2020 VenuesNow All-Stars List Revealed, Livestream Roundtable Set For Thursday, Oct. 22

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VenuesNow 2020 All-Stars featuring eight of the 50 All-Star (clockwise from top right): Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium’s Tom Garfinkel, Pendulum Studio’s Jonathan O’Neil Cole, Chase Center’s Kim Stone, ESPN’s Wide World of Sports’ Jose Mola, AECOM Hunt’s Corissa Smith, Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s Zach Leonsis, Mike Healy and Philadelphia 76ers’ Brittanie Boyd.

VenuesNow, the sports and entertainment facility industry’s premier trade publication (and Pollstar’s award-winning sister publication), today announced the 2020 VenuesNow All-Stars list. Now in its second year, the All-Star list’s 50 honorees include 42 individuals, seven venues, and one innovation award.

The list is a reflection of the venue business ecosystem itself with honorees chosen from building management, clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums and festivals; branding, sponsorship and sales; architecture and construction; concessions; technology; operations and security; and ticketing. As well, commissioners, building and franchise owners, college officials who influence arenas and stadiums, and content executives who supply the shows were also considered.

“VenuesNow’s class of 2020 All-Stars is a case study in what excellence in our industry looks like,” said Rob Knapp, VenuesNow’s managing editor. “From the major leagues to the major buildings; from innovators in technology to establishing new protocols in safety; from advocates for diversity and inclusivity to burgeoning sectors like esports and sports betting; from performing arts centers to drive-ins, these honorees are the venue business itself.”

The VenuesNow All-Stars list, will be spotlighted in this special issue of VenuesNow, which prominently features eight top executives on its cover who are pushing the business forward in a variety of innovative ways. This includes Jose Mola, who oversaw the recent NBA Championship “Bubble” at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World; Brittanie Boyd, SVP of Marketing for the Philadelphia 76ers and chair of HBSE’s diversity and inclusion board; Kim Stone, GM of Chase Center who led the world-class arena’s GBAC Star accreditation and put together a health and hygiene department for safe reopening; and Mike Healy, SVP of venue operations and guest experience whose current bailiwick includes the MLB World Series presently underway at the new $1.2 billion Globe Life Field.

On Thursday, Oct 22 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, several All-Star honorees will join together on VenuesNow’s Facebook for a livestream roundtable moderated by Jeff Nickler, SVP of OVG’s Arena Alliance and former GM of the BOK Center. Panelists will include Brittanie Boyd, Jonathan Cole, Tom Garfinkel, Zach Leonsis, Jose Mola, Corissa Smith, and Kim Stone.

Visit the VenuesNow All-Star list hub HERE.

2020 VenuesNow All-Stars:   Executives:
•   Scott Bailey, Ryman Hospitality Properties
•   Lisa Baird, National Women’s Soccer League
•   Brittanie Boyd, Philadelphia 76ers
•   Rich Claffey, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.
•   Jonathan O’Neil Cole, Pendulum Studio LLC
•   Mark Davis, Las Vegas Raiders
•   Dayanny De la Cruz, Centerplate
•   Chris Donohue, See Tickets
•   Jonathan Emmett, Gensler
•   Michael Evans, Live Nation Arenas
•   Jaime Faulkner, E15 Group
•   Matt Feldberg, Hotbox
•   Dayna Frank, First Avenue Productions; National Independent Venue Association
•   Tom Garfinkel, Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium
•   Sean Gleason, Professional Bull Riders
•   Daniel Griffis, Oak View Group
•   Ebony Hattix, FedExForum/Memphis Grizzlies
•   Mike Healy, Texas Rangers
•   Allysa Henry, Square
•   Amy Howe, Ticketmaster
•   Susan Somersille Johnson, Prudential Financial
•   E. Stanley Kroenke, Los Angeles Rams, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park
•   Amy Latimer, TD Garden
•   Frantzer Le Blanc, OVG Facilities
•   Zachary Leonsis, Monumental Sports & Ent.; Monumental Sports Network
•   Ken Martin, Cisco
•   Jose Mola, ESPN’s Wide World of Sports
•   Patricia Olinger, Global Biorisk Advisory Council
•   Paula Portz, Legends Project Development
•   Sherri Privitera, Populous
•   Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, San Diego Convention Center Corporation
•   Art Rodriguez, ABM Industries
•   Juan Rodriguez, BBVA Stadium
•   Erin Schnieders, National Basketball Association
•   Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger, Mixhalo
•   Corissa Smith, AECOM Hunt
•   Kim Stone, Chase Center
•   Mark Tester, Orange County Convention Center
•   Katie Tuten, The Hideout; Chicago Independent Venue League
•   Dana White, UFC
•   Karri Zaremba, Major League Baseball
•   Gillian Zucker, Los Angeles Clippers

2020 VenuesNow All-Stars: Venues & Innovation:
•   All-Star Innovation: Drive-in Concerts
•   All-Star Stadium: Globe Life Field
•   All-Star Arena: Staples Center
•   All-Star Convention Center: Las Vegas Convention Center
•   All-Star PAC: Count Basie Center for the Arts
•   All-Star Club: Avant Gardner
•   All-Star New Building: Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
•   All-Star Renovation: Dodger Stadium

VenuesNow (founded in 2002 as Venues Today) is the leading trade publication covering live entertainment venues across the globe, serving managers, owners, operators and bookers of arenas, amphitheaters, stadiums, performing arts centers, clubs, theaters, and convention centers. VenuesNow delivers industry-leading analysis and data-driven content geared to helping venues and their industry partners operate more effectively and profitably VenuesNow’s box office charts, powered by Pollstar’s unsurpassed data, offer timely intel — truly unique and unparalleled in entertainment trade media. The annual VenuesNow Conference is the premiere event in the venue industry. Subscribe to VenuesNow at venuesnow.com/subscribe/