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

From Region 3 Newsletter

Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota, announced Tiffany Vickaryous-Hubbard has been named Assistant General Manager.

“We are pleased to welcome Tiffany to Fargo and look forward to her expertise in managing and booking an
entertainment venue.” said Jon Kram, President of Scheels Arena and Fargo Force. “Her experience in the industry and deep hockey roots will ensure we will continue to meet our goals. Tiffany will assist in leading the team and continue to build upon exciting content and guest experience at Scheels Arena.”

Vickaryous-Hubbard has been an influential part of opening convention centers, arenas, stadiums, and NASCAR tracks around the US and Canada. Most recently, Vickaryous-Hubbard held the position of executive director at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, MN. She is also involved with IAVM as a Region 3 Board member and is a 2019 VMS graduate.

“I am thrilled to be here at the Scheels Arena, with such a long history of hockey and amazing events. I am thrilled to be working alongside passionate people doing amazing things,” she said.

Vickaryous-Hubbard is a hockey fan from Hockey Town U.S.A (Warroad, MN), and will be relocating to Fargo with her husband Dan; daughter Olive; and rescue puppy Pippy.

By R.V. Baugus

Russell Vandenberg, CVE, general manager of the Seaside (OR) Civic and Convention Center, announced that he will be retiring at the end of May and leaving a position he has held since 2005.

Vandenberg has more than 40 years of experience in the public assembly venue industry and told USAE that the timing was right for the 65-year-old to step down, saying, “I’m fortunate to reach 65 healthy and able to travel and spend time with family. I felt 40 years is enough in the industry, and I want to spend the next chapter doing things I want to do and enjoying this stage of my life.

The industry veteran will be going out with a bang following the completion of a $15 million expansion and renovation that fortunately occurred before the onset of the pandemic. Vandenberg added that 60 days are already booked in the long distance for 2030.

Vandenberg is well known along the Pacific coast after also working in Riverside and Irvine, California, as well as the San Diego Convention Center.

There is plenty of family to enjoy the upcoming time with including his wife, JoAnn, along with seven children, 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

But the end of May is not quite here, so the industry is still fortunate to have this most respected of professionals for a few more days yet.

By R.V. Baugus

Dr. Jim Riordan, who established the MBA Sport Management Program at Florida Atlantic University in 2000 and led the program to a No. 19 on the 2021 ranking of the world’s Top 40 postgraduate sport management degrees, has died at the age of 61.

The FAU MBA Sport program has regularly been regarded as one of the top Sport MBA programs in the country under Dr. Riordan’s direction. Over the years, he has forged connections, opened doors, and shaped the careers of hundreds of students. In Riordan’s 21 years of service, the program never finished lower than No. 30 in SportBusiness’ world rankings.

Before his time at FAU, Riordan earned his bachelors and MBA degrees from Saint John’s University in New York and completed his doctorate at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa.

Riordan also served as chair of FAU’s athletic advisory board from 2003-2004, and for two years as NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative for FAU.

The College of Business also announced they will hold a celebration of life in Riordan’s honor later this semester. The family will officially announce the burial arrangements later, while a memorial service will be held later this semester.

By Lucy Albers

The City of Oklahoma City has selected global architectural design firm Populous to develop a master plan for the renovations at ASM Global-managed Paycom Center. New amenities and improvements are designed to enhance the guest experience at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA games and live entertainment events.

Renovation plans are part of voter-approved Oklahoma City’s MAPS 4, a debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary sales tax. The funding includes $105 million for Paycom Center enhancements and renovations. Populous previously designed and delivered the state-of-the-art MAPS 3 Oklahoma City Convention Center, a $288 million project also funded by the MAPS program that opened January 2021.

“Investing in our downtown arena more than 20 years ago proved to be a game-changing decision for Oklahoma City,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “Paycom Center, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, serves as an economic driver and a top destination for live sports and entertainment. Our continued investment will focus first on fan amenities, and we’re excited about the new features the facility will offer to residents, visitors, and event organizers.”

Construction on several initial projects is scheduled to start this year with new 300-level seats and elevators. Further upgrades scheduled for 2023 include new seating, a new scoreboard, enhanced 300-level concession areas and signature bar, and further technology and infrastructure improvements. To avoid disruptions to major events and the NBA schedule, additional upgrades will be completed through a multi-year approach, with renovations anticipated through 2028.

The downtown arena was built debt-free as part of the original MAPS program that passed by Oklahoma City residents in 1993. The facility opened its doors in 2002. Welcoming more than one million guests each year, Paycom Center upgrades will provide transformative improvements that enable the city to continue to attract top -tier concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment offerings.

Lucy Albers is Director of Marketing and PR at Paycom Center.