MANCHESTER: After reaching his silver anniversary at one of New Hampshire’s most popular entertainment venues, Tim Bechert has left his role as General Manager of SNHU Arena. Bechert, who led the facility since its opening in 2001, is transitioning to focus on community-oriented endeavors.
“It has been an incredible honor to be part of this building from day one,” said Bechert. “SNHU Arena is more than a venue — it’s a gathering place that helped bring a city back to life. I’m proud of what we accomplished together, but it’s time to step down.”
Bechert guided the arena to consistently becoming one of the top performing facilities under 15,000 seats in the country. The arena is widely credited with sparking a renaissance in downtown Manchester, helping the area thrive as a vibrant hub of activity and business growth. As one recent example, according to the Manchester Economic Development Office, the three-day Phish concert weekend in June of 2025 brought nearly $15 million into the city’s local economy from visitor spending and business activity.
“I have so many fond memories, too many to name really, but it has been an amazing experience helping provide the backdrop to so many wonderful moments for the millions of people who have passed through the arena’s doors,” says Bechert. “We launched with Aerosmith in 2001, which is a tough act to follow. But over 25 years, I am hoping we have given this community an endless number of great moments and reasons to come to Manchester for fun and entertainment.”
Bechert also expressed his sincere gratitude to the City of Manchester for their continued support and partnership and to the SNHU Arena staff, whose dedication, professionalism, and passion helped make the building what it is today.
“What has made this arena so special is the partnership between the city and the people who ran it every day.” Bechert said. “It was built by a city that believed in what this arena could mean for Manchester and a staff who became a true community, united by a commitment to excellence, to the city, and to one another. I’m excited to focus my energy on giving back to the community that has given my family and me so much.”