Santiago Olea

General Manager at Coca-Cola Arena

Speaker

Santiago Olea has been appointed as the General Manager for Coca Cola Arena, Dubai, proudly managed by Legends Global. With over two decades of experience in the Entertainment, Sport, and Venue Operations industries, Santiago brings extensive international expertise, having worked across Asia, Europe, the USA, and particularly in the Middle East. His regional experience spans Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and most recently, Saudi Arabia, where he has been based in Riyadh for the past few years. Santiago is a results-driven leader known for his hands-on approach to Venue Management, emphasizing health & safety, customer experience, and excellence in commercial, financial, and event planning operations. Dedicated to fostering high-performance teams, Santiago believes that behind every thriving venue is a strong, well-developed team. Starting his career in Staging & Production, Santiago has grown into a key figure in major global events, working with prestigious companies like IMG and Live Nation, contributing to the success of renowned productions including Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, Kevin Hart, and Black Pink.

Specializes in bridging the gap between construction insights and elite venue operations for major leisure and sports destinations. Demonstrated success in steering organizations through thousands of event executions, with a steady focus on boosting revenue, managing expenditures, and refining the customer journey to ensure peak operational readiness and commercial viability.