Leiweke's Oak View Group Purchases Venues Today Trade Publication

Tim Leiweke’s Oak View Group has purchased Venues Today, an acquisition that includes the trade magazine, its website and an e-newsletter. Financial details were not disclosed, but Venues Today investors Ken Young, an Exec Vice Chair with Spectra, and Mike McGee, a longtime sports and entertainment exec, were bought out in the transaction, Leiweke said. Peter Luukko, Sunrise Sports & Entertainment Exec Chair, was also an investor in Venues Today. Luukko has since become an Oak View Group partner and he was on the buyer’s side of the deal, Leiweke said.

In addition, Oak View Group has hired Ray Waddell as Senior VP/Media & Conferences, and he will play a key role for what is expected to be a total revamp of Venues Today, sources said. Waddell was most recently at Billboard as a reporter covering the concert tour industry, as well as producing conferences.