Saint John’s TD Station’s new managers say they want to bring as much live entertainment as possible – and some new things for audiences to nibble on while they take it all in.
A division of Los Angeles-based Oak View Group, OVG360, has signed a five-year deal with the city to manage the arena’s day-to-day operations and concessions.
“We want to expand the program, expand the content that’s coming into the facility,” said Blair McGauchie, who is moving to Saint John from Windsor, Ontario to become the arena’s new general manager.
“And for the people that come into the facility, we want to make it a premium fan experience.”
The new agreement went into effect on February 15, adding Saint John to a long list of cities where the company manages venues.
Clients include the Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, and the UBS Arena, where the New York Islanders compete on the ice. The company’s 24 customers in Canada include Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, the Enercare Center in Toronto and the South Okanagan Events Center Complex in Penticton, BC
The TD Arena will be the company’s first foray into the Atlantic provinces.
Arena regularly operated at a deficit
“They are a very capable and experienced operator and I think they bring a lot to the table,” said James LeMesurier, Chair of the Harbor Station Commission. “I think we’re very fortunate that they were interested in running our facility.”
The Harbor Station Commission was looking for a management company that could maximize revenue and eliminate the arena’s operating deficit, LeMesurier said.
The deficit was $614,186 in 2021, but even before the pandemic in 2019, it was $570,218, according to city documents.
Previously, the arena was run by a general manager, not a company, but that person has retired.
McGauchie said there are no immediate plans for personnel changes at the arena under the new management.
Using a network to bring more shows to Saint John
From a business perspective, OVG360’s primary goal is to increase in-arena revenue, said Dan Berger, the company’s regional vice president for Central and Eastern Canada.
“Our aim is to expand the content and do it as efficiently as possible,” he said.
Berger said the company is well positioned to bring more shows to Saint John because of its customers in the eastern United States, both in Bangor and Portland, Maine.
Berger said when an artist goes on tour, it depends on the route. An artist wouldn’t do one show in Vancouver and one in Miami the next day, he said.
“It’s all about closeness. And it’s about artists trying to maximize their own returns,” he said.
“So when you have three venues that are so close together, there’s a tremendous opportunity to reach out to event organizers and say, ‘Look, here’s the package we can put together for you,'” he said.
Berger and McGauchie said they couldn’t share the details of shows that may be coming to the arena. But McGauchie said they would try to do more concerts and family shows.
improvement of food
In consulting with people in Saint John about the arena, food was identified as an area that could be improved, Berger said.
In other hotels, such as For example, at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, the luxury suite menu includes a $90 charcuterie board or $81 maple bacon brie, both of which serve 14 people.
“The high quality [of food] that you can see in places, we will definitely bring it here,” said Berger.
He said they won’t just be moving menu items from one hotel to another and that he wouldn’t be surprised if the new menu items had an East Coast flair.
“Just because we have a particular burger that works well in Penticton doesn’t mean we’re just going to completely emulate it,” he said.
When it comes to how much people are spending in the arena, Berger said they don’t intend to simply increase prices on existing items. New items will have new prices and any increases will be justified, he said.
