The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating and advocating for critical issues and inspiring professional growth within the venue management industry, announced Orlando Venues Chief V enues Officer Allen Johnson as the recipient of the esteemed 2025 Foundation Legacy Award. The award recognizes Johnson’s extraordinary contributions, sustained excellence and profound influence in the venue management industry. Johnson will be formally honored during IAVM’s VenueConnect Annual Conference and Trade Show, July 28-31 in New Orleans, LA.

Johnson has served as Chief Venues Officer for the City of Orlando’s Venues Department since 2004, overseeing the leading sports and entertainment destinations in the region, including Kia Center, Camping World Stadium, Tinker Field, Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Mennello Museum of American Art. Under Johnson’s leadership, Kia Center has received IAVM’s Venue Excellence Award and was named Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal.

As a visionary with over four decades of venue management experience, Johnson has been instrumental in elevating Orlando’s status as the premier destination for sports and entertainment, catalyzing economic development and creating legendary experiences. Additionally, he has been pivotal in orchestrating the $500 million design and construction of the award-winning Kia Center (known as Amway Center at the time) and $267 million in construction upgrades of Camping World Stadium. Johnson’s career has been marked by a series of notable achievements, including being awarded the Victim Service Center of Central Florida MVP Award, Downtowner of the Year by the Downtown Orlando Partnership and the SPORTYS Award for Central Florida’s Sports Executive of the Year by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.

A committed mentor and industry advocate, Johnson has helped shape the careers of countless rising professionals through his engagement with IAVM, where he has served in multiple leadership roles, including Chair of the IAVM Foundation Trustees, Arena Committee, Mentor Program, Board of Governors – SES Program and Governance Committee. Locally, he has served as the Past President of the Florida Venue Managers Association (FVMA), DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF National Advisory Board, Victim Services Center of Central Florida Board member, Runway to Hope Board member, Visit Orlando Steering Committee (Destination Tourism Master Plan) and the Downtown Orlando Partnership.