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New Management At XL Center Isn’t Ruling Out Layoffs

by KENNETH R. GOSSELIN

May 06, 2013

The new management of the XL Center in downtown Hartford plans to keep a large percentage of the venue’s existing workforce on staff, but isn’t ruling out some layoffs.

“There could be layoffs, but we have no way of knowing that until we get in there and assess the operation,” Lane Miller, vice president, human resources, at Global told me today. “Currently we have no plans for layoffs.”

Miller, in an email, said: “All current employees at the XL Center have been invited to apply for positions with Global Spectrum. We have already met individually with all of the full-time staff.”

Late last week, the current XL manager, AEG Management CT, filed a required notice with the state labor department that 745 jobs would be affected by the change, effective Sept. 1.

When Global takes over management of a venue, it is typical that there is between five and 15 percent turnover, either by bringing Global employees into high level positions or by some workers deciding not to apply and take jobs elsewhere, Miller said.

The majority of the workers at the facility are members of AFCSME, Local 1716 and IATSE, Local 84. They include custodians, stage hands, ticket takers and concession workers.

Negotiations are under way to move up the effective date of the management change from Sept. 1 to July 1. Global would then assume management of the XL Center at the same time as The Stadium at Rentschler Field.