Live Nation has appointed Chris Marking as executive vice president, international venue sponsorship.
Marking will lead the venue sponsorship programme, including naming rights, founding partnerships, venue network deals and overall strategy across its international venue business outside of North America.
With new venues underway such as Cardiff Arena and Munich Arena and additional venues across numerous territories in development up to 2031, Live Nation is expanding a global venue network that reaches millions of fans each year.
“That scale is driving increased interest from brands seeking long-term presence tied to live events,” said a statement. “Venue naming partnerships place brands across city skylines and hundreds of event days annually, with visibility tied to on-sales, ticketing, and the physical spaces fans return to repeatedly.”
Marking will work with venue development teams from the earliest stages of planning and construction, integrating partnerships directly into how each new venue is designed and experienced, as well as evolving partnerships in existing and operating venues.
Live Nation has accelerated its global naming rights and venue partnerships momentum over the past two years, securing a wave of new partnerships across international markets including BNZ Theatre (New Zealand), Veikkaus Arena (Finland), AFAS Dome (Belgium), Vive Claro Stadium (Colombia), GNP Stadium of Guadalajara (Mexico) and multiple venues in Canada (RBC Amphitheatre, TD Coliseum, Rogers Stadium).
Strategic brand partnerships are a core part of how we’re building our venue business internationally
Russell Wallach
“Strategic brand partnerships are a core part of how we’re building our venue business internationally,” said Russell Wallach, Live Nation’s global president of media & sponsorship. “Live music is becoming more central to how people plan their lives. Fans are traveling to these venues and returning over time, creating a consistent platform with a new audience every night, depending on the artist. Chris understands how to build those partnerships so they work for both the fans and the venues over time.”
Marking, based in London, has joined Live Nation from AEG, where he spent nearly two decades working across venue, tour and festival partnerships, including The O2 in London, Uber Arena in Berlin and Accor Arena in Paris.
“The best partnerships are built into the venue from the start,” said Chris Marking, EVP, international venue sponsorship, Live Nation. “It starts with understanding how fans move through the space and what matters to them in each city, because what resonates with fans in one place won’t feel right in another. When that’s done well, brands become part of the moments fans remember and share, creating a level of connection that builds with every show.”
“We’re developing world-class venues with unique design, innovative technology and unparalleled sustainability, built around how fans in each market experience live music,” said Tom Lynch, president of venues, EMEA, Live Nation. “It’s an exciting time for brands to play a role in that experience. Bringing partners in earlier means they’re part of it from the start, not added later. Delighted to have Chris on board to help us do that as we grow.”
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