The site of OVG’s Las Vegas entertainment district project. Courtesy Oak View Group.
Entertainment District To Include 20,000-seat arena, additional amphitheater.
Oak View Group, VenuesNow and Pollstar’s parent company, has acquired 25 acres in Las Vegas and announced plans to build a $3 billion entertainment district including a 20,000-seat arena, casino and hotel. Groundbreaking on what is being called OVG’s largest project to date is scheduled for 2023.
“South of the Las Vegas strip represents one of the few areas of potential future growth of the gaming and entertainment corridor,” Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke said in the announcement. “This unprecedented project is an industry game-changer, and we will usher in the evolution of Las Vegas as the new entertainment AND sports capital of the world. As the largest arena developer in the world, we look forward to driving good paying job creation to Clark County as well as creating the most innovative and environmentally sustainable live entertainment point of destination in the world.”
The land is spread across 66.5 acres near the intersection of I-15 and I-215, with plans for an 850,000-square-foot arena and additional amphitheater venue.
“It doesn’t get much bigger or better than Las Vegas,” added Irving Azoff, co-founder of OVG. “From the world-class Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle to UBS Arena in New York, and Moody Center in Austin, Las Vegas will be the next jewel in the OVG crown.”
Former Las Vegas Raiders President Marc Badain has partnered with OVG to lead and consult on the project, along with OVG President of Business Development Francesca Bodie, who will oversee business transactions and operations, according to the announcement.
The privately financed sports and entertainment arena will be designed by Gensler and Populous, with development led by OVG’s president of global venue development and special projects, Steve Collins. According to the announcement, the arena would potentially have more than 20,000 seats, featuring premium hospitality clubs and suites, while hosting concerts, sporting events, conventions, awards shows and more. 
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak commented, “We are proud Oak View Group has chosen Nevada for its next and largest project. This newly proposed entertainment district in Las Vegas will help continue the state’s economic momentum and create thousands of jobs and greater prosperity for Nevadans. I look forward to seeing the many opportunities this creates in Las Vegas.”
News of the Las Vegas project comes on the heels of OVG developing and opening major venues including the $1 billion-plus NHL arenas in Seattle (Climate Pledge Arena) and UBS Arena (Elmont, N.Y.). Additional OVG projects include soon-to-open Moody Center at the University of Texas in Austin; Acrisure Arena in Coachella Valley, Calif.; 20,000-seat Arena São Paulo; the $150 million Baltimore Arena; FirstOntario Centre Arena in Canada and major UK projects including a 15,000-seat arena in Cardiff, Wales, as well as Co-op Live in Manchester, at 23,500 seats to be completed in 2023.
