Experience That Shows Up When It Counts

We are operators who have opened complex entertainment venues, developed and stabilized organizations, and guided teams through the moments that define reputation. We bring that real-world expertise into planning, team-building, opening, and the critical months that follow.

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How We Work
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Logos representative of partners’ prior work

Experience That Shows Up When It Counts

Our Next Level Ops team members have led operations for major venues, including performing arts centers, entertainment centers, sports complexes, touring productions and public assembly venues across the country. That experience informs every recommendation we make and every team we help build.

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Phil leads diverse venue development projects and operations across public and private sectors, bridging gaps between owner representation, venue design and strategic programming for nationally significant cultural projects.

Phil Jordan, CVE, Partner

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Drawing on experience from Disney and performing arts centers, Ken specializes in re-engineering operations to optimize systems and flow for audiences, artists and touring companies

Ken Harris, Partner

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Ross is an expert in opening and operating complex performing arts venues, with a leadership portfolio that includes executive roles at the Kennedy Center and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Ross Richards, Partner

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Eccles Theater - Salt Lake City | Pelli Clarke & Partners / HKS Architects

Most venues prepare for opening night. Few prepare for what follows.

Operations teams are often hired late in the process. Systems aren’t tested. Roles are unclear and decisions are made without the operator’s perspective. When that happens, stress rises, efficiency drops, turnover occurs and momentum is lost.

Next Level Ops exists to close that gap. We embed early, help shape the plan, build the teams and support operations through opening night and beyond.

Clients Work With Next Level Ops to…

  • Align operations to mission, culture, and scale

  • Open with fewer surprises and tighter execution

  • Make stronger operational and financial decisions

  • Prepare teams to perform confidently from day one

  • Build operations that hold up over time

A Phased Approach Built for Operations

  • This is where much of the value is created.

    We help define operating models early enough to influence strategic outcomes from effective designs. Staffing, labor approach, guest and artist journeys, systems readiness, and leadership structure are established while change is still possible.

  • As design becomes reality, we translate intent into function. This includes developing operational guidelines, staffing plans, commissioning coordination, training programs, and soft-opening preparation.

    The objective is readiness.

  • The early months reveal what plans cannot.

    We work alongside leadership to observe, listen and refine. Guest feedback, artist experience, staff input, and operational data inform adjustments that stabilize operations and build confidence.

What We Deliver

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Venue and facility operations evaluations

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Operations team design and staffing plans

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Guidelines and strategies for training

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Guest journey vision and implementation

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Support soft and grand opening

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Operation’s financial planning structure

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Developing venue partner relationships

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Post-opening internal surveys, audits and coaching

Common Questions

  • As early as possible. We are most effective when engaged early during the planning and design process.

  • Yes. For existing venue operations, we are an external resource for reflection and new strategies.

  • We help build new, or support existing, operations teams. We are the venue owners’ operations consultants who provide strategy and resources for the best operational decisions.

  • Each project is unique in scale and complexity. Timelines vary based on scope of work, facility size, project schedules and how early we are engaged.

Let’s talk about what’s next

Whether you are launching a new venue or refining an existing operation, we welcome an exploratory conversation.