Oak View Group launches venue services offering in UK and Europe

Oak View Group (OVG), a global leader in venue development, management, premium hospitality services and 360-degree solutions, has announced the European launch of its industry-leading full suite of venue service offerings. The establishment of this offering in the UK and broader Europe represents the first time an owner/operator will provide services to venue owners in the market.

Nearly six months after the opening of the UK’s largest indoor concert venue, Co-op Live, the new offering will include a suite of services expertise ranging from venue development, management, premium hospitality and food service, booking, sponsorship sales, marketing, and more.

Led by Jessica Koravos (pictured above), President, OVG International and Chris Granger, President, OVG360, the international venue services team includes many veterans of the UK live entertainment and sports industry including:

Rebecca Kane Burton, recently announced Executive Vice President of Venue Management, will focus on growing OVG’s venue services in the UK and Europe, after acting as interim GM at Co-op Live. Rebecca previously led Sodexo Live!, LW Theatres and The O2.

Continuing their leadership in Commercial Strategy and Sales Services are Sam Piccione and Alex Reese. Representing likeminded venues, teams and leagues leveraging OVG’s international expertise to generate contractually obligated income as venue owners and operators, the division provides a suite of strategic sales services including sponsorship valuation, commercial revenue modelling, sponsorship and premium hospitality strategy and sales delivery. In addition to Co-op Live, current clients include Aviva Studios, Birmingham City FC, EF Pro Cycling, AS Roma and Lloyd Webber Theatres.

The 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – hosted at Croke Park Stadium and having welcomed 240 high-level executives – focuses on elevating the live experience through architecture & design, customer journey, fan & VIP experience, hospitality, premium sales & service, sustainability, technology and venue commercialisation.

Michalis Fragkiadakis, Vice President Hospitality Strategy, OVG International will lead hospitality innovation, building on the 2023 acquisition of Rhubarb Hospitality Collection. Michalis has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industries, with a background in strategic operational delivery including his previous role at Levy by Compass.

Gary Hutchinson, Vice President, Booking and Commercial Partnerships, OVG International and MD Chrysalis Leisure Management, will continue to lead content development and strategic partnerships internationally.

Katie Harel joins as Vice President Marketing, OVG International, transitioning from her role as global VP of marketing for Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, which will fall under her newly expanded role. Katie has over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience, working for renowned establishments like The Lanesborough and The Dorchester as well as the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and The Langham in Hong Kong.

Jessica Koravos, President, OVG International, said:

In just a few short months, Co-op Live has welcomed nearly one million fans and is setting new standards for artists and fans alike. Co-op Live offers an integrated fan experience from parking and ticketing to premium spaces that elevate fan engagement and generate valuable operator revenue. We are keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities facing venue owners. Our suite of service offerings is rooted in that knowledge and experience and paired with experts who have forged their careers in the European live entertainment and sports landscape, bringing real value to our clients.

Chris Granger, President OVG360, said:

As owners and operators ourselves, we care deeply about the challenges facing venue owners today. Our unique partnership approach, coupled with our mission of positive disruption in the live entertainment and sports space, has fuelled our growth over the last 3 years. With our collection of expert team members with deep backgrounds in UK and European live experiences, we now have the ‘boots on the ground’ to authentically and consistently partner with venue owners to meet their needs.

Co-op Live opened on May 8, 2024 in Manchester, and is the largest indoor live entertainment venue in the UK at 23,500 capacity and was built to be carbon neutral venue from day one.

About Oak View Group

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, stadiums, convention centres, music festivals, performing arts centres and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents.

Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

Sports Venue Business launched the hugely successful SVB LIVE series of events in late 2023, featuring Global Networking Events & Webinars, with the pinnacle being the SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition. The 2024 edition was held at Croke Park, with opening night at Aviva Stadium; some 240 high-level execs from across the global sports and entertainment sector were in attendance.