985. (Graduates of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and the Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC-D) are commissioned as lieutenants.). The rank of second lieutenant is only appointed to officers in special appointments such as training institutions, university regiments and while under probation during training. Trainees undertaking Special Service Officer (SSO) training are also appointed at higher rank (as second lieutenants) than General Service Officer (GSO) trainees who start off at the rank of officer cadet (ADFA/Australian Army Reserve officer trainees) or staff cadet (Royal Military College, Duntroon).

Ranks equivalent to second lieutenant are acting sub-lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy and pilot officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Canada
The Canadian Forces adopted the rank with insignia of a single gold ring around the service dress uniform cuff for both army and air personnel upon unification in 1968 until the late 2000s. For a time, naval personnel used this rank but reverted to the Royal Canadian Navy rank of acting sub-lieutenant, though the CF green uniform was retained until the mid-1980s. Currently, the Canadian Army insignia for second lieutenant is a pip and the Royal Canadian Air Force insignia for lieutenant is one thick braid. The equivalent rank for the Royal Canadian Navy is acting sub-lieutenant. Also known as an Ensign in the Foot Guards units (Canadian Grenadier Guards & Governor General's Foot Guards).

Indonesia

In Indonesia, "second lieutenant" is known as letnan dua (letda) which is the most junior ranked officer in the Indonesian Military. Officers in the Indonesian National Armed Forces are commissioned through one of four major commissioning programs. Upon graduation the candidates are promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, thus becoming commissioned officers. The four programs are:
 National Armed Forces Academy (Akademi TNI): a four-year undergraduate program that emphasizes instruction in the arts, sciences, and professions, preparing men and women to take on the challenge of being officers in the armed forces (Army: Military Academy, Navy: Naval Academy, Air Force: Air Force Academy);
 Officer Candidate School: a 28-week program that is attended by senior NCOs or warrant officers from all services;
 Career Officer Program for college graduates: a 7–8 month program that is designed to recruit civilian professionals (e.g., doctors, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists) into the armed forces;
 Pilot Short Service School: a 34-month program to train pilots to serve in the armed forces.

New Zealand
Like many other Commonwealth countries, the rank structures of the New Zealand Defence Force usually follow British traditions. Hence the New Zealand Army maintains a rank of second lieutenant and the Royal New Zealand Air Force has its exact equivalent, pilot officer.

However, the Royal New Zealand Navy breaks with British tradition and uses the name ensign for its most junior commissioned officer rank (rather than the usual equivalents, such as acting sub-lieutenant or second lieutenant).

United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries
The rank of second lieutenant (2Lt) was introduced throughout the British Army in 1877 to replace the short-lived rank of sub-lieutenant, although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Fusilier and Rifle regiments. At first the rank bore no distinct insignia. In 1902, a single Bath star was introduced; the ranks of lieutenant and captain had their number of stars increased by one to (respectively) two and three. The rank is also used by the Royal Marines.

New British Army officers are normally commissioned as second lieutenants at the end of their commissioning course at RMA Sandhurst, and continue with specific training with their units. Progression to lieutenant rank usually occurs after about a year. In the British armed forces, second lieutenant is a rank which is not used as a form of address. Instead a second lieutenant named, for example, Smith is addressed and referred to as Mr Smith, with the exception that the alternative titles ensign (Foot Guards) and cornet (in the Blues and Royals and Queen's Royal Hussars) are still used.
In the Royal Air Force, the comparable rank is pilot officer. The Royal Navy has no exact equivalent rank, and a second lieutenant is senior to a Royal Navy midshipman but junior to a sub-lieutenant.

United States

In the United States, second lieutenant is the normal entry-level rank for most commissioned officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. It is equivalent to the rank of ensign in the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

In the Army and Marine Corps, a second lieutenant typically is a platoon leader who leads a platoon-size element, usually consisting of 16 to 44 soldiers or marines. A rifle platoon is composed of several squads with each squad led by a non-commissioned officer as squad leader. The second lieutenant is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant who advises and supports the platoon's commanding officer in leading the unit.

In the Army, until December 1917, the rank bore no insignia other than a brown sleeve braid on blouses and an officer's cap device and hat cord. In December 1917, a gold-colored bar similar to the silver-colored bar of a first lieutenant was introduced. In US military slang, the rank is sometimes called "butterbar" or "brown bar" in reference to the insignia.

Gallery

Army

Marines

Navy

Air Force

Space Force

See also
 British Army officer rank insignia
 Comparative military ranks
 Cornet (military rank)
 U.S. Army officer rank insignia
 Military ranks of Ukraine
 Podporuchik
 Unterleutnant
 Leutnant
 South African military ranks

References

Military ranks of Canada
Military ranks of Australia
Pakistan Army ranks
Military ranks of the British Army
Military ranks of the Commonwealth
Military ranks of the Royal Marines
Military ranks of the United States Army
Officer ranks of the United States Air Force
Officer ranks of the United States Space Force
Military ranks of the United States Marine Corps
Military ranks of Singapore
Military ranks of the Nepali Army

Second lieutenant


Durrell Joel Berry (born 27 May 1992) is an English footballer who last played for Mickleover Sports in 2019.

He began his career with Notts County's centre of excellence and progressed through Aston Villa's academy to sign his first professional contract in 2010. Having joined Plymouth Argyle the following year, Berry made his debut in the Football League in August 2011. On 20 July 2017 Berry signed for Kettering Town, following his departure from Truro City.

Early life
Berry was born in Derby. He was a student at Saint Benedict Catholic School and made the news in July 2007 after being sent home for having a short haircut, which was against school policy. "They sent me home because they said my hair's too short and it represents a hooligan look," said Berry, who had his head shaved with grade one blades every few weeks. "I just feel like it's my human right really to have my hair at a grade one if I want to." The rule, introduced in 1986 to prevent white pupils from getting involved in skinhead culture, was changed two months later to allow students to have grade two haircuts.

Playing career
He began his career in Notts County's centre of excellence. Berry left in 2006 when the club cancelled their youth programmes as a cost-cutting measure. He had trials with Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa before joining the latter's academy. Berry played in several positions for the club's youth team. He began the 2009–10 season as a forward, but went on to play regularly as a right-sided full-back. Berry played in both legs of the 2010 FA Youth Cup Final, which Aston Villa lost 3–2 on aggregate to Chelsea. He signed his first professional contract later in the year and began playing for the club's reserves. Berry played for the team regularly during the 2010–11 campaign, including winning the Hong Kong International Soccer Sevens, but was among a list of ten players who were released at the end of the season.

Berry joined Plymouth Argyle on a one-year contract in July 2011. He began his first season with the club as first-choice right-back, playing in their first 15 games, before losing his place in the team to Paul Bignot. He regained his starting position in December and played regularly for the rest of the campaign, making 35 appearances in the league and one in the FA Cup. Berry was offered a contract extension by the club in May 2012, and signed it two weeks later for an undisclosed period of time. Injuries limited his availability in 2012–13, but he did play in 32 games, including a Football League Trophy tie with Oxford United where he was sent off for two bookable offences.
Berry only managed 25 appearances in the following season due to the emergence of Ben Purrington and the arrival of Matt Parsons from Crystal Palace. He left the club on 10 June 2014 along with Andres Gurrieri who also turned down a contract offer.

Berry joined up with Torquay United in November 2014., where after seasons plagued with injury along with a spell at Cheltenham Town he went on to play for Truro City and now Kettering Town.

On 29 December 2018, Berry joined Mickleover Sports.

Career statistics
.

References

 http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/kettering-town/poppies-bring-in-berry-1-8064417

External links

1992 births
Footballers from Derby
Living people
English men's footballers
Black British sportsmen
Men's association football defenders
Notts County F.C. players
Aston Villa F.C. players
Plymouth Argyle F.C. players
Torquay United F.C. players
Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Kettering Town F.C. players
Mickleover F.C. players
English Football League players

Durrell Berry


Robert Lorick (died January 2016) was a lyricist, actor, and writer, best known as a Broadway lyricist and for his work portraying Jack Flanders, the lead character in a series of ZBS Foundation audio adventures produced from 1972 until Lorick's death in 2016.

In 1972, Lorick made his debut as a lyricist with the Off-Broadway musical Hark! at the Mercer-O'Casey Theatre. In the 1980s, he wrote the lyrics for the Broadway show The Tap Dance Kid, which ran for 669 performances (Dec 83 - Aug 85) at the Broadhurst Theatre (capacity 1150) and the Minskoff Theatre (capacity 1620), New York and won two Tony Awards in 1984. He received a Grammy nomination for best cast album for The Tap Dance Kid.

Lorick also wrote for ABC's All My Children, Afterschool Specials, Disney's Polly Comin' Home and wrote the theme song for NBC's Millennium Special. His voiceover clients included Volvo, Cadillac, Ford, IBM, American Express, most of the world's leading fragrance houses, and he was the "voice of Chanel" for more than a decade. His corporation, Lorick, Inc., is a video production company, and he held a master's degree from Columbia University. He died in January 2016 after a period of kidney dialysis.

References

External links

 Robert Lorick at CastAlbumDB.com

Year of birth missing
American lyricists
Broadway composers and lyricists
American male voice actors
ZBS Foundation
Columbia University alumni
2016 deaths

Robert Lorick


Nokia 5510 is an official mobile phone, it was announced from Nokia Corporation on October 11, 2001 in New York City, U.S. Nokia 5510 has reach from commercial in news DVD-ROM for Nokia 5510, has news reach from Risto Siilasmaa on October 12 and October 13, 2001.

Development pubilc and history
In May 2001, Nokia discontinuation all mobile phone to stopped no longers for Nokia mobile phone about in mobile games from Nokia Communicator. In June 9 and June 10, 2001. Nokia reach the news announced were has reach news series mobile phone about an Wireless LAN was not pubilc, website reach for mobile games about not discontinuation. They reach the news mobile phone is ''5510 REM'' on June 27, 2001 and stopped on June 30, 2001. In July 2001, Nokia 5510 has an news released for Nokia it was reach for announced at Hollywood and moved on July 7, 2001 at Anaheim, California.

Nokia 5510 has partner released for worldwide on September 6, 2001 and released in United States on October 11, 2001. In United Kingdom in November 2001.

Design
Nokia 5510 has an design from little mobile phone was succesor, from partner two keyboard from Nokia 5510, it was reach the display can smalling ringtones music from Nokia 5510. Partner user interface, Nokia 5510 reach ringtones theme and miniphones or series reach this the platform for Nokia 5510.

Platform

Nokia 5510 has running from 256MB in 70MB, or in 90GB from NPM-5. In 80GB from REM Mobile, Nokia 5510 has an succesor from the mobile phone has stopped running memory card.

Distribution
Nokia 5510 reach news codenames ''NPM-5'' release on May 6, 2002 at 3GSM of World in 2002. Nokia 5510 MPM-5 has an reach the commercial for Risto Siilasmaa from ''Wherever, I'm user interface from Nokia 5510 NPM-5 that the fun mobile phone from the device update''. It was not premiered, on June 7, 2002, Nokia released Nokia 5510 REM Mobile.

Nokia 5510 from all device codename has untilshipped on July 18, 2005 and expired on August 31 and September 1, 2005. Nokia 5510 has partner reach from ''NPM-5'' has news features beginning, in July 2006, Nokia 5510 is the famous about an 83% for partner. In 2008, Nokia 5510 has reach from 55% partner.

Discontinuation
On January 7, 2007. Nokia 5510 was announced they were stopped available from beginning sales and for partner schedule on January 7, 2008 from REM Mobile, it was no longers about released for Nokia 5510 codenamed, partner released from Nokia 5510 NPM-5 has stopped lifecycle on May 19, 2009. From 8 month ago, Nokia reach the news smartphone beginning about discontinuation in Nokia 5510.

Related pages
 Nokia 3300
 Nokia 6260 slide
 Nokia N93i

Nokia mobile phones
Mobile phones released in 2000s

Nokia 5510


Michael Andrew Leadbitter (12 March 1942 - 16 November 1974) was a British writer, researcher, magazine editor, and a leading authority on blues music, who had an important role in the revival of interest in the blues, particularly in the UK in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Mike Leadbitter was born in Simla, India, but grew up in Bexhill-on-Sea, England. He attended Bexhill Grammar School, and began buying rock and roll and rhythm and blues records and magazines in his mid teens, often on import from the US.

In 1962, with his friend Simon Napier, he formed the Blues Appreciation Society, which the following year led to the publication of a magazine, Blues Unlimited, the first English-language blues periodical.  He took on the role of reviews editor, and was particularly responsible for compiling discographies of major blues artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and John Lee Hooker.  In 1967-68 he compiled, with Neil Slaven, the groundbreaking discography Blues Records 1943-1966, and through a great many articles and discographical research led the way in documenting the careers and recordings of hitherto under-recognised blues musicians.

He edited a collection of Blues Unlimited articles as the book Nothing But the Blues (1971), compiled albums for various record labels, and coordinated research among a global network of blues fans.  In 1972 he began working for Hanover Books, including their magazines Jazz & Blues and Let It Rock, and the following year took over the sole editorship of Blues Unlimited, at the same time as preparing two books for publication.  His health suffered through overwork, and after contracting a virus he developed meningitis, dying in hospital in London in 1974 at the age of 32.

In 2009 he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a non-performer.

References

1942 births
1974 deaths
British music journalists
British magazine editors
Neurological disease deaths in England
Infectious disease deaths in England
Deaths from meningitis

Mike Leadbitter


Robert Dale Russ (March 7, 1933 – May 22, 1997) was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of Tactical Air Command.

Biography

Early life
Russ was born in 1933, in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Wapato High School in Washington in 1951. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington State University in 1955.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Washington State University and entered active duty in September 1955 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He completed pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, in October 1956 and subsequently attended F-84F Thunderjet gunnery school at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and F-100A Super Sabre gunnery school at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

In May 1957, Russ was assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, England, flying F-84F Thunderjets and, later, F-101A Voodoos. After completing this tour of duty in May 1960, he transferred to the 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Oxnard Air Force Base, California, where he flew F-101Bs. Moving to Hamilton Air Force Base, California, in May 1962, the general served as chief of the Fighter Section, Directorate of Tactical Evaluation, 28th Air Division, until August 1964.

After graduation from Air Command and Staff College in July 1965, he was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command, Colorado. That same year, he also received a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University. While there he served as a fighter officer in the Directorate of Tactical Evaluation and later as aide to the commander, Air Defense Command. After attending F-4 Phantom replacement training at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, from July 1967 to January 1968, Russ was assigned to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where he flew 242 combat missions, of which 50 were over North Vietnam.

Upon returning to the United States in March 1969, he was a plans officer in the Fighter and Reconnaissance Branch of the Force Development Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington D.C. He moved from the Air Staff to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in December 1970 and served as plans officer for general purpose forces, J-5, Directorate of Plans, until July 1972. The general graduated from the National War College in June 1973 and was assigned to the 68th Tactical Air Support Group, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, as vice commander. He held that position until becoming deputy commander for operations of Shaw's 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in January 1974.

Later career
Russ was vice commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, from February 1974 until August 1975, when he became wing commander. In February 1977 he became assistant deputy chief of staff for plans at Tactical Air Command (TAC) headquarters, and in July 1977 was named the command's assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, for operations and training. He assumed duties as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, for control and support in July 1978.

In November 1979 Russ moved to USAF headquarters and was appointed director of operational requirements, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Research, Development and Acquisition. The general was named vice commander of TAC in October 1982 and in July 1983 became special assistant to the vice chief of staff, Washington, D.C. In October 1983 he became deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisition at USAF headquarters. He assumed command of TAC in May 1985. He was promoted to general May 22, 1985, with same date of rank. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.

Awards
Awards earned during his career:
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
 Silver Star
 Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster
 Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters
 Purple Heart
 Air Medal with thirteen oak leaf clusters
 Air Force Commendation Medal with an oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and five oak leaf clusters
 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
 Combat Readiness Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal with five service stars
 Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short
 Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long
 Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with seven oak leaf clusters
 Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
 Air Force Training Ribbon
 Order of National Security Merit
 Gugseon Medal (Republic of Korea)
 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
 Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
 Command pilot with more than 5,700 flying hours

See also
 List of commanders of Tactical Air Command

References

External links

1933 births
1997 deaths
United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War
United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War
United States Air Force generals
Washington State University alumni
George Washington University School of Business alumni
National War College alumni
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Military personnel from Portland, Oregon
Recipients of the Air Medal
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Order of the Sword (United States)
Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Robert D. Russ


Milo of Croton was a 6th century BC Greek wrestler. He came from the Greek city of Croton in southern Italy. He had great success as a wrestler. He won many times in the most important sports festivals of ancient Greece.  He also led the people of Croton to a military victory over the neighboring city of Sybaris in 510 BC.

Milo was said to be a friend of Pythagoras. One story says the wrestler saved the philosopher's life when a roof was about to fall on him. Another story says that Milo may have married the philosopher's daughter. Like other successful athletes of ancient Greece, Milo was the subject of tales of strength and power. Among other tales, he was said to have carried a bull on his shoulders and to have burst a band about his forehead by inflating the veins of his temples.

The date of Milo's death is unknown. He was said to be splitting a tree in half when his hands became trapped in the tree. It was then that a pack of wolves surprised, killed, and ate him.   Milo is the subject of works of art by Pierre Puget, Étienne-Maurice Falconet and others. In literature, Rabelais wrote about him in Gargantua and Pantagruel and Shakespeare did the same in Troilus and Cressida.

References

Ancient Greek wrestling
Ancient sportspeople
6th-century BC births
6th-century BC deaths

Milo of Croton


The Malta Amateur Radio League (MARL) is a non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Malta. Since MARL was established in 1922, its aim has been to bring together people interested in amateur radio and electronics, and to discuss and defend amateur radio matters and opinions with local government authorities. MARL provides educational facilities for members with an interest in amateur radio and electronics, and also operates an equipped amateur radio station. MARL is the Maltese national radio society member of the International Amateur Radio Union.

MARL offers weekly courses in preparation for Amateur Radio Examination needed to obtain a Class B licence, and Morse Code Test needed to upgrade to a Class A licence.

The QSL card bureau was handed over to the Malta Amateur Radio League in 1973. MARL manages all incoming and outgoing QSL cards for the Maltese Islands.

The club publishes a free quarterly newsletter in Maltese and English. The MARL clubhouse is equipped to operate on most amateur radio bands from its club station, and the group organises various field days and activities throughout the year to promote and advance amateur radio.

External links
MARL official web site

International Amateur Radio Union member societies
Organizations established in 1922
Clubs and societies in Malta
1922 establishments in Malta
Radio in Malta
Organisations based in Valletta

Malta Amateur Radio League


Juan Núñez (born 23 September 1956) is a former professional tennis player and coach, from Chile.

Playing career
Núñez partnered Alejandro Gattiker at the 1977 French Open but the pair were unable to get past the first round.

In 1979, Núñez was a singles quarter-finalist at the Santiago Grand Prix tournament, with wins over Fernando Luna and Andrés Gómez.

He played John McEnroe in the opening round of the 1981 US Open and claimed the first set in a tiebreak, before losing in four. In the doubles, Núñez and Fernando Maynetto lost in the first round. Also that year, he made the round of 16 in the singles draw at the Boston Pro Championships.

Coaching
Núñez coached Chris Evert in the late 1980s, before joining Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in 1989. He was the coach of Sánchez Vicario, when the Spaniard won the 1989 French Open. After leaving Sánchez Vicario, he spent time coaching Brenda Schultz and Natasha Zvereva. In 1994, Gabriela Sabatini won the WTA Tour Championships, with Núñez as her coach.

References

1956 births
Living people
Chilean male tennis players
Chilean tennis coaches
Sportspeople from Valparaíso

Juan Núñez (tennis)


Torquay United F.C. is an English football team currently playing in League Two of the English Football League. They play at the Plainmoor ground in Torquay in the county of Devon. The club was formed in 1899 when two other soccer teams, Torquay Town and Babbacombe FC merged to create one club. The team has never been higher than the third tier of the English Football League. In 2007 they were relegated from the Footall League to the Nationwide Conference for the first time in their history but were promoted back to League Two in 2009 when they beat Cambridge Utd in the Conference Play off final at Wembley Stadium.

References
Official site

1899 establishments in England
English football clubs
Torquay
Organisations based in Devon

Torquay United F.C.


Atom Tickets is a company based in Santa Monica, California that sells movie tickets and services through its app and website.

History
Established in 2014, Atom Tickets' Series A funding was led by Lionsgate. It was started by three partners, Matthew Bakal (currently co-founder and chairman), Ameesh Paleja (co-founder), and Geoff Shaevitz (co-founder). Paleja says that the idea for Atom Tickets came about because he and his friends, "were frustrated with the experience of coordinating a night out at the movies with friends. Between planning the group and picking the movie, the theater, and the show time, plans often fall apart." On February 1, 2016, they announced a completed Series B round of financing from investors that include The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate. On May 21, 2018, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia joined as investors and advisers.

Services
Atom Tickets allows users to buy movie tickets through their app or at their website.  In addition to ticket sales, some theaters offer advanced concession sales through the service.

In March 2019, Atom Tickets launched Atom Movie Access, a movie subscription service for cinemas that allows exhibitors to create their own customized movie subscription plan.

References

2014 establishments
Film websites
Ticket sales companies
IOS software
Android (operating system) software
American companies established in 2000
Internet properties established in 2000
2000 establishments in California

Atom Tickets


Gail Caldwell (born January 20, 1951) is an American critic and author. She was the chief book critic for The Boston Globe, where she was on staff from 1985 to 2009. Caldwell was the winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. The award was for eight Sunday reviews and two other columns written in 2000. According to the Pulitzer Prize board, those columns were noted for "her insightful observations on contemporary life and literature."

Caldwell was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. After graduating from Tascosa High School, she attended Texas Tech University for a while but transferred to University of Texas at Austin and obtained two degrees in American studies. She was an instructor at the University of Texas until 1981. Before joining The Boston Globe, Caldwell taught feature writing at Boston University, worked as the arts editor of the Boston Review and wrote for the publications New England Monthly and Village Voice.

She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and wrote the 2006 memoir, A Strong West Wind : A Memoir and the 2010 Let's Take the Long Way Home, a memoir of her friendship with author Caroline Knapp. Caldwell published a third memoir in 2014, New Life, No Instructions, about her childhood bout with polio.

References

External links
Birnbaum v. Gail Caldwell, an interview with The Morning News.

1951 births
Living people
Boston University faculty
American literary critics
American women literary critics
Writers from Cambridge, Massachusetts
People from Amarillo, Texas
Pulitzer Prize for Criticism winners
The Boston Globe people
Journalists from Texas
Writers from Texas
University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts alumni
American women journalists
American women academics
21st-century American women

Gail Caldwell