Matt Homan started his career in the arena business at age 16, working part time at a Philadelphia box office. He climbed the ranks after graduating from the University of South Carolina, setting records in group sales in Philadelphia before becoming an event manager in Trenton, N.J., and director of event services in Columbia, S.C., where he was later promoted to assistant general manager. But when Homan was promoted last month to general manager of the Iowa Events Center, it was the realization of a long-held goal. At 28, he’s one of the youngest arena general managers in the country. But having taken on nearly every task there is in the arena industry, his new job title hardly intimidates him. He describes himself as “a laid-back guy” who is excited about the challenges of managing the facility and the thought of raising his young family – wife, Paige, and 9-month-old daughter Caroline – in Iowa.

Why did you get into the arena and convention center industry as a teenager?

My family grew up in the box office industry. My father was a regional general manager for Ticketmaster for about 10 to 15 years, and my mother worked in the box office as a ticket seller in the (Wachovia) Spectrum for about 20 years. I grew up knowing I wanted to get into this industry. I tried to get my foot in the door and learn all the different things I could do.

So while some of your friends were working at fast-food joints, you selected a part-time job with definite career goals in mind?

I did. I was actually the youngest member of the Philadelphia ticket sellers union, so I was fortunate enough that it paid very well. But I was more motivated for what I wanted to be doing in life.

Did you envision yourself someday becoming a general manager?

I went to school knowing I wanted to be on the arena side and came out of school setting five- and 10-year goals for myself. I wanted to be one of the youngest general managers in the industry and had a five-year goal of being a general manager in the industry. I didn’t hit it in five years obviously, which is OK. But I hit it in seven, so I’m doing all right with that.

After spending your whole life on the East Coast, how did you feel about moving to Iowa?

It was exciting. It was a great opportunity to come here with four great venues like we have and being able to make a difference and make a change and to try to build on such a great facility that Polk County has built here and to try to make it one of the premier facilities in the Midwest. My wife and I always knew there was a move coming sooner or later. My former boss, the general manager, was doing a great job, so we knew for me to move up we were going to need to move somewhere.

How is life as a new dad?

It’s wonderful. It’s a little tough right now because I miss her. They’re moving out here in about two and a half weeks. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now because we have the day they’re coming out and our house is almost done.

How do you unwind after a long day?

I work a lot of crazy hours and my wife is very patient and understanding with me. I try to spend time with my family and do things they want to do. I like to play golf. I’m not a very good golfer at all. You’d think after living in South Carolina long enough that I would be. I’m also a big sports fan – college sports and professional sports.

What are your favorite teams?

Being from Philadelphia I’m a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. Then from college, I’ll be fair, I’m a South Carolina Gamecock fan. We’re not very good, but I’ve been faithful. In the three football seasons I was there in college, I think we won two games. Now I’m deciding whether I’m going to be an Iowa fan or an Iowa State fan, so that could be a tough crossroads.

You consider yourself a food connoisseur?

I do like cooking. Whenever I make it home early, I always try to cook dinner for me and my wife. I get out of here and sometimes I’m just mindless and don’t want to make any decisions and I can just go home and relax the brain and veg out. But the problem is, how many days am I home for dinner? That’s another story. We like to go out to eat a lot and we like to take our daughter with us. We take her to all different kinds of restaurants, and it prepares her for it later so when you do want to take her out somewhere, she’s not chaotic or spastic or anything.

Are you beginning to adjust to life in Iowa?

It hasn’t been too much of an adjustment because the people have been great to me. Everyone has been really nice through the transition and helping me with anything I need. I think it’s a beautiful city and I love being here. But Saturday, when it was 11 degrees, was probably one of the colder days I’d felt in a long time, and I hadn’t seen snow in a couple of years. But that’s OK. I look forward to having winters again.

But with the girls’ state basketball tournament coming up next week, are you ready for a snowstorm?

If I have to be outside shoveling snow to get people in here, we’ll be ready for it. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.