Steve Kirsner Joins Venue Coalition As Booking VP

Entertainment consulting company Venue Coalition has added industry veteran Steve Kirsner, most recently at SAP Center at San Jose, as vice president of booking.

In his new role, Kirsner will focus on servicing Venue Coalition’s 150-plus member venues, with national and regional booking assistance.

“I’m excited to join the team at Venue Coalition,” stated Kirsner in the announcement. “As a former venue client and member of Venue Coalition, I have intimate knowledge of how valuable their services are to independent venues. I’m eager to get started and represent so many members, many of whom I call friends, and to assist as we drive more first-class content into their buildings and help them navigate the touring landscape.” Kirsner left SAP Center on June 30.

Kirsner joins Venue Coalition as the company adds new arena members to its portfolio in recent months, including Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, Agganis Arena in Boston, Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri, John F. Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio, Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Pepsi Center WTC in Mexico City.

“We are so excited to bring Steve onboard,” adds Venue Coalition President Andrew Prince. “He has decades of extensive operational and programming experience running one of the most successful venues in the country. We welcome his expertise and passion for this industry and know his strong relationships and stellar reputation will be a great benefit to our organization.”

Kirsner has 47 years of experience in the entertainment industry, including as an integral part of magician Doug Henning’s team, extensive experience including tour production of Mannheim Steamroller and more than 25 years at what is new called SAP Center in San Jose, California, which opened in 1993 as home of the NHL San Jose Sharks.

Other high-profile Venue Coalition hires over the past 12 months include Jim McCue and JoAnn Armstrong.