Venu Holding Corporation (“VENU”), a leading premium hospitality and live entertainment company announces Will Hodgson as its new President. With 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Will brings energetic leadership and a demonstrated history of accelerating growth and enhancing profitability.
Hodgson, a graduate of Wake Forest University, is a highly regarded veteran in both the hospitality and entertainment industries. He joined VENU in late October 2024 and began serving as President at that time. Before joining VENU, Will spent 13 years at Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV), most recently as Head of House of Blues Entertainment. Setting the pace and strategy for 20 venues, 17 restaurants, and 7 high-end cocktail lounges. Overseeing a workforce of 4,000 employees and producing 3,000 events annually. Prior to Live Nation Entertainment, Will spent several years in investment banking in Boston and San Francisco before joining then start-up Front Gate Tickets out of Austin, TX, where he helped develop ticketing solutions for major festivals like Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza, as well as numerous independent venues across the country. Following this, he spent the following years developing, opening, and operating several venues in Texas.
“We are thrilled to welcome a leader with such a diverse and dynamic background to the VENU team,” Said J.W. Roth, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of VENU. “Will is a rockstar, he will do an incredible job quarterbacking our strategic growth and operations. His unique expertise across live music, finance, ticketing, food and beverage, and real estate development is a powerful fit for our vision.”
“I’m thrilled to join the team setting a whole new standard for live entertainment,” said Will Hodgson, new President of VENU. “VENU’s fan-founded model is groundbreaking—bringing fans into the fold as vested partners is both innovative and transformative.”
VENU has been recognized nationally for its innovative and disruptive approach to live entertainment. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as AEG Presents, three-time Super Bowl Champion and Founder of EIGHT Elite Light Lager, Troy Aikman, VENU continues to shape the future of the entertainment landscape.
