OVG360 and OVG Hospitality will draw top artists to Tulsa, grow the national and regional convention business, and help accelerate the completion of a full-service convention center hotel
TULSA, OK (July 28, 2023) – Today, the Tulsa Public Facilities
Authority (TPFA) awarded Oak View Group the venue management and food
service contract for the premier sports and music venue BOK Center and
the 275,000- square foot Cox Business Convention Center.
During a special meeting on Friday, July 28, TPFA unanimously voted to
begin exclusive negotiations with OVG360 and OVG Hospitality to manage
venue operations, booking, partnerships and sponsorships, and food and
beverage operations at the two award-winning venues in the heart of
Downtown Tulsa.
OVG will focus on creating momentum in three main areas: ensuring Tulsa
is the top destination for major concerts in Oklahoma, continuing to
grow the city’s national and regional convention business, and
assisting the city and its stakeholders in the development of a
full-service convention center hotel.
“The BOK Center and Convention Center are key economic drivers in our
community, and their success is critical to Tulsa’s future
vitality,” Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “As a thriving world-class
city with world-class entertainment venues, we must always be focused on
continuous improvement – not self-satisfied with the success of today
but focused on being even better tomorrow. I have complete confidence in
OVG and their ability to build upon the success we’ve enjoyed at the
BOK Center and Convention Center over the last fifteen years.”
Oak View Group is no stranger to the Tulsa market. In fact, current OVG
executives have nearly four decades of collective experience overseeing
operations at BOK Center and Cox Business Convention Center. John
Bolton, senior vice president at OVG, opened BOK Center in 2008 and
served as general manager of both the arena and convention center for
six years; Jeff Nickler, senior vice president at OVG and general
manager of Austin’s Moody Center, spent a decade in Tulsa booking many
of the largest concerts in BOK Center history; Casey Sparks, vice
president of OVG Austin, served as general manager of the two Tulsa
venues for three years; and Joe Giordano, formerly assistant general
manager at BOK Center, is now vice president leading OVG’s Arena,
Stadium and Theater Alliances. These executives will serve on a special
senior advisory council to support the transition at both venues.
“We know the potential of the Tulsa market, and we know BOK Center and
Cox Business Convention Center are centerpieces of that forward
movement” Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, said. “Oak View Group
has a number of leaders – John, Jeff, Casey and Joe – who have deep
roots and a profound respect for the market, coupled with long-time
relationships with the City’s key stakeholders and among the
community. OVG working in Tulsa will feel like coming home, and we
couldn’t be more excited.”
Food and beverage at the BOK Center and Cox Business Convention Center
will be authentically Tulsa. OVG will work with more local partners,
introduce more local flavors, and implement the newest technology to
optimize the fan and guest experience.
In addition to working with local and regional partners who have
historically played a prominent role at BOK Center and Cox Business
Convention Center, OVG will also leverage relationships with national
brands to develop new partnerships and sponsorship opportunities with
companies that recognize the vitality of the Tulsa market.
Chris Granger, president of OVG360, said, “We’re proud the Tulsa
Public Facilities Authority has selected Oak View Group as their partner
to chart the course forward, build upon the BOK Center and Cox Business
Convention Center’s legacies, and take the venues to the next level.
Tulsa has become a must-visit city and BOK Center a must-play tour stop.
OVG will help solidify the arena’s place as one of the country’s top
music destinations.”
In the last two years, OVG has opened major arenas across the nation,
including Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center; UBS Arena in Belmont
Park, NY; Moody Center in Austin, TX; Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm
Springs, Calif.; and the newly opened CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Md.
OVG also manages more than 60 convention centers across North America,
including the newly awarded McCormick Place in Chicago, Kay Bailey
Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Miami Beach Convention Center,
Atlantic City Convention Center, Duke Energy Convention Center in
Cincinnati, and I-X Center in Cleveland.
“While thanking ASM Global for its excellent management over the past
15 years, we would like to welcome Oak View Group to Tulsa as the new
management firm for the BOK Center and Cox Business Convention
Center,” Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber,
said. “With the BOK Center approaching its 15th birthday and the Cox
Business Convention Center enjoying its recent $55 million renovation,
these facilities continue to be recognized internationally as premier
venues for concerts, sporting events, trade shows and more. OVG has the
kind of global resume that will elevate these two facilities even
further.”
“OVG shares our passion for providing the most innovative and engaging
opportunities for guests across the region,” Anna America, Chief of
Culture and Recreation for the City of Tulsa, said. “While we are
changing the management firm, we want to express our confidence and
pride in the local staff here in Tulsa and hope to see most of those
employees choose to stay here and continue as part of the new team.”
“The CBCC and BOK Center have been massive contributors to Tulsa’s
rise as a world-class destination, as they have attracted visitors from
all over the world for events like the Bassmaster Classic, NCAA DI
Wrestling Championships and – most recently – the USA Gymnastics
Championships,” Renee McKenney, senior vice president of tourism for
the Tulsa Regional Chamber and president of Tulsa Regional Tourism,
said. “Thank you to the ASM – Tulsa team for your consistent
partnership, and for going above and beyond to host those incredibly
valuable events. Our team is looking forward to working closely with OVG
through the transition and beyond, and I am thankful for the thoughtful
insights from everyone involved in ensuring the continued success of our
city’s major event venues.”
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About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is a global sports and entertainment company
founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015. OVG is focused on being
a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports, live
entertainment, and hospitality industries and currently has eight
divisions across five global offices (Los Angeles, New York, London,
Philadelphia, and Toronto). OVG oversees the operations of Climate
Pledge Arena at Seattle Center; UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY; Moody
Center in Austin, TX; Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs, CA; and
the newly opened CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD; as well as arena
development projects for Co-op Live in Manchester, UK; Anhembi Arena in
São Paulo, Brazil; FirstOntario Centre Arena in Hamilton, ON; a New
Arena and entertainment district in Las Vegas, NV; in Cardiff, Wales;
and Vienna, Austria. More information at OakViewGroup.com [1], and
follow OVG on Facebook [2], Instagram [3], Twitter [4],
and LinkedIn [5].
