The RiverPark Center has entered into a 5-year contract to be under the management of Oak View Group (OVG), the same company that has a separate contract with the City to manage the Owensboro Convention Center and Sportscenter. OVG and RPC officials have begun the search for a General Manager.
RPC Board Chair Scott McCain said the contract includes a 5-year renewal at RPC’s option.
“This is a critical objective unanimously agreed upon by our board of directors as a necessary pivot in our business model. This is to continue our path forward toward a sustainable, professionally managed, well-led organization that will yield better operating results and efficiencies, less risk, better quality programming, and an overall better experience for those we serve, including patrons, donors, resident user groups, staff, volunteers and ultimately the community’s placemaking initiatives,” McCain said.
McCain said that he and OVG General Manager Jeff Esposito visited the Lexington Opera House, which follows a leadership structure similar to this new partnership, before making the deal official. McCain saw that visit as very successful.
McCain noted that RPC’s contract is separate from the 8-year contract OVG has with the City of Owensboro to manage the Sportscenter, Convention Center, and the future indoor sports facility. While it is separate, OVG’s Teri Washington said the model will function similarly.
Washington noted that OVG will be the managing company and, like the other facilities, will have a general manager oversee all day-to-day operations of the facility.
“The other facilities have done really well, and we’re definitely excited to expand our relationship through this partnership with RiverPark Center,” Washington said.
The GM position has been posted, and McCain said the RPC board of directors will have input on the job search.
OVG will provide additional help to RPC through its resources, capabilities, and experience in the industry.
OVG has served as RPC’s interim management company for the last 5 months after previous Executive Director Rich Jorn departed from the position in August 2023.
At the time, McCain described the interim leadership decision as a way to “preserve, protect, and sustain Riverpark Center out into the future by installing leadership and management that builds upon our foundation of artistic excellence and community collaboration.”
