Rhode Island Convention Center Authority Awards Management Services to Oak View Group

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Venues & Destinations
Rhode Island Convention Center Authority Awards Management Services to Oak View Group

7/1/2024
PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to enhance its live event experience and promote the City of Providence as a prime destination for entertainment, meetings, and conventions, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority today announced a new manager/operator for the Rhode Island Convention Center, Amica Mutual Pavilion, and the Authority’s three parking garages. Oak View Group, the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions, will begin managing all properties on July 1, 2024.

In addition, OVG Hospitality, known for redefining the culinary experience at cultural attractions, live performance spaces, sporting events, concerts, and other live events, will become the new food and beverage provider and caterer at Rhode Island Convention Center on July 1. OVG Hospitality’s fresh approach to creating new and exciting dining experiences includes partnering with many local food purveyors and vendors with a specialty menu that highlights the tastes of the New England region.

“We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with the Oak View Group, a collaboration designed to drive significant economic impact for our community,” said Ernie Almonte, Chairperson of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority. “By leveraging our combined expertise and resources, we aim to bring world-class events, new business opportunities, and exceptional experiences to the Amica Mutual Pavilion and Rhode Island Convention Center. This partnership represents a shared commitment to fostering prosperity and enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our region. We look forward to the positive changes and developments this collaboration will bring.”

“We are excited to partner with the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and look forward to taking over management of these great properties,” said Greg O’Dell, Oak View Group President of Venue Management. “Providence has always been an outstanding market for live entertainment. Some of our executives have come up through the industry through Providence and this will be an exciting time for many of us as we reignite the market and make it a must-play stop, as well as a popular destination for meetings and convention.”

Several Oak View Group executives, who led OVG’s efforts to secure its partnership with RICCA, spent the early parts of their career at the then Providence Civic Center, including Peter Luukko, co-Chair, Oak View Group and Hank Abate, President – Northeast Division, who will oversee the account. Peter Zingoni, who leads business development for Oak View Group, is a former student-athlete who played men’s hockey for the Providence Friars.

Oak View Group will retain the current staff at the properties and utilize the synergies of its other New England-area properties to help attract new events into Providence.

“We are thrilled to engage with a partner who fully embraces our incredible existing employees to deliver world class service to our clients and guests. The opportunity to leverage nearby venues will only enhance our ability to deliver outstanding content to our patrons,” said Dan McConaghy, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority.

Additionally, Oak View Group, under the direction of Joe Leung, Vice President of its Parking & Mobility division, will help develop operational strategies to optimize the guest experience, generate revenue, reduce environmental impact, and support the surrounding community at the adjacent parking garages.

In New England, Oak View Group provides management or food and beverage services to Ryan Center on the campus of Rhode Island University in Kingston, RI; Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, ME; Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, ME; Mullins Center on the campus of University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA; MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA; Polar Park in Worcester, MA; Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA; Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, CT; XL Center in Hartford, CT; Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, CT; Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT; and Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT.

Oak View Group continues to demonstrate its success as the preeminent venue management and hospitality company in the industry with recently acquired management and/or food contracts at Footprint Center in Phoenix; BOK Center and COX Convention Center in Tulsa; McCormick Place, the nation’s largest convention center, in Chicago, IL; the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro, NC; Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, AL; and the Gateway District, Allen Fieldhouse and the reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS.

About Oak View Group
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. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit www.OakViewGroup.com.

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