Booking Manager | Full-Time | Rupp Arena

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development management and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential highest attended arenas convention centers music festivals performing arts centers and cultural institutions on the planet.

The Booking Manager reports to the Director of Booking. Overseeing all aspects of booking and scheduling ticketed and non-ticketed events at the venue. Responsible for delivering a superior level of content procurement private and special events customer service and effective relationships with clients promoters tenants staff and guests.

This role will pay a salary of $55000 to $70000

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 April 10 2026.

Lexington is an active and thriving market craving an active and welcoming venue for events. The heart of any thriving community is its downtownand Lexington Center and the historic Rupp Arena are truly the heart of downtown Lexington and one of the most widely-recognized entertainment venues in North America. Rupp Arena in Lexington Kentucky is fast becoming THE must-play venue. The 20000-seat arena affectionately referred to by some as the Cathedral of College Basketball is home to the National Champion University of Kentucky mens 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 is our convention side 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. Both venues are additionally joined in entertaining this area by the Lexington Opera House showcasing Broadway talent through collaborative bookings of Broadway shows small venue concerts and local arts.

CommonSpirit Health Stage at Gatton Park is a 5000-capacity outdoor venue located in the center of Lexington. From live music and stand-up comedy to unforgettable experiences set against a stunning park backdrop in the center of the city.

Founded in 2021Lexington Sporting Club is an American professional soccer team based in Lexington KY. The soccer complex off Athens-Boonesboro Road near I-75 opened in August 2024 in time for the organizations first USL Super League season.

Our Purpose

We are building an organization that serves our fans community and partners through world-class entertainment sports and events. We believe in being authentically Kentucky. This means staying true to what makes Kentucky Kentucky by rolling up our sleeves to get things done valuing hospitality and gathering together being a pillar in our community teamwork over the individual celebrating our wins taking risks and stretching our potential. As part of Oak View Group we embrace a positive disRUPPtion.

• Responsible for soliciting contracting and managing from start to finish ticketed non-ticketed and special events at Rupp Arena the Lexington Opera House Gatton Park Amphitheatre at the Town Branch and any special events at the Convention Center that are national touring artists.
• Working in tandem with the Director of Booking establish all booking guidelines policies and procedures for the venue.
• Responsible for all services and activities of the booking department including sales tools and materials proposals and estimates sales calls and contracts.
• Oversee and manage the venue booking calendar in a concise consistent and organized manner.
• Participate in the development and administration of the annual budget and event forecasting.
• Prepare written proposals and estimates; reevaluate potential business value of various events and clients; initiate contractual arrangements finalize all booking arrangements prepare contracts and negotiate rental and other rates as required.
• Establish and enhance an expansive network of event producers promoters artist agents/managers and other clients to bring more concerts sports and other events (both public and private) while exploring new and creative event opportunities for the venue.
• Coordinate show information between Box Office Marketing Events Finance and Operations Departments and focus on details and consistency. Disseminate necessary information in a concise consistent and organized way communicating details to different departments analyzing data checking details and thinking critically.
• produce creative ideas or ways to increase ticket sales and discuss potential new projects.
• Conduct facility tours for potential clients; answer questions and provide information regarding venue capabilities.
• Develop bid proposals for potential clients and draft pro formas and offers for artists based on projected ticket sales; and follow through on pending bookings.
• Negotiate various deal structures including straight rentals co-promotions and direct buying as related to your event booking load.
• Source and buy talent as needed.
• Assist in scalings for Rupp Arena Gatton Park Amphitheatre and the Lexington Opera House drawing out seating charts and determining capacities to maximize profit potential.
• Development of new in-house events at the venue focused on driving additional revenue sponsorship opportunities and economic impact.
• Assist the Director of Finance with settlements of events.
• Prepare statistics reports and budgets as needed for senior management and the client.
• Act as liaison between venue and all outside parties and provide a high level of service to key stakeholders such as LCC Board Opera House Fund tenants tours and promoters.
• Remain current on national events and music trends in the industry and local market changes that could impact the venue. Research data through all available media channels industry reports social media trades touring databases etc to support the booking strategy.
• Represent OVG/Rupp in meetings trade shows conference calls for events community outreach and other industry events and associations.
• Meets with the Director of Booking regularly to discuss all matters about booking and special event goals and activities.
• Other duties as assigned including but not limited to: basic administration tasks responding to inquiries acting as a venue liaison between promoters agents and other industry professionals

• Bachelors degree or better from an accredited college or university in Business/Hospitality Management or related field.
• A proven record of establishing and growing professional relationships that increased sales revenues portfolio database etc.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of booking live event industry or related experience
• Experience in contract negotiation development and execution.
• Experience with settlements and reconciliation of settlements for artists/shows
• The ability to research develop and maintain relationships with artist agents and artist management as well as local regional and national promoters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Highly detail-oriented able to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to build and cultivate relationships
• Computer savvy and skilled in MS Office and the Adobe Creative Cloud (Outlook Word Excel Photoshop) and have the ability to learn required business systems
• Ability to work independently to perform a job as well as in a team environment
• Ability to think critically analyze information and find mistakes
• Ability to prioritize workload and meet strict deadlines
• Must be a self-starter and can work under minimal supervision
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights weekends and holidays
• Has a strong track record of building relationships and generating new business.

At OVG we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation strengthens ourpeople improves ourservice and raises ourexcellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (protected class) including but not limited to veteran status uniform service member status race color religion sex national origin age physical or mental disability genetic information or any other protected class under federal state or local law.