New GM for New York’s Barclays Center
Matt Felker has been appointed general manager of Barclays Center, the 17,000-capacity New York arena jointly operated by AEG Facilities and BSE Global (formerly Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment), with Joe Zino taking his place as GM of the nearby Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The internal promotions, effective 1 October, follow news of the impending departure of Barclays Center regional GM Steve Rosebrook.
“Steve and his AEG Facilities colleagues have done a tremendous job building world-class arena operations teams at both venues,” says Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global, which oversees both Barclays Center and the 16,800-cap. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (in full, ‘NYCB Live: Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum’). “We thank Steve for his years of service and wish him all the best in his next chapter.
“We’re excited about the future with Matt and Joe and congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions”
“We’re excited about the future with Matt and Joe and congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions. They have been integral leaders in the operation of Barclays Center and NYCB Live.”
“We were very fortunate to have an experienced executive like Steve operating these two venues for us,” adds senior vice-president of AEG Facilities, Richard Krezwick, to whom both GMs will report. “His leadership has prepared Matt and Joe for assuming bigger roles.”
In addition to Barclays Center and NYCB Live, BSE operates Brooklyn’s Paramount Theatre and Webster Hall, as well the Brooklyn Nets basketball team. In May, it expanded its advisory board to include a London chapter, comprising Mumford & Sons/Omeara’s Ben Lovett, Universal Music A&R man Louis Bloom, Barclays’ head of sponsorships and media, Tom Corbett, manager James Sandom (Red Light Management), Sarah Stennett, CEO of First Access Entertainment, and James Worrall of sports conference Leaders.
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News in brief (Friday 8 April 2016)
Nassau Coliseum looks to draw big names
The $130 million renovation of the 43 year-old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on New York’s Long Island includes an ambitious dressing room programme known as the Artists Quarters, which developers believe will play a significant role in convincing artists to add a stop at the 16,000-capacity arena when touring in North America. (Billboard)
Indonesian popstar dies from onstage snake bite
An Indonesian pop singer has died in a bizarre and tragic incident after a cobra being used as a prop onstage bit her during a performance in Karawang, Indonesia. Irma Bule was known for using snakes at her shows and may have believed the cobra was defanged. (Pollstar)
Music community mourns the passing of Merle Haggard
The US music community has paid tribute to country music legend Merle Haggard, who died on 6 April, the day of his 79th birthday. (Music Week)