COLUMBUS, OH (CelebrityAccess) – Judi Ludovico has been appointed the new Director of Booking for Columbus Arena Sports & Entertainment (CASE). Ludovico is a seasoned professional in the live entertainment industry, with a career that spans roles as a booker, promoter, and producer. Her most recent position was Vice President of Business Development at IMG, where she led the creation of new events for the Arts and Entertainment North America division, including winter experiences, exhibitions, and music festivals.
Before that, Ludovico served as Head of Entertainment for Atlantic City, NJ tourism, responsible for producing and promoting beach concerts, culinary festivals, and sporting events. Earlier in her career, she was Director of Productions Programming for Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE), managing routing and booking for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular arena and theater tours.
Aaron Thomas, CASE Chief Entertainment Officer, “We’re thrilled for Judi to join the team at CASE. Her wealth of experience and strong relationships will complement our organization as we continue to grow our footprint in the central Ohio market.”
CASE oversees the Schottenstein Center and Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Nationwide Arena is home to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State University campus hosts Buckeye men’s basketball, women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey. CASE also presents and promotes events at Mershon Auditorium and Ohio Stadium. The organization’s public-private partnership gives way to an innovative solution that presents a unified face in Columbus for event promoters, producers, agents and artists, elevating Columbus as a premier destination for sports and live entertainment and serving as a significant economic driver for central Ohio.
Ohio Stadium, affectionately known as “The Shoe,” has become a significant venue for entertainment events, drawing attendees nationwide. The stadium hosted a record-breaking five performances in a single week in 2023, including shows by Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks, Mötley Crüe, and two nights of Morgan Wallen. It is also the home of the annual Buckeye Country Superfest and has recently hosted unique events like Upper Deck Golf. Upcoming events include a soccer match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City on August 3, 2024, and the NHL Stadium Series game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings in March 2025.
Mershon Auditorium, a 2,700-seat theater on the Ohio State University campus, is now under CASE’s management, initiating CASE’s resurgence in entertainment bookings and hosts a variety of acts, including Janelle Monáe, Bobby Weir, Ringo Starr, John Oliver, Ben Platt, Dancing with the Stars, Parliament Funk, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Cirque du Soleil.
