Lance Sterling information

Lance Sterling is an American entrepreneur and live entertainment venue owner who partnered early on with the House of Blues and its co-founder, Issac Tigrett. During his time at the House of Blues, Sterling helped the company expand from 3 venues to over 10, including those in top markets such as Las Vegas,^[1] Orlando, and Chicago. Sterling also owned and partnered with House of Blues to open the House of Blues Atlanta inside the Atlanta Baptist Tabernacle building in 1996.^{[citation needed]} He was tasked with getting the space renovated and opened in under 60 days, which was accomplished when the venue opened in July 1996 for the 1996 Summer Olympics.^[2] Later when House Of Blues backed away from the Atlanta venue, Sterling put an additional investment into the venue - renaming it The Tabernacle (named by Rolling Stone and USA Today as one of the best venues in the United States)^[3][4] and continuing to run it fully under his own banner. Under Sterling's direction, the Tabernacle hosted Tyler Perry's first successful stage production, "I Know I've Been Changed," in 1998.^[5] Sterling sold the venue to SFX Entertainment, Inc. in 1999.^[6]

Sterling is currently the owner of The Canyon Club Agoura Hills, The Rose in Pasadena and The Canyon Santa Clarita.^[7][8] Most recently opened in April 2019, Sterling opened a Canyon in the Inland Empire called The Canyon Montclair. This 1,500-seat club is located in Montclair, CA.^[9][10] He also operates the Saban Theatre concert venue in Beverly Hills, California and as well the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center. He also produces concerts at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai and the Starlight Bowl in Burbank.^[11] Rock, country, jazz and comedy heroes of the baby-boomer generation frequent his venues, as well as ‘80s one-hit wonders and the occasional punk show with a mosh pit of young people^[12] Sterling’s venues also host a wide range of private events such as mitzvahs, corporate parties, and weddings.

As music is becoming more corporate, large concert operators sometimes institute radius clauses in performers’ contracts that prohibit them from playing at independent venues within a certain distance of the corporate-owned locations. Sterling has countered with a strategy of trying to build up enough venues so he can offer musicians a regional circuit, and it’s working so well he has plans to extend the reach of his venues even further in the near future.^[13]

Since expanding into the Southern California market, approximately 2.5 million people have streamed through the venues doors this year to see notable artists and groups like B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Ray Davies, Etta James, Heart, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Mary Chapin Carpenter, local boys Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Eddie Money Stone Temple Pilots, Frankie Valli, Paul Anka, Rick Springfield, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo and many, many others.^[14]

Sterling is also involved in the Fox Sports Grill chain and owned Canyon Club venues in Scottsdale, Arizona and Las Vegas.^[15] Recently, Sterling bought the rights to Los Angeles food franchise CaliBurger and opened locations adjacent to The Canyon in Santa Clarita and The Rose in Pasadena. ^[16] Sterling plans to add a CaliBurger in the rest of his venues as well.