GREENSBORO, N.C. — Venues like the Tanger Center and Greensboro Coliseum Complex attract upwards of a million people every year.
The Coliseum Complex is one of the largest entertainment venues in the country.
They'll both soon transition to new leadership.
The city narrowed in on the private management company Oak View Group to possibly run the entertainment hubs.
The management company said the Coliseum Complex is already well-run.
But with the current manager planning to retire soon, the company wants to step in to amplify the work already done.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan said the venues always have events happening.
" We’ve had a great track record of booking concerts," Vaughan said. "I think primarily that’s because of the fan experience here and performers feel like we’re happy to have them."
The complex has been managed by Matt Brown with the city of Greensboro since 1994 but now the city is looking at going private to have Oak View Group take over.
"OVG manages a bunch of coliseums throughout the county where they can come with a portfolio of venues that a performer can book at once.," Vaughan said. "They bring a good economy of scale that we don’t have right now."
In a presentation to the city council, Monday OVG shared their track record.
They manage more than 350 hospitality venues worldwide. Including the Durham Convention Center.
They've also hosted more than 100 million attendees.
Mayor Vaugh said the company is already looking at ways to do more with the Greensboro Complex.
"Whether it would be a music venue or a soccer stadium," Vaughan said.
One concern was how the transition would impact current employees.
"We want to make sure the benefits they receive are similar to the benefits they received with the city," Vaughan said. "That any vacation and sick time accrued will be transferred in some manner."
Mayor Vaughan said that responsibility largely falls on the city.
But OVG said they plan to welcome all Coliseum and Tanger Center employees to a job with them.
The company said it has a 90% retention rate during transitions.
"Not only do they have the opportunity to grow here in Greensboro," an OVG representative said. "They also have the opportunity if they choose to do so to move around the country and have opportunities there."
Mayor Vaughan said she hopes the employees will stay but wouldn’t mind the company marketing a new name for the complex.
"We wanted to look at selling the naming rights to the Greensboro Coliseum," Vaughan said. "We don’t have that country database of companies that may be interested in naming the coliseum."
This will not change how the complex is used by locals.
"Supporting local nonprofits when they need a place to rent or local rotary clubs for their luncheons and the school system for graduations. We want to keep that commitment to the community."
City council will vote on whether or not OVG will take over management in two weeks.
If approved the transition will begin in July.