Representing public assembly venues from around the globe, IAVM’s 7,900+ active members include managers and senior executives from auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university complexes, amphitheaters and fairgrounds. IAVM’s mission is to educate, advocate for, and inspire public assembly venue professionals worldwide.
Lee A. Esckilsen, CVE
Chair, Associate Professor, The Department of Sports Entertainment and Event – Management, The College of Hospitality Management, Johnson & Wales University & Principal, ESVenues, LLC
Lee Esckilsen has been involved in the development and management of public assembly venues for 35+ years. He was responsible for the development, pre-opening, and day-to-day management of the NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England; the Mullins Center at UMass, Amherst, MA; and The REC Arena at William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ. Lee also served as the Executive Director of the Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI; the Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, FL; the Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, SD; and the RPI Fieldhouse at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Esckilsen was also previously the Director of Guest Services at Madison Square Garden.
During his venue management career, Esckilsen booked and successfully managed more than 1,000 entertainment and sports events. He also negotiated 10 professional and collegiate sports tenant agreements. Lee was the first General Manager of the UK Manchester Storm hockey franchise.
Esckilsen is currently the Chair and an Associate Professor in the Department of Sports, Entertainment and Event – Management in the College of Hospitality Management on the Providence, RI campus of Johnson & Wales University. Esckilsen is in his 21st year at Johnson & Wales University where he conducts research and teaches venue management, operations management, event management, safety/security/and risk management, ticketing/access management, ancillary services, and revenue management.
Esckilsen also created Entertainment & Sports Consulting, LLC, (dba. ESVenues) in 2001 which specializes in the development and management of entertainment and sports venues and events. Clients have included Venue Solutions Group, Venuworks, Venulogix, numerous municipalities and private companies.
Esckilsen has been a member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) for more than 38 years and has served on several committees including the current Academic Committee. Lee earned his IAVM Certified Venue Executive (CVE) in 1997. He also served as an IAVM Certified Trained Crowd Manager (TCM) and a Certified Trainer for the Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition.
Esckilsen has co-authored three textbooks for IAVM, including the most recent edition of Public Assembly Venue Management: Sports, Entertainment, Meeting, and Convention Venues (2020 - 2nd ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing). He has also published articles for IAVM’s Venue Professional and Facility Manager magazines, as well as other industry publications.
Esckilsen holds a Master of Science degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Bachelor of Education degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH; and an Associates of Science degree from Dean College, Franklin, MA.
