Faces + Places
NICK SPAMPANATO
AEG Presents announced that Nick Spampanato, most recently senior vice president of venue operations, is now the company’s chief operating officer, venues. Spampanato reports to Brent Fedrizzi, AEG Presents president, North American regional offices.
Spampanato brings more than 25 years of industry experience in music venue management, including time with MSG Entertainment, where he became general manager of the Forum in 2013, and for five years oversaw building operations, event production, food and merchandise, parking, ticketing, and all third-party service providers at the arena. Spampanato is based in Los Angeles and oversees the business and operations for AEG Presents’ 50 owned and operated clubs and theaters.
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STEVE OBERMAN
Industry veteran Steve Oberman is Tixr’s new vice president of partnerships, the company announced. In his new role, Oberman is responsible for strategic global expansion in music and accelerating growth. Oberman joined Tixr after a long executive-level tenure at See Tickets as executive vice president and head of music following See Tickets’ acquisition of Flavorus in 2016. See is owned by Vivendi, which entered into a put-option agreement with CTS Eventim in April to sell its ticketing and festival operations pending employee body approval, required under French law, a process that often takes months.
BRENT FEDRIZZI
AEG Presents has promoted Brent Fedrizzi to president, North American Regional Offices. Fedrizzi most recently served as co-president and COO of AEG Presents’ Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest regions. The news was made official just a few days after Rick Mueller announced via a memo that he had stepped down as president at AEG Presents after 13 years with promoter. Fedrizzi’s new role has him guiding “the company’s 100 U.S. venues — including the 50 owned and operated clubs and theaters in the AEG Presents portfolio — in all aspects of talent buying and promotion, as well as overseeing its 12 regional offices.” Fedrizzi is based in Denver. He reports to AEG Presents Chairman and CEO Jay Marciano and has joined the company’s executive committee.
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ANDY GORCHOV
ASM Global has selected Andy Gorchov as general manager of Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Gorchov is a 30-year veteran in sports and entertainment whose experience includes general manager of Empower Field at Mile High in Denver and leading State Farm Stadium in Arizona. In his new role, Gorchov oversees day-to-day operations at the 65,000-capacity venue, including the overall management, promotion and operation of the facility. He replaces previous Allegiant Stadium general manager Chris Wright.
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KEEGAN MCDONALD
VenuesNow parent company Oak View Group has promoted Keegan McDonald to president, mergers and acquisitions and development. He continues reporting to OVG Chief Operating Officer Francesca Bodie, who lauded McDonald’s “brilliant work” in helping the company “secure crucial investments and agreements with significant partners across our owned and operated and service company portfolio.” McDonald will continue overseeing the raising of debt and equity as well as transaction structuring and sourcing for OVG’s developments. In his prior role as vice president of business development, he managed and drove projects including multiple Silver Lake Partners equity investments, in addition to working on raising equity and debt capital for Climate Pledge Arena, UBS Arena, Moody Center, Co-op Live, Acrisure Arena and CFG Bank Arena.
MIKE WENDLING
ASM Global announced the addition of Mike Wendling to their team in Oklahoma City as assistant general manager for Paycom Center, home to NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Wendling was previously senior director of guest services and building operations for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in Toronto, where he oversaw operations at Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field and Coca-Cola Coliseum. Before that, Wendling served as the director of ticket sales and director of ticketing analytics for Oklahoma State Athletics at Oklahoma State University.
MATTHEW WOLF
Matthew Wolf has been named chief operating officer of Tampa’s David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, as announced by venue president and CEO Greg Holland. Wolf has more than two decades of leadership experience in venue management, programming and operations in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. His resume includes serving as opening executive director of Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y., a $95 million restoration project. Wolf also worked on the $56 million restoration of the historic Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House, serving as the opening general manager
