Oak View Group (OVG), a venue-development, management, and premium hospitality services company in Denver, Colorado, launched a dedicated division focused on the company’s global stadium business. OVG Stadia will bring together industry-leading stadium experts throughout the company to act as strategic partners in all regions globally.
With the addition of Chris Wright, president of OVG Stadia, the new division will build on a robust OVG roster of stadium clients in the U.S., including Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California; Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, among others. Wright, the former general manager of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, will lead the team of stadium experts to plan, develop, design, build, sell, and operate world-class stadiums that reflect the iconic teams and communities they represent. Joining Wright is Greg Desharnais, executive vice president of OVG Stadia, specializing in stadium design, operational planning and execution, and venue management; and Samantha Johnson, who will serve as the senior vice president of sales for OVG Stadia, responsible for designing revenue-generating private event programs specific to each market, cultivating deep and lasting relationships to deliver world-class results. The OVG Stadia team will report to Greg O’Dell, president of venue management at OVG360, the hospitality division of Oak View Group.
“The depth and breadth of stadium experience that Chris Wright and his team at OVG Stadia bring presents an exciting opportunity for Oak View Group as we continue to expand our services and further strengthen our cohort of experts, covering every area of the venue-development and -management business,” says O’Dell. “Our focus is on providing the greatest benefit to our clients and partners as we grow our teams to drive innovation, thought leadership, and the highest standards.”
Over the last several years, Oak View Group has also established a significant stadium business specific to the college space, highlighted by Penn State’s iconic Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania; the renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas at the University of Kansas; and the acquisition of a new Stadium Club collection, featuring membership clubs at the University of North Carolina, University of Arizona, Texas Tech University, University of Utah, Baylor University, and Virginia Tech University. OVG’s Stadium Alliance, consisting of 15 members, also assists MLB ballparks and stadiums across the U.S. in generating new revenue through incremental concerts, events, and sponsorship opportunities.
“The growth in stadium development across the world is remarkable, and we’re excited to be leading the charge with big projects, new markets, and a dedicated team of experts to offer vision and experience for our clients and partners,” says Jessica Koravos, president of Oak View Group International.
OVG Stadia will also expand the company’s international stadium roster which includes the iconic Wembley Stadium in Wembley, England; St. Andrew’s at Knighthead Park (Birmingham FC) in Birmingham, England; and Scotland’s largest, Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
