By Teresa Shum
Emmanuel “Manny” Thomas has been named General Manager of Hard Rock Live at Seminole/Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood (FL). In his new role, Thomas will oversee and manage all venue operations for the 6,500-seat venue.
Since its 2019 expansion, Hard Rock Live has amplified South Florida’s entertainment offerings with headlining acts such as Guns N’ Roses, Elton John, Billy Joel, Chris Rock, and Metallica.
Thomas joins Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood from the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State 
Warriors, where he was Vice President of Event Services. There, he was an integral part of the Chase Center’s grand opening in 2019, navigating 15 large-scale arena events in the building’s first 30 days, and the Golden State Warrior’s NBA World Championship during the 2021-2022 season.
With more than 25 years of entertainment and sports experience, Thomas got his start in 1996 as a ball boy for the New York Knicks before quickly working his way up through the organization, transitioning to Building Operations, Event Services and finally, as Director of Event Productions. During his time at the renowned Madison Square Garden, he produced more than 500 live sporting, entertainment, catering functions, and special events annually.
Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Administration from St. John’s University and a master’s in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg University.
Teresa Shum is Director of Public Relations for Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.
