Old National Events Plaza

What Old National Events Plaza does

Old National Events Plaza is a 95,000-square-foot convention center and live entertainment venue in downtown Evansville, Indiana, owned by Vanderburgh County and managed under contract by VenuWorks, an employee-owned venue management company. The venue is positioned as the largest combined convention facility and live theatre in the Evansville tri-state market, anchored by the 2,500-seat Aiken Theatre — recognized as one of Pollstar's Worldwide Top 200 Theatres — alongside the 36,000 sq ft column-free Brooks Exhibit Hall, a 13,500 sq ft second-level Ballroom, and 12,000 sq ft of divisible meeting space. It hosts Broadway touring productions under the "Broadway in Evansville" series, concerts, ballet, comedy, corporate conventions, trade shows, weddings, graduations, and community events, with a skywalk-connected campus that links directly to the 241-room DoubleTree by Hilton and the 11,000-seat Ford Center arena.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: direct venue rentals to event organizers and promoters (the dominant stream), ticketing via Ticketmaster (where the venue takes a rental or share on promoter-booked shows), exclusive in-house catering and concessions operated by SAVOR (a VenuWorks company), and ancillary event services. Public ticketing is sold exclusively through Ticketmaster with on-site Box Office and a secondary Ford Center Ticket Office handling will-call and walk-up purchases; group sales discounts are offered for select events. The go-to-market motion is event-driven, combining an outbound sales team and formal RFP process for corporate and convention bookings with consumer-facing promotion via Ticketmaster, the venue website (powered by Saffire), email, and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube).

Operationally, the venue is a thin-coordination business: 21 direct employees work alongside VenuWorks centralized staff and on-event labor. Bravo Media serves as the preferred audio-visual vendor, though clients may bring external A/V providers without surcharge. The facility offers 1,100 free parking spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and dedicated event managers who shepherd bookings from RFP through execution. As a county-owned public asset, Old National Events Plaza does not have a stock listing, does not disclose revenue, and is not an investable equity in the conventional sense — its competitive position is anchored in physical scale, regional market capture, and integrated lodging/event infrastructure rather than technology or product differentiation.

Name

Old National Events Plaza

Legal name

Old National Events Plaza

Website

https://oldnationaleventsplaza.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Old National Events Plaza is a 95,000 sq ft county-owned convention center and 2,500-seat theatre in Evansville, Indiana, managed by VenuWorks. It hosts Broadway tours, concerts, corporate conventions, weddings, and graduations for the regional tri-state market, with skywalk connectivity to a DoubleTree hotel and the Ford Center arena.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers (THAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Event venue rental
• Convention center
• Convention hosting
• Exhibition hall
• Meeting space rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Evansville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Rentals: The primary revenue stream comes from renting out versatile event spaces including the 2,500-seat Aiken Theatre, 36,000 sq ft Brooks Exhibit Hall, 13,500 sq ft Ballroom, and 12,000 sq ft of meeting space. Revenue is generated from corporate events, conventions, weddings, banquets, and private gatherings booked through the sales department.
2. Ticket Sales: Ticket sales for events held at the venue, primarily distributed through Ticketmaster with the Box Office handling will-call and day-of-show purchases. The venue takes a portion of ticket revenue or receives rental/hosting fees from promoters.
3. Catering and Food & Beverage: Exclusive catering services provided by VenuWorks through the SAVOR brand, offering custom menus for events, pre-show dinners, and concessions at public events. Revenue generated from food and beverage sales and catering contracts.
4. Parking: The venue offers 1,100 free parking spaces in its main lot. While parking itself is free, it serves as an amenity that attracts attendees to events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Old National Events Plaza is a multi-purpose convention and event venue in Evansville, Indiana, offering approximately 95,000 square feet of flexible event space. The facility includes the 2,500-seat Aiken Theatre, the 36,000-square-foot Brooks Exhibit Hall, a 13,500-square-foot Ballroom, and 12,000 square feet of meeting space, supporting conventions, trade shows, concerts, banquets, and corporate meetings.

Product overview

Old National Events Plaza is a premier convention center and live entertainment venue operated by VenuWorks. The portfolio consists of the Aiken Theatre (2,500-seat theatrical venue), Brooks Exhibit Hall (36,000 sq ft column-free space), Ballroom (13,500 sq ft), and Locust & Walnut Rooms (12,000 sq ft of meeting space), collectively offering 95,000 square feet of event space. Supporting services include in-house catering (Old National Events Plaza Catering), audio-visual services, and comprehensive event planning support. The venue hosts Broadway productions, concerts, ballet, comedy shows, graduations, trade shows, and conventions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aiken Theatre

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500-seat Aiken Theatre attracts major touring productions and concerts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred and minor.

• VenuWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenuWorks is the management company operating Old National Events Plaza. Founded in 1996, VenuWorks is the nation's first (and only) employee-owned venue management company. The company manages nearly every type of venue including theaters, arenas, amphitheaters, convention centers, and recreation facilities. Their core philosophy is 'people first, profits follow.'
• DoubleTree by Hilton EvansvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected via enclosed climate-controlled skywalk on Level 2. The 241-room hotel provides convenient accommodation for event attendees and out-of-town guests. The partnership creates a seamless experience for convention attendees and overnight visitors.
• Ford CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected via skywalk to the 11,000-seat Ford Center arena located less than 500 feet from the convention center. The Ford Center hosts concerts, NCAA basketball tournaments, and other major events, creating a comprehensive entertainment district.
• TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticketing platform and distribution partner for all public events at Old National Events Plaza. Handles online ticket sales, mobile app purchases, pricing management, and seat selection. The venue's website redirects ticket purchases to Ticketmaster.
• SAVOR (VenuWorks Catering)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSAVOR is the exclusive food and beverage service provider for Old National Events Plaza. Part of the VenuWorks family, SAVOR provides in-house catering with customizable menus for events ranging from boxed lunches to elegant plated dinners and pre-show dinner series for Broadway productions.
• Bravo MediapreferredTechnology or IntegrationPreferred audio/visual vendor for events at Old National Events Plaza. Provides technical equipment and support for presentations, performances, and productions. Clients may also bring their own AV providers or equipment without fee.
• Hyatt Place DowntownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated four blocks from Old National Events Plaza. The 139-room hotel offers another accommodation option for event attendees with on-site bar, breakfast, and market facilities.
• Bally's Downtown EvansvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated 10 blocks from the venue with 338 hotel rooms and 24-hour casino access. The partnership provides additional lodging and entertainment options for visitors to the area.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Knoxville Convention Center: A mid-sized convention center in the Southeast U.S. hosting comparable trade shows, corporate events, and entertainment programming in a similar regional-market position.
• American Bank Center (Corpus Christi): A multi-venue convention and entertainment complex combining arena, auditorium, and exhibit hall space under one operator in a similar midsize-market position.
• Resch Center (Green Bay, WI): A multi-purpose arena and convention facility in a comparable midsize Midwest market, hosting touring concerts, family shows, conventions, and trade events similar to Old National Events Plaza's mix.
• Ford Center (Evansville): An 11,000-seat arena adjacent to Old National Events Plaza, also managed by VenuWorks. Together they form Evansville's primary live-entertainment district and compete/collaborate for concerts and touring productions.
• Duke Energy Center (Cincinnati): A comparable-sized convention and entertainment facility serving a regional Midwest market with similar Broadway touring, corporate conventions, trade show, and ballroom programming.
• Victory Theatre (Evansville): A VenuWorks-managed theatre located in the same city as Old National Events Plaza, offering a comparable mix of touring Broadway, concerts, and community events in a smaller, historic format.

Emerging players

• Oak View Group (OVG): A rapidly growing venue-management and entertainment-platform company operating arenas and convention venues; increasingly competitive with VenuWorks for municipal management contracts.

Broad incumbents

• ASM Global: The largest venue-management company globally, operating hundreds of convention centers, arenas, and theatres worldwide. A direct competitor and broader incumbent to VenuWorks' employee-owned venue-management model.

Regional players

• Macon Centreplex: A publicly owned multi-venue complex combining arena, theatre, and exhibit-hall space in a similar regional-market configuration, with comparable civic-ownership structure and touring entertainment programming.
• Allen County War Memorial Coliseum (Fort Wayne, IN): A regional Indiana multi-use venue hosting concerts, trade shows, sporting events, and community gatherings, comparable to Old National Events Plaza in scale and Midwest market positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OnePlazaEVV
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUZDWc4N7AlqMECSEGwXskw
• Facebookfacebook.com/oldnationaleventsplaza
• Instagraminstagram.com/oneplazaevv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/old-national-events-plaza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Old National Events Plaza