BODIE BUILDER: Newly named Oak View Group COO Francesca Bodie has been key to the company opening 10 major new arenas in the U.S. and abroad. (Courtesy OVG)
Role broadened to new revenue streams, all day-to-day operations
Lauded executive Francesca Bodie has been elevated to the new position of chief operating officer at Oak View Group after unprecedented company growth including the opening and development of 10 major new arenas in the U.S. and abroad.
“2023 was a pivotal year for Oak View Group across its service business and owned and operated portfolio,” said Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO of Oak View Group. “OVG is the only company in history to build and open seven brand-new state-of-the-art venues within 18 months, and Francesca contributed greatly to that growth and success. As we look to the future, we’re honored to have Francesca as OVG’s first COO to nurture and mature our current businesses and spearhead our next phase of growth in 2024 and beyond.” OVG is parent company of VenuesNow.
As COO, Bodie’s role will increase from capital development, mergers and acquisitions to a focus on new revenue streams including overseeing all day-to-day operations for OVG globally, including leading the company in building processes across human resources, finance, legal and marketing. She will lead OVG’s executive committee and report to Leiweke.
“I am honored to lead and work alongside my exceptional team members that have worked tirelessly and passionately since OVG’s inception,” said Bodie, who will be based in Denver, Colorado. “Together, we’ve steadily developed Oak View Group into a world-class brand that resonates with fans, artists and venue and sports professionals. With today’s announcement, we are continuing our focus on elevating all guests’ experiences through premium offerings and content at all OVG venues and those of our partners as well. I’m proud to be a part of a company that is passionate about continually raising industry standards and exceeding guest expectations to reshape the live entertainment experience.”
Bodie’s promotion comes as OVG announces a strategic investment in Family Entertainment Holdings (FEH), as well as newly announced Navarro’s activations in partnership with Christian Navarro announced in April. As the former president of business development, Bodie engineered both deals bringing new premium entertainment offerings to OVG venues and partner venues globally.
As part of the investment in Family Entertainment Holdings, OVG adds touring family content including toys-to-life shows of Mattel’s legendary Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, Magic of Lights® and more.
The brand extension with Navarro, a leader in the premium wine and spirits industry, recently celebrated its first ultra-deluxe lounge with Baltimore’s The NINETEEN 62 Club at CFG Bank Arena, premium concession kiosks at four venues, and this week launched navarroswine.com, a new e-commerce destination for holiday gifting and hard to source wines. The deal is the first of many planned premium wine and spirit lounges in OVG venues worldwide.
Bodie has had oversight of multiple global projects for OVG creating growth in third-party partnerships by leveraging industry relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
Bodie was instrumental in leading key service company acquisitions and raising $12-billion-plus of invested capital for multiple OVG’s venues that have opened over the last 18 months, including the $1-billion-plus makeover for the redevelopment of Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, the most sustainable arena in the world and home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
In addition, she spearheaded new arena ventures including New York’s $1.5 billion UBS Arena, home to the NHL’s New York Islanders; the award-winning $375 million Moody Center for the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas in Austin; the $280 million Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona; the $165 million Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia; the $300M Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs, California, home to the AHL’s affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, Coachella Valley Firebirds; the $200 million CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bodie is currently leading upcoming OVG development projects including a new $10 billion arena and live entertainment district in Las Vegas, featuring an 850,000-square-foot arena, casino, hotel and an additional amphitheater; a new arena in São Paulo, Brazil; renovation of the FirstOntario Centre Arena in Hamilton, Ontario Canada; and the $365 million Co-op Live in Manchester, U.K., which will be the U.K.’s largest, state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue and Europe’s first carbon net zero building when it opens in April 2024.
Additionally, Bodie was responsible for sourcing and executing OVG’s acquisition of the world’s premier high-end hospitality provider Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (joining other recent OVG hospitality acquisitions Spectra, Spectrum Catering and Bovingdons) to further advance and strengthen OVG’s hospitality portfolio in Europe and the U.S.
Bodie serves on OVG’s corporate board as well as on the boards for all OVG arenas and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken.
