Venue giant Oak View Group and Manchester-based football club owner and operator City Football Group are launching an integrated service and operations company.

Eastlands Venue Services will operate 365 days a year across the Etihad Campus, with an initial focus on catering services for both Co-op Live and its neighbour, Manchester City Football Club.

Led by long-standing CFG executive Mike Green, the joint venture will begin operations with over 80 full-time employees and a casual workforce of 3,000 people.

All employees will join from existing service suppliers that currently support the delivery of catering operations at sporting and entertainment events at the Etihad Campus.

“In less than a year, Co-op Live has grown to operating over 150 event days a year,” says Jessica Koravos, president, International for Oak View Group. “Our dedicated and passionate service teams consistently deliver exceptional fan experiences from concessions to our numerous premium spaces. Partnering with CFG will benefit our employees, and ultimately our fans.”

“Partnering with CFG will benefit our employees, and ultimately our fans”

Per a release, the casual workforce, the vast majority of whom are from the Greater Manchester area, will benefit from further job stability through access to more frequent and regular shifts as part of the joint venture’s multi-venue operational model.

The JV will also offer career training and development opportunities by providing pathways into the service industry for local people from both Manchester and the wider city region.

“Today’s announcement and launch of a new joint venture between City Football Group and Oak View Group is incredibly exciting and demonstrates the ongoing aspirations of both organisations to set new standards of service in the sports and entertainment industry,” says Roel de Vries, City Football Group’s chief operating officer.

“Combining the expertise of our fantastic employees and casual workforce, who are vastly experienced in delivering events across Etihad Campus venues, will provide the perfect foundation as we begin operations as Eastlands Venue Services.

“Our immediate focus will be the continued delivery of catering services for fans at both the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live, but over time, we expect to grow and create new job opportunities for people across Greater Manchester who have an interest in the service sector.”

Co-op Live, the UK’s largest live entertainment arena (cap. 23,000) which launched last May, recently welcomed the one millionth fan through its doors.

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Oak View Group (OVG) has added another arena project to its portfolio, having signed a 22-year contract to operate and manage a new venue in the City of Mobile in Alabama.

As the demolition of the outdated Mobile Civic Center enters its final phases, the city is teaming up with OVG to build and operate a 10,000-capacity replacement on the same property.

Based on current designs, the demolition of the current Civic Center site and construction of a new arena is projected to cost around $300 million.

It will be financed through cash contributions from the City, project partners, sponsorship opportunities, strategic borrowing through the bond market and other funding sources. As part of the agreement, OVG will contribute $15m to the construction of the new arena and establish a dedicated capital improvement fund for ongoing maintenance at the facility.

The city has previously engaged OVG to manage two other downtown venues: the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center and the historic Saenger Theater.

“Together, we’re building something that will serve Mobile for decades to come”

“We’re thrilled to take the next step in our partnership with the City of Mobile as we move forward with plans for the new Mobile Arena,” said Peter Luukko, co-chairman, OVG360. “Together, we’re setting the stage for unforgettable live experiences including music, sports and family shows. The possibilities are endless for this deserving community.”

In addition to concerts and live performances, the new civic arena will be built to host professional ice hockey, with a minor league team being targeted, along with ice skating performances and youth, collegiate and professional sporting events. It will also be ‘uniquely designed’ to accommodate Mardi Gras balls and other longstanding local events.

“This arena will be a generational investment in our city that will enhance the quality of life for Mobilians and attract visitors from across the region,” Mobile mayor Sandy Stimpson said in a statement. “Oak View Group is an industry leader with the experience and partnerships to turn this new venue into a hub for entertainment, culture, and community on the Gulf Coast. Together, we’re building something that will serve Mobile for decades to come, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

Peter Luukko, co-chairman of OVG360, adds: “Together, we’re setting the stage for unforgettable live experiences including music, sports and family shows. The possibilities are endless for this deserving community.”

Construction of the new arena is planned to begin in March, with the venue scheduled to be completed in early 2027.

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Oak View Group and Live Nation are teaming with Parque Metropolitano – a subsidiary of Spanish football club Atlético Madrid – to transform the city’s unfinished Aquatic Center into a multi-functional complex.

Under their joint venture Barsento SL, the companies have submitted a proposal to Madrid City Council to reimagine the 15,000-cap scheme, which was abandoned in 2010 in the wake of the Spanish capital’s unsuccessful bids to host the Summer Olympics.

La Liga giants Atlético revisited the space in Madrid’s San Blas neighbourhood after moving to the nearby Metropolitano Stadium in 2017.

According to a statement by the new JV, the project will create an “iconic, multi-functional space combining culture, education, sports, and leisure, designed to attract a diverse audience and solidify Madrid’s position as a leading international cultural and recreational destination”.

The initiative further aims to provide “added value to the city of Madrid, particularly the district of San Blas-Canillejas, and to enhance the lives of its residents”.

Madrid’s main indoor arena is the 17,400-cap Movistar Arena (formerly WiZink Center), which was rebuilt and reopened 20 years ago.

“This strategic agreement with PRISA Media will allow us to amplify the reach of the music of the artists who entrust their tours to Live Nation”

Elsewhere in Spain, Live Nation has signed a strategic agreement with media conglomerate PRISA Media, which also has a significant presence in Latin America, to collaborate on joint projects and strengthen music communication and promotion at a national and international level.

The deal, which also seeks to promote Spanish music worldwide, will see collaborations around advertising campaigns, sponsorships, merchandising and “high-value experiential events”.

“Music has the power to unite, harmonise differences, and forge lasting relationships,” says Live Nation Spain president Pino Sagliocco. “This strategic agreement with PRISA Media will allow us to amplify the reach of the music of the artists who entrust their tours to Live Nation, connecting them with broader and more diverse audiences. We are excited to join efforts in this mission.”

As part of the agreement, Live Nation will have a presence in PRISA Media’s multi-platform music channels, as well as advertising spaces in other leading outlets, while PRISA Media will be able to participate as the main media partner in Live Nation’s events and artists in Spain.

“Music is one of the main attributes of our brands, and this agreement with Live Nation will help PRISA Media strengthen its already well-established content in this sector and open new windows of opportunity for the music industry business,” adds Carlos Núñez, executive president of PRISA Media.

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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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Coldplay completed their record-breaking four-night run in Abu Dhabi last week, achieving the largest and longest series of ticketed shows in the UAE.

Promoted by Live Nation Middle East and supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, the sold-out Music Of The Spheres shows drew 200,000 fans across the four nights, surpassing the nearly 69,000 people who attended Ed Sheeran’s two sold-out concerts at Dubai’s Sevens Stadium last year.

The shows took place at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium which is now operated by Oak View Group and its Middle East partner Ethara.

Demand for the British band’s Abu Dhabi concerts was deemed unprecedented, with millions of fans attempting to secure a ticket.

Initially planned as a single show, the overwhelming interest led the band to add three additional dates, all of which sold out within hours.

The Middle East, one of the fastest-growing live music markets in the world, will be a key focus of this year’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC), with two expert-led panels: The Venue Boom and States of Growth.

“It has been an honour to bring Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour to the UAE”

“At Live Nation Middle East, we take immense pride in creating unforgettable events for the region, and it has been an honour to bring Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour to the UAE,” says James Craven, president of Live Nation Middle East.

“Organising the region’s largest concert series showcased the skill and hard work of our team, and we are deeply grateful for the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Miral, and the dedicated team at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

“We also want to thank the local media for their invaluable role in sharing information with fans and ensuring the event ran seamlessly. We look forward to future collaborations with Coldplay and more exciting artists while continuing to deliver some of the most iconic events in the region.”

Coldplay will deliver another record-breaking show later this week when they perform at the largest stadium in the world, the 100,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in India.

The second of the two Narendra Modi Stadium concerts, on 26 January (Republic Day), will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar, it was announced last week.

The band’s Music Of The Spheres tour has already set records as the best-selling and highest-grossing rock tour ever thanks to 10 million tickets sold and grosses over $1 billion to date during its three-year run.

Coldplay are represented by Wasserman Music’s Marty Diamond and Larry Webman in North America and WME’s Josh Javor for the rest of the world.

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IQ presents the second part of our Austria market report, where we dig into their expansive festival sector and the shifting opportunities and challenges in the venue scene. Catch up on part one here.

Festivals
In the past couple of years, Arcadia Live’s Lido Sounds has quickly established itself as a fresh addition to Austria’s festival offerings: a genre-specific city festival beside the scenic Danube River in Linz, with Kings of Leon, Parov Stelar, Hozier, Deichkind, Sam Smith, The Libertines, and Idles on the bill this year across four days.

“The response has been encouraging,” says Potocki. “In 2023, we welcomed 66,000 fans, and 2024 saw even greater attendance. Looking ahead, we’re planning to expand capacity to 28,000 per day in 2025, creating opportunities for sustainable growth while gradually enhancing our environmental footprint. While we’re not a 100% green event yet, we’re committed to making meaningful progress each year, embracing innovative ideas to become more eco-conscious.”

No sensible festival launches in these tricky times without thinking hard about its model and its market position, and Arcadia Live has done plenty of that type of thinking.

“Lido Sounds offers a unique festival experience compared to traditional open-field events,” says Potocki. “It blends the culture and convenience of a city setting with the excitement of a diverse and carefully curated lineup. So far, we’ve brought a lot of incredible artists to the stage – and the momentum continues to build. As for the future, we remain open to exploring new opportunities while staying focused on delivering a memorable, inclusive, and continuously improving festival experience.”

Traditionally, Barracuda assumes a notably powerful position in Austria’s festival market with its Nova Rock and FM4 Frequency events. The former draws 55,000 a day over four days to Pannonia Fields in Nickelsdorf in June, with Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Måneskin, and Bring Me The Horizon on a heavyweight bill.

“We have seen a lot of competition this year that we did not have in the past”

Frequency, meanwhile, in the northeastern city of St Pölten, draws around 140,000 a year for a dance, rock, and hip-hop fusion – Apache 207, The Offspring, Rise Against, and Yungblud led the line-up this August, with Ed Sheeran on the same site the night before.

Other Barracuda events include Lovely Days, Clam Rock, and an ever-growing series of shows at the historic Clam Castle, one of Austria’s most popular and prestigious venues. This year, the promoter also inked a three-year partnership with the long-established Mörbisch Lake Festival to bring rock and pop artists to the site’s 6,100-cap lake stage, with James Blunt and Zucchero in this summer’s first crop.

“We have seen a lot of competition this year that we did not have in the past, like Live Nation’s Rolling Loud festival and the Lido festival from Arcadia,” says Hörmann. “So, there is more in the market, but all the festivals seem to sell well.”

Venues
In early November, CTS Eventim was awarded the contract to build and operate a new multipurpose arena in Neu Marx in Vienna’s third district. The win came after Oak View Group’s successful bid for the project was “declared void for formal reasons” by Vienna Regional Court in summer 2023, after an objection from CTS.

The opening of the 20,000-cap arena – which expects up to 1.2m visitors, with as many as 145 events annually – was originally planned for 2024, but the venue is now not expected to be completed until 2030 at the earliest.

“Vienna will secure its position as a must-play city for the world’s greatest stars and events for decades to come”

The estimated cost of the 100,000m2 CTS design reportedly comes to almost €800m, including a contribution from the city of €145.9m. The property will be owned by the City of Vienna’s Wien Holding organisation, which drives growth and creates jobs for the city.

“With this state-of-the-art venue, Vienna will secure its position as a must-play city for the world’s greatest stars and events for decades to come,” said city councillor Peter Hanke.

Promising arena news aside, in general, it is hard to extract much enthusiasm from Austrian promoters on the subject of venues. “We have a very, very bad venue situation,” says Hörmann. “If you compare Vienna to Munich, for instance, Munich has, I would think, seven, eight venues from 3,000 to 15,000. In Vienna, you have the Stadthalle, and the next venue is Gasometer B with 3,000. So that’s a nightmare.

“And obviously, everywhere is packed. If you look at the Stadthalle, they have a tennis tournament every October, so that doesn’t give us any availability for the whole month. So just this year, I lost Bob Dylan because I just couldn’t get the venue. And if you still have an act that is expecting to work, then you have to go to Graz or to Linz, and people have to travel.”

That’s not the only problem with Austrian live infrastructure, however, as Viennese promoters continue to wrangle with a new noise restriction that is spelling doom for outdoor concerts in the city.

In August, Arcadia Live warned that a 10pm curfew at could mean the end for its annual METAStadt Open Air concert series. The 8,100-cap site had initially filled a gap for open-air concerts with mid-tier artists, for whom the Arena Wien’s 3,000-capacity outdoor stage is too small and the 51,000-capacity Happel Stadium too big. The series has hosted international acts including Alt-J, The Kooks, Skunk Anansie, Korn, Patti Smith, Jungle, and Khruangbin, and its future remains in doubt.

“Racino is probably one of the most beautiful open-air locations in Austria”

“Noise restrictions and complaints from local residents continue to be significant challenges for open-air events,” says Potocki. “This is often compounded by a lack of political and financial support from city or district authorities, which would be incredibly valuable given the proven economic impact of live shows and open-air events.

“Resolving these issues requires more proactive collaboration with local stakeholders. Until then, navigating these restrictions will remain a challenge for our events in Vienna, including the METAStadt series.”

METAStadt, of course, isn’t the only venue affected. In fact, it’s easier to name those that aren’t. “The Danube Island and the Ernst Happel Stadium are currently the only open-air sites [in Vienna] that meet the strict criteria,” says Live Nation’s Rotermund. “Noise restrictions recently led to the cancellations of all planned events at the scenic Schönbrunn Palace in 2025, and there are similar challenges elsewhere.”

The palace, once the main summer residence of the Habsburgs, and located in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna, has been a popular concert spot since the 1990s, but in November, Semmel’s Show Factory announced the cancellation of all open-air concerts and musicals planned at the palace for 2025 due to the noise regulations. The decision affected its I Am From Austria musical and the Schönbrunn Classics series and followed penalties for previous noise violations.

Live Nation’s exclusive contract to use the Racino racetrack, 25 minutes from the city by train, seemed to be a smart way round the curfew. The promoters initially hoped to organise smaller 5,000 to 10,000-cap events at the site, as well as larger concerts for up to 60,000 attendees, but such plans remain under review. “Racino is probably one of the most beautiful open-air locations in Austria,” says Lieberberg. “The proximity to Vienna adds to the appeal.

“Our inaugural events were extremely successful, with a combined attendance of 150,000. However, numerous bureaucratic requirements, particularly exaggerated environmental regulations, present challenges and obstacles for future events, which need to be evaluated.”

“There has definitely been a slower return to normal after the post-Covid surge”

Among the major venues outside the capital, Messe Congress Graz (MCG), with its 14,520-cap Stadthalle, Messe Graz Open Air and six other venues, stages 400-plus events a year.

“2024 has been a good year for events in Graz and Austria overall, but there has definitely been a slower return to normal after the post-Covid surge,” says Christof Strimitzer, MCG head of marketing and communications. “One of the key challenges has been the high energy and personnel costs, which have made organising events more difficult.”

While the overall atmosphere was tough, says Strimitzer, a strong focus on family entertainment yielded highlights such as Cavalluna, The Ice Queen, and live music concerts including The Lion King and Avatar. “International shows have shown a slight decline in attendance,” he adds. “One standout moment of the year was the sold-out performance of Gigi D’Agostino, which attracted 14,500 people and was sold out in just 24 hours.”

Messe Graz is currently in the process of obtaining the Green Location eco-label, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices. “We are also working on introducing new formats in the outdoor area to enhance the visitor experience and expand our event offerings,” says Strimitzer.

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The UK’s largest arena Co-op Live has announced that NEC Group veteran Ben Sharman is joining the Manchester venue as its new director of booking.

Sharman’s arrival coincides with Co-op Live director of strategic programming, Katie Musham’s move into Oak View Group International, where she will continue to grow Co-op Live’s programme of bespoke events and support OVG in its expansion across Europe and the rest of the world.

With over a decade of experience in the live events and entertainment industry, Sharman’s achievements include account managing British Athletics’ commercial partners in advance of the London 2012 Olympic Games and securing major sponsorships for Aston Villa Football Club in the Premier League.

He joined the commercial partnerships department at the NEC Group in 2014, transitioning into arena programming in 2017. In late 2022, he was promoted to head of programming for Utilita Arena Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE.

Sharman led the arenas to record-breaking financial success including programming tours such as Genesis’ The Last Domino? Tour and Peter Kay’s Better Late Than Never tour, as well as delivering the 2022 Concert for Ukraine, which raised £13 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee.

“When the opportunity to work with the UK’s largest arena came, it was impossible to turn down”

“Joining Oak View Group and Co-op Live marks an exciting new chapter in my career after an incredible 11 years at the NEC Group, for which I’m deeply grateful,” says Sharman.

“When the opportunity to work with the UK’s largest arena came, it was impossible to turn down. I’m eager to bring my experience in venue programming and strong industry relationships to cement Co-op Live’s status as a must-play venue in the global live events industry.”

Gary Hutchinson, executive vice president global touring and content, Oak View Group International adds: “We are delighted to welcome Ben Sharman to Co-op Live. His impressive career trajectory, unmatched expertise, and industry relationships make him the perfect choice to lead our booking strategy. We’re confident that Ben’s vision will further elevate Co-op Live as a premier destination for world-class events, and continue our established record for hosting the world’s most exceptional artists.”

Sharman’s appointment comes after NEC Group veteran Guy Dunstan was enlisted as Co-op Live’s new general manager and SVP.

Dunstan took the helm on 21 October as the interim general manager Rebecca Kane Burton became EVP of venue management for OVG International.

In 2025, Co-op Live is set to welcome a host of global talents such as Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler, the Creator, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Hans Zimmer, and more.

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Oak View Group (OVG) International has hired Matt Owen as booking projects manager in London.

The US-based venue management giant’s international projects include Co-op Live in Manchester and Arena São Paulo in Brazil.

Owen joins OVG from London’s Wembley Stadium where he was programming manager, booking artists including Taylor Swift, Green Day, AC/DC and Bruce Springsteen.

He started at the 90,000-capacity stadium in 2019, serving as a customer engagement manager for almost four years before becoming programming manager in 2022. He has previously held roles at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and West Ham United FC.

Meanwhile, Nick Griffith has been appointed as senior director of business development for Europe at AXS Europe.

Nick Griffith has been appointed as senior director of business development for Europe at AXS Europe

Prior to joining AXS Europe, Griffith spent 11 years at Ticketmaster, most recently in the role of vice president, global client ops/sales operations – global.

He has also held roles in international sales operations, and UK-based sales operations and client development.

Elsewhere, Australian concert organiser Destroy All Lines has hired renowned promoter Scott Mesiti.

Mesiti co-founded his own touring company MJR Touring in 2012, which was acquired by TEG in 2019. Following the acquisition, he became head of touring for TEG MJR Live.

Mesiti has promoted artists such as Hans Zimmer, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, 50 Cent, Six 60, The Jacksons, Sia, Steel Panther, Evanescence, James, Salt & Pepa, Sean Paul, Shaggy and UB40, and festivals including Valleyways and Knotfest.

Australian concert organiser Destroy All Lines has hired renowned promoter Scott Mesiti

Finally, Vlad Enăchescu has been appointed general manager of ticketing company Eventim Romania.

Enăchescu was previously the president of the CSM Bucharest women’s handball team. A former journalist for TVR and DolceSport, he is also a renowned sports commentator in Romania.

“I happily accepted the offer because I like challenges,” says Enăchescu in a statement.

“It gives me the opportunity to be active in the vicinity of my passions: sport and art. I was always a frequent consumer of shows and culture, but also a constant presence in sports halls and arenas.”

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Norway’s largest multi-purpose indoor arena has unveiled several improvements to enhance the concert experience at the venue.

The newly renamed Unity Arena (formerly Telenor Arena) in Fornebu can now be adapted for concerts from 5,000 to 25,000 visitors and can be divided into three sizes.

The smallest box can hold 5,000-10,000 attendees, the middle bowl can hold 10,000-16,000, and the largest arena can house between 16,000-25,000.

Sound improvements have also been made by Vanguardia, a leading company in arena acoustics whose clients include the Sphere in Las Vegas.

“Extensive 3D acoustic testing has been completed, along with a detailed modelling of the arena,” says Jim Griffiths, director of Vanguardia.

“This gives a concrete overview of improvements to the sound quality during concerts in all stage configurations. In addition, a detailed sound guide will be available to help the production’s sound configuration, so that the sound image is as optimal as possible.”

Other improvements include expanded capacity in the bars and kiosks, a new and wider food menu and an extended Premium offering.

“With the measures that have been taken in the arena, we look forward to an exciting time with many and varied concerts”

The improvements come ahead of a busy 2025 for the venue, which includes concerts from Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and One Republic.

Unity will also host shows transferred from Oslo’s Spektrum Arena when it closes for renovations and a 14-month rebuild next summer.

“With the measures that have been taken in the arena, we look forward to an exciting time with many and varied concerts at Unity Arena,” says head promoter of Live Nation Norway, Martin Nielsen. “We are confident that the steps taken with the scaling, the soundscape and the catering will make the arena perfect for smaller concerts as well.”

The improvements come ahead of a massive transformation for the venue, which will see it close at the end of 2026 and reopen in 2029 as a new, “more compact” venue, created at the heart of a new urban centre featuring urban spaces; a cinema; cultural and catering facilities; hotels; and other activities.

The new arena project is being delivered in partnership with Oak View Group.

“OVG are very pleased to collaborate with the team at Unity Arena,” says president of OVG International, Jessica Koravos.

“The aim is to make the experience for the fans even better, now that they plan to welcome more guests than ever. OVG will support the delivery of successful events at the arena. We look forward to a hectic 2025 with many top international artists at Unity Arena.”

Unity Arena opened in 2009, with AC/DC becoming the first band to perform there. Since then, there have been an average of eight concerts per year from artists including The Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Beyoncé, OneDirection, Madonna, Lady GaGa, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Iron Maiden, Roger Waters and Jay Z.

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OVG International’s Rebecca Kane Burton and venue boss Guy Dunstan have peeled back the curtain on a whirlwind six months for Manchester’s Co-op Live.

The UK’s largest live entertainment arena at 23,500-cap, the £365 million facility has rebounded from its delayed opening to host prestigious events including the UFC and the MTV EMAs, as well as exclusive indoor shows by the Eagles and Pearl Jam.

NEC Group veteran Dunstan joined last month as its new general manager and SVP, with Kane Burton becoming EVP of venue management for OVG International, leading Oak View Group’s global business development strategy for its facilities, sports, entertainment and hospitality divisions.

“I’m six weeks in and we’ve delivered quite a few shows – we’re into five shows on the run this week – and I’m loving it,” says Dunstan. “It’s just an amazing building to be running. I feel very fortunate and positive about having this role. I keep reminding the team that we’re six months into a journey, and should still be learning and evolving, but we’re in really great shape.”

Kane Burton, whose CV includes stints at the helm of London’s The O2 and Alexandra Palace, and CEO at LW Theatres and Sodexo Live, tells IQ that her move to the company – which saw her reunite with former AEG executives, OVG chief Tim Leiweke and OVG International president Jessica Koravos – felt “very natural and obvious”.

“It’s a great privilege to be able to harness all the great brain power that exists within OVG”

“When I ran The O2, it was Tim who employed me originally and that was a great honour and a privilege,” she says. “Tim is just a force of nature; he’s dynamic, he’s driven, he’s passionate, he’s ambitious and he doesn’t sit still. He’s always wanting to push for something better and that was a real appeal to come back and work for him in the new setup at OVG.

“Working with someone with that passion and leadership – who will change the dial, is not scared to do things differently and will rip up the rule book if he needs to – is incredibly exciting. And what’s even better for me is there’s a very strong female leadership team at OVG as well: Francesca [Bodie] is our COO and Jessica Koravos is my boss.”

Kane Burton describes her role, which covers the UK and Europe, as “far-reaching”.

“I’ve not really worked outside the UK before, so it’s a great opportunity to meet good people who are doing brilliant stuff with their facilities, but might just need a bit of help making their ambitions come true,” she explains. “Everyone talks about having a destination venue. There’s a lot of chatter about how you sweat these assets harder, and improve the fan experience, but there are very few companies or individuals who’ve got the capability and the experience to make that happen.

“It’s a great privilege to be able to harness all the great brain power that exists within OVG, with all that energy and yet the cash behind us, to then go out and make some of these visions a reality.”

Originally slated to join the OVG fold over the summer, Kane Burton was parachuted in as interim boss of Manchester’s Co-op Live in April following the resignation of the general manager, as the venue’s launch was pushed back two weeks following a series of hitches.

“My career has been full of challenges – I seem to like them – but I could see firsthand we were on the cusp of something special”

“I was in the middle of some gardening leave at the time, expecting to join on 1 July. And then Jessica very kindly invited me to Rick Astley [in April], which was a test event,” explains Kane Burton. “Whilst that event was obviously fraught with challenges, it showed off to people like me – who had no skin in the game at that time – what an amazing building they had on their hands.

“To then be asked four days later to lead the charge was daunting, and it would be a lie to say that wouldn’t be daunting for anybody. I could see a team that were feeling raw, tired, desperate to deliver the promises that had been made.”

She continues: “My career has been full of challenges – I seem to like them – but I could see firsthand we were on the cusp of something special and that keeps you going when you’re still up at two, three in the morning, wading through paperwork and getting everything in order. That gets you through.”

Co-op Live ultimately launched on 14 May with a triumphant hometown concert by Elbow.

“Obviously, Elbow was a huge moment,” reflects Kane Burton. “I think any of us now, if we hear any Elbow music, will cry tears of joy, because that’s the moment we finally got the doors open and ready and away. And then June just was amazing, because it was just literally back-to-back gigs and you start becoming a very well-oiled machine.”

A particular milestone was mixed martial arts event UFC 304, which took place at Co-op Live on 27 July and didn’t begin until 11pm – with the main event not commencing 3am – to meet the standard PPV start time in the US.

“The confidence is reinstated very firmly in this place”

“They started coming in at 10am, and at 6am we still had a full arena,” marvels Kane Burton. “So to bring it back to Manchester after 10 years of absence and do the first all-nighter in a building that two and a half months before, was a bit behind and needed to get itself open, was one hell of a feat. It was safe, it was well run, it was a brilliant customer experience and it got us global reach.”

The experience garnered from the night helped prepare the team for hosting another event of international interest – the 30th anniversary MTV EMAs on 10 November.

“We’re never complacent, but it’s like, ‘We’ve done UFC, now we’ve got MTV. Let’s get used to being in the spotlight and own that,'” shares Kane Burton. “Each time we do major events and prove to partners of different scale and size the capability of not only the building, but the credibility of our team, it builds confidence. And I can see that Guy will now be able to pull in bigger and better events as we roll, because the confidence is reinstated very firmly in this place.”

Dunstan joined the venue from Birmingham-based NEC Group, where he was the MD of arenas. As well as overseeing the management of the Co-op Live’s executive team, he is tasked with guiding the strategic leadership of the facility as SVP, as well in addition to helping develop its commercial and operational strategy.

“I’m very passionate about Birmingham and a proud Brummie,” says Dunstan. “I spent 28 years working there and a lot of people thought I’d be there till it’s time to retire. But over the last year, I thought about my career and I’m at an age where I thought I needed to find a new challenge and a new opportunity.

“Rewind back to the ILMC where OVG was announced, and then Co-op Live was announced, and I cast an envious eye at what I knew was going to be a groundbreaking venue and an organisation led by Tim, who is a pioneer. So when the role became available, I thought this was a great opportunity for me at this stage of my career.

“There was a lot of shock when I went out and said, ‘I’m leaving,’ but I think a lot of people put two and two together very quickly. It was the worst kept secret in the industry since the Oasis reunion!”

“My dream is that we’ll have a few more flagships in the UK and across Europe… You can expect London in the pipeline”

Upcoming acts at Co-op Live include Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Robbie Williams and Billie Eilish, as the arena continues to attract stadium-level artists.

“Outdoor shows used to be a completely different market to the indoor market, but what we’ve seen over the summer period is Pearl Jam and the Eagles playing outdoors and then coming to play here at Co-op Live. We’ve got that again next summer with Bruce Springsteen playing at Anfield and here, and we’ve got a great programming team who are really proactive in seeking those opportunities.”

He continues: “Looking ahead over the next 12 months, it looks really positive. But you can’t sit waiting for artists to be routing tours, we’ve got to be proactive in terms of content. We’re putting on a West End musical theatre show, Manchester at the Musicals, on 20 December, which we only announced last week and put together over a few weeks before.

“That demonstrates to me that there’s a great opportunity to bring content into the arena market that wasn’t there before, and we feel it can become a regular part of our annual calendar. We’ve got to continue to do that, because we can’t wait for the phone to ring – we’ve got to make things happen ourselves.”

Kane Burton trumpets Co-op Live as a “very important flagship” in the territory and a “fantastic showcase to demonstrate what OVG stands for”.

“My dream is that we’ll have a few more flagships in the UK and across Europe, but I will never, stop having a passion for this place,” she adds. “I’d never worked outside of London before, so they finally managed to move me up north and I will always have a soft spot for Manchester and what we’ve managed to achieve here. It’s really important as part of the OVG ecosystem and showing everyone what we’re capable of. So I’m very proud and I know it’s in very safe hands.”

Leiweke, of course, revealed plans to build “the greatest arena in the world” in London, during this year’s ILMC in March. While details remain scarce, the CEO told delegates that the venue giant will plant its flag in England’s capital city, which he called “the greatest market in the world for music”.

“Tim’s talked very loudly and proudly about his ambitions, so you can expect London in the pipeline in the UK,” confirms Kane Burton. “Why wouldn’t we? It’s an important capital market. There are two arenas in Manchester, why not put more into London?”

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