Venue ace Bowles join Mountain Health Arena

Article posted by Coliseum, August 28^th, 2023

Image: ASM Global

ASM Global, the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences, venue management and event strategy, has appointed Paul Bowles as the new General Manager (GM) of the Mountain Health Arena and Convention Center in Huntington, West Virginia (US), the largest multipurpose arena with an attached convention center in the tri-State (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia).

‘ASM Global’ stated that Bowles, who brings a wealth of experience to the Mountain Health Arena, has worked in the industry for three decades. Prior to coming to the Mountain Health Arena, Bowles was the General Manager at the 7,000-capacity Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville, Kentucky (US), where he drove the expansion of national acts and substantially increased the annual revenue by 50 percent. Paul was also recently the Executive Director of Tourism for the City of Pikeville where he oversaw tourism, special events and outdoor recreation for the City.

Los Angeles (US)-based ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management – delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues.

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The 7,500-capacity Mountain Health Arena, originally known as the Huntington Civic Center, later as the Huntington Civic Arena and later, for sponsorship reasons as the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, is a municipal complex located in the downtown area of Huntington, West Virginia, one block West of Pullman Square.

The Mountain Health Arena, managed by ASM Global, sits in the heart of the ‘Jewel City’ (Huntington). The venue draws community members from all around the tri-State area to attend concerts, family shows, athletic competitions, professional conferences, and experience the charm of the City year-round. The 7,500-seat arena and the newly renovated convention center offer a variety of convenient in-house services to allow ease for any meeting or industry planner. For more than 40 years, the Mountain Health Arena has been the premier entertainment, meeting and convention venue in downtown Huntington.

‘ASM Global’ further stated that the Mountain Health Arena and Convention Center, which overlooks the Ohio River in downtown Huntington, is part of the ASM Global portfolio. The 7,000+-seat, multipurpose arena hosts numerous concerts, family shows, trade shows, and athletic competitions year-round. In addition, the convention center has more than 15,000 square feet of flexible space for meetings, weddings and training sessions.

In making the announcement, Doug Thornton, ASM Global’s Executive Vice-President of Stadiums, Arenas and Theaters, said, “Between his decades of experience and proven track record in the arena and convention space, we are confident that Paul is the perfect candidate to manage this venue. In this new role, Paul will be able to work closely with our partners, sponsors and the City to create new opportunities and continue the growth of the arena, bringing significant value to the area.”

Stated Paul Bowles, “I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the experienced team at the Mountain Health Arena and to collaborate with our clients and municipal partners, as they are critical in helping us surpass our goals – not only at the venue level, but throughout the region. The arena and the convention center has been a mainstay of this community for more than 45 years, and I look forward to being able to contribute to its continued success in the future.”

Added Steve Williams Huntington Mayor, “During the past several years, the City of Huntington has partnered with ASM Global to make significant investments and advancements for the Mountain Health Arena. These include a lucrative naming-rights agreement and upgrades to the conference center, the inside of the arena and a full renovation of the outdoor plaza so that it can become a viable space for the community. I am looking forward to working with Paul and observing how his 30-plus years in the arena industry will elevate Mountain Health Arena’s operations and entertainment offerings even further.”

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