2023 in review – November

Arguably the biggest story of the year broke in November as Legends confirmed that it had signed a “definitive agreement” to acquire ASM Global, with the deal set to create the world’s biggest third-party facility management company.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the two parties confirmed in a statement that current ASM Global equity holders Onex and venue operator AEG would sell their ownership interests. ASM Global will continue to serve existing and in-development AEG venues.

On the hosting front, the French Alps and Salt Lake City emerged as the frontrunners to stage the 2030 and 2034 editions of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games after being invited into targeted dialogues by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC Executive Board also granted the non-edition-specific Switzerland 203x project a special status by inviting it into “privileged dialogue” for the 2038 Winter Olympics.

Everton was dealt a blow in November as the Premier League club received a 10-point deduction for breaching financial rules, with reports suggesting that interest payments for its new stadium were a contributing factor.

The penalty, imposed by a Premier League independent commission, is the heaviest points deduction in the competition’s history.

In other news, the AEG Europe division of sports and live entertainment company AEG unveiled plans to deliver what would be the first major indoor arena in Edinburgh.

The promoter and venue operator are seeking planning approval for an 8,500-capacity arena in the heart of Edinburgh Park. Parabola, developers and site owners of Edinburgh Park, a new cultural quarter for the Scottish capital, has agreed to sell the site for the new venue to AEG.  

Meanwhile, the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s Wimbledon Park Project was rejected by Wandsworth Council.

The AELTC is planning on building a new 8,000-seat show court on land it purchased from Wimbledon Park Golf Club for £65m (€75m/$83m), but the project is now in doubt.