OVG adds first Middle East venues to portfolio

Oak View Group (OVG) has added the first two Middle East venues to its portfolio after announcing its expansion into the region last year.

In partnership with UAE event management and venue operator Ethara, OVG will take over operations at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and House of Sustainability (formerly UAE Pavilion) in Expo City Dubai.

Zayed Sports City has been touted as a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s sporting and entertainment landscape, having hosted major tennis and football tournaments such as the Mubadala World Tennis Championships and the FIFA Club World Cup.

The city features a range of facilities, including the Zayed Sports City Stadium, International Tennis Centre, Khalifa International Bowling Centre, Zayed Sports City Ice Rink, and Mubadala Pavilion.

The 45,000-capacity stadium – the largest in the UAE – is set to host four shows on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour on 9, 11, 12, and 14 January 2025.

“We are thrilled to be expanding OVG’s venue portfolio with the first two venues in the region under OVG Middle East”

The House of Sustainability, formerly the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, offers 8,000 square meters of exhibition space in Expo City Dubai. The venue’s new guise was unveiled at Cop28 (United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC) in 2023.

Last year, OVG announced its expansion in the Middle East through a joint venture Ethara, which promotes events such as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Yasalam After-Race Concerts, and operates venues in the United Arab Emirates, such as Etihad Arena, Etihad Park, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Conference Centre.

“We are thrilled to be expanding OVG’s venue portfolio with the first two venues in the region under OVG Middle East,” says Jessica Koravos, president of OVG International.

“They each embody excellence in their respective domains with Zayed Sports City’s rich heritage of world-class sporting and entertainment events, and the House of Sustainability with its groundbreaking design and significance in Expo City Dubai. This expansion aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering bespoke venue and hospitality solutions and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences at world-class facilities throughout the region.”

David Powell, chief strategy and business development officer of Ethara, added: “Ethara has a legacy of operating four of the region’s most iconic and groundbreaking venues which have each helped shape the event and venue industry in the region over the last 16 years. Through our partnership with OVG, we look forward to integrating Zayed Sports City and the House of Sustainability into our portfolio as we look to evolve to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry under OVG Middle East.”

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