City of Hamilton backs $100K arena study with eye to NHL

[Bookie21]

OVG doesn't own the arena in Seattle. City of Seattle will continue to own it.

Oak View is putting up the money, Oak View will own the controlling rights and the operation of the arena. Therefore make all the money.

 

[GuelphStormer]

Oak View is putting up the money, Oak View will own the controlling rights and the operation of the arena. Therefore make all the money.

is OVG also part of the proposed team ownership group in Seattle? or just the arena?

 

[gstommylee]

is OVG also part of the proposed team ownership group in Seattle? or just the arena?

OVG will have minority shares of the NHL team at most. They are operators of the arena.

 

[GuelphStormer]

OVG will have minority shares of the NHL team at most. They are operators of the arena.

how do you know this? has this officially been announced? thanks.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

I have no doubt Hamilton and surrounding area could support an NHL and do well financially. The big issue beyond an NHL quality arena is the politics. I'm not sure Buffalo and/or TO would relent on any territorial claim.

They should do well attendance wise but they need corporate support.

 

[GuelphStormer]

They should do well attendance wise but they need corporate support.

No doubt (and admittedly, now a brand new arena that can provide high quality suites).

I think corporate support need not necessarily come from within Hamilton itself (although I can think of a few locals that would likely snap up suites). Support will likely also come from folks in surrounding areas like Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.

With increases in real estate, large scale downtown developments, and a thriving music and entertainment scene, Hamilton has recently earned the nickname, Toronto's Brooklyn. Financially, that's probably very true, there's more than enough money in town to support a team.

It's not whether Hamilton can be successful, it's whether it will be given the opportunity to be and how that comes about.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

No doubt (and admittedly, now a brand new arena that can provide high quality suites).

I think corporate support need not necessarily come from within Hamilton itself (although I can think of a few locals that would likely snap up suites). Support will likely also come from folks in surrounding areas like Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.

With increases in real estate, large scale downtown developments, and a thriving music and entertainment scene, Hamilton has recently earned the nickname, Toronto's Brooklyn. Financially, that's probably very true, there's more than enough money in town to support a team.

It's not whether Hamilton can be successful, it's whether it will be given the opportunity to be and how that comes about.

It's just speculation whether a team in Hamilton would be successful, after all, you guys were so sure that Vegas wouldn't get a team and after it got a team that it would not be supported unless the casinos bought all the tickets and gave them away. So considering the track record excuse me for being skeptical of y'alls claims of what markets will be successful or not.

 

[gstommylee]

how do you know this? has this officially been announced? thanks.

Yes its been announced already. OVG already said they would have a small precent in the group.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

No doubt (and admittedly, now a brand new arena that can provide high quality suites).

I think corporate support need not necessarily come from within Hamilton itself (although I can think of a few locals that would likely snap up suites). Support will likely also come from folks in surrounding areas like Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.

With increases in real estate, large scale downtown developments, and a thriving music and entertainment scene, Hamilton has recently earned the nickname, Toronto's Brooklyn. Financially, that's probably very true, there's more than enough money in town to support a team.

It's not whether Hamilton can be successful, it's whether it will be given the opportunity to be and how that comes about.

Yes, absolutely. The question is how much of a fight they have to put up with Leafs to get the corporate dollars?

 

[GuelphStormer]

It's just speculation whether a team in Hamilton would be successful, after all, you guys were so sure that Vegas wouldn't get a team and after it got a team that it would not be supported unless the casinos bought all the tickets and gave them away. So considering the track record excuse me for being skeptical of y'alls claims of what markets will be successful or not.

to be fair, ive actually been supportive of a team in vegas. sure, like many here, i figured it would be a relo of the coyotes. and admittedly, i was a bit surprised that the league brought in vegas but not quebec (although the theory that quebec is being saved for an emergency relo of an eastern team - like winnipeg was - makes sense). as far as who would support vegas, i also think i was among the first here to be convince by locals that casinos might not necessarily rush to scoop up tix, thus driving folks off the casino floors, and worse, out of the building. so no, actually you dont have it right here.

re: hamilton being a success, the league put that question to bed in Glendale BK court. yes, most certainly it would be.

 

[Hamilton Tigers]

Our Services – Oak View Group

What we offer:
• Venue Design, Venue Construction and Live District Development
• Brand Strategy
• Premium Seating Strategy and Execution
• Ticketing (Strategy, Pricing, Sales, Servicing and Revenue Optimization)
• Security and Terrorism Prevention
• Team Operations
• Marketing and Social Media Campaign Analysis
• Event Bids (e.g. All Star Game, Annual Tournaments)
• Media Rights

 

[Killion]

I'm still holding out hope.

Opinion | Carmen’s teams up with L.A. powerhouse in City of Hamilton venues bid


"The Hamilton hospitality company has notified the city that its proposal to operate and potentially redevelop the aging arena, concert hall and convention centre now includes working with the Oak View Group (OVG), a heavyweight Los Angeles-based venue management, event booking and development company.

In a letter to the mayor and city councillors, Carmen's CEO PJ Mercanti flags OVG's participation in an offer from a Carmen's-led consortium to provide greater financial savings to the city and a forthcoming unsolicited offer to create a "Precinct Plan" for the "next generation" of sports, entertainment and convention facilities in the core.

"The fact that OVG is attracted to the vision that the local group is presenting and want to be a part of that speaks to what we're trying to bring to the table," Mercanti said in an interview.
OVG was founded in 2015 by Tim Leiweke, former president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and Irving Azoff, former chair and CEO of Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment.

Its executive team includes Peter Luukko, executive chair of the NHL Flordia Panthers and former CEO of Spectra, the company currently contracted by the city to run FirstOntario Centre (formerly Copps Coliseum) and FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place).
OVG was recently selected to build a new home for the NHL New York Islanders and is spearheading the $600-million renovation of the KeyArena in Seattle. This is its first prospective management foray into Canada."


"Doug Higgons, OVG senior vice-president of facilities, says his company is "very bullish and excited" about the future of Hamilton after spending several months studying the market and its potential opportunities.

"We were looking for the right opportunity for the proper entrance into Canada and Hamilton fits that specifically," Higgons said.

Higgons says OVG, if given a chance, is specifically interested in working with the Carmen's consortium on the entertainment venues.

That consortium includes billionaire Ron Joyce, FirstOntario Credit Union, LiUNA and Fengate Capital.

They first came together with Carmen's to fund a consulting report on options for overhauling the 33-year-old arena, a study stickhandled by lawyer and consultant Jasper Kujavsky, who is now advising the group.

Kujavsky is especially keen on Carmen's idea for a comprehensive precinct plan.

For his part, Mercanti says it's premature to go into details but he hopes to bring a proposal shortly to council for exploring a sport-entertainment-commercial precinct in the core which could harmonize with a potential bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games."

Wait.... What? ...... I seem to have missed this..... Mind blowing..... OVG? Ron Joyce? Some heavy hitters.