By R.V. Baugus
IAVM member Michael Owens has been named vice president of booking of Oak View Group-managed Moody Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Owens was most recently assistant general manager of Chesapeake Energy Arena, an NBA venue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As Moody Center’s vice president of booking, Owens will be responsible for developing a robust and diverse calendar of live entertainment and sporting events for the new arena.
In 2019, Owens was recognized with the VenuesNow “Generation Next” award and was named a “Rising Star” 
award finalist by Pollstar Magazine. He has extensive experience in the entertainment industry working as director of live entertainment for Canucks Sports & Entertainment at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia as director of booking for BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and as general manager at Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Missouri.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join this executive leadership team for Oak View Group in Austin,” Owens said. “This city has music in its DNA and this arena will be known worldwide as the place to perform. Austin’s unique culture, combined with the culture of OVG is unmatched in the industry and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”
