By Blair Cardinal
OVG360 announced that Gregory A. O’Dell is joining the full-service venue management and hospitality company as President, Venue Management. O’Dell will start his new role in April as he departs his position at the helm of Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia. He will report to Chris Granger, Chief Executive Officer of OVG360, which is the third-party, service-oriented division of Oak View Group (OVG).
With more than 25 years of experience, O’Dell will lead the venue management line of business within 
OVG360, overseeing venue operations for more than 230 properties across the globe, including stadiums, arenas, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairgrounds. He will be responsible for setting strategy to bolster sustainable operations, booking and content development, premium & sponsorship sales, public safety, public health & sanitization, parking & transportation, and many other venue competencies. O’Dell’s appointment follows OVG’s acquisition of Spectra, one of the industry’s leading venue management and hospitality providers, to create a leading full-service live events company.
He has extensive experience in development and management of a diverse portfolio of venues, from the 2.3 million-square-foot Washington Convention Center to the Washington Nationals’ 41,000-seat, major league baseball stadium to a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena.
In his prior role as president and CEO of Events DC, O’Dell oversaw three lines of business: conventions and meetings, sports and entertainment, and special events. His primary responsibilities included oversight of the creation and promotion of hospitality, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities that generate economic and community benefits for the residents and businesses of District of Columbia. He also managed Events DC’s development portfolio, with active projects that include a new multipurpose entertainment and sports arena on the campus of St. Elizabeths East in Congress Heights, the redevelopment of the RFK Stadium/Armory campus, a comprehensive streetscaping project around the nine-block exterior of the Convention Center and the redevelopment of the Carnegie Library inclusive of a primary tenant lease for Apple’s global flagship store.
“Greg is truly a unicorn in the live events industry in that his immense leadership experience spans both sports and entertainment and conventions and meetings,” Granger said. “Bringing on Greg as our new head of venue management aligns with our commitment to hiring and developing the most talented, innovative, and values-driven people to grow the OVG360 team. His dedication to the economic, social, and environmental betterment of the communities we serve is going to help drive our goal to create enriching experiences that help people convene and reconnect, while also fueling local economies. I am thrilled that Greg is joining the team.”
O’Dell said: “I could not be more excited to join the OVG360 team. Under Chris’ leadership, we have a bold vision for how we will deliver customized venue solutions to our clients, creating indelible experiences for the communities we serve. I am so fortunate as this role is the perfect fit – a culmination of my experience in sports and entertainment, hospitality and development, coupled with my passion for growth through building culture and embracing innovation. I look forward to leading the charge as we optimize our venues and our assets, strengthen sales and marketing efforts, structure strategic partnerships for large events, and create new events and new content.”
Previously, O’Dell served as chief executive officer and general manager of the Washington Convention Center Authority, where he was responsible for the operations of the 2.3-million-square-foot Convention Center, an award-winning facility that sees approximately 1 million visitors each year and has generated almost $5 billion in direct delegate spending since opening in 2003. He was also responsible for the Authority’s development efforts, having led negotiations with the selected private developer and provided oversight throughout the project lifecycle of a $520 million public-private partnership for the 1,175-room, 37-suite Marriott Marquis Washington, DC hotel.
Before joining the Washington Convention Center Authority, O’Dell was the president and chief executive officer of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, where he led the project team that completed the $611 million, 41,546-seat and Silver LEED-certified Nationals Park. During his tenure at the Commission, O’Dell was also responsible for the operations and maintenance of the RFK stadium and campus, inclusive of hosting various events including Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer play, marketing and sales activities, and the contract and services management related to the hosting of events at RFK. Before heading up the Commission, he was the chief development officer for the Government of the District of Columbia, where he was responsible for stimulating and promoting economic development within the District.
O’Dell earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and government from Wofford College.
Blair Cardinal is Vice President, Communications for Oak View Group.
Photo courtesy of OVG
