BancorpSouth Arena Director Lands National Honor

PRESS RELEASE

Todd Hunt, executive director of BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center, has earned
national attention in the Facilities & Event Management 2015-2016 Booking Guide.
Hunt, who has been at the helm of the arena and conference center since 2007, was one of twenty
facility executives recognized by the publication as earning the most Luminary Awards, based on
nominations last year from booking agents, talent buyers, promoters and other facility managers.
The guidebook noted that the 10,000-seat arena attracts about 300,000 guests each year to events
ranging from Jason Aldean, Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, Elton John and Kid Rock.
Under Hunt’s direction, he has increased concern bookings 200 percent, tickets sold by 160
percent, gross ticket sales by 230 percent, total venue attendance by 50 percent, total revenues by
50 percent and cash reserves by 700 percent, while delivering a budget surplus each year.
Hunt was general manager of the Tupelo Coliseum from 1997-99, where he negotiated the first
venue naming rights deal in the state of Mississippi and brought professional sports to the area
for the first time.
From 1999-2007, Hunt was director of Humphrey Coliseum and Athletic Concessions for
Mississippi State University.