Oak View Group expand footprint to Canada

Article posted by Coliseum, June 14^th, 2022

Image: Ticket News

The Tim Leiweke-helmed Oak View Group (OVG) (US) launched a new Canadian division on June 8^th – OVG Canada – and announced that Canada Basketball was on board as its first client.

‘THE GLOBE AND MAIL’ stated that Leiweke, the former President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), co-founded the global sports and entertainment company (OVG) in 2015, and serves as its Chairman and CEO.

The OVG Oak View Group, LLC is an American Global Advisory, Development and Investment Company for Sports and Live Entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, it was formed on November 16^th, 2015 by Tim Leiweke and his business partner, Irving Azoff. Leiweke is the company’s head honcho.

The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Limited (MLSE) is a professional sports and commercial real estate company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Noted Leiweke, “During my time running MLSE, I realized that the Canadian sports and facility marketplace is uniquely driven by the Canadian consumer and Canadian companies. You cannot develop, operate, or sell Canadian facilities or assets from the United States, and therefore it’s critical for us to be a part of Canada.”

OVG Canada will focus on the Canadian sports and entertainment industry and offer strategic services in venue development and management, booking and content development, sponsorship brand consulting, and third-party partnership sales.

‘THE GLOBE AND MAIL’ further stated that OVG first moved into Canada last October by taking on a redevelopment project of Hamilton’s downtown arts and entertainment district and the 17,383-capacity FirstOntario Centre – a sports arena in Hamilton, Canada.

The former MLSE executive Tom Pistore was named President of OVG Canada, which will serve as Canada Basketball’s exclusive partnerships sales agency.

The CEO of OVG’s Canada division, Tom Pistore, was a speaker at Coliseum US Online Conference 2021.

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