Anyone who has lived in the Huntington region long enough has had an unforgettable experience at the Marshall Health Network Arena. For some, those experiences have shaped their lives in incredible ways. 

“I think my very first concert ever was in this building,” said Christin Fiedler, MHNA Director of Marketing. “I still have the ticket and it's hanging up in my office. It was Three Doors Down, and it kind of sparked the big, long story of how I ended up in this industry to begin with. I realized I want to give this back to other people, and this building started that whole journey.”

The downtown Huntington complex has hosted thousands of events in its 49-year history. From massive rock concerts and local business expos, to monster truck rallies and punk rock flea markets, the Marshall Health Network Arena and Convention Center has served as an entertainment mecca for the Tri-State region for nearly five decades. 

“I had an old boss who used to say that we're in the memory making business,” said new General Manager Michael Sullivan. “At the end of the day, that’s important. People need to be able to come out and enjoy themselves and take some load off of life, a little refuge for a couple hours.” 

Creating those experiences for the community is the driving force behind the Marshall Health Network Arena team. Each event requires months of preparation and planning, plus a diverse and skilled crew capable of executing at a high level in numerous different facets of the industry. 

“There are a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes,” said Sullivan. “The show that you get you come to enjoy for three hours, we've been working on for six months, and some of us have been here for 15 hours that day. It's a lot of work to put on a three-hour concert, but that's what we love to do. We love to host events and we love to welcome people through the front doors and give them a great experience to take away.” 

For Sullivan, leading the team at MHNA is the culmination of many years of hard work himself. Starting his career at the Citizens Business Bank Arena (now Toyota Arena) in Ontario, California, he learned the industry for four years until he moved to Louisville, KY to be closer to family. While in Louisville, he transitioned to an event manager role at the KFC Yum Center, Louisville's largest event and arena facility, where he worked for nearly 11 years. At the Yum Center, Sullivan completed the executive leadership development program at Legend’s Global, and when the opportunity to lead the Marshall Health Network Arena arrived, he jumped at the chance. 

“I felt like it was time for me to take the next step,” he said. “Huntington's been great. The people are incredibly welcoming. The city is beautiful. The people are kind. And they seem to care about this community. I know people in this building and surrounding this building care about our success at the Marshall Health Network Arena.”

That success doesn’t come easy in the volatile entertainment industry. With macroeconomic factors constantly affecting things like touring schedules, ticket prices, and expendable personal income, venues have to be more creative and adaptable than ever. Thankfully, MHNA is well equipped to handle the ever-changing business. 

“I think that's one of our strong points,” said Emily Conzett, MHN Convention Center Sales & Event Manager. “We are one whole facility, and we have the Convention Center attached to the arena, but the arena can also be extremely flexible. You can push all the seats back and put a bunch of volleyball courts out, and have a volleyball tournament. We have the high school state wrestling tournament. There are a lot of opportunities to do things that people might not think of.”

Variety is crucial for the goals of the MHNA team. While most know the arena for concerts, the venue is also hosting unique events like the Woman Warriors Summit, The Hillbilly Bash Demolition Derby, and the 22nd Annual Tumble in the Jungle Gymnastics Competition. On the Convention Center side, the West Virginia Reptile Expo returns, as well as The Books & Booze Adult Book Fair. 

“I'm super excited about that,” said Conzett. ”It’s a vendor event like the Scholastic Book Fair from when we were kids, but there will be alcohol available.”

A diverse calendar not only provides more options for entertainment, but also helps impact a much larger piece of the community. Last weekend, the arena hosted Yoga on the Plaza with the Compass Program, a wellness program founded by the City of Huntington for first responders. This community-driven, community-impact approach is echoed by everyone at the Marshall Health Network Arena. 

“We're having weddings, reunions, and homecoming events,” said Marisa Milum, Assistant General Manager. “We're pushing to bring in more business into the convention center with fun events like that because it is a community space, and we want to partner with local businesses and find ways to work together and collaborate.”

While expos and sports tournaments bring in a wide variety of attendees across many demographics, the Marshall Health Network Arena is largely known to music fans as the premiere concert venue in the Tri-State region, and for good reason. In the last five decades, under various names, the arena has hosted an incredible number of top-shelf music acts in every conceivable genre. From heavy metal legends like Slayer and Korn to country rock superstars like Sturgill Simpson, Alabama, and Ella Langley, the list of notable artists to grace the MHNA stage is beyond impressive. With upcoming shows like Mercy Me, Hudson Westbrook, and the recently announced mega-rock show featuring Staind, Seether, Hoobastank, and Hinder, the arena is well-positioned to remain a music-lover mecca and a major economic driver for the entire region. 

“The success of the arena also helps downtown,” said Milum. “It helps local businesses, it helps restaurants, it increases foot traffic. We're giving people reasons to come downtown and enjoy our spaces. It's a continuation of Huntington becoming a destination City.”

The positive financial impact of the arena on the Huntington region is palpable. At any given event, hundreds, if not thousands, of attendees spread their economic footprint throughout the city. And while the business side of the entertainment industry is crucial to the long-term success of any venue, there is certainly a deeper, more personal impact places like the Marshall Health Network Arena have on communities. 

“One of my most memorable times was seeing Sturgill Simpson with my daughter,” said Milum. “We just came to a point where we both could enjoy the same show at the same time, and it was awesome. Ultimately, you want to make money, but in the grand scheme of things, you want to provide a place for those life-changing moments.”

For nearly 50 years, the Marshall Health Network Arena has been providing those life-changing moments for the Huntington region. For 30 of those years, Sherry Sias-Lyell, Finance & Human Resources Manager, has been there singing along behind the scenes. Through three decades, numerous name changes, and countless concerts, Sherry has become affectionately known as the Godmother of the Arena. 

“They’ll probably have to carry me out of here,” Sherry said with a laugh. “I’m very proud of this place. It has come a long way.” 

To view the entire calendar of events at the Marshall Health Network Arena, visit https://www.mhnarena.com/events and be sure to check out the Jewel City Club, an exclusive VIP upgrade package that offers a truly unique event experience. 

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