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Rupp Arena, Central Bank Center names new leader. Why it's historic. Updated September 18, 2026 12:30 PM Gift Article Key Takeaways AI-generated summary reviewed by its newsroom. Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena has a new leader. Oak View Group, which has a contract to run Central Bank Center, Rupp Arena and Lexington Opera House, has named Laura Alexander, the former assistant general manager, as the new vice president of operations or general manager of the downtown venue. The decision was made in collaboration with the Lexington Center Corporation, a public body that oversees Central Bank Center and the Opera House. Alexander will become the first female and only the fourth person to serve as the top executive overseeing Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena, following Tom Minton, Bill Owens and Brian Sipe. Alexander will oversee all venue operations, including event management, sales and marketing, facility operations, guest experience, financial performance and booking activity across all venues, as well as national touring acts at Gatton Park on the Town Branch, according to Oak View Group. In her prior role, Alexander helped guide the revamped and expanded convention center and Rupp Arena after renovations were completed in 2021. "Laura has been instrumental in helping guide Central Bank Center through one of the most transformative periods in our organization's history," said Phil Maxson, president of the Lexington Center Corp. board. "Her commitment to operational excellence, team culture and community partnership has contributed significantly to the success of our venues and the economic impact they generate for Lexington and the Commonwealth." Prior to working for Oak View Group, Alexander worked in venue management in Owensboro. "I'm incredibly honored by this opportunity and grateful for the mentors, colleagues and team members who have supported me throughout my career," Alexander said. " From my years in Owensboro to helping open the newly expanded Central Bank Center, I've been fortunate to be part of projects that positively impact our Kentucky communities. What we've accomplished in Lexington has been the result of an outstanding team effort, and I look forward to continuing to grow our venues, attract new events and create exceptional experiences for our guests, clients and community." Alexander will begin in her new position Oct. 3. This story was originally published September 18, 2026 at 10:34 AM. Lexington Herald-Leader Beth Musgrave has covered government and politics for the Herald-Leader for more than a decade. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has worked as a reporter in Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Washington D.C. Support my work with a digital subscription

Alexander named first woman to lead Central Bank Center, Rupp Arena. September 17, 2026 LEXINGTON, Ky. - Laura Alexander has been promoted to vice president of Central Bank Center, Rupp Arena, Lexington Opera House and the Oak View Group Concert Series at Gatton Park, effective Oct. 3. Alexander will become the first woman and the fourth person to serve as the top executive overseeing Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena. She follows Tom Minton, William Owens and Brian Sipe. Currently assistant general manager, Alexander will succeed Sipe and oversee event management, sales and marketing, facility operations, guest experience, financial performance and booking across the Lexington venue campus. Her responsibilities also will include national touring performances at Gatton Park on the Town Branch. "Laura is an accomplished and respected leader whose operational expertise, collaborative approach and deep understanding of the live events industry have made a significant impact throughout her career," said Greg O'Dell, president of venue management for Oak View Group. "Her experience, leadership and commitment to the community make her well prepared to take on this important role." Alexander moved to Lexington in February 2022 to help open and operate the expanded and renovated Central Bank Center. Since then, she has helped establish the convention center's operational framework and guide the venue campus through growth in conventions, entertainment programming, client satisfaction and community engagement. She has worked with clients, tourism organizations, community stakeholders and the Lexington Center Corp. board to position the campus as a destination for conventions, sporting events, entertainment and community gatherings. "Laura has been instrumental in helping guide Central Bank Center through one of the most transformative periods in our organization's history," said Phil Maxson, chair of the Lexington Center Corp. board. "Her commitment to operational excellence, team culture and community partnership has contributed significantly to the success of our venues and the economic impact they generate for Lexington and the commonwealth." Before joining Oak View Group in Lexington, Alexander worked in venue management in Owensboro, gaining experience in convention center operations, event management and community engagement. "I'm incredibly honored by this opportunity and grateful for the mentors, colleagues and team members who have supported me throughout my career," Alexander said. "What we've accomplished in Lexington has been the result of an outstanding team effort, and I look forward to continuing to grow our venues, attract new events and create exceptional experiences for our guests, clients and community." Alexander is a graduate of the International Association of Venue Managers' Venue Management School. She earned the Certified Venue Executive designation in August, the association's highest individual professional certification. In her new position, Alexander will focus on growing convention and entertainment business, enhancing guest experiences, strengthening community partnerships and overseeing operations at Central Bank Center, Rupp Arena, Lexington Opera House and the concert series at Gatton Park. About Lexington Center Corporation Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the Lexington Center Corporation (LCC) is a not-for-profit 501c3 corporate agency of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. It was established in 1974 to manage and maintain Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Central Bank Center (formerly Lexington Convention Center), Triangle Park, and the Lexington Opera House. One of the nation's most storied entertainment destinations, Central Bank Center venues collectively welcome an average of 1.3 million patrons annually. The Central Bank Center holds more than 200 meetings, trade shows, and special events annually. It has undergone a transformative $310 million expansion, featuring a dramatic, light-filled architectural design that offers more than 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting & event space. For more information, visit www.centralbankcenter.com. About the Oak View Group Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.

Replacing Sudbury's downtown arena will save City $500 K in operating costs. New arena managers, Oak View Group, handed the contractual keys to oversee new Event Centre operations about 2 hours ago 1 / 3 A sign is seen on the Brady Street side of the event centre property, advertising the project currently under construction. By taking on Oak View Group as the downtown Sudbury event centre's manager, the City of Greater Sudbury ensures its annual operational subsidy maxes out at approximately $400,000. This is a savings of approximately $500,000 from this year's municipal net operating cost of $906,726 for the Sudbury Community Arena, which the under-construction event centre will replace in 2028. Meanwhile, since Oak View Group (OVG) will be managing and staffing the event centre, the four full-time unionized city staff who work at the current downtown arena will not shift over. Instead, the city is using the years-long lead time to the event centre's 2028 opening to transition them to other positions within the city. City CAO Shari Lichterman told Sudbury.com the four unionized staff members would not be losing their jobs, but "a home" would be found for them in other departments. These are two of the key highlights in the long-term lease and management contracts the City of Greater Sudbury signed for the event centre last month, as relayed by Lichterman. Sudbury.com is filing a freedom of information request for the full documents, but the typically months-long process will require notifications and consideration by the third parties involved, which is likely to prolong the process. Prior to going through this formal process, Lichterman was able to share some, but not all, details regarding the three agreements signed last month. In addition to OVG as property manager, the Sudbury Wolves Ontario Hockey League team and The Sudbury Five Basketball Super League team signed on as anchor tenants under the Sudbury Wolves Sports and Entertainment (SWSE) umbrella. The Sudbury Wolves agreed to a term of at least 15 years, while both The Sudbury Five and OVG signed on for at least 10. All three contracts have options to renew. Speaking to the facility management contract, Lichterman said OVG is slated to oversee "all aspects of the operations." "They'll do all of the event bookings, promotions, ticketing, box office services, food and beverage operations," she said; "So the whole building." "As part of this agreement, we have set a benchmark where the city caps the amount of subsidy that we would have to pay to the arena, and OVG would take the risk on anything beyond that, and we would share on anything that's better than that." Under this agreement, the city's maximum risk is an annual operational subsidy of approximately $400,000, which Lichterman cited as "a significant improvement for taxpayers," compared to the current annual Sudbury Community Arena subsidy of approximately $900,000. Factored into the subsidy reduction is a projected revenue boost as a result in the modern facility attracting more major events through the efforts of OVG connections such as with event promoter Live Nation. A drop in operational costs as a result of maintaining a new facility rather than a more than 70-year-old building is also anticipated to help. Should OVG perform better than the minimum expectation laid out in the contract, this $400,000 maximum municipal subsidy will be reduced. The previous owner of the Sudbury Wolves made capital investments to the downtown arena which ensured what Lichterman described as an ongoing "pretty favourable arrangement" as it relates to revenue streams such as concessions. "Now as we look at the new building and the city is making a capital contribution of $200 million, the arrangement has really changed with the Wolves," she said. Under the new agreement, OVG and the city will get a greater share of facility revenue, where SWSE will continue to get a share of revenue generated during their events. When it comes to advertising revenue, the sports teams have certain event-specific advertising they'll sell on their own, while they'll get a share of revenue from advertising in fixed locations also on display outside of their events. Meanwhile, Lichterman said OVG has also agreed to contribute "several million dollars" toward the facility to help purchase equipment and perform future maintenance, the details of which will be announced by the company later. The two sports teams are also guaranteed exclusive rights to certain areas of the arena, such as dedicated dressing rooms, spaces for coaches, office space and retail space on the main concourse. Tender documents cited team accommodations as including a reception area, various offices, a conference room, kitchen, washrooms and a dressing room suite with showers, a steam room, sauna and therapy pool. A fitness suite, coaches area and media room will also be included. As for staffing, the Sudbury Community Arena currently has: * Two non-union management staff * Three CUPE 4705 outside unit full-time staff * One CUPE 4705 inside unit full-time staff * 16 non-union part-time maintenance staff * Approximately 45 part-time non-union ticketing/event staff As such, four unionized CUPE staff members will be impacted, but given the opportunity to be reassigned to other positions in the city via bumping rights they have through the union. "We know and are holding spots through retirements and vacancies, so we have a plan to make sure no one is losing their job," Lichterman said. As for the balance of staff, she said they'd have a high likelihood of transferring over with OVG, particularly since their operational model is likely to include more part-time positions than are presently available at the current-day downtown arena. "OVG will be hiring for a management team and dozens of part-time positions in food and beverage, guest services, box office, operations, maintenance, sales, and other areas," Lichterman said. "It is our plan to work collaboratively with OVG and CUPE to ensure employees have options." CUPE Local 4705 is discussing the city's contract with OVG this afternoon, and president Max Lafontaine said he'd be able to offer comments afterward. This story will either be updated or a follow-up story will be published after CUPE weighs in. The downtown event centre is still on track to open in time for the start of the Wolves' 2028-29 season opener. Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com. 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