By OakViewGroup.com

Oak View Group (OVG) announced that Chris Granger has joined the company to lead OVG Facilities as its CEO. Based in Detroit, Chris will report to Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group.

Chris’ appointment comes on the heels of OVG’s announcement to merge with Spectra, one of the industry’s leading food and beverage and hospitality providers, to create a leading full-service live events company. The combined company will provide industry-leading expertise in booking and creating content for the venues it manages, and it will be committed to sustainability across its business operations by harnessing the power of the entertainment and sports industries to inspire positive change robustly and at scale.

With more than 25 years of experience, Chris will oversee OVG Facilities, OVG Media & Conferences, and the OVG Arena Alliance, a collection of the top 32 venues in North America that provides a platform for booking, content, and sponsorship sales opportunities. In addition, Chris will focus on sustainability, public safety, and sanitization solutions across all venues, addressing some of the biggest challenges in the live events industry.

“As we grow as a company, there are priorities that we have set to guide that growth,” Leiweke said. “First, character, in all aspects of our organization. Second, a commitment to lead the industry and change the conversation. Third, to not operate in fear. What I admire most about Chris is he is a living example of all three. Anyone and everyone that has worked with him knows he is a class act and leads by example. In addition, he is like us, dreaming for what we could be as an industry and thinking outside the box. And finally, he believes that this is the time for us to be bold, to be entrepreneurial, and to grow this industry. All of us at OVG, our facilities, and our fans, are looking forward to Chris’ leadership.”

“I am excited and humbled to join Tim Leiweke, Irving Azoff, and the incredibly talented team at Oak View Group,” Granger said. “Venues, arenas, and stadiums increasingly play an irreplaceable role in society. They bring diverse people together to cheer, to sing, to vote, to protest, and to celebrate. Further, we are seeing facilities lead the way in areas of public health, public safety, and sustainability. I look forward to contributing to the OVG vision of making a positive contribution to the world through our venues. I can’t wait to get started.”

“I would also like to thank Chris Ilitch for the amazing opportunity to steward the business operations of two iconic teams, six world-class venues, and work with some of the hardest working people in sports and entertainment. It’s been an honor to represent the Winged Wheel and Olde English D, and truly the highlight of my career thus far. I am grateful for what I have learned, for the friendships built, and for the chance to live, work, and play in the Motor City, one of the great entertainment destinations in the world.”

Prior to joining OVG, Chris was group president of sports & entertainment with Ilitch Holdings, a position he held since 2017. While there, he was responsible for all aspects of business operations for the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Red Wings, the company’s joint venture interest in 313 Presents, and the operations of Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, Detroit’s historic Fox Theater, DTE Energy Music Theater, Meadow Brook Amphitheater, and Michigan Lottery Amphitheater at Freedom Hill. In Granger’s four years leading the organization, the Ilitch sports and entertainment businesses saw a period of unprecedented growth, a broad expansion of programming, and significant community investment.

Chris previously served as president of the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Basketball Holdings, LLC. During his tenure, the Kings enjoyed unprecedented revenue growth and were widely recognized as a highly innovative and community-minded franchise. Chris’ influence also extended to the development of Sacramento’s award-winning, LEED Platinum Golden 1 Center, and its 1.5 million-square-foot downtown mixed-use development project, Downtown Commons. The Golden 1 Center was the first arena in the country to be recognized as LEED Platinum, reflecting its groundbreaking commitment to sustainability. Before joining the Kings, Granger worked in various capacities for the NBA for 14 years. While there, he served as the executive vice president of the NBA’s renowned team marketing and business operations function, where he advised NBA, WNBA, and NBA Development League teams on all aspects of business operations.

Chris and his family are active in a wide range of charitable organizations in the Detroit community, including Make-a-Wish Michigan, Salvation Army, the Henry Ford Museum, and City Year Detroit, where Chris proudly serves on the Board.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and his Master of Business Administration from Yale. He was named Sacramento Business Person of the Year in 2017 and was a 2010 Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 award winner.

By Megan Palmer

SpotOn, one of the fastest-growing software and payments companies with comprehensive solutions for restaurants and retail businesses, announced $300 million in Series E funding, raising its valuation to $3.15 billion. The funding will be used to acquire Appetize, a leading digital and mobile commerce platform for enterprise businesses, such as sports and entertainment venues, theme parks, zoos, college campuses, and more.

The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of the world’s leading technology and software investors, with continued participation from current investors, including DST Global, 01 Advisors, Dragoneer Investment Group, Franklin Templeton, and Mubadala Investment Company, as well as new investors Wellington Management and Coatue Management. Advisors Douglas Merritt, CEO of Splunk, and Mike Scarpelli, CFO of Snowflake, also made individual investments. The funding comes four months after SpotOn’s Series D and increases its valuation from $1.875 to $3.15 billion, further reinforcing the company’s momentum and market potential.

“This investment enables SpotOn to significantly increase its total addressable market, with an end-to-end platform for restaurants and retail business of all types and sizes,” said David George, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. “The acquisition is a natural fit given the companies’ complementary technology and shared focus on market-leading customer support.”

Following the acquisition, SpotOn is positioned to rapidly expand its reach to serve the middle market. SpotOn has hundreds of account executives embedded in communities across the country who will bring Appetize’s world-class technology to thousands of regional entertainment centers, stadiums, colleges, and universities in these communities.

“From our first meetings with Appetize, we knew they had great people and a great product, and the more we worked together it became clear that our two companies were stronger together,” said Matt Hyman, Co-CEO of SpotOn. “We are combining our complementary technologies, extending our market coverage and retaining our shared passion for great service and support for our clients. SpotOn is quickly becoming a part of everyday life for consumers across the country whenever they shop, dine, or visit a stadium or a college campus.”

“Appetize has built a truly special team and product that is trusted by some of the most iconic brands in hospitality, from Yankee Stadium to LSU to the San Diego Zoo. Likewise, SpotOn has earned the trust of tens of thousands of small businesses and independent restaurants with their technology and team,” said Max Roper, CEO at Appetize, who will continue running the business as part of SpotOn. “This acquisition enables our combined team to accelerate investments into our core product and client base, while expanding to fill a void in the mid-market space. By bringing the two companies together, businesses from a major league ballpark to a local clothing boutique will have access to modern, intuitive, cloud-based technology that delivers exceptional customer experiences from one trusted provider.”

The acquisition leverages SpotOn’s SMB expertise and Appetize’s enterprise acumen to focus on a broader market that is beneficial for all clients. SMBs will benefit from robust, scalable technology that can grow with them, and enterprise clients can leverage complementary products, such as sophisticated loyalty programs and expanded marketing capabilities, to increase engagement with their most valuable customers. Through these combined, complementary technologies, SpotOn is positioned to support clients of all types and sizes to manage their business now and well into the future. The transaction is expected to close by mid-September.

Megan Palmer is Senior Communications Manager at SpotOn based in the Washington, D.C. area.

By Dominique Wright

YouTube Theater, the new 6,000 seat performance venue located at Hollywood Park, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony ahead of its opening series of events. Marking the start of its inaugural year, the ceremony included Hollywood Park Developer and Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke, YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl, and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. YouTube creator Mai Pham served as the master of ceremonies. Live Nation Concerts’ Chief Strategy and Development Officer Jordan Zachary as well as President of Los Angeles for Live Nation Concerts, Rich Best, were also in attendance to celebrate the opening of the city’s brand new music and entertainment venue.

YouTube Theater’s initial slate of events spans September, October, and November and will culminate in a Grand Opening this winter when YouTube Theater and Live Nation, the venue’s exclusive booking promoter, announce the theater’s first artist residency with one of today’s most popular music groups, to be announced later this year.

“YouTube Theater is in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world and inspired by creativity and technology,” said Hollywood Park Developer E. Stanley Kroenke. “We are proud to partner with YouTube at this unique venue. YouTube Theater’s opening series of special and diverse concerts and events is not only for the Inglewood and Los Angeles communities it calls home but also representative of them. On this special occasion, we want to express our deepest appreciation to the partners, colleagues, and employees that helped bring YouTube Theater to life. We cannot wait to welcome you.”

YouTube Theater is uniquely positioned to serve as a new home for artists, creators, and an array of live entertainment. Live Nation will bring a diverse array of artists to the brand new Los Angeles venue across a variety of genres, spanning from Latin and Pop to Hip-Hop, Rock, R&B, Soul, and much more, as well as some of the biggest and best names in comedy and entertainment. In addition, the theater is equipped to host many other types of events, including awards shows, esports competitions, community gatherings, conference,s and more.

The 227,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art indoor venue is three-stories and places an emphasis on the live experience. The farthest seat in the house is only 164 feet from the 6,100 square-foot stage, creating an intimate environment for fans and artists while simultaneously providing an expansive performance area to allow for the utmost creativity and stage design. The theater has the ability to seamlessly stream live events, bringing the entertainment to fans in any locale.

YouTube Theater offers best-in-class amenities, with six premium boxes, a 1,200 square-foot back-of-house hospitality space – with adjacent dressing rooms – and a 3,500 square-foot private club embedded with 140 premium seats. YouTube Theater also features a sound system from L-Acoustics – the global leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of professional sound reinforcement technologies – that creates an elevated audio experience for artists and fans alike. Designed by Idibri and integrated by 3G Productions, this world-class sound system features the renowned K Series – an industry benchmark in audio for tours, festivals, and premium sound installations worldwide.

The venue itself is blended seamlessly in at the southernmost corner of the same roof canopy that stretches over SoFi Stadium and American Airlines Plaza. Complete with a two-story Kaynemaile chandelier, the theater’s features provide a next-level fan experience. With a focus on digital technology, YouTube Theater also showcases a large-scale immersive digital signage display of the YouTube Icon on the exterior of the building that delivers a motion-based interactive experience for guests. Limited only by creativity, the YouTube Icon can be programmed with an infinite number of interactive modes. Guests can experience one of the Mirror Modes and see their bodies take on different shapes through convex and concave simulations across the 13-foot high by 10-foot-wide screen. Additionally, YouTube Theater guests and passersby will be able to view highlights of YouTube’s creator content playing out across the Icon’s screen. The theater also features an interactive digital wall on the interior that will be used to celebrate YouTube creators and artists by showcasing them in a gallery-like setting.

YouTube Theater is a part of Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination being developed by Kroenke. It is the largest urban mixed-use development under construction in the Western United States. Designed to be a true gathering space for Inglewood and Los Angeles, when complete, Hollywood Park will feature 25 acres of public parks and open space. Entirely privately funded, Hollywood Park is also home to SoFi Stadium, the new venue for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, and American Airlines Plaza, as well as an exceptional 500,000 square-foot retail district, more than 300 residences and the NFL Building, which will all open to the public in or before Spring 2022 under Phase 1 of Hollywood Park’s development timeline.

Dominique Wright is Communications Specialist at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in August 2021. Thank you for being a part of the association! Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

Jerrol Anonuevo, Tacoma Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA

Rich Atkins, Improving Communications, Port Washington, NY

Shane Axten, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Connie Barber, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO

Isabel Bearlin, Palais Theatre, St Kilda South, VIC, Australia

Jeremy Bennington, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Brock Bradley, Ungerboeck, O’Fallon, MO

Pamela Carnes=Sanders, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO

Neville Carseldine, Auckland Stadiums, Auckland,

Rachel Chambers, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Mark Coffey, Performing Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX

Shannon Cole, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Jamie Coyne, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO

Jordan Crawford, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Kathryn Czuj, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Anthony Dagata, Tennis NSW, Silverwater, NSW

Natalie Davis, Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK, Australia

Lukas Daxer, SKIDATA GmbH, Tokyo,

Julie Desaulniers, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Megan Dickerson, Collaborative Management Specialists, Tallahassee, FL

Jordan Edwards, Sunset Cultural Center, Carmel By The Sea, CA

Cori Eischen, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Courtney Elmore, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Caroline Falkiner, Naveze, Cremorne, NSW, Australia

Grant Finlay, Johnson Controls, Windsor, QLD, Australia

Matthew Friel, Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK

Kara Gerke, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Joe Giarraputo, UBS Arena, Elmont, NY

Christine Gillett, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX

Cooper Glenn, Black Hills State University, Bismarck, ND

Kimi Gray, American Airlines Center/Center Operating Company, Dallas, TX

Eric Greene, UBS Arena, Elmont, NY

Bayley Haberman, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Steve Harms, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI

Allen Hess, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Bryant Houk, Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK

Greyson Hughes, Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK

Abby Hunt, Landers Center, Southaven, MS

Matt Jeansonne, CAJUNDOME & Convention Center, Lafayette, LA

Cole Johnson, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Julia Johnson, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Cherwanda Jones, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn, AL

Toryn Jones, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Leon Jost, Auckland Stadiums, Auckland, New Zealand

Deidre Joubert, RIEDEL Communications Australia Pty Ltd, Rosebery, NSW, Australia

Jamie Kanta, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Nicholas Kilburn, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ

Danielle King, Ticketek Pty Ltd, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Josh Kropf, Tacoma Venues & Events, Tacoma, WA

Susie Kyrou, Ticketmaster, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Yolanda La Porta, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf, VIC, Australia

Joe Larosa, SKIDATA GmbH, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Jason Leung, Brisbane Racing Club Limited, Hamilton Central, QLD, Australia

Kevin Lewis, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Philby Lewis, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, VIC, Australia

Rayme Long, ExtraMile Arena, Boise, ID

Paige Lorini, UBS Arena, Elmont, NY

Katrina Lui, The Lume Australia P/L, Brunswick East, VIC, Australia

Michael Markla, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Ryan Matzelle, MI Associates, North Sydney, NSW, Australia

Andrew McCabe, Johnson Controls, Eastlakes, NSW, Australia

Richard McConnell, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO

Ethan McGue, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO

Richard McWha, Invercargill City Council, Invercargill, New Zealand

Ian Millar, VenuesWest, Floreat, WAu, Australia

Aryon Mitchell, Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land, TX

Mpho Mokonyama, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Griffin Mooney, University of South Carolina Department of Sport & Entertainment Management, Marietta, GA

Sammy Morsi, UBS Arena, Elmont, NY

Brian Moya, MGM Resorts, Las Vegas, NV

Brendan Myers, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Emily Ness, Ticketek NZ, Auckland Central, New Zealand

Lisa Nolan, ICS Service Solutions, Norwood, SA, Australia

Andres Oliden, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Lou Oppenheim, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Jessica Parrot, Tennis NSW, Silverwater, NSW, Australia

James Paterson, MI Associates, North Sydney, NSW, Australia

Amanda Peavy, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Jessica Pereira, Optus Stadium, Burswood, WAu, Australia

David Pollock, ICS Service Solutions, Norwood, SA, Australia

Alana Portlock, Ticketek Pty Ltd, Subiaco East, WAu, Australia

Amanda Powell, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI

Michelle Price, Auckland Stadiums, Auckland, New Zealand

Sue Purkiss, Ticketek, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Alan Reed, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ

Lawrence Robertson, Tennis NSW, Silverwater, NSW, Australia

Pat Robinson, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Megan Rowe, Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Brandon Ruege, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Sebastian Russe, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL

Charles Salem, Unique Venues, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Corey Salem, Unique Venues, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Jodie Sard, ICS Service Solutions, Norwood, SA, Australia

Nathan Scroope, Johnson Controls, Warners Bay, NSW, Australia

Derek Shearer, Johnson Controls, Windsor, QLD, Australia

Terrell Singleton, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Tom Sloane, MI Associates, North Sydney, NSW, Australia

Amy Squires, Thoroughbred Park – Canberra Racing Club, Mitchell, ACT, Australia

Chris Stanley, MI Associates, North Sydney, NSW, Australia

Andrew Steel, Vivaticket, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Joanna Tai, Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia

Ashlee Taylor, VenuesWest, Floreat, WAu, Australia

Mark Tenholder, St. Charles Convention Center, Saint Charles, MO

Danielle Thomas, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Mike Tice, Evolv Technology, Woodland Park, CO

Mike Tillia, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Alberto Torres, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA

Ben Tully, Camatic Seating, Inc., Wantirna South, VIC, Australia

Mari VanFelder, Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukee, WI

Nathalie Vauthier, Optus Stadium, Burswood, WAu, Australia

Wendy Walz, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Brandon Ward, ICS Service Solutions, Norwood, SA, Australia

Jack Weatherby-Fell, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin, NT, Australia

Andrea Wegener, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Michael Welch, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Tim White, Tennis NSW, Silverwater, NSW, Australia

Dave Wilke, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

Maria Williams, Performing Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX

Destrey Zarfos, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Alexander Zendzian, Mills College, Oakland, CA

The Mentor Connector program is looking for Mentees, Mentors and Coaches. We have Mentors and Mentees from every sector, and the program continues to grow each year. Anyone at any point in their career can benefit from the program.

Who can benefit from a mentor? A few examples….

1. Someone new to their career who is looking to climb the ladder. There is a wealth of information a mentor can share with you  about management, leadership, and navigating office politics.
2. Someone who is looking to achieve a specific goal such as a certification, attending their first Venue Connect or Venue Management School. A mentor that has recently achieved a certification of their own or has recently attended VMS or AVSS can walk you through the steps. A mentor can be a buddy at any conferences you may both be at. The value of a friendly face in the crowd cannot be overstated.
3. A mentee who is changing sectors. You may have many years of experience in your current sector but need someone to show you the little (and not so little) details that differentiate the pros from the crowd in your new sector.
4. A peer who is looking to achieve a career or personal goal but needs the accountability that a mentor relationship would provide. Think of it as a workout buddy situation. You are much more likely to reach your goals if you have a partner to encourage you to stick to your plan. Also, in this situation, your mentor can be a sounding board and provide a fresh perspective that can be extremely valuable.

 

Applications for the program are due September 20th. For more information about the program Click Here

To view a pre-recorded webinar about the program, register HERE