Oak View Group, helmed by former MLSE CEO Leiweke, launches Canadian division

TORONTO – The Tim Leiweke-helmed Oak View Group launched a new Canadian division on Wednesday — OVG Canada — and announced that Canada Basketball was on board as its first client.

Leiweke, the former president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), co-founded the global sports and entertainment company (OVG) in 2015, and serves as its chairman and CEO.

“During my time running MLSE, I realized that the Canadian sports and facility marketplace is uniquely driven by the Canadian consumer and Canadian companies,” he said Wednesday in a release. “You cannot develop, operate, or sell Canadian facilities or assets from the U.S., and therefore it’s critical for us to be a part of Canada.”

OVG Canada will focus on the Canadian sports and entertainment industry and offer strategic services in venue development and management, booking and content development, sponsorship brand consulting, and third-party partnership sales.

OVG first moved into Canada last October by taking on a redevelopment project of Hamilton’s downtown arts and entertainment district and FirstOntario Centre Arena.

Former MLSE executive Tom Pistore was named president of OVG Canada, which will serve as Canada Basketball’s exclusive partnerships sales agency.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2022.