Jacobsen To Head Arena Management

Michael Jacobsen has been appointed CEO of Australia’s Arena Management. The company operates the 12,400-capacity Sydney Entertainment Centre and 2,000-capacity Capitol Theatre.

“The SEC has had a very strong year in spite of increasing market competition, and the Capitol Theatre has successfully housed Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ for the past 18 months,” Jacobsen said. He will be working closely with Sydney Entertainment Centre GM Tim Worton, and Capitol GM Andrew Pain.

Jacobsen is executive director of the Jacobsen family group of companies, which includes Jacobsen Entertainment and Jacobsen Venue Management, the major shareholder of Arena Management. He is co-producer of “Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story, On Stage,” which plays Australia and opens in Berlin April 2006.

He sits on boards of the SEC, Capitol Theatre, Auckland City Arena (which Jacobsen Venue Management is developing and which is due to open February 2006) and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“We are delighted to have Michael on board as chief executive,” Arena Management chairman Ted Harris said. “His strategic leadership, networks and industry experience will prove extremely valuable as Arena seeks to leverage its portfolio of premium venues to continue to attract high-quality, world-class shows appealing to both new and traditional audiences.”