What VenuesLive does

VenuesLive Management Services Pty Ltd is a private Australian venue management and hospitality company headquartered in Sydney Olympic Park, founded in its current form in 2016 as a rebrand of Stadium Australia Operations. The company operates and provides catering for major Australian sporting and entertainment venues including Optus Stadium (60,000 seats in Perth), HBF Park, polytec Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, and Thomas Dixon Centre, and increasingly for heritage sites operated by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). Its service platform is organised into seven divisions: VL Facilities (turnkey venue management), VL Events (event management), VL Catering (culinary services), VL Connect (corporate hospitality, ticketing, and white-label agency services), VL People (staffing), VL Consulting (advisory), and VL Experiences (bespoke events).

VenuesLive is co-owned by founders Daryl Kerry (Managing Director) and Steve Heytman (Chief Operating Officer), who together bring more than 60 years of venues and events experience originating at Sydney's Olympic Stadium, alongside ASM Global (itself now part of Legends Group since August 2024). The company monetises venue management fees, long-term catering and F&B contracts with government venue owners, corporate hospitality packages sold through VL Connect, and direct-to-consumer revenue from branded restaurants co-developed with celebrity chefs Matt Moran, Shane Delia, and Scott Pickett, including Layla (Brisbane), Proper Burgers (Perth), Como Lane (Melbourne), Tom's Kitchen, and Leichhardt Lager.

The company secures and retains clients primarily through B2B procurement processes with government venue owners (VenuesWest, Inner West Council, Venues NSW, Football Australia, Queensland Government) and through event-driven traffic at the venues it manages. Its geographic footprint now spans New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria with supporting offices in Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane, though its operating tenure at two former NSW flagships (Accor Stadium, CommBank Stadium) ended in December 2023 when Venues NSW insourced operations.

Name

VenuesLive

Legal name

VenuesLive Management Services Pty Ltd

Website

https://venueslive.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VenuesLive is a private Australian venue management and hospitality company operating flagship stadiums and entertainment venues across NSW, WA, QLD, and VIC, delivering integrated venue operations, catering, corporate hospitality, and chef-backed restaurant concepts to government venue owners, sports bodies, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venue Management and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Caterers (72232), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Food Service Contractors (722310), Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Venue Booking, Ticketing & Event-Day Services (Box Office, Guest Services) (MPAKAEAO), Venue Food, Beverage & Hospitality Operations (Concessions, Catering, Premium Seating) (MPAGALAN), Venue Facilities, Maintenance & Capital Projects (Engineering, Renovations) (MPAGALAL), Concert Venue Operators (Arenas, Amphitheaters, Clubs) (MPAGAAAC), Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas) (MPAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Venue management services
• Stadium catering operations
• Event management solutions
• Corporate hospitality programs
• Food and beverage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Venue Management Services: VenuesLive earns fees for operating and managing sporting, entertainment, and hospitality venues on behalf of government and private venue owners. This includes full accountability for venue operations, asset optimization, and event execution.
2. Catering and Food & Beverage Services: The company provides catering services across venues, operating food and beverage outlets, restaurants, and hospitality suites. Revenue comes from catering contracts at venues including Optus Stadium, HBF Park, polytec Stadium, and Thomas Dixon Centre.
3. Corporate Hospitality Solutions: VL Connect offers corporate hospitality solutions including Master Agent, Official Agent, and White Label services along with program design, product development, sales and marketing, ticketing, and event management for corporate clients.
4. Restaurant and Dining Operations: VenuesLive operates restaurants and food outlets at venues and event spaces, including Layla at Thomas Dixon Centre, Como Lane in Melbourne, and Proper Burgers by Matt Moran at Optus Stadium, generating revenue from food and beverage sales directly to consumers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VenuesLive operates as an integrated venue management, catering, and hospitality company that delivers turnkey venue operations, food and beverage services, event execution, and corporate hospitality for Australian sports stadiums and entertainment venues. It manages a portfolio of iconic venues including Optus Stadium (60,000 seats), HBF Park, polytec Stadium, Leichhardt Oval, and Thomas Dixon Centre on behalf of government and private venue owners. Through seven service divisions (VL Facilities, VL Events, VL Catering, VL Connect, VL People, VL Consulting, VL Experiences) it also operates branded restaurants and food outlets such as Layla, Tom's Kitchen, Como Lane, and Proper Burgers in partnership with prominent Australian chefs.

Product overview

VenuesLive offers a suite of seven integrated service divisions under a unified platform approach: VL Facilities (turnkey venue management), VL Events (event management), VL Catering (culinary services), VL Connect (corporate hospitality and revenue generation), VL People (staffing solutions), VL Consulting (advisory services), and VL Experiences (bespoke event creation). These services operate across a portfolio of iconic Australian venues including Optus Stadium (60,000 seats), HBF Park, Leichhardt Oval, polytec Stadium, and Thomas Dixon Centre. The company also partners with renowned chefs (Matt Moran, Shane Delia, Scott Pickett) and operates branded restaurant concepts including Layla, Tom's Kitchen, Como Lane, and Proper Burgers at various venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VL Facilities Turnkey venue management service delivering exceptional customer experiences across sporting, hospitality and entertainment venues. Handles all aspects of venue operations including optimizing venue usage, commercializing assets, managing operations, overseeing F&B, and executing events.
• VL Events Comprehensive event management service bringing decades of experience in managing diverse venues and events, from major sporting fixtures to concerts and corporate functions.
• VL Catering Culinary service blending culinary creativity with exceptional service for extraordinary catering experiences at venues and events, leveraging partnerships with award-winning chefs Matt Moran, Shane Delia, and Scott Pickett.
• VL Connect Revenue generation partner leveraging industry expertise and extensive network. Offers corporate hospitality solutions including Master Agent, Official Agent, and White Label services, along with program design, product development, sales and marketing, ticketing, and event management.
• VL People Elite staffing solutions across diverse industries, delivering excellence, professionalism, and unmatched service for venue operations, events, and hospitality clients.
• VL Consulting High-level consulting services spanning corporate hospitality solutions, tailored VIP experiences, custom catering and event management, and venue strategies that optimise operations and enhance revenue.
• VL Experiences Specialist service creating remarkable, tailor-made events that combine culinary creativity and exceptional service for premium functions and bespoke client experiences.
• Optus Stadium Venue Management Operator and catering contract for Perth's premier state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue with 60,000 seats, multiple function rooms, voted The World's Most Beautiful Stadium, hosting major national and international sporting and entertainment events.
• HBF Park Venue Management Operator and catering contract for Perth's only purpose-built rectangular stadium, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and exceptional live experiences.
• Leichhardt Oval Venue Management Hospitality provider contract for the iconic sports and entertainment venue in Sydney's Inner West, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
• polytec Stadium Venue Management Operator and catering contract for the Central Coast's premier venue for live sport, entertainment and community events, located on Brisbane Water at Gosford.
• Thomas Dixon Centre Venue Management Hospitality partner contract for the venue combining one-of-a-kind meeting and event spaces with performance facilities and a riverside location in the heart of West End, home of Queensland Ballet.
• Layla Restaurant Premium dining restaurant at Thomas Dixon Centre in Brisbane, created in partnership with the Delia Group and chef Shane Delia. Awarded Best New Restaurant Opening of 2025 in Queensland.
• Tom's Kitchen Restaurant Restaurant operating within the Thomas Dixon Centre at West End, Brisbane, providing casual dining to venue visitors and event attendees.
• Como Lane Restaurant Restaurant and event venue opened in South Yarra, Melbourne, in collaboration with Scott Pickett Group, operating as part of VenuesLive's hospitality expansion into heritage and lifestyle venues.
• Proper Burgers Outlet Retail food outlet by chef Matt Moran at Optus Stadium in Perth, serving gourmet burgers to stadium attendees and event visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed Optus Stadium opening in 2018 and ongoing operations of 60,000-seat multi-purpose venue
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ASM GlobalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019VenuesLive forms strategic alliance with ASM Global, the world's largest venue management and services company, and producer of live event experiences. ASM Global's network spans five continents with a portfolio of arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and performing arts venues. In August 2024, ASM Global became part of Legends Group, an industry-leading premium experiences company with six global divisions.
• Legends GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerASM Global became part of Legends Group in August 2024. Legends Group is an industry-leading premium experiences company with six global divisions, providing VenuesLive with access to global best practices and expanded capabilities.
• Matt MorancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning chef and Australian food icon with over 30 years in the food industry. Matt Moran serves as culinary ambassador at Optus Stadium, bringing expertise in paddock-to-plate philosophy and seasonal Australian cuisine. Launched Proper Burgers outlet at Optus Stadium.
• Shane DeliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning chef and entrepreneur, director of the Delia Group. Restaurant portfolio includes Maha, Biggie Smalls, Jayda, and Maha North in Melbourne. Partnership with VenuesLive includes premium dining restaurant Layla at Thomas Dixon Centre in Brisbane.
• Scott Pickett GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenuesLive partners with Scott Pickett Group to elevate event and dining experiences at Old Melbourne Gaol and additional heritage venues. Also collaborated to open Como Lane in South Yarra, Melbourne.
• Delia GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenuesLive collaborates with Delia Group (Shane Delia's restaurant group) to open premium dining restaurant Layla at Thomas Dixon Centre in Brisbane, bringing Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to the venue.
• VenuesWestflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenuesWest is a Western Australian government entity that owns Optus Stadium and HBF Park. VenuesLive operates these venues and provides food and beverage services along with corporate hospitality offerings on behalf of VenuesWest.
• Inner West CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInner West Council appointed VenuesLive as hospitality provider at Leichhardt Oval, the iconic boutique sports and entertainment venue close to Sydney's CBD.
• National Trust of Australia (Victoria)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe National Trust of Australia (Victoria) announced partnership with VenuesLive and Scott Pickett Group to elevate event and dining experiences at Old Melbourne Gaol, one of Australia's most historic venues.
• Football AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenuesLive delivers the Queensland Football Series in partnership with Football Australia and Tribal Sports Group, hosting international football matches including CommBank Socceroos vs Brazil fixtures. Supported by Queensland Government and Tourism and Events Queensland.
• Tribal Sports GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Queensland Football Series delivery alongside VenuesLive and Football Australia for international football events.
• Queensland BalletcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenuesLive appointed as Hospitality Partner at Thomas Dixon Centre, home of Queensland Ballet, providing food, beverage, and event management services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Delaware North: Global leader in venue management, hospitality, and food services at sports stadiums, arenas, airports, and cultural attractions. Direct competitor to VenuesLive in operating stadium F&B, concessions, and premium hospitality across major venues.
• Compass Group: World's largest contract foodservice company with venue and event hospitality operations across sports and entertainment venues. Comparable to VenuesLive's VL Catering and VL Facilities divisions at scale.
• Sodexo Live!: Sodexo's venue and event hospitality division operating at stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and cultural venues worldwide. Comparable to VenuesLive in providing integrated F&B, concessions, and corporate hospitality at large-scale event venues.
• Aramark: Global provider of food, facilities, and uniform services with significant sports and entertainment venue operations including major US stadiums. Comparable in scale and integrated service offering (venue F&B, concessions, premium hospitality, facilities management).
• Oak View Group: US-based venue development, management, and hospitality company operating arenas and stadiums globally. Directly comparable in multi-venue operating model, premium hospitality, and integrated service platform akin to VenuesLive's 7 divisions.
• ASM Global: World's largest venue management company and VenuesLive's strategic alliance partner (now part of Legends Group). Operates 350+ venues globally including arenas, stadiums, and convention centers, providing direct peer comparison in integrated venue management and hospitality services.
• Legends Group: Parent of ASM Global and a premium experiences company with six global divisions. Operates hospitality, merchandise, and venue services for major sports properties, directly comparable to VenuesLive's 7-division platform spanning catering, hospitality, and venue management.
• AEG Facilities: Anschutz Entertainment Group's venue management arm operating major arenas and stadiums worldwide, including The O2 in London. Comparable to VenuesLive in operating flagship sports/entertainment venues with integrated F&B and hospitality.

Direct peers

• Centreplate: Specialist venue hospitality provider for sports stadiums, arenas, and convention centers, focused on concessions, premium dining, and catering. Now part of Sodexo, comparable to VenuesLive's integrated F&B and hospitality at stadiums.

Regional players

• Stadiums Australia (Venues NSW in-house): Government entity that insourced Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium operations from VenuesLive in 2023. Direct regional peer in Australian venue management and the principal alternative procurement model VenuesLive competes against for government-owned stadiums.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/venueslive
• Instagraminstagram.com/venueslive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VenuesLive