Philip Anschutz has tapped another high-profile Denver business leader to manage his growing entertainment empire.
Lisa Herzlich, marketing director for Cherry Creek Shopping Center, has been named senior vice president and managing director of L.A. Live, an entertainment district being developed in Los Angeles by AEG, formerly Anschutz Entertainment Group.
The $2.5 billion, 4 million-square- foot complex is under construction near Staples Center, a sports and entertainment arena owned by Anschutz.
The property will include a mix of entertainment venues, restaurants, shops, offices and residences along with TV and radio studios. It is expected to open next fall.
“L.A. Live is a groundbreaking project that is really going to revitalize downtown Los Angeles,” Herzlich said Monday. “This an opportunity for me to work on a legacy project.”
Herzlich, 52, will oversee operations, including sponsor and tenant relations, booking of programming and special events, and community relations for the development. She will also oversee security, parking and maintenance for the project’s common areas.
Herzlich has spent 14 years as marketing director for the Cherry Creek mall. She will remain in that position through the holiday shopping season and assume her duties at L.A. Live in January.
Herzlich’s announcement follows news that Anschutz has snagged concert promoter Chuck Morris from Live Nation to run the Denver office of AEG. Live Nation is the nation’s largest concert promoter and the biggest player in the Denver market. AEG is the country’s second-largest promoter.
AEG lured Morris’ former co-workers Don Strasburg and Brent Fedrizzi from Live Nation in August.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center manager Nick LeMasters said Herzlich has left an indelible mark on the mall, its ownership company Taubman Centers Inc. and Denver. She led efforts to increase the mall’s community outreach and spearheaded the Mask Project, which has raised more than $3 million for the Hospice of Metro Denver.
Herzlich also led efforts to market the mall to tourists and to create exclusive sponsorship opportunities within the mall. Stapleton now sponsors the kids’ play area, and Murray Motor Imports sponsors the valet- parking program.
Other Taubman properties have adopted similar sponsorship programs.
Herzlich said she wasn’t looking for another job when she received a call from Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG.
“I have had my dream job for the past 14 years,” she said, but the new job will provide an opportunity to expand her skills.
Herzlich and Leiweke had previously crossed paths when he was president of the Denver Nuggets. Herzlich will report to him and to Ted Tanner, AEG’s vice president of real estate.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-954-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
