Lee Ziedman

Lee Zeidman

President of CRYPTO.com Arena, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE

There are few events that take place in arenas, theatres or other venues that Lee Zeidman has not been involved with during his career. As President of Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE the sports, residential and entertainment district, Zeidman oversees the venues event operations, production, including guest services, booking, box office, event security, event staffing, guest relations, facility presentation, marketing, communications, hospitality and food and beverage services. Along with his hard-working team of employees Zeidman also supervises Crypto.com Arena’s overall day-to-day support for its tenants, sponsors, clients and partners including the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Sparks franchises hosting seven NBA Finals, two Stanley Cup Finals and five WNBA Finals in which the home teams won seven NBA Championships, two Stanley Cup Championships and three WNBA Championships.

Zeidman was a crucial member of a team that oversaw the overall development of L.A. LIVE, the 4 million square foot / $2.5 billion sports, residential & entertainment district featuring Microsoft Theater (7,100-seat live theater) and Club Nokia (2,300 capacity live music venue), a 54-story, 1001-room convention “headquarters” destination (featuring The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels and 224 luxury condominiums – The Residences at The Ritz Carlton – all in a single tower), a 14-screen Regal Cineplex, “broadcast” facilities for ESPN, along with entertainment, restaurant and office space. Microsoft Theater has been named Pollstar’s national “Theatre of the Year” in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with Zeidman having been nominated nine times for “Facility Executive of the Year” and honored in both 2008 and 2016. In June 2018, Zeidman was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the Stadium Business Awards in Manchester, England, which recognizes an individual that has shown exceptional commitment service and leadership to the stadium industry over a sustained period of time. In October 2020, Zeidman was selected by the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) to receive their ALSD Bill Dorsey Visionary Award. This prestigious venue industry award is presented annually to a respected executive for his innovation, vision, character and loyalty and whose lifetime of leadership and achievement merits the sports and entertainment industry Association’s highest individual honor.

Since opening in October 2007, Microsoft Theater has hosted six sold-out nights of the Eagles and Dixie Chicks, Sugarland, Kings of Leon, Neil Young, Mary J. Blige, Dancing with the Stars Tour, John Fogerty, George Lopez, John Mellencamp, The Who, Duran Duran, Rush, Tool, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga and Old Dominion to name just a few of the performers who have played the theater. Microsoft Theater is also home to the American Music Awards, ESPY Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, BET Awards, the Grammy Premiere Awards, 2013 Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Induction and the 2010, 2011 & 2015 MTV Video Music Awards all of which Zeidman played a critical role in the negotiations of the contracts and the execution of the shows.

Zeidman played a key role in the overall design and construction of Crypto.com Arena as a member of the arena’s development team. Under his guidance, the nation’s most state-of-the-art arena operating systems have blended together and made it possible to successfully host an unprecedented schedule of events since opening in October 1999 including multiple summer X Games competitions, the 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the 2000 Democratic National Convention, the 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st, 52nd , 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th , 57th, 58th, 59th, 61st & 62nd annual GRAMMY Awards (19 of the last 21 GRAMMY Awards), 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships the 2004, 2011 & 2018 NBA All Star Game, the 2002 & 2017 NHL All Star Game, the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, the 2013, 2015 & 2018 NCAA West Regional Finals, Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service, Nipsey Hussle’s Celebration of Life, Kobe & Gianna Bryant’s Celebration of Life and over 400 sold-out concerts including The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Eric Clapton U2, Garth Brooks, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Mana, Muse, Sade, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Prince and Bruce Springsteen among others.

During his time with AEG, Zeidman has also played a substantial role in the development, construction, and operation of Dignity Sports Health Park in Carson, California which includes a 27,000-seat soccer stadium, 8,000-seat tennis stadium and other major facilities for track & field, cycling, beach volleyball and other sports which has been designated as an Official U.S. Olympic Training site. Zeidman was also a part of a team that developed and opened The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, a 4,000-seat theatre which was the home of Celine Dion’s A New Day as well as assisting in the opening of such iconic AEG venues such as the O2 in London and the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin.

Prior to AEG and Crypto.com Arena, 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.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, and graduate of California State University Northridge, Zeidman currently resides in Venice, California.

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