Oak View Group to Manage Historic Palm Springs Plaza Theatre

Oak View Group (OVG), the owner and operator of the 11,000-capacity Acrisure Arena near Palm Springs, Calif., has entered into a partnership agreement to manage, program and seek out new sponsorship opportunities for the historic Palm Springs Plaza Theatre, it was announced Tuesday (Feb. 13). Restoration work on the theater will begin in March 2024, with completion expected in fall 2025.

“This agreement between the City, the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, and the Oak View Group is an economic game-changer,” said Scott Stiles, city manager of Palm Springs, in a statement. “The restoration of the historic Plaza Theatre is a major milestone in the Downtown Revitalization Plan and will bring the world’s best artists and culture to our revitalized downtown.”

John Bolton, senior vp of Oak View Group, added, “All of us at Oak View Group are thrilled to partner with the Plaza Theatre Foundation and its dedicated group of Board of Directors. We look forward to bringing the full breadth and scope of OVG to the table to make this City of Palm Springs asset shine and become a huge community and cultural asset in downtown Palm Springs.”

Last year, OVG committed to donating $1 million to help fund the restoration of the Plaza Theatre and has agreed to waive all management fees, said Kevin J. Corcoran, vp of the Plaza Theatre Foundation, adding, “We have been impressed with the launch of the Acrisure Arena and the programming, sponsorship, and management expertise they have brought to the very successful first year of operation.”

The agreement provides the City of Palm Springs with a total of 21 days annually to offer public programming at the discretion of the city council. This programming would include the annual state of the city address, cultural and civic programs, and more.

“Oak View Group is internationally admired for their management of significant sporting, convention, arts, and entertainment venues,” said Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation president J.R. Roberts. “We are delighted to have this strong community partner further commit to working with us to provide the expertise that this theatre needs to be a successful economic force in Palm Springs. We are especially thrilled to be working with Palm Springs resident and Oak View Group senior vice president John Bolton on this exciting collaboration. We are delighted that John has agreed to join our hard-working board of directors.”

Content ideas for the theater include concerts, chamber orchestra performances, film festivals, community meetings, conventions, cabaret performances, lectures, music festivals, ideas festivals, children’s programming, charity and fundraising events, and other theater performances and events. OVG will pursue corporate sponsorship to further support the Theatre.

The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation is continuing to raise funds to fully restore the venue, having raised $16 million of its $26 million goal to cover construction costs and contingencies along with startup expenses. The funds will help restore the building to its original state and update it to meet access, technology and equity needs. There are several naming opportunities still available, including a special theater naming option for a single $10 million donor.