Private equity giant KKR is bringing in James Dolan’s former right-hand man to help bring more visitors to its Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards.
KKR announced Monday that it has hired former MSG Sports CEO and president Andrew Lastgarton as executive chairman of Hudson Yards Experience.
The edge extends 80 feet from 100 feetNumber 30 Hudson Yards Floor, Opened March 11, 2020 New York tourism industry officials said despite the spectacular views, it was a disappointment.
KKR owns most of the Hudson Yards Experience, which includes The Deck, City Climb (where you’re harnessed and led by a guide up the outside of the building) and Peak 101.st The restaurant and event space on the floor overlooks the Edge.
Related Companies also owns a stake in Hudson Yards Experience.
“We’re going to look at this differently,” Lustgarten told The Post. “There’s going to be a lot more programming.”
This includes holding the Fourth of July fireworks display from the Hudson River instead of the East River for the first time in several years.
Lustgarten had overseen the business side of the Knicks and Rangers since MSG separated its ownership of the arenas and cable television network from its sports teams in April 2020 until his departure at the end of 2022.
He brings on board Francesca Merlino, who spent seven years at MSG overseeing marketing for the Radio City Rockettes, as chief commercial officer, and former MSG veteran Joseph Whitman, who ran the Beacon Theatre, as general manager.
The company plans to hire Lustgarten as an adviser to help it make other sports and media investments, Lustgarten said.
KKR is the backer of Skydance Media, which has reportedly reached a merger agreement with Paramount Global.
