VenueConnect 2025

Adam Straight
Chief Operating Officer
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center


As Chief Operating Officer, Adam J. Straight manages plans and strategies for the Convention Center’s daily operations. Straight is currently overseeing all aspects of the Center’s $557 million Capital Improvement Plan, which includes interior modernizations, renovations to its 140 meeting rooms, restroom renovations, and a complete makeover of its exterior experience. The transformative project also includes a mixed-use entertainment district adjacent to the Convention Center that creates a new residential neighborhood and enhances the city’s destination appeal. Before joining the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Straight served as Senior Director of Campus Operations for the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) in Atlanta, Georgia, which includes the Georgia World Congress Center, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Centennial Olympic Park. Under his leadership, he and his team oversaw the management and execution of major events including NCAA Final Fours, the Super Bowl, and the College Football Playoff Championship. He was also integral to several major construction projects, serving as Executive in Charge/Owners Representative for Mercedes-Benz Stadium ($1.7 Billion), Centennial Olympic Park renovation ($29 Million), Exhibit Hall Expansion ($55 Million), and various capital improvements. Straight’s 20+ year career also includes four years as Director of Facility Operations at the Georgia Dome, which hosted hundreds of sporting events and concerts for approximately 1.9 million guests per year. He also spent 12 years at the University of Maryland, managing 14 athletic facilities with about 750,000 annual visitors, and led the planning and construction of a $13.5 million football stadium renovation.

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