The EFL Championship team, Birmingham City FC have announced a multi-year partnership with the leading global sports and entertainment company, Oak View Group (OVG) Europe Ltd.
Irving Azoff and Tim Leiweke founded Oak View Group on November 16, 2015. Based in Los Angeles, Oak View Group, LLC is a professional sports and commercial real estate firm in the United States. The company oversees the sporting stadiums that it operates, which were built under the brand’s supervision.
In accordance with the terms of the agreement, OVG will collaborate with the club to design a long-term plan to optimise the commercial value of St. Andrew’s and the club’s training grounds; establish a fresh structure for future infrastructure projects that Knighthead Capital Management LLC (Knighthead), the club’s owner, is dedicated to completing; and be in charge of fostering new connections with international partners who wish to join the club on its exciting journey.
Birmingham City, Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said, “It is very important for Birmingham City to join with ambitious businesses who align with the ambition of the club. Our long-term goals are unprecedented, and we are pleased to attract the global expertise OVG can bring to the club. OVG has a track record that is second to none, especially in maximising naming rights and ancillary benefits for existing stadiums and new builds. This will be a significant asset for Blues. Revenues generated by OVG will be invested directly back into the Club, supporting our drive to become world class across everything that we do.”
OVG Chairman and Founder, Tim Leiweke, said, “Currently, OVG is developing Co-op Live, the most sophisticated international Arena ever built in the U.K., and the most expensive outside of the U.S. And we seek to work with other like-minded, entrepreneurial partners. Clearly, Birmingham City and their vision for the Club and Stadium are world class and highly ambitious. We are excited and focused on helping Tom Wagner and Garry Cook deliver on their vision and commitment to Birmingham.”