Booking Manager 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. 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 $55,000 to $70,000

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 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 downtown—and 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 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 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.

Common Spirit Health Stage at Gatton Park is a 5,000-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 2021, Lexington 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 organization’s first USL Super League season.

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…