Events DC chief to take up leading role at Oak View Group venue division

OVG360, the US-based service-oriented division of global venue development and investment company Oak View Group (OVG), has announced that Gregory A. O’Dell is joining the company as president, Venue Management. O’Dell will start his new role in April as he departs his position at the helm of Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia. He will report to Chris Granger, CEO of OVG360. With more than 25 years of experience, O’Dell will oversee venue operations for 230 properties across the globe, including stadiums, arenas, convention centres, performing arts centres, cultural institutions, and state fairgrounds. O’Dell’s appointment follows OVG’s acquisition of Spectra, one of the industry’s leading venue management and hospitality providers, to create a leading full-service live events company. O’Dell has extensive experience in development and management of a diverse portfolio of venues, from the 2.3 million-square-foot Washington Convention Center to the Washington Nationals’ 41,000-seat, major league baseball stadium, to a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena. In his prior role as president and CEO of Events DC, O’Dell oversaw three lines of business: conventions and meetings, sports and entertainment, and special events. His primary responsibilities included oversight of the creation and promotion of hospitality, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities that generate economic and community benefits for the residents and businesses of District of Columbia. He also managed Events DC’s development portfolio, with active projects that include a new multi-purpose entertainment and sports arena on the campus of St Elizabeths East in Congress Heights, the redevelopment of the RFK Stadium/Armory campus, a comprehensive streetscaping project around the nine-block exterior of the Convention Center and the redevelopment of the Carnegie Library inclusive of a primary tenant lease for Apple’s global flagship store. “Greg is truly a unicorn in the live events industry in that his immense leadership experience spans both sports and entertainment and conventions and meetings,” Granger said. “Bringing on Greg as our new head of venue management aligns with our commitment to hiring and developing the most talented, innovative, and values-driven people to grow the OVG360 team. His dedication to the economic, social and environmental betterment of the communities we serve is going to help drive our goal to create enriching experiences that help people convene and reconnect, while also fuelling local economies.” O’Dell said: “I look forward to leading the charge as we optimise our venues and our assets, strengthen sales and marketing efforts, structure strategic partnerships for large events, and create new events and new content.”