Tom Paquette

Adjunct Professor
Department of Sport and Entertainment Management
College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

Biography

Tom Paquette is a 20-year veteran of the arena management industry. He was named Global Spectrum's General Manager of the University of South Carolina owned Colonial Center (now called Colonial Life Arena) in July, 2001. The Colonial Center, which opened in November 2002, quickly became the premier university arena in the United States and one of the most successful arenas in the southeast region of the United States.

The Colonial Center has hosted Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel & Elton John, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, Shania Twain, Cher, Prince, Bette Midler, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, several nationally televised events and nearly every major touring family show in North America. In its first three months of operations, the Colonial Center set South Carolina state attendance records for a basketball game and an indoor concert.

Previously, Paquette has held the positions of Assistant Arena Manager at the University of Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena and General Manager of the American Royal Center and the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO. After serving in Kansas City, Paquette was hired by Global Spectrum, a private facility management company, to open and manage the new Paul Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Prior to coming to Columbia, Paquette was the Director of Event Production at the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia, both owned by Comcast-Spectacor. The Wachovia Complex is home to the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers (NBA), Flyers (NHL), Phantoms (AHL), Kixx (Indoor Soccer), and Wings (Indoor Lacrosse).

Paquette is an active member of the International Association of Assembly Managers, serving on its Safety and Security Task Force.

Paquette serves as an adjunct faculty member in the University of South Carolina Department of Sport and Entertainment Management where he teaches courses in facility and event management.

Email: tompaq@mailbox.sc.edu
Office: 2012 Carolina Coliseum
Phone: (803) 777-4690
Fax: (803) 777-8788

Courses Taught:
SPTE 444 – Sport and Entertainment Event Management

SPTE 780 – Public Assembly Facility Operations and Procedures