New hospitality provider launched by Man City owner and Co-op Live developer

City Football Group (CFG) and Oak View Group (OVG), the joint developers of the Co-op Live entertainments complex next to Manchester City’s Etihad football stadium, have launched Eastlands Venue Services, a new joint venture to create a fully integrated service and operations company.

The joint venture will operate 365 days-a-year across the Etihad Campus, which encompasses the Etihad and Co-op Live, with an initial focus on catering services for both venues.

Led by long-standing CFG executive, Mike Green, the joint venture will begin operations with more than 80 full-time employees and a casual workforce of 3,000 people, providing fans with improved standards of service through multi-venue delivery at in excess of 150 event days per year.

All staff will join from existing service suppliers that currently support the delivery of catering operations at sporting and entertainment events at the Etihad Campus.

The casual workforce, the vast majority of whom are from the Greater Manchester area, will benefit from further job stability through access to more frequent and regular shifts, as part of the joint venture’s multi-venue operational model, it said.

The joint venture will also offer career training and development opportunities by providing pathways into the service industry for local people from both Manchester and the wider city region.

City Football Group owns 13 football clubs around the world, including Manchester City. Oak View Group is a US-based specialist in live entertainment venues.

Roel de Vries, City Football Group’s chief operating officer, said: “Today’s announcement and launch of a new joint venture between City Football Group and Oak View Group is incredibly exciting and demonstrates the ongoing aspirations of both organisations to set new standards of service in the sports and entertainment industry.

“Combining the expertise of our fantastic employees and casual workforce, who are vastly experienced in delivering events across Etihad Campus venues, will provide the perfect foundation as we begin operations as Eastlands Venue Services.”

Roel added: “Our immediate focus will be the continued delivery of catering services for fans at both the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live, but over time, we expect to grow and create new job opportunities for people across Greater Manchester who have an interest in the service sector.”

Jessica Koravos, president, international for Oak View Group, said: “In less than a year, Co-op Live has grown to operating over 150 event days a year.

“Our dedicated and passionate service teams consistently deliver exceptional fan experiences from concessions to our numerous premium spaces. Partnering with CFG will benefit our employees, and ultimately our fans.”