OVG & ACC Liverpool Join Forces In UK

Oak View Group (OVG) and ACC Liverpool, operator of M&S Bank Arena, announced a strategic partnership. The partnership sees OVG working with ACC Liverpool to help program the 11,000-capacity arena and drive new commercial partnerships for the venue. OVG is parent company to Pollstar.

One goal of the partnership is to bring even more international talent to England’s north. Co-op Live Manchester, OVG’s first arena outside the U.S., which is located about an hour’s drive away from M&S Bank Arena, has been leading the way, welcoming artists including Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Mumford & Sons in the last year.

Some of the more recent concert highlights at M&S Bank Arena Liverpool include a Oct. 7, 2025 show by Busted vs McFly, promoted by TEG Europe, which sold out 8,887 tickets for a $685,781 gross. The arena also hosted a sold-out WWE event in summer, Aug. 23, which moved 8,603 tickets, and grossed $1,037,390.

OVG’s commercial partnerships will support M&S Bank Arena to add partners that can help further drive the building’s commercial success fan experience.

Owned by Liverpool City Council, the M&S Bank Arena has recently completed a full redevelopment of its premium hospitality suites, unveiled during Peter Kay’s run of shows in October, as part of a wider program of venue enhancements.

The arena calendar in 2026 includes performances by Gorillaz, Richard Ashcroft, Yungblud, as well as legends like Barry Manilow and Paul Simon.

See: M&S Bank Arena Liverpool Unveils New Branding

Comments:

Gary Hutchinson, Executive Vice President – Global Touring & Content, OVG, “We’re delighted to be working together with the team at ACC Liverpool to create more opportunities for the M&S Bank Arena and the city, and help bring the biggest arena touring acts to Liverpool. We want to help deliver the vibrant, future-facing arena experience that this incredible city deserves.”

Ben Williams, Commercial and Business Development Director, ACC Liverpool Group, “Liverpool is a city that has always punched above its weight, and by partnering with OVG on the M&S Bank Arena, we are gaining a wealth of experience that will elevate our programming and commercial partnerships. We know that people who live in and visit this city love to go out, so we want to give them a bigger, better, more diverse calendar of sports and entertainment shows, and we’re excited to be working with the team at OVG to help realise these ambitions.”

Alex Reese, Commercial and Brand Strategy Director, OVG, “Liverpool is one of the world’s most iconic music destinations, and M&S Bank Arena sits right at the heart of that story. With such a diverse programme of events and audiences, we have an incredible opportunity to work with brand partners to enhance the in-venue experience and extend it beyond the show itself. We’re excited to be part of the future of this great arena and to help create even more memorable moments for fans.”

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