Global Spectrum has hired Hank Abate as its new senior vice president of arenas and stadiums. He starts his new job today at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the company’s home base.
Abate spent 20 years with SMG before leaving the firm in November 2012. At SMG, he oversaw the operation of 70 venues worldwide, including Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. He started with SMG in the same city, as general manager of the old Mellon Arena.
“I’m very excited to get going,” Abate said. “I’ve been on the sidelines waiting patiently while my non-compete ran out. I’ve known this group for a long time, and they’re good, quality people.”
Abate fills a new position Global Spectrum created to support its general managers at a company that now runs about 120 facilities across North America, said John Page, the firm’s chief operating officer. Abate reports to Page in the firm’s corporate structure.
“I’ve known Hank for many years,” Page said. “He is as stellar an individual as the day is long.”
Abate comes on board two weeks after Peter Luukko, former chairman of Global Spectrum and president and COO of Global parent firm Comcast-Spectacor, left the company. The move to hire Abate had nothing to do with Luukko’s departure, Page said.
Before working for SMG, Abate was general manager at the University of Connecticut’s Gampel Pavilion and assistant executive director of the Providence (R.I.) Civic Center, now Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Abate got his start in the industry in 1979 as a box office manager and event coordinator at New Haven (Conn.) Coliseum.
