VenuesNow 2026 All-Star Honoree: Kelly McCormick

Kelly McCormick
Senior VP of Programming, OVG West
Oak View Group

BEST SHOW YOU SAW THIS YEAR?
“Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band’s ‘Land of Hope & Dreams Tour’ at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.”

Kelly McCormick, who was recently promoted to Senior Vice President of Programming, OVG West at Oak View Group (Pollstar’s parent company), points to what OVG has accomplished with its partners at Player 15 Group at Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. “They are the epicenter of sports & entertainment in the fifth largest city in the country,” she says of the group, headed by Suns owner Mat Ishbia.

“We’ve had a lot of success with multiple nights in the venue in the past year with Billie Eilish, Nate Bargatze, Tate McRae, Mana & more. It’s always special to host iconic artists like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks & Andrea Bocelli like we have this year.”

The General Health Of The Live Market
“Touring volume feels up. We’re seeing Latin coming back more. K-pop continues to expand into more markets with new artists touring in arenas and stadiums. We are learning a lot this year on pricing thresholds.”

How OVG Has Improved Hospitality & Overall The Fan Experience
“The Ra Ra Room at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix is unparalleled venue hospitality. You completely transport to a luxurious, timeless private restaurant on the event level of the arena.”

On The Latest Tech
“On the booking side, continuing to learn about existing and added features to collect and utilize data in our calendar management and ticketing platforms. In venue, we have seen impactful guest experience improvements with new technology like Evolv (frictionless security screening) and Fortress (ticket scanning pedestals).”

A Green Goal
“Sustainability is at the core of our company’s values, and we work to implement these resources across our venues through our GOAL program, as it is an incredibly important initiative to us, our partners, artists, and fans.”