"Arnie" as godfather?

US company remains “ready” for large-scale arena in Vienna

After the failed tender, the long-term project for the large arena is once again up in the air.

(Bild: (Bild: Architekten Kronaus-Mitterer-Gal))

In the stalemate over the planned Viennese event arena in St. Marx, the previous best bidder, the US Oak View Group, emphasizes how much it wants to continue fighting for it - perhaps soon with Arnold Schwarzenegger's support.

The project for an event arena in St. Marx has been on hold since October: following an appeal by an unsuccessful bidder, the tender was declared invalid by the administrative court. The former best bidder, the US Oak View Group, is not discouraged by this: "We have a lot of patience, resources and time," emphasized its CEO Tim Leiweke in Vienna. They want to build the largest and most modern arena in Europe here.

Why the arena should pay off
If the green light is given, Vienna will have a place for major events for up to 20,000 visitors in two to three years' time: "We are ready," Leiweke emphasized. He is certain that the project would pay off. The arenas in nearby cities such as Prague and Munich are getting on in years. Vienna is also superior to other European cities as a tourist location and is therefore worth a trip for both stars and the public.

In 2020, City Councillor Peter Hanke and Vienna Holding Managing Director Kurt Gollowitzer presented the plans for the arena.

(Bild: David Bohmann)

"Vienna has more to offer than Austin, Texas"
Leiweke is convinced that the future of major events is not famous bands or stars who travel from city to city and perform on one or two evenings at most, but - as Leiweke points out with reference to the concerts of US singer Taylor Swift - concerts in series to which visitors also come from further afield. This was recently demonstrated in an arena in Austin in the US state of Texas, for example. And Vienna has "definitely more to offer visitors than Austin".

We will not exert any pressure or talk badly about others. We want to show that we want to and can build and operate the arena.

Tim Leiweke, CEO Oak View Group

Bild: Scarnici / Oak View Group

Support for Oak View Group from "Styrian oak"?
Leiweke dispelled doubts about the financial stability of the fast-growing company by referring to seven arenas worldwide that he has "financed, built and operated profitably" in the last three years. He may soon have a prominent advocate for this. One possible investor is the "Styrian oak" Arnold Schwarzenegger, revealed Leiweke, adding: "Anyone who knows Arnold knows that he is not a passive investor".

Wien Holding, for its part, now wants to decide "promptly" together with the city whether the tendering process should start from the beginning or whether an agreement should be reached through negotiations with all parties involved. In any case, the Oak View Group's interest is proof of Vienna's attractiveness as a location for such an arena. However, there is no time pressure: "Until the arena opens, all concerts and shows can be played in the Wiener Stadthalle".