New management company named for Mobile’s Saenger Theatre and Convention Center
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) – A change of pace came for two Mobile landmarks as the city council voted in a new management company to take them over. Per previous reporting, negotiations for Oak View Group to manage the two venues and provide $2 million for improvements were pending a city council meeting.
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Today’s (March 26) city council decision placed the Saenger Theatre and Convention Center, formally managed by ASM Global, into the hands of a new, Denver-based management company called Oak View Group 360.
According to Greg O’Dell, President of Venue Management for OVG 360, management will officially begin “no later than June 1.”
“We’re first going to focus on the existing venues, and we’ll make sure we give them a lot of love and attention,” O’Dell said.
That “love and attention” will come in the form of a $2 million investment towards improvements on the Saenger Theatre and the Convention Center. The investment will be paid on a monthly basis over the course of 10 years, but O’Dell said it’s too early to know how the funds will be split between the two venues.
“We’ll work collaboratively with the city and decide what those improvements will be and how we will make that investment,” O’Dell said.
Next week, the city council will consider OVG as an interim management company for the Civic Center as ASM Global’s contract ends. If approved, OVG would manage the Civic Center up until the demolition.
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O’Dell said OVG will try to transition as many employees from ASM Global as possible.
“Our retention rate is very high, usually in the 90th percentile about who we retain,” O’Dell said.
In addition to keeping as many employees from the former management, O’Dell mentioned that he would try to ensure job security for those who work at the Civic Center once it is demolished.
“We may find opportunities for them within the other venues, but also, we’ll work closely with the city to see if there’s opportunities with the city as well,” O’Dell said.
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The city council approved over $22 million to design the remainder of the new Civic Center.
“If we decide to go beyond the 60% design, then you start demolition,” Mobile Chief of Staff, James Barber, said.
The city council will vote on OVG becoming the interim management of the Civic Center on April 2.
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