![]() Prudential Center owner and operator Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment did not offer comment in time for publication.ĭennis Arfa, whose New York-based booking agency Artists Group International represents more than 200 acts, including the region’s favorite son, Billy Joel, believes the opening of another arena in the market will force facility operators to make deals beneficial to performers in order to secure top talent. He added that Prudential Center, located in Newark, N.J., is focused on catering to an adjacent but separate New Jersey market and isn’t necessarily in competition for acts with the other four facilities. But Leiweke doesn’t see that as a threat to UBS Arena because of their ability to book collaboratively. The Garden - which according to Pollstar sold 1.66 million tickets and grossed more than $201 million last year, making it the most popular and successful arena in the world - will always be the top dog in the market based on its prestige and history. While their membership in the alliance doesn’t preclude the facilities from competing for marquee attractions, the three OVG-affiliated arenas - particularly MSG and UBS Arena - are expected to work together on “block booking” arrangements that will see major artists play shows at more than one venue in the area. The network of 29 independent facilities, each of which pays a reported six-figure fee annually to participate, benefits from its members’ collective scale and OVG’s established connections - including those of music mogul Irving Azoff - to attract major events and sponsorships. In addition to being an equity partner in UBS Arena via a joint venture with the Islanders and Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon, OVG also counts Madison Square Garden and Prudential Center as members of its Arena Alliance. ![]() The sports and entertainment industry veteran said the new Long Island space is well-positioned to be “one of the busiest music venues in the world,” based both on OVG’s scale and clout in the live entertainment sector and the arena’s artist-friendly design. That timing coincides with the scheduled opening of UBS Arena. Tim Leiweke, CEO of arena developer and operator Oak View Group, expects the live entertainment sector to benefit from “pent-up demand” once large gatherings are permitted again, forecasting that the second half of 2021 has the potential to be a historic one for the industry. ![]() With Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, Prudential Center and the Nassau Coliseum all sitting empty amid the coronavirus pandemic, arena operators will be more motivated than ever to fill as many dates as possible to make up for lost revenue. UBS Arena will be the fifth indoor facility in the New York City metropolitan area with a capacity of between 15,000-20,000 for concerts, and is located within 15 miles of three of the other four, as the crow flies.
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