BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla.
OVG and the Florida Panthers have signed a multi-year booking deal for all programming at the BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla.
Peter Luukko, co-chair of the Arena Alliance and leader of the newly-announced OVG Facilities who is also governor for that National Hockey League team, said the deal takes the relationship between OVG and the Panthers to a new level and keeps him directly involved with team owner Vincent Viola and his arena.
BB&T Center is also a founding member of OVG’s Arena Alliance, a consortium of 30 major arenas, in which OVG takes a supportive, influencer role in multiple business platforms, including sponsorships.
“This deal gives me another opportunity to work directly with Matt (Caldwell, Panthers president and CEO),” Luukko said, noting that this is the only Arena Alliance member involved with OVG Facilities. Other Arena Alliance members have similar booking agreements, but with other providers, including Live Nation and AEG.
Kevin Grove
The booking agreement means OVG Facilities will take the lead in booking the 20,000-seat arena and that Kevin Grove, director of booking there, becomes an OVG employee. Grove joined BB&T Arena as VP of event programming in August of 2013, shortly before Viola bought the team and brought in Luukko. Grove started in the business with former promoter Brass Ring Productions in Michigan.
“Right after I moved here, we got new ownership,” Grove said. “It’s been a great four years.”
The arena averages 65 concerts and events annually, of which 24 are major concerts. OVG’s Arena Alliance, working with Live Nation, was instrumental in several of those, including John Mayer and Bon Jovi, Grove said.
OVG Facilities was announced today, along with this booking deal and the hiring of Sims Hinds (see other story) and currently includes six full management contracts as a result of acquisition of Pinnacle Venue Services.
The invitation-only Arena Alliance is comprised of 30 of the foremost arenas in North America, including Madison Square Garden, New York; Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia; United Center, Chicago, and The Forum on Los Angeles.
Since opening in 1998, the BB&T Center has become one of the nation's top arenas and has played host to the world's top touring artists and entertainment attractions. OVG will work closely with promoters, agents, and event producers to further advance BB&T Center's position as the premier sports and entertainment destination in South Florida.