Venue Veteran JoAnn Armstrong Announces Retirement (And Grandbaby)

Venue industry veteran JoAnn Armstrong, a fixture at Southern California venues including the Pacific Amphitheater and Honda Center, has announced her retirement after 40 years in the industry.
“After more than 40 incredible years in the entertainment industry, the time has come for me to take on a new role—retirement!” Armstrong wrote on a LinkedIn post yesterday. “To think it all started at a comedy club, and graduated to amphitheaters, then arenas and beyond – it’s truly been an honor of a lifetime. I’ve been lucky enough to work on unforgettable events with some of the most iconic artists of our time – Rolling Stones, U2, and Bruce Springsteen to name a few. Being involved in every step, from booking shows, to standing side stage as artists take their places and seeing the fans light up, has been nothing short of inspiring. Moments like these make the journey truly worthwhile.”
Armstrong was most recently named vice president of programming at Venue Coalition last year, and had recently served as vice president of programming for Oak View Group at its new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. However, she is mostly known in the industry for her 28-year stint at Honda Center, beginning in 1993 as part of the team that opened the building, where she served as director of booking for 15 years.
Before that, she was operations manager at the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa.
“It’s hard to wrap up over 40 years in one post or one note of gratitude,” Armstrong continued in her post. “I’d like to first thank my family, putting up with my long hours away from home. I could not have done it without their support. As I step away from the spotlight of the industry, I’m thrilled to welcome my first grandchild into the world in the coming month. This new role feels like the ultimate encore, and I can’t wait to embrace this next adventure with love and joy.”
