Features
Oak View Group Launches International Business Based in London
OVG – Leading OVG International in London
From left: Jessica Koravos, co-chair of OVG International alongside Tim Leiweke (middle)and Brian Kabatznick, EVP business development & facilities
Oak View Group (OVG), the global venue development, advisory and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries, and Pollstar‘s parent company, announced the launch of OVG International in London today at the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).
Based in London, OVG International will be tasked with exploring arena and stadium development and partnership opportunities in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and is already in advanced discussions on a number of projects.
As part of its launch, the company announced the executive and non-executive appointments of some of the industry’s most experienced and respected leaders, including Jessica Koravos, co-chair of OVG International alongside Tim Leiweke; Sam Piccione III, president of OVG International; Mark Donnelly, COO; Brian Kabatznick, EVP business development & facilities; Marc-Elie Robert, SVP commercial; Martha Rolle, legal counsel as well as Gary Hutchinson, stadium consultant.
Tim Leiweke, co-founder and chief executive of OVG, said: “Oak View Group is growing rapidly, and we’re delighted to welcome seven exceptional executives to our team as we launch OVG International.
“Our aim is to create a new generation of state-of-the-art entertainment facilities. Our venues will be an elite class in terms of fan experience, artist experience and technology and will provide an unparalleled platform for the activation of global brands.
“The live events market has grown significantly in the United States since Oak View Group launched three years ago, and we see a huge opportunity to drive similar growth internationally by creating world-class experiences in world-class arenas.
“We look forward to extending the Arena and Stadium Alliance to like-minded venues outside North America and to announcing more about OVG International’s plans soon.”
Oak View Group was founded in 2015 by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, two of the live entertainment and events industry’s most influential executives, to create a positive disruption to business as usual in the music, sports, and live entertainment industry.
In addition to major arena development projects at the Key Arena in Seattle, Belmont in New York and The University of Texas in Austin, Oak View Group runs the Arena and Stadium Alliance.
The alliance is an invitation-only partnership of 28 arenas in North America that enables independent venues to attract global sponsorship opportunities, additional events and content, and achieve efficiencies of scale that are otherwise only available to large groups.