XLIVE is proud to present its second annual list of Emerging Leaders. Our group of 2022 winners includes young event professionals — across both B2B and Fan Experience — whose innovation, creativity, and drive are pushing the industry forward. We will be featuring all of the winners on XLIVE over the coming weeks, so be sure to check back!
Many of Grant Hall’s favorite memories from growing up center around live events. “Whether I was playing sports or attending events with my family and friends, I always wanted to be around the action,” he says. His love of sports and entertainment led him to pursue a career in live entertainment, which began at Ohio University, where he received a Bachelors in Sport Management, an MBA, and a Masters in Sport Administration.
He soon started his first full-time job in the industry as the Business Operations Manager for ASM Global’s managed venues in New Orleans, which include the Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center as well as other smaller venues, through which he further developed his skills and experience.
In his current role as Director of Business Services & Strategy at ASM Global, Hall works to support the company’s Stadiums, Arenas, and Theaters in North America, and he is also involved in the live entertainment and finance side of the business. His projects range from developing and executing companywide initiatives and creating strategies to generate more content within ASM Global venues, to financial modeling, mergers and acquisitions, and venue KPI performance tracking.
One of the most challenging initiatives that Hall was involved with over the past year and half was re-opening over 200 venues that had been closed or repurposed during the pandemic, which included the creation and launch of ASM’s VenueShield Program. “Creating a plan and supporting each of those venues as they started to host live events again was not easy, but it was a very rewarding project to be involved in,” he says.
Hall was heavily involved in several other Covid-era initiatives, including acting as the ASM in-house government stimulus expert during the height of the pandemic, helping to get over $100 million in funds for ASM clients affected by event closures. During a three-year period, he also oversaw the transition of a 10,000-seat baseball stadium to a multipurpose stadium, negotiating relevant leases with sports teams and booking multiple other revenue generating events and community events at the stadium, all while navigating the impact of Covid on the industry.
As we continue to move into the post-pandemic era of events, Hall notes that he is excited to be part of ASM Global and its current momentum in the live entertainment industry. “From improving the guest experience, increasing the number of events at our venues, improving show marketing efforts, and developing partnerships, these initiatives are leading to a better event experience and an improved bottom line for ASM Global clients,” he says. “Being involved in the strategy and planning behind this is very exciting work for me to be part of.”
When it comes to the future of the industry, Hall is particularly excited about the boom in the development of new and improved facilities across the country.
“With increased revenues from events, more involvement from private equity firms, and the substantial economic impact created from events, I believe we are in a time of growth and opportunity,” he says. “With this demand for new and improved facilities, there will be opportunities for new technology and new ideas that will help create better and more memorable experiences for guests of concerts, sporting events, and other live entertainment options.”
Hall has worked for Doug Thornton, ASM Global EVP Arenas, Stadiums and Theaters, since starting at the company three and a half years ago and names him as a major source of inspiration in his career. “Having an opportunity to learn from Doug has been instrumental in my career development, and I am lucky to be able to consider him my mentor,” says Hall.
When he’s not working, Hall enjoys lifting weights, playing golf with friends, hanging out with his 75-pound puppy, and exploring the city of Chicago with his longtime girlfriend, Hanna Garnek.