Carolina Catalán
Chief Operating Officer Movistar Arena, Chile
When it comes to arenas, it’s hard to top Madison Square Garden in New York when it comes to arena concert grosses, but in other categories, such as ticket sales and the number of events held, there is one that stands toe-to-toe with the iconic venue, and such a building is in a market brimming with potential.
That venue is Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile. Under the watch of chief operating officer Carolina Catalán, the South American building had an unforgettable 2023, hosting 155 live entertainment events and selling nearly 1.6 million tickets. The arena was among the top performing facilities in VenuesNow’s year-end charts. Catalán is determined to keep that momentum going.
“Currently, we are working intensively to maintain these levels of activity, and as a team, we continue to grow and strive to improve our customers’ experience,” Catalán said. “Additionally, in 2024, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Movistar Arena Chile, a milestone that we hope will be significant.”
A feat she was most proud of was successfully hosting Luis Miguel for 10 nights in August and September, a sold-out run that grossed more than $14 million and showed what the venue is capable of when it comes to production demands.
“This task was extremely challenging, as there were other events scheduled between Luis Miguel’s shows,” Catalán said. “This led to setting up and dismantling the stage multiple times to meet the established deadlines. In addition, the artist and his team had high demands, which tested the venue’s operations team to live up to expectations. Fortunately, we managed to fulfill and exceed them, demonstrating our commitment and ability to deliver.”
Catalán proved she was more than capable of handling the loads of shows at Movistar Arena, having excelled at the building over the past 16 years. She started off as the head of events and rose to an executive role and believes that her ascension is an indication of the fact that the industry is becoming more inclusive, especially in South America.
“The company recognized the valuable contribution that women can offer in a historically male-dominated field, allowing me to develop my career,” Catalán said. “I believe this evolution lies in the ability to combine pragmatism and operational excellence, essential in this industry, with sensitivity and intuition. Although there is still much progress to be made, we are on the right path.”
When it comes to her path, Catalán credits her mentors for instilling in her the importance of forging meaningful relationships, especially during this golden age of live entertainment with more people valuing the present in a post-COVID world, and she believes the passion that drives fans to the arena should be shared by those who organize the events.
“I always advise approaching tasks with passion and dedication, putting heart into every action we take,” Catalán said. “We are in the business of generating emotions and delivering joy, and that must come from within. This authenticity is transmitted to the artist and the fans.”
It certainly drove Miguel to perform there 10 times, and there’s no doubt other stars will follow his lead and make sure to stop by Santiago to experience that authenticity firsthand.