MOBILE, Ala. — The City of Mobile has approved a long-term agreement with Oak View Group (OGV) to operate and manage the Author Outlaw Convention Center and the historic Saenger Theater.

Earlier this month, Mayor Sandy Stimpson announced plans to demolish the aging Mobile Civic Center and partner with OVG and Live Nation to build a new, state-of-the-art civic arena. The contract approved by the Mobile City Council today also enlists OVG’s expertise to operate and enhance two of Mobile’s other venues: the Author Outlaw Convention Center and the Saenger Theater.

“OVG is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, and premium hospitality, and we are excited to bring their expertise to Mobile,” said Mayor Stimpson. “Their team has the talent and experience to improve the programming and customer experiences at these two important city facilities, and we appreciate the Mobile City Council buying into this vision.”

As part of the agreement with the City of Mobile, OVG will have strong incentives to prioritize the performance of both venues. They will also invest in improvements at the facilities and establish a maintenance fund from a dedicated percentage of ticket sales and bookings.

“We are thrilled the city has entrusted Oak View Group as its partner to reinvigorate the Mobile Convention Center and Saenger Theater,” said Greg O’Dell, President of Venue Management, OVG360. “Our priority is managing a smooth transition process. Our team will meet with the existing staff as part of our onboarding process to ensure no disruption of service for our customers and guests. Additionally, we look forward to meeting with all customers, current and new, as we will elevate the guest experience and support the surrounding community.”

At today’s meeting, the Mobile City Council also unanimously approved a project management contract with Volkert for the Civic Center development and a design contract with Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood for a site Master Plan. These contracts are being funded from the City of Mobile’s unassigned fund balance and will not impact city operations or capital projects.