Looks like Oak View Group is shopping for a new CEO.
Former MLSE boss Tim Leiwecke indicted for allegedly rigging US arena bidding process
(Toronto Star, July 9, 2025)
From 2018 to 2024, Leiweke allegedly led a scheme to steer the entertainment contracts for the arena to his company, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. His spokesperson denies any wrongdoing on the part of Leiweke.
Oak View Group CEO Leiweke leaves post after bid rigging charge on UT arena project
(MSNBC, Eamon Javers & Dan Mangan, July 9, 2025)
Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke was indicted on a federal criminal conspiracy charge related to allegedly rigging a bid to develop, manage, and operate the University of Texas’ basketball and entertainment arena in Austin, the Department of Justice said Wednesday.
Oak View Group, which will pay $15 million in penalties in connection with the allegations, later Wednesday said that Leiweke “will transition from the position of CEO to” vice chairman of the entertainment venue giant’s board of directors, and remain a shareholder.
Leiweke, 68, is accused in the indictment of conspiring with another would-be bidder on UT’s $338 million Moody Center arena project to induce that second company in February 2018 to drop out of the competition with Oak View Group in exchange for receiving lucrative subcontracts at the 15,000-seat arena.
CNBC has been told the second company was Legends Hospitality, a New York-based venue services company that is majority-owned by Sixth Street Partners, and whose minority owners include the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys.