BRISBANE (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Los Angeles-based AEG has acquired an interest in Brisbane-based Ogden IFC and will form a new division to operate arenas, theatres, stadiums, convention and exhibition centres across the Asia Pacific region.
Details of the joint venture were announced today by Ogden IFC Chairman & CEO, Harvey Lister and President and CEO, AEG, Timothy J. Leiweke.
The joint venture to be known as AEG Ogden will be led by Mr. Lister and Rod Pilbeam, the company’s Executive Director who will work in conjunction with Bob Newman, the Chief Operating Officer of AEG Facilities and other divisions of AEG, including AEG Live.
AEG Ogden’s territory of operations will focus on the Asia region from China through India, including South East Asia; the Western Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand; and the Middle East and North Africa regions. In total, this territory encompasses countries with 64% of the world’s population.
The joint venture brings to 65 the number of venues affiliated with the AEG Ogden Global Family of Facilities. It also creates one of the largest venue and events businesses in the world.
Newman said the tremendous experience, strengths and portfolios of affiliated venues of both companies would ensure AEG Ogden became a global organization with unprecedented resources from the outset.
“The collection of associated facilities will provide a single entity of unmatched strength capable of maximizing event activity, sponsorship revenues and the highest levels of guest services as well as providing capital to the advantage of the entire network of venues.”
Newman said there was no doubting Ogden IFC’s position as the leading venue management company throughout the Asia Pacific region, Australia, the Middle East and Pacific Rim.
“Merging the assets and experience of AEG Facilities with the great infrastructure and management team already in place with Ogden IFC is going to create an organization that will not only set a new standard within our industry but will have a positive impact on the diversity of programming and guest services throughout the region,” Newman added.
Lister said Ogden IFC had been active in the Asia Pacific region during the past 20 years and had contributed significantly to the development of some great architectural masterpieces and their commercial success.
“We have also admired the emergence of AEG into one of the world’s sports and entertainment heavyweights.
“Both AEG and Ogden operate under strong commercial models and both have taken a strikingly similar partnership approach in relation to working with various Government entities as well as private sector venue developers. That’s where the business models of both companies in the delivery of successful operating venues differ from those of our competitors.”
Mr. Lister said AEG was recognized worldwide for its strength in venues specializing in both sport and entertainment, and this partnership would greatly enhance Ogden IFC’s current arena and stadium operations
“Ogden also has an expanding network of convention centres across the Asia Pacific region.
“AEG Ogden will be looking to build upon that strength particularly in leveraging additional conferences and developing additional exhibitions to increase revenues in the venues we currently manage,” he said.
Mr. Lister said joint-venture company anticipated announcing a range of exciting new venue projects in the Asia Pacific region over the coming months, and in turn leveraging additional events into all of the venues that now comprise the AEG Ogden Global Family of Facilities. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
