AEG Odgen has taken over management of the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena, in the first major announcement by the company since it was formed in a joint venture deal between AEG and Brisbane-based Ogden IFC at the tail-end of last year.

The arena has a capacity of 18,700 and will host the forthcoming Olympic basketball competition. As well as sport, it will also host music and entertainment events.

AEG Odgen has taken over management of the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena, in the first major announcement by the company since it was formed in a joint venture deal between AEG and Brisbane-based Ogden IFC at the tail-end of last year.

The arena has a capacity of 18,700 and will host the forthcoming Olympic basketball competition. As well as sport, it will also host music and entertainment events.

“The Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena will instantly become the region’s finest and most modern showcase for basketball and other sports,” says president and CEO of AEG Timothy Leiweke. “In addition to the most popular performers in the music industry.”

The move brings the number of venues affiliated with AEG Ogden to 66 and is the first, in what is believed to be a series of arena announcements.

“They are major venues,” said CEO of AEG Ogden Harvey Lister at the time of the merger. “But we can’t go into details yet — we’re in a competitive business environment.”

AEG Ogden’s territory of operations covers China, India, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and North Africa, making it one of the largest venue and events businesses in the world.

To facilitate the growth, Steve Hevern – previously group director of operations and special projects for arena management at Ogden – has been appointed AEG Ogden’s manager of technical operations in Asia. Hevern took up his new post on 4 February and is based at Acer Arena.