Oak View Group explores Dublin arena plan

Venue giant Oak View Group (OVG) is contemplating building a new arena in Dublin, Ireland, it has been revealed.

According to Business Post, the scheme would be considerably larger than the city’s existing 3Arena (cap. 13,000) and closer in scale to OVG’s 23,500-cap Co-op Live development in Manchester, UK.

Executives reportedly met with local politicians and council leaders in the Irish capital late last year.

“Oak View Group is continuously exploring options for performance arenas throughout the world,” says a spokesperson for the firm. “As one of the world’s great music cities, Dublin would be part of that consideration.”

As in Manchester, OVG, which owns and operates more than 300 venues worldwide, would be entering a market already home to a long-established arena. Dublin’s Live Nation-operated 3Arena opened in 2008 on the site of the former Point Theatre.

OVG co-founder Tim Leiweke also disclosed plans to build “the greatest arena in the world” in West London during last year’s ILMC.

OVG International has appointed Donna Cross from NEC Group as director of business development

“London has the O2 and Wembley – it needs another great arena,” he said during the Hotseat interview. “The west side of London needs a new arena and the city can handle two or three arenas. If you look at LA, they have the Intuit Dome, The Forum, Crypto, Hollywood Bowl, the Greek Theatre and Honda Center down in Anaheim. So technically, you have six buildings in the marketplace. And by the way, we have the new Acrisure Arena down in Palm Springs. So, look at the competition in that marketplace.”

Speaking to IQ last year, OVG International president Jessica Koravos added: “We’re very opportunistic, and where we see a good opportunity in a good market – or an underserved market – we jump on it.”

Meanwhile, OVG International has appointed Donna Cross as director of business development. Cross joins after 12 years with the NEC Group, the past seven as sales director.

In her new role, Cross will work closely with Rebecca Kane Burton, EVP of venue management for OVG International and Josh Pell, OVG’s president of premium experiences and global strategy, to develop OVG International’s venue management and hospitality portfolio.

“I am delighted to be joining a truly outstanding global company in OVG International that has achieved such great growth in a such a short time,” says Cross. “I’m very excited to bring my expertise to this strong team to deliver world-class experiences across amazing venues.”

Kane Burton adds: “We are thrilled to have Donna join us at OVG International. She brings a wealth of valuable industry experience and a great network of clients that will help us as we rapidly expand our venue management services both here and abroad.”

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