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CTS Eventim awarded Vienna arena contract

Oak View Group originally won the bid to helm the long-delayed project last year, only for the decision to be overturned

By James Hanley on 06 Nov 2024


CTS Eventim has been awarded the contract to build and operate a planned new multipurpose arena in Vienna, Austria – more than a year after Oak View Group’s (OVG) successful bid to helm the project was overturned.

The opening of the 20,000-cap arena in St Marx was originally planned for 2024, but the City of Vienna began looking for a partner in 2021 due to escalating costs. The venue is now not expected to open until 2030 at the earliest.

OVG was identified as the ‘best bidder’ in July 2023 following a tender process staged by government-owned corporation Wien Holding. However, later that year, the award was “declared void for formal reasons” by Vienna Regional Court after an objection by rival bidder CTS.

According to Der Standard, the Official Journal of the EU now states the contract has been awarded to “the best bidder identified in the tendering process, CTS Eventim”.

A spokesperson for German-headquartered CTS tells IQ the firm is unable to comment as the “standstill period” – a 10-day stretch in which losing bidders can contest the decision – is still running.

The cost of the CTS design is reportedly almost €800 million

The estimated cost of the 100,000 square metre CTS design reportedly comes to almost €800 million – more than double that of the smaller, €384m OVG scheme. It also requires a significantly higher contribution from the city of €145.9m, compared to €55m.

OVG has been approached for comment. Speaking when the original decision was vetoed last year, OVG CEO Tim Leiweke told local press: “Of course we are very disappointed with the result. This beautiful city has always been the jewel in Europe’s cultural landscape, but it had no arena to match it.

“We are pleased that the court assessed our offer in such a way that we meet all the tender requirements and also require the least amount of effort for taxpayers.”

Vienna’s biggest existing indoor arena is the 16,000-cap Wiener Stadthalle.

 


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