OAK VIEW GROUP HOSTS SPLASHY VENUESNOW CONFERENCE

Last week in NYC, Oak View Group (OVG) held its VenuesNow Conference (VNC), the flagship event of the sports and entertainment facility industry's premier trade platform VenuesNow. Hosted for the first time in NYC, the third annual conference kicked off its VNC3 Week with the announcement of the inaugural VenuesNow All-Stars list, which recognizes the most influential and innovative execs, venues and ideas in the venues biz.

Hosted by the Conrad New York, the conference opened with a welcome address from OVG co-founders Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, followed by a one-on-one discussion with The Madison Square Garden Company's Executive Chairman/CEO Jim Dolan. Swirv and Dolan (pictured above) discussed MSG's plans to build MSG Sphere venues in London and Las Vegas.

Highlights of the conference included Tuesday’s keynote discussion, “View From the Top: The Commissioners Weigh In,” Wednesday's panel “How Sept. 11, 2001 Forever Changed Public Assembly" and the concluding Q&A with the co-owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, along with a portfolio of minor league teams and a record label, Kim Pegula (President & CEO, Pegula Sports & Entertainment), with Innovation Lab co-founder Angela Ruggiero.

CAA ICON was the presenting sponsor of the confab. It was unclear at presstime whether the catering was via Nate 'n Al's or The Apple Pan.