OVG360 takes over TD Station management

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

OVG360 has been chosen to manage and operate TD Station.

According to a City of Saint John news release, the partnership has been in place since Feb. 15. The city said the deal was put in place "in an effort to increase the quantity and quality of live events and to operate more efficiently."

The Telegraph-Journal first reported on OVG360, part of the Oak View Group, potentially taking over TD Station back in September.

OVG, co-founded by former MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke, has become a major player in the arena industry in recent years. OVG and Spectra merged in 2021, meaning this company currently manages CHL arenas in Spokane, Windsor, Oshawa, Moose Jaw, Hamilton, Everett and London. The company is currently overseeing a massive renovation to Hamilton's arena, which is forcing the team to relocate to Brantford for at least three seasons.

OVG recently built the new homes for the New York Islanders and Seattle Kraken and also manages the Pittsburgh Penguins' arena. They are well-versed in modern hockey arenas.

“We’re eager to hit the ground running with the team at TD Station,” said Greg O’Dell, president of venue management at OVG360, in the city's release. “We’re going to tap OVG’s collective resources from across Canada, as well as our industry relationships and partnerships with agents, promoters and vendors, to reenergize TD Station and create new opportunities to bring the region together for top-notch quality entertainment. OVG360 is here to be a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports, live entertainment, and hospitality industries.”

The release added that the company "will oversee the day-to-day operations and food and beverage services of the venue, book and schedule events, and handle all marketing and sales."

It will be quite interesting to see what OVG360 does with the building. The bones of TD Station are quite good, but the building is starting to lack some of the modern amenities many newer buildings - like Moncton's Avenir Centre - feature. The concessions have been an issue for over a decade now; the ticketing platform lacks many features; and the video and sound system, which have both been updated since the Sea Dogs arrived, are starting to become dated.

There are certainly some valid concerns with this deal as well: how much could this arrangement cost tax payers and will it impact ticket prices. Time will tell, but it looks like quite a few positives could come from this.

Oak View Group currently has a job posting for a Director of Finance for TD Station.