OVG task force to help ‘sanitize’ venues

Article posted by Coliseum, June 25^th, 2020

Image: Various

Los Angeles-headquartered American global advisory, development and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries – Oak View Group – has announced that a task force has been set up to help establish safety protocols to reopen live entertainment facilities after worldwide closures due to COVID-19 global outbreak which has caught the world in its vicious vortex.

Brian Kabatznick, Executive VP, BD & Facilities, Oak View Group International, UK, will be one of the Speakers at the Coliseum Summit EUROPE to be held at Ascot Racecourse in UK.

‘billboard’ stated that the task force comprises industry professionals from facility operations, including sanitization technology and equipment, research and development, design, food and beverage, capital expenditure management, content and more.

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Providing development and operation protocols, guidance, and ongoing auditing of all COVID-19 and other infectious disease mitigation will be the task of OVG’s task force.

“Our team will be influential in implementing the new standards that will be adopted across the entire live entertainment industry,” said OVG head honcho Tim Leiweke in a press release sent out.

“The health and safety of fans, artistes, and touring staff, during and after this evolving global pandemic, remains our top priority. By aligning ourselves with global companies, all which I consider the best in their respective fields, we are developing and executing the necessary standards to protect anyone who may enter live entertainment venues,” Leiweke added.

‘billboard’ further informed that the task force includes the global leader in hospitality management and food service management, Delaware North, which will be responsible for food and beverage. Global leader in water, food safety and infection prevention technologies and services Ecolab, will be in charge of sanitization technology.

Design and architecture firms Gensler and Populous will oversee facilities design. Law firm Kauff McGuire & Margolis, which excels in the practice of labor and employment law, will ensure employees’ rights are protected. Engineering design firm ME Engineers will direct all mechanical and electrical engineering works. Consulting and advisory firm Teneo will monitor management consulting and the University of Washington will lead research and development. Commercial cleaning franchise Jani-King will also be a part of the task force.

‘billboard’ also mentioned that the task force will review and test more than 180 products, solutions, and technologies to see which can be used in the most efficacious way to protect all who enter the facilities. It will develop industry standards to thoroughly sanitize facilities as well as provide guidance on recommended safety protocols for all venues. Apart from looking into the safety quotient of fans, the OVG task force will establish protocols to protect employees. After testing out solutions, a program will be developed by the task force to be executed across venues.

“The process our task force uses will be key in achieving the highest standards of safety and health and create a plan with a framework for action that will be rolled out to arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters while meeting the current criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local Governmental, and health and medical professionals,” stated OVG Chief Operating Officer (COO) Stephen Collins in a press communiqué.

OVG is leading the redevelopment and operations of the new arena at Seattle Center in Washington, as well as spearheading arena development projects at Austin in Texas, New York, and Milan in Italy.

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