Mike Cross (pictured), the $400-million facility’s general manager, brings 35 years of industry experience to Hard Rock Park, having assembled management teams for the opening of major Californian parks Magic Mountain and Great America. He has also held senior level positions at Sea World San Diego, Universal Studios Japan, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Busch Entertainment Corporation.

Cross’s team at Hard Rock Park will include Doug Mangino, senior vice-president for sponsorship and licensing, and Kerry Graves, who assumes the title of vice-president marketing and sales. Most recently Mangino served as vice-president of merchandise and licensing at Hard Rock Cafe International and before that worked for Disney Consumer Products. Graves, meanwhile, has held several senior marketing positions with attractions such as American Classic Voyages and Sam Houston Race Park, and also Busch Entertainment Corporation.

Hard Rock Park’s vice-president of park operations will be John Riggleman, ex-Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Sea World Orlando, Cedar Point and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. After a career managing acts such as Siegfried and Roy, the Ice Follies and Holiday On Ice, Martin Durham will serve as the park’s vice-president of entertainment.

A Myrtle Beach native, Bonita Lloyd will become vice-president of human resources and begin the search for more 2,000-plus employees Hard Rock Park will need to open and operate. Fresh from 16 years with Paramount Parks, Jason Weatherford will serve as vice-president of merchandise.

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