Oak View Group is bolstering its hospitality division with the acquisition of the Houston-based Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Event Services, specializing in major sporting events, music festivals, and artist and tour catering.
Terms of the deal were not released.
The food service and hospitality company will be rolled into its OVG Hospitality division. The announcement comes eight months after OVG’s acquisition of Spectra in November 2021 to create a full-service live events company. The acquisition of Spectrum Catering is deigned to broaden the company’s portfolio and expertise.
Spectrum Catering has overseen the hospitality experience at major sporting events, such as the PGA TOUR, NCAA Final Four March Madness Festivals, US Davis Cup Tennis, and the United States National Diving Championships. The company has also been concessionaire to some of the largest outdoor music events in the country, including Bonnaroo, Burning Man, and Governor’s Ball, producing what the firm described in a press release as some of the highest per caps in the industry. Spectrum also serves all aspects of touring and backstage entertainment, delivering celebrity service to the top names in the music industry as the exclusive tour caterer to Cirque du Soleil’s North American Touring Shows, touring with The Eagles, and having managed tour rehearsals for artists like Madonna, Jimmy Buffett and Aerosmith.
“The fact that Spectrum’s growth has been driven by referrals, word-of-mouth, reputation and top talent speaks to the stellar organization Dave Smalley has built over the last thirty years,” said Ken Gaber, President of OVG Hospitality, via press release. “After meeting Dave five years ago, I became a fast fan of his work. Whether his team is designing precise event layouts or working closely with cities, municipalities, promoters, producers, artists and nonprofits, they know the ins and outs of planning and executing food and hospitality at some of the world’s largest live events. Bringing on the Spectrum team will allow OVG Hospitality to grow our business in non-traditional avenues. Dave and his team understand that food should be fun, familiar and fast, and I couldn’t be happier to bring a friend into the OVG Hospitality family.”
“Hard work and integrity are hallmarks of Spectrum’s successful operations – across the kitchen, dressing room and dining room – and it became clear very quickly in our initial discussions with Oak View Group that our teams would work seamlessly together,” said Dave Smalley, Spectrum’s Founder & CEO, via press release. “We have consistently delivered some of the highest per caps and the highest revenues of any concert concessions company, and we look forward to continuing those achievements with OVG Hospitality.”
