VenuesNow 2025 All-Star Honoree: Brett Annis

BRETT ANNIS
Director of Ticket Operations
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino — Hard Rock Live

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN:
Annis’ first industry job was as office manager at the old Miami Arena.

Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino regularly punches above its 7,000-cap. weight, drawing a regular rotation of A-list — even stadium-level acts — to South Florida (think Rolling Stones, Metallica, Ed Sheeran).

The law of supply and demand comes into sharp focus when the building is smaller and puts pressure on the team that runs the ticketing operation. Brett Annis helms the squad at Hard Rock Live and he has plenty to do.

“We are very fortunate that the business supports bringing big shows into a smaller room; thankfully we have not felt what a lot of the business has felt with the overall financial headwinds,” he says. “We have seen continued strength in the premium shows and with our premium inventory which is a phenomenal sign for our markets …  Our show schedule this past year has been exceptional, with the likes of Pearl Jam, Stevie Nicks, Sebastain Maniscalco and Avril Lavigne to name a few.”

Annis says his job is to “keep up with our booking team” and that means staying on top of what’s the latest in ticketing.

“As our venue continues to diversify the content it delivers to the community, there are always new trends and tricks of the trade that we can learn to better the business. It’s a really exciting moment for our organization as we continue to push the envelope of what is possible in the big event business,” he says. “The ticketing industry has obviously seen massive innovation over the past decade and we are always looking to move the ball down the field as it relates to practices that work best for the artists and their fans.”

Obviously, the Seminole Hard Rock is getting it right: it won the Pollstar Award for Casino/Resort Venue of the Year and ranked No. 4 worldwide in grosses for theaters in 2024 at $65,948,299.

“This venue has been a rocketship since we came back from the pandemic and I am so proud to be a part of the madness,” Annis says.