Oak View Group (OVG) has formed a Theater Alliance alongside an inaugural roster of 39 theatres and performing arts venues, in 18 markets across the US.
The alliance will benefit from collective buying power, sponsorship opportunities, industry best practices and resources, and shared proceeds from an annual fundraising gala.
OVG, the venue development, advisory and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries, has already announced the initial members.
Members include ACL Live at Moody Theater in Austin and AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas; Beacon Theatre, Theater at MSG, and Radio City Music Hall in New York; Boch Center in Boston; The Chicago Theatre in Chicago; Spokane’s First Interstate Center; Fox Theatre in Detroit; Kimmel Center in Detroit; Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee; Paramount Theatre in Denver; Paramount Theatre in Oakland; Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in Pittsburgh; Portland’5 Centers for the Arts; Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry House; Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa; Stifel Theatre in St. Louis and Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center.
Howard Handler, president of 313 Presents, said: “313 Presents is proud to be an inaugural member of the OVG Theater Alliance. The Fox Theatre, Detroit’s crown jewel, is a destination for everyone within our community. This alliance provides opportunities for us to share and learn best practices from other iconic theatres around the country and to deliver even more to artists, tours and our guests.”
The OVG Theater Alliance will help to drive unique and exclusive, as well as traditional mainstream, content to its member venues.
Matt Beringer, chief operating officer and talent buyer for Pabst Theater Group, said: “We are thrilled to be amongst the first members of Oak View Group’s Theater Alliance. OVG has proven to be an innovator in our industry.
“With the formation of the Theater Alliance, we look forward to combining their expanded national reach and expertise with our 20 years of experience booking and operating world-class independent concert venues.”
Music industry professional Noël Mirhadi will be the director of the alliance, and has been tasked with building, launching and expanding the group.
Joe Giordano, OVG vice-president of the Theater Alliance and Arena & Stadium Alliance, said: “The demand for the Theater Alliance was certainly amplified coming out of the pandemic. Performing arts venues across the nation, which are traditionally costly to operate, all face similar challenges. The Alliance, under Noël’s outstanding leadership, is eager to continue building the network of top venues in first-tier markets to help them meet and exceed their programming and budgetary goals, and bring opportunities to the table that they didn’t even know were possible.”
Chris Granger, president of OVG360, added: “The Theater Alliance is yet another way OVG uniquely serves our industry. These theatres represent the best of the best. They are committed to work in concert not only to improve their operations and overall guest experience, but, perhaps more importantly, to creatively elevate the arts and attract a new generation of theatre-goers from within their communities…because we are all better when the arts thrive.”