- Emailriggs.44@osu.edu
Xen Riggs serves in various roles at Ohio State, including Vice President of Business Advancement, Chief Operating Officer of Athletics, Associate Vice President of Student Life, Chief Executive Officer of Columbus Arena Management (CAM) and President of Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment (CASE).
As VP of Business Advancement, Xen oversees the management and operation of the Blackwell Inn (a full-service hotel on campus), the Fawcett Center (a full-service conference center and office tower), the Schottenstein Center (a 20-000 seat multi-purpose venue that is home to OSU men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and men’s ice hockey, and hosts a variety of concerts and touring events), Scarlet and Gray Experiences (entity designed to bring a variety of events to campus), and brand engagement, services, and partnerships (BESP), which includes campus-wide trademark and licensing, affinity partnerships, and sponsorship.
As COO of Athletics, Xen oversees the business office, athletic facilities, capital projects, event services, IT, communications and is the primary liaison for major third-party contracts.
As Associate VP of Student Life, Xen consults on a variety of projects and initiatives, and advocates for Student Life in support of their mission.
As the result of a unique public-private partnership with the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, Nationwide Insurance, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and The Ohio State University, CAM and CASE manage and operate Nationwide Arena, a 20,000-seat multi-purpose arena and home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, in downtown Columbus that also hosts a variety of concerts and touring events). Xen oversees the operation as CEO of CAM and President of CASE. In addition, in partnership with the Wexner Center for the Arts, CASE also manages and operates Mershon Auditorium, a 2,600-seat theatre on the Ohio State campus. Lastly, CASE also books national touring events at iconic Ohio Stadium.
Xen originally came to Ohio State in 1997 as General Manager of the Schottenstein Center, where he oversaw the design and construction of the venue. Since that time, his roles and responsibilities have adapted to the needs of university leadership. Previously, Xen has overseen Ohio Union, campus dining, student activities, Greek life, the Gateway Film Center, and the Drake Performance and Event Center. He also helped build the Ohio Union and Campus Rec facilities.
Before coming to Ohio State, Xen managed Assembly Hall (now State Farm Center) at the University of Illinois, a 15,544-seat arena in Champaign, IL. He also managed Kellogg Arena (a 8,000-seat multipurpose arena in Battle Creek, MI), Braden Auditorium (a 3,600-seat theater at Illinois State University in Normal, IL), Reardon Auditorium (a 2,200-seat theater at Anderson University in Anderson, IN), and with Whirlwind Productions working with luminaries such as Bob Hope, George Burns and Red Skelton.
Xen holds bachelor’s degrees in business management and speech/drama with a minor in sociology from Anderson University in Indiana.