JORDAN HARDING
> EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Key member of the Barclays Center development & launch team
Partnered with The Recording Academy to develop and launch the first and only GRAMMY Museum on the east coast
Grew Prudential Center's entertainment business by 70% in three years
Developed models to support the expansion of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment's venue portfolio
Formulated & assisted in the negotiation of strategic partnerships with content providers
Assembled and submitted bids for large scale events such as NCAA Championships, MTV Video Music Awards, NCAA Conference Tournaments and the NBA Draft
Financially settled over 1,000 concerts, sporting events, family shows and private events
> BIO
Originally from Wichita, KS, Jordan moved to New York City to pursue a Master's in Music Business at NYU. He began his professional career selling concert tickets in the box office of the PlayStation Theater in Times Square.
While cutting his teeth providing customer service to the ever-frenetic tourists, Jordan learned the ins and outs of ticketing and box office management, building and executing events on the Ticketmaster platform. Jordan consulted with network venues to implement best practices.
From there, Jordan moved into a finance & accounting role in AEG Presents' NY office, learning how the money flows in the concert business from the promoter's perspective - gaining an understanding of the key players, various deal structures, P&Ls, cash flow, event & tour accounting, and event settlement practices.
Diving into the world of professional sports, Jordan joined the Brooklyn (then New Jersey) Nets, providing financial analysis & budgeting support to the CFO and performing settlements with the NBA for special events, tours & games. He initially served a dual role, providing financial support on the team side of the business, while also providing a key role in the the development of the company's new arena project in Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center. Jordan developed event offers & proposals and participated in negotiations with promoter executives.
As the company evolved into Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (Now BSE Global), so did Jordan's role. He began to support the SVP Programming as Senior Director of Event Finance & Development where he was instrumental in the roll-out and grand opening of Barclays Center in September 2012. Along with Jordan's guidance, the new venue hosted an award-winning 60-plus concerts in its first operating year and instantly became an iconic global venue.
Jordan worked closely with the CEO, CFO, COO & SVP Programming, advising them on a daily basis regarding event opportunities and played a key role in the financial and strategic decisions of Barclays Center events. He developed financial models and supported organizational planning for the expansion of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment’s venue portfolio, including NYCB Live (Nassau Coliseum), Paramount Theatre and Coney Island Amphitheater. During his tenure, Barclays Center received the following awards:
2012 Pollstar Award - Best New Major Concert Venue
2013 Pollstar Award - Arena of the Year
2013 Sports Business Awards - Facility of the Year
2013 Architizer A+ - Building of the Year
2013 Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce - Brooklyn Building Award for Economic Development
In 2015, Jordan was recruited by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment to revamp and grow Prudential Center's entertainment business as VP, Entertainment Strategy. During his tenure, the venue increased its Pollstar ranking from #17 to #5 in the US, increased tickets sales by 82% and increased entertainment contribution margin by 70%.
Jordan developed a revenue maximization playbook and helped develop strategic partnerships with content providers such as Live Nation.
He was instrumental in the negotiation of an arrangement with The Recording Academy to build the first and only East Coast GRAMMY Museum at Prudential Center, and oversaw its development from contract execution to grand opening.
In 2018, Jordan established his consultancy JCH Sports & Entertainment, LLC and also joined Nederlander Concerts as General Manager of City National Grove of Anaheim, an iconic Southern California destination for concerts & special events, where he continues to oversee business operations and develop new revenue opportunities for the theater.
During his tenure, the Grove has experienced substantial growth, celebrated its 20th anniversary, presented its first outdoor concerts with more than 10,000 fans, was named 2022 Entertainment Business of the Year by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, and earned a 2021 ranking of No. 4 worldwide by VenuesNow.
Harding also spearheaded Drive-In OC during the COVID-19 pandemic, a series featuring live music and movies generating revenue, keeping part-time staff employed and garnering international press. In addition, he led Nederlander’s efforts to present the immersive exhibit “Beyond Van Gogh” in multiple markets. He was also named a VenuesNow 2021 All-Star and Top 100 Most Influential People in Orange County by OC Register.
Jordan is currently Senior Vice President for Nederlander Concerts and ongoing General Manager for City National Grove of Anaheim.
Jordan lives in Irvine, CA with his wife Julie and daughter Sophie.