The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted yesterday to extend Oak View Group’s contract to provide venue management, hospitality and sponsorship sales services for Bell Auditorium and the new $250M Augusta arenathat’s scheduled to open in 2027. The extended deal runs 10 years with an additional 10-year option.
As part of the agreement, OVG is investing $10M into the arena project, which will cover the cost of adding the ability to make an ice sheet in the building, which could mean professional hockey returning to Augusta after more than a decade without. Nations Group VP Michael Harvey recently told the ARCCA that adding ice could bring 45 more event days to the arena; Nations Group is serving as ARCCA’s owners’ rep.
The 10,500-seat venue, designed by Perkins&Will (PCL Construction is the construction manager), will include suites, loge boxes, a private club lounge, and a connection to the 2,700-seat Bell Auditorium, which just underwent a major refurbishment. OVG -- and Spectra before it was acquired by OVG -- has provided management services at the Augusta Entertainment Complex since 2008.
