BSE Global, operator of Barclays Center, loses Keith Sheldon, EVP of Programming, for job with international scope

The Barclays Center won't be holding big events for a while, so maybe its no surprise that Keith Sheldon, Executive Vice President of Programming & Development for BSE Global, has left for a new job with international scope, including countries where performances will likely resume well before those in Brooklyn.

As Sportico's JohnWallStreet wrote 7/10/20, despite the return of games," it remains a precarious time to be an employee of a pro sports team," given that, with the loss or absence of spectators, "clubs are actively working to identify alternative means of driving revenue and fan engagement (think: VR, digital media)."

The same, presumably, goes for arena operators. For Sheldon, though, who knows: it could just be a need for a change, or a different location for his family. Either way, the arena has a big opening, along with the departure in April of Chief Financial Officer Eu-Gene Sung.

The announcement

Here's the 6/25/20 press release, Keith Sheldon Announced as President of Entertainment for Hard Rock International, Seminole Gaming:

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., June 25, 2020 – Seminole Hard Rock Support Services®, an organization created to provide support worldwide to hotels, casinos and cafes for Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, announced today the appointment of Keith Sheldon as the new President of Entertainment. In this role, Sheldon will oversee and direct the entertainment function for Seminole Gaming, an innovative gaming industry leader, and Hard Rock International, a globally recognized music, entertainment, leisure and dining brand. Sheldon most recently held the position of Executive Vice President of Programming and Development at BSE Global, where he led the development of content opportunities and special events at Barclays Center. He also played an integral role in the planning, development and programming of both Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Webster Hall.

Hard Rock International (HRI) operates  venues in 76 countries spanning 256 locations, according to the press release. The brand is owned by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. 

Seminole Gaming manages seven Florida gaming locations for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. According to Seminole Hard Rock Support Services:

In addition to its two Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, the Seminole Tribe owns and operates five other Seminole Casinos; in Coconut Creek and Hollywood on the Southeast coast, in Immokalee near Naples, and on the Brighton Reservation north of Lake Okeechobee.

About Sheldon

As of now, Sheldon's bio is still on the BSE Global web site. Here's much of it:

As Executive Vice President of Programming & Development for BSE Global, Keith Sheldon oversees the development of content opportunities and the booking of concerts, sporting events, family shows and special events for Barclays Center. He previously played an integral role in the planning, development and programming of NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Webster Hall.
Since joining BSE as Vice President in 2014, Sheldon has increased Barclays Center’s booking volume year-over-year and has delivered premium live content such as concerts from Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, JAY-Z, Ed Sheeran, Madonna, and Justin Bieber, and marquee sporting events such as NCAA tournament games, the ACC Men’s College Basketball Tournament, Premier Boxing Champions, UFC PPV fights and WWE SummerSlam.
Under Sheldon’s leadership, BSE venues have been ranked among the top 10 venues worldwide and top three domestically in their respective categories by premier industry publications. Sheldon was named to Billboard Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2016, and was a finalist for Pollstar’s Venue Executive of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
Prior to joining BSE, Sheldon worked for AEG Facilities in a variety of roles, serving as Director of Events at KFC Yum! CENTER in Louisville, KY and Director of Business Affairs and Programming at XL Center in Hartford, CT.