Josephine Vaccarello
Executive Vice President, Live | Madison Square Garden Entertainment
For Josephine Vaccarello, bringing content to Sphere in Las Vegas has been a highlight in a career that has touched many of the most revered venues in the country, from Madison Square Garden to Radio City Music Hall.
“Opening Sphere was a significant milestone,” said Vaccarello. “The venue was, of course, years in the making, but nothing can prepare you for the experience of being inside Sphere when U2 is playing in front of 18,000 fans. It was an indescribable feeling to see the team’s hard work and dedication come to life and I’m so proud to have been a part of it.”
Vaccarello serves as executive vice president, live, for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. with oversight of the company’s live booking business for an impressive portfolio that also includes the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, and The Chicago Theatre.
She has been on the front line of the “Golden Age” of live entertainment.
“The live entertainment industry is stronger than ever, and from our perspective, we’re seeing robust consumer demand for live entertainment at our venues,” she said. “Consumers are continuing to show how much value they place in shared, in-person experiences — and we’re seeing this in a range of areas, as well as across show types. And that widespread demand, coupled with a healthy supply of concerts — I think bodes well for the industry’s positive momentum to continue.”
Vaccarello has worked in various capacities at the company for 25 years. She’s had numerous mentors at MSG Entertainment and offers advice to people entering the business.
“It’s so important to empower the next generation to be confident in who they are and unafraid of change — and just go for it,” she said. “For me personally, I’ve spent more than two decades in the industry and am used to having a lot of the answers, but I’m also still learning. Sphere is a great example of this. I think it’s so important to remember you need to keep growing to keep succeeding.”
U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere was a career defining moment and a tremendous learning opportunity.
“Unlike any concert I’ve ever experienced,” she added. “As a new entertainment medium, we didn’t really know what the experience at Sphere would actually be like until we opened, but seeing how the band leveraged the technology in Sphere to create a fully immersive live music experience was incredible. The art that they brought into the show, and how they used the display plane to complement the music — they set a high bar that really showcases the power of Sphere to transport audiences.”
On the horizon are Phish and Dead & Company at Sphere.
“They are two of the most exciting and creative bands, and I know they’ll each put their own unique spin on the experience,” Vaccarello said. “I’m excited for their fans, who are incredibly loyal, to experience them in a new way in a totally new type of venue. I know they’re going to be blown away.”