Design & Development

Anaheim’s ocV!BE gains council approval

Images: ocV!BE

Anaheim City Council has given the green light to ocV!BE, a $4bn (£3.78bn/€4.18bn) development project that will surround the Honda Center arena, with construction work now expected to begin by the end of this year.

The City Council yesterday (Tuesday) voted unanimously to approve the project, which encompasses entertainment, dining, hospitality, and lifestyle amenities to complement the home of NHL ice hockey franchise the Anaheim Ducks.

Plans were first unveiled for ocV!BE in June 2020, with the team behind the wide-ranging project later telling TheStadiumBusiness.com how it aims to prove transformational for Orange County. The district is the vision of the Samueli Family, which owns the Ducks.

Following yesterday’s vote, Henry and Susan Samueli said: “We thank the Anaheim City Council and City staff for their strong support of our vision for ocV!BE and our continued partnership with the City of Anaheim.

“We look forward to starting construction soon on this important community asset that will showcase Anaheim and Orange County, while also providing world-class entertainment and offerings for local residents, visitors, and our Anaheim Ducks fans.”

Seeking to celebrate the diversity of Orange County, ocV!BE intends to be a one-of-a-kind, mixed-use, master-planned community and entertainment destination that allows residents and guests to curate their experience. The project’s first phase is set to open in 2025 to the public. 

The approval by the Anaheim City Council comes after a multi-year effort to assemble property and master plan the 100-acre site to surround Honda Center and the ARTIC transportation hub in Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle area.  The stage was set for ocV!BE with a 2018 agreement between the Samueli Family and the City of Anaheim, which guaranteed the Ducks playing at Honda Center for decades to come.  

Project features include multiple new entertainment venues, including a 5,700-capacity concert hall, 35-plus restaurant offerings, two hotels, 1,500 residential units inclusive of a commitment of 195 affordable housing units, more than one million square feet of creative office space and 20 acres of public space including two parks.  

“Our ambition is for ocV!BE to be the social and entertainment centre of Orange County and Southern California, providing a vibrant collection of experiences celebrating the diversity of our community,” said Bill Foltz, CEO of ocV!BE.  

The goal is for ocV!BE is to be built out by the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, when the Honda Center hosts Olympic volleyball competitions.