AN EXCEPTIONAL

NEW VENUE FOR

EAST MANCHESTER

WHO WE ARE

At Oak View Group, our mission is to change the way business is done within the music, sports and live entertainment industry.

Founded in 2015 by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, we are here to create world-leading venues that go beyond the limits of what we once thought possible to deliver the very best in live entertainment.

We currently have eight divisions across four global offices in London, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. Our decades of global experience and purposeful leadership give us the drive and agility to get ahead of the trends which shape the world’s fastest growing cities – so we can deliver unique venues for audiences to enjoy for generations to come.

 

An exciting new partnership with The Co-op 

We’re delighted to be embarking on a 15-year partnership with the Co-op to bring one of the most sustainable and socially responsible arenas in Europe to East Manchester.

As one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, owned by millions of members, The Co-op is the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, as well as offering services across the insurance, legal and funeral services sectors, and employing nearly 70,000 people. 

The Co-op is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes – and we’re proud to be bringing our shared vision and values to life and we work together to bring Co-op Live to Manchester. Find out more about Co-op and their support for communities across the UK here.

WHAT WE DO

We are fans first and foremost – and that is what drives our passion for constantly innovating and creating incredible live experiences for everyone. We never stop pushing the boundaries of what makes an amazing live event – so we’re thrilled to share our vision for a new state-of-the-art arena for East Manchester.
We’re also currently embarking on other new ventures in New York, Milan, Seattle, Austin, and Palm Springs – bringing more world-class arenas to some of the world’s most iconic cities.

UBS ARENA, BELMONT PARK, NEW YORK

CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

MOODY CENTER, AUSTIN, TEXAS

WHY WE DO IT

Relationships and collaborations are at the heart of how we work, and how we do business.
Each of our projects is shaped by local insights and local talent. We know how important it is to work with local communities to get things right – and that’s why we always partner with local institutions and groups on every one of our projects.
By combining our years of global expertise with the unique perspective only local people can provide, we always ensure our projects are of real value to local communities.

OUR SENIOR TEAM

Tim Leiweke – Co-founder and CEO, OVG

Tim Leiweke is a leader and veteran in the sports and entertainment industry with over 40 years of experience. From being one of the youngest sports executives in the history of the NBA and NHL to becoming the CEO of AEG corporation, Tim’s trademark has been to leave each stop in his career better and significantly stronger than where he found it. He has helped create some of the world’s most iconic music festivals and has built many championship teams across the NBA, NHL, MLS, AHL, and DEL.

Irving Azoff – Co-founder and Board Member, OVG

Irving Azoff, a 2020 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has over 40 years of experience in music and entertainment and is widely considered to be one of the most influential people in the industry over his entire career. In 1974, Irving founded Front Line Management and began his journey to own the largest music management company in the business in Azoff Music Management. Irving has been the exclusive manager for global acts such as the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Journey, Bon Jovi, and Van Halen and over time, has grown to include current stars like Lizzo, Travis Scott, Harry Styles, Christina Aguilera and Meghan Trainor. During his career, Irving also served as the CEO of Ticketmaster, Chairman of Live Nation, and Chairman and CEO of MSG Entertainment.

Jessica Koravos – Chair, OVG International

Jessica is currently President of Really Useful Group, headquartered in London, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s entertainment production and rights licensing company, handling titles including all the Group’s original theatrical productions. Previously, Jessica enjoyed success at AEG, including roles as Managing Director of AEG Live, AEG’s concert promotion business, and Chief Operating Officer of AEG Europe from 2003, negotiating the land transactions, naming rights and commercial deals and construction agreements to build and successfully open The O2 in London.