CFG-OVG launch multivenue delivery services

Article posted by Coliseum, April 16^th, 2025

Image: Co-Op Live Arena, Anthony Parkes, CC BY-SA 2.0

The City Football Group (CFG) and the Oak View Group (OVG) recently announced the launch of the Eastlands Venue Services, a new joint venture to create a fully integrated service and operations company.

‘City football’ stated that the joint venture will operate 365 days-a-year across the Etihad Campus (an area of Sport City, Manchester, which is mostly owned and operated by the Manchester City F.C.) with an initial focus on catering services for both the Premier League team – the Manchester City Football Club – and the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England (UK).

Manchester (UK)-based the City Football Group (CFG) is the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs – with 13 football clubs across five continents within the CFG family. Established in May 2013 the CFG approach ensures that every club remains authentic to its fans and the community, plays entertaining football and benefits from being part of a global organization that applies the world’s best expertise on and off the pitch.

Denver (US)-based the Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions.

‘City football’ further stated that led by the longstanding CFG executive Mike Green the joint venture will begin operations with over 80 full-time employees and a casual workforce of 3,000 people providing the fans with improved standards of service through multivenue delivery at over 150 event days per year.

The joint venture will also offer career training and development opportunities by providing pathways into the service industry for the local people from both Manchester and the wider City region.

Commenting on the launch of the Eastlands Venue Services, Roel de Vries, City Football Group’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), said, “The above announcement and the launch of a new joint venture between the City Football Group and the Oak View Group is incredibly exciting and demonstrates the ongoing aspirations of both the organizations to set new standards of service in the sports and entertainment industry. Combining the expertise of our fantastic employees and the casual workforce who are vastly experienced in delivering events across the Etihad Campus venues will provide the perfect foundation as we begin operations as the Eastlands Venue Services.”

Added Jessica Koravos, President, International for Oak View Group, “In a short time the Co-op Live has grown to operating over 150 event days a year and growing. Our dedicated and passionate service teams consistently deliver exceptional fan experiences from concessions to our numerous premium spaces. Partnering with the CFG will benefit our employees and ultimately our fans.”

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