Howard Handler, the president who has led Detroit live events powerhouse 313 Presents since late 2019, is stepping away from the job, with his final day set for March 31. His run included steering the company through COVID shutdowns and then helping bring major touring acts roaring back to Detroit stages. Handler says that once he hands things off, he plans to focus on community work and mentorship.
Departure details
The Oakland Press reports that Handler, who has led 313 Presents since late 2019, told staff that the job he's occupied since October of 2019 "has been one of the great professional honors of my career," and confirmed that his last day will be March 31. According to the outlet, 313 Presents leadership thanked Handler for his years at the helm and framed the move as a planned transition that leaves the company in a strong position.
What he ran
As president, Handler oversaw booking, production and business operations for a six venue roster that includes Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, the Fox Theatre, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre. Those responsibilities and the full venue list are laid out on the organization’s leadership page, according to 313 Presents.
Accomplishments and the Pine Knob return
Handler guided 313 Presents through the pandemic shutdown period and the complicated process of restoring touring to metro Detroit stages, then played a role in the decision to bring back the Clarkston amphitheater’s classic Pine Knob Music Theatre name in 2022. PR Newswire noted that the rebrand lined up with the venue’s 50th anniversary and the addition of new local sponsorships.
What’s next
Handler originally joined 313 Presents after being named president in late 2019, following a stretch in which Tom Wilson served as interim leader during the company’s launch. That transition and Wilson’s move into a President Emeritus role were detailed by 313 Presents at the time. For now, the company says it will manage a planned leadership handoff, and no successor has been named.
Why this matters for Detroit
313 Presents, a joint venture between Olympia Entertainment and Palace Sports & Entertainment that controls many of the region’s most prominent venues, is a central force in Detroit’s live music economy. A change at the top lands on the radar of national promoters, artists routing tours through southeast Michigan and the local workers who keep those shows running. Sports Business Journal has highlighted the company’s outsized market influence and the weight that comes with its leadership lineup.
