Event Manager | Full-Time | Rupp Arena

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.

Position Summary

The Event Manager will manage every aspect of their assigned events from the advance planning stages through the end of the event; hire, train, schedule, and manage necessary event staff; oversee building security and interact with local public safety officials to ensure events run smoothly; coordinate communication between event staff/security and delegate assignments; and be responsible for and ensure overall customer and lessee satisfaction and experience.

This role pays an annual salary of $50,000 - $55,000

Benefits for Full-Time roles:
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until November 13, 2026.

About The Venue

Lexington is an active and thriving market, craving an active and welcoming venue for events. The heart of any thriving community is its downtown—and the excitement of events!

Rupp Arena at the heart of Lexington, Kentucky, is fast becoming THE must-play venue. The 20,000-seat arena, affectionately referred to by some as “the Cathedral of College Basketball," is home to the National Champion University of Kentucky men’s basketball program and has played host to some of the most talented and award-winning musicians/artists in the world, including U2, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, and many others.

Central Bank Center
, attached to Rupp Arena, is the convention side of the venue. With over 99k sf of exhibition space, 24k sf each of meeting and ballroom space, 50k of hospitality space, 10k sf of flexible space, and over 2500 covered and uncovered parking spaces, CBC has hosted large conferences and events, including Lex Con, Scarefest, the Home and Garden Show, and the Boat Show, to name a few.

Both venues are additionally joined by the Lexington Opera House in entertaining downtown Lexington. The Opera House showcases Broadway talent through collaborative bookings of Broadway shows, small-venue concerts, and local arts. Common Spirit Health Stage at Gatton Park is a 5,000-capacity outdoor venue located in the center of Lexington. Opening in 2025 From live music and stand-up comedy to unforgettable experiences set against a stunning park backdrop in the center of the city.

Responsibilities

• Advance, plan, service, and manage all events.
• Act as primary client contact during all phases of event management, ascertain client requirements for event set-up, etc., to ensure the event runs as requested.
• Provide clients with updates as necessary for each assigned event.
• Lead site visits and meetings with clients for all assigned events.
• Create event plans/documents and distribute them to departments with complete event information.
• Plan, manage, and evaluate the work of various departments in coordination with event processes.
• Function as a liaison between users of the facility and the facility staff.
• Coordinate communication between building staff and show staff during load-in and load-out.
• Create and distribute detailed data sheets prior to every event.
• Provide leadership and guidance for event personnel from advance to closing and settlement of the event.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with lessees/clients, co-workers, part-time staff, contractors, patrons/public, and municipal officials.
• Manages events in the facility, maintaining close contact with clients and venue staff to ensure successful events; follows up on all client requests, concerns, and issues during the event to ensure resolution.
• Assist in the preparation of building to meet the requirements of upcoming events/shows.
• Advise lessees on services…