LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Lee Zeidman, Sr. Vice President & General Manager of Staple Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and an original member of the development and design teams for both venues, will now oversee all operations, oversight and management of the L.A. Live sports and entertainment district it was announced by Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO of AEG, developers and owners of the district.
In his new role as Sr. Vice President & General Manager, L.A. live, Zeidman will be responsible for the implementation and fulfillment of sponsor & tenant obligations, booking of all programming and special events throughout the entire district as well as overseeing security, parking and maintenance of the district’s common areas in addition to community relations, public relations and marketing.
“There is not a single individual in our industry who is better qualified to oversee all of the venues, and other attractions of L.A. Live than Lee Zeidman,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. “Lee has played such a key role in not only opening and operating two of the country’s premier venues for sports and entertainment in Staples Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, but in creating a reputation that is second to none for each of the facilities. In addition to guiding the day to day operations and activities of every aspect of L.A. Live, Lee will work very closely with all of our tenants in addition to various stakeholders and entities in the City of Los Angeles to create the nation’s finest destination for conventions and one of a kind events that L.A. Live was created to host.”
Having joined the organization in 1998, Zeidman oversaw all operations for Staples Center which opened in October, 1999, becoming the 20,000-seat venue’s General Manager in 2005. He added the same role with Nokia Theatre L.A. Live to his dossier when the 7,100-seat theatre opened in October, 2007. He is responsible for the management of all departments at the venues including booking, marketing, operations, security, customer service, public relations, community relations, hospitality, ticket sales and premium seating. With the multiple venues and other locations within L.A. Live added to his responsibilities, Zeidman will oversee operations for an entire district expected to attract over 11 million guests annually.
Since joining AEG, Zeidman has lent his expertise to several of the organization’s notable projects advising on both the design and ongoing operations as the venues have opened including Berlin’s O2 World arena, London’s O2 Arena, Kansas City’s Sprint Center, The Home Depot Center in Carson and The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Prior to joining AEG, Zeidman was the Great Western Forum’s Vice-President, Operations, overseeing all areas of that facility’s management. During his 10-year tenure, he coordinated operations for all Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers games, concerts and special events. Previously, he directed operations for the 6,000-seat special event center at the University of California at Santa Barbara. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
