Features
Saadeh Goes Across The Border
Sean Saadeh, chief talent buyer for Brooklyn’s Barclays Center , recently exited his position then reemerged at the rival Prudential Center, located 13 miles away in Newark, N.J., so Pollstar had to ask why he made the change.
“First I want to say I had a great four years in Brooklyn. I’m very proud of what I was able to accomplish in opening that facility,” Saadeh said. The venue’s new executive VP of entertainment programming began talking with
“The Rock” hosts the New Jersey Devils, which have new owners in Josh Harris and David Blitzer. They want to lure back the business community, and they have hired 85 people on top of the existing staff of 72.
“I really enjoyed that process of creating something from scratch,” Saadeh said. “When this opportunity came up, and talking with Scott and Hugh about what their vision is, I felt this was the same thing, even if it’s not the opening of a building. I just felt, with the new vision and leadership, that this was a team I would really like to join.” He added that Prudential is having “the best year since opening seven years ago” and he wants to continue the momentum.
He could not expand on future programming but suggested there would be bookings outside the realm of live performance and potentially an awards show (Barclays hosted the VMAs).
“We have great quality events and, expanding on that, where it’s an evergreen, annual event that we can count on that has meaning here in northern New Jersey.
That’s the beginning stages of the vision.”
The transition also occurred after Barclays Center culled together a programming board that would guide the venue in its programming choices – a program board Saadeh helped put together and attended.