OVG-Ethara hope to carve niche in Middle East

Article posted by Coliseum, September 19^th, 2023

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The global arena developer (and Pollstar’s parent company) Oak View Group (OVG) and the Abu Dhabi-based event management and venue operator Ethara have announced a joint venture.

A ‘LinkedIn Post By Ethara’ stated, “It marks OVG’s expansion into the Middle East, one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for live entertainment.”

The OVG Oak View Group, LLC is an American Global Advisory, Development and Investment Company for the 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 Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

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Pollstar is a trade publication for the concert and live music industry. The publication was purchased by Oak View Group (OVG) in July 2017.

Abu Dhabi (UAE)-based Ethara is a proven event, entertainment and venue management company driven by creativity and innovation.

Ethara, which means “thrill” in Arabic, was born out of two pioneering industry leaders in the Middle East: Flash Entertainment, and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM). The company promotes events such as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yasalam After-Race Concerts (UAE’s favorite music festival), and many other world-class sports, music, cultural, and entertainment events.

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)-based Flash Entertainment is Middle East’s leading entertainment company pioneering the future of events and experiences across sporting, music, community events, and more. It is a key partner in the development of the Abu Dhabi tourism and entertainment sector, developing and producing memorable experiences for fans and partners alike.

Abu Dhabi (UAE)-based the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM) plans and delivers more than 400 events a year across motorsports, health and fitness and major corporate conferences.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a Formula One motor racing event. It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first race took place on November 1^st, 2009, held at the Hermann Tilke (German engineer, racing driver and circuit designer)-designed Yas Marina Circuit (the 60,000-capacity venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi).

The ‘LinkedIn Post By Ethara’ further stated that “Ethara operates venues in the United Arab Emirates, including the 18,000-capacity Etihad Arena, the 25,000-capacity Etihad Park, the Yas Marina Circuit, and the 1,200-capacity Yas Conference Centre, all located in Abu Dhabi. The team’s detailed knowledge of the local markets will enable OVG and Ethara to explore significant growth opportunities together across the Middle East.”

“The new joint venture will see Ethara working closely together with the Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC), the British venue caterer recently acquired by OVG, to improve the fan experience by delivering exceptional food, beverage and hospitality services at the live entertainment venues across the Middle East, including in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.”

London (UK)-based the Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC) is a premium hospitality collection on an exciting journey to create and deliver food and beverage experiences across an array of events and iconic locations.

Said Tim Leiweke, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oak View Group (OVG), “The Middle East is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies and live entertainment markets, so our new offering in the region is a natural step for OVG to take. The pace of change in the region, with major global events like the Dubai Expo and Qatar World Cup, makes it one of the most exciting places in the world to operate in right now. We are confident that working with our partner Ethara, OVG will emulate our success across North America and Europe in the Middle East.”

Stated Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO, Ethara, “It is a proud moment to announce this joint venture with our new partner OVG as we continue to expand our capabilities and impact across the region as the leading event management and venue operator in the Middle East. The significant growth in our region now includes regularly hosting the world’s biggest events. There is increasing demand for world-class venues with first-class hospitality to serve these events and provide unforgettable experiences for fans. This partnership with the OVG will allow us to continue to innovate in this space and continue to bring exciting new events and opportunities to the market.”

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