![\"Entertainment](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmusicnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/department-of-justice-indicts-oak-view-ceo-tim-leiweke-over-alleged-antitrust-scheme-1024x576.png\" "\\"Entertainment\\"")
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Photo Credit: Mitchell Kmetz<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Entertainment The DOJ has indicted Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke in an alleged scheme to rig bidding at Austin\u2019s Moody Center.<\/h2>\n
The Justice Department has indicted Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke, a veteran executive in live sports and entertainment who once helmed AEG. Leiweke was charged with antitrust violations in an alleged scheme to rig the bidding process at a public Texas arena.<\/p>\n
According to the indictment<\/a>, Leiweke orchestrated efforts to force a rival to stand down on a bid for an arena contract beginning in 2018 in exchange for subcontracts. The arena involved, the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin, opened its doors in 2022. Leiweke cofounded Oak View with Irving Azoff in 2015; Azoff has not been mentioned in the DOJ\u2019s indictment.<\/p>\n \u201cAs outlined in the indictment, [Leiweke] rigged a bidding process to benefit his own company and deprived a public university and taxpayers of the benefits of competitive bidding,\u201d said Abigail Slater, chief of the DOJ\u2019s Antitrust Division. \u201cThe Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to hold executives who cheat to avoid competition accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Leiweke said he \u201chas done nothing wrong and will vigorously defend himself and his well-deserved reputation for fairness and integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Antitrust Division\u2019s allegations are wrong on the law and the facts, and the case should never have been brought,\u201d the spokesperson\u2019s statement continued. \u201cThe law is clear: vertical, complementary business partnerships, like the one contemplated between OVG and Legends, are legal. These allegations blatantly ignore established legal precedent and seek to criminalize common teaming efforts that are proven to enhance competition and benefit the public. The Moody Center is a perfect sample, as it has resulted in substantial and sustained benefits to the University of Texas and the City of Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n According to an Oak View Group spokesperson, they \u201ccooperated fully with the Antitrust Division\u2019s inquiry and [are] pleased to have resolved this matter with no charges filed against OVG and no admission of fault or wrongdoing. We support all efforts to ensure a fair and competitive environment in our industry and are committed to upholding industry-leading compliance and disclosure practices.\u201d<\/p>\n Notably, the statement did not address Leiweke\u2019s indictment.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\nLeiweke was charged with a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Oak View has agreed to pay $15 million in penalties, while Legends Hospitality, in connection with conduct alleged in the indictment, has agreed to pay $1.5 million.<\/h4>\n
Just after the indictment was made public, Oak View Group announced<\/a> that Leiweke will step down from his role as CEO and will become vice chairman of the board of directors. He will remain a shareholder of the company. President of OVG360, Chris Granger, has been appointed by the board as interim CEO.<\/h4>\n