He was also executive chairman of the Florida Panthers Hockey Club and Sunrise Sports & Entertainment. While in Philadelphia, Luukko also oversaw Comcast Spectacor's Global Spectrum arena management portfolio of 125-plus venues. Peter Luukko, Executive Chairman of OVG360, spent more than 25 years overseeing the Philadelphia Flyers, while also serving as a member of the National Hockey League Board of Governors. Chris Granger, President of OVG360, previously oversaw business operations for Ilitch Sports & Entertainment, which included the Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit Tigers, the historic FOX Theater, and the iconic Pine Knob amphitheater. Leiweke is also the former President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment properties (including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Scotiabank Arena), as well as helped the 32nd franchise, Seattle Kraken, find a home at Climate Pledge Arena. Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, is the former President and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Governor of the LA Kings, where he helped bring the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles. The operations of PPG Paints Arena will be supported by a deep senior leadership team with extensive hockey backgrounds. "OVG recognizes the strength and resilience of Pittsburgh's fan base and the quality of our venue, and we are thrilled to partner with them to focus on the future of sports and live entertainment in Pittsburgh." "OVG is a rising, innovative leader in arena management, and we are proud to welcome their partnership at PPG Paints Arena,"Kevin Acklin, Chief Operating Officer, Pittsburgh Penguins, said. OVG has a history of strong labor relations in Seattle, New York, and across its portfolio of venues globally. Additionally, the new management team will make substantial private investments into PPG Paints Arena to improve the fan experience and operational infrastructure, and contribute more aggressively to the quality and diversity of entertainment in the Pittsburgh region.Īnother key part of the new agreement, that takes effect July 1, is OVG360 will retain the venue's existing local management team and arena workers, including all union relationships. OVG360 has long demonstrated its ability to drive world-class content, premium events, and major concerts to its family of venues globally. Louis Blues), and in the Pittsburgh area, the UMPC Events Center at Robert Morris University. OVG360 also manages the soon-to-open multi-purpose arena at Arizona State University (where the NHL Arizona Coyotes will play), the Centene Community Ice Center (practice facility for the NHL St. We’ve got lots up and ready to accommodate Pens Pittsburgh Penguins on those winter nights.Following a competitive, national search among several top-tier arena operators, the Penguins selected OVG360 based on the company's proven expertise operating world-class facilities, including two newly constructed National Hockey League arenas: UBS Arena (home of the New York Islanders) and Climate Pledge Arena (home of the Seattle Kraken and the 2022 Sports Business Journal "Sports Facility of the Year"). ParkWhiz encourages fans to keep technology and performance in mind as they look for parking. Penguins parking will remain hotly pursued as long as Pittsburgh keeps this up. Traditionally a powerhouse with old-timers Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, the team is now in the safe hands of Sidney Crosby, who’s led his team to a Stanley Cup as recently as 2016 and cemented Pittsburgh’s status as a yearly title threat. Touch-screen monitors in suites allow fans on-demand replays, while a mobile phone innovation allows fans to check out multi-angle replays in the stadium straight from their cell phones. The Sports Business Journal reader poll voted it as the “Best NHL Arena” and the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards awarded it as the “Best New Major Concert Venue.”Ī dedication to technology separates this arena from the others. Nonetheless, the new complex earned rave reviews. In stepped the new downtown arena, without a cushy outdoor service lot like the old one to provide PPG Paints Arena parking. Unfortunately the option of converting a stadium into an outdoor arena isn’t much help to a hockey team. “The Igloo,” as fans called it, earned its acclaim as the first retractable-roof venue in the world. In fact, no NHL venue was older than the Mellon Arena. It was a real change of scenery for the hockey faithful in Pittsburgh. It's one of the newest arenas in the NFL, after the Barclays Center and Rogers Place. Formerly known as the Consol Energy Center, PPG Paints Arena opened in 2010, replacing the Mellon Arena to the delight of all Penguins fans.
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