Savannah council approves OVG Facilities management agreement for new arena after debate and brief recess

The Savannah City Council voted Nov. 7 to authorize a management and operations agreement with OVG Facilities Inc., a move the company says is needed immediately to begin staffing, sponsorship outreach and event booking for the arena project.

Assistant to the City Manager Bret Bell outlined the selection process and the basic terms of the Phase III operations contract, saying OVG will manage the Civic Center operations and transition into the new arena while honoring existing contracts and bringing in a professional manager.

Alderman Van R. Johnson II pressed staff for clarity on how OVG’s role would affect current Civic Center employees and the security contract. "The City needs to have reputable representation of security at the Civic Center," Mayor Eddie W. DeLoach said, recounting an incident involving an elderly out‑of‑town couple and calling existing security performance "obnoxious and rude." Bret Bell said OVG had consulted with the city and replaced the prior security contractor after finding performance problems.

OVG’s on‑site representative, Monty Jones, said the company must move quickly to secure sponsorships and events and referenced a $5 million contribution tied to the arena project. City staff told council that a $1.5 million capital contribution is expected next year; whether other contributions are applied to program expenses was discussed as part of timing considerations.

Several council members, including Alderman Johnson and Alderwoman Dr. Estella E. Shabazz, urged caution and questioned whether the matter could wait until the new council convenes in January. Alderman John Hall argued the current council has authority to act today.

Council initially recorded an unresolved vote and took a five‑minute recess to clarify procedural questions. After discussion and a subsequent roll call, the council approved the OVG agreement; the meeting minutes record a final vote of 6‑2‑1 with Mayor Pro‑Tem Carolyn H. Bell not voting.

The agreement approves Phase III — arena operations and management — following earlier council approval of Phase I (design) and Phase II (management) decisions. Council minutes indicate OVG will honor existing Civic Center contracts and that as current staff retire or leave, OVG may replace positions with its contract employees.

Council did not provide an immediate public timeline for implementation steps beyond the contractual approval; staff indicated further details and contract terms would be available in the finalized agreement and accompanying staff reports.