As Executive Vice President of Venue Management for Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment), Jim Claffey oversees and drives all venue operations across the Company’s portfolio of venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre.
In this role, Mr. Claffey ensures MSG Entertainment’s venues deliver a world-class experience for our customers and partners, while overseeing all financial and operational matters, and other activities relating to the Company’s facilities. He is also responsible for driving growth initiatives within our venue operations.
Prior to joining MSG Entertainment in 2022, Mr. Claffey served for nearly 20 years as President of Local One, the premier stagehand union of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). In this role Mr. Claffey represented stagehand members at venues across New York City, including MSG Entertainment’s venues, as well as various Broadway theaters, opera houses, television studios, and other performance venues. As President, Mr. Claffey was also Chairman of Local One’s Executive Board and all Committees of Local One; a Trustee and Co-Chair of the Local One Pension, Welfare and Annuity Funds; and Co-Chair of the Local One New York City Stagehands Political Action Committee. In 2017, Mr. Claffey was also named International Vice President of IATSE.
Mr. Claffey began his career as an Officer of Local One in 1996, when he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees until being elected to the full-time position of Theatrical Business Manager in 1998. Prior to becoming an Officer, Mr. Claffey worked throughout the Local One jurisdiction as a member since 1982, including at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall.
Mr. Claffey has previously served as a member on The Actors Fund Executive Board; The Advisory Board of Spotlight on Broadway; the New York City Central Labor Council; and the New York State AFL-CIO Executive Committee.