City of Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI – (News Release) OVG360, which accepted the management contract for American Bank Center in April, revealed its local leadership team.

Industry veteran Brian Martin will be the General Manager of the facility and Joe Castor will serve as General Manager of Hospitality overseeing all food and beverage operations. Nick Ustruck has been named Executive Chef.

Starting July 1, OVG360 will oversee venue management, food and hospitality, and corporate partnerships at the 10,000-seat arena, 140,000-square-foot convention center, and 2,500-seat auditorium – a complex designed to host concerts, sporting events, professional and amateur rodeos, culture and arts events, and conventions and meetings.

“The City of Corpus Christi is extremely excited to have OVG360 lead the operations of our very important American Bank Center. Their business approach is being well received by the City Council and our partners. Under OVG360, we look forward to improved venue booking, ticket sales, customer care, food service experience, and positive community impact,” Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said.

Martin started his career with Oak View Group in 2008 at the University of South Carolina, working in ticket operations for the Colonial Life Arena after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Entertainment Management. He navigated his career in ticketing and event operations at the Augusta Entertainment Complex in Augusta, Ga., where he worked as Director of Ticketing and, eventually, Director of Event Services. In 2016, he accepted a position as Assistant General Manager of the Macon Centerplex, where he increased event bookings, exceeded financial goals for the venue and county, and ingrained himself into the community.

Castor grew up in the Midwest, attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and graduated with a double major in Economics and Military History in three-and-a-half years to take a job as a Banquet Manager for The Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. The catering company also had a contract to provide food and beverage service at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where his passion for Sports & Entertainment Catering began. During his 30-year career, he participated in the openings of The Conseco Fieldhouse, Arlington, Racetrack, Gillette Stadium, Citizens Bank Park, Nationals Park, Busch Stadium, UBS Arena, and most recently, the new Moody Center in Austin, Texas. He also led Premium Operations for the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Convention Center, Javits Convention Center, and Washington Commanders. He was also the Director of Event Operations at the Embassy of Italy and General Manager of The Cow Palace and the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Ustruck is an Executive Chef with 17 years of culinary experience. He was born in Baton Rouge, La., but raised in Rockport, Texas. It was here in the Coastal Bend that he discovered his passion for food. He is a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary Institute of Arizona. After attending culinary school, he focused on a broad scope of catering from small intimate dinners to large-scale events, such as PGA Tour Events, Barrett Jackson Car Auction, and NCAA College Football Playoffs. Innovation in cuisine and its mechanics are his passion. He looks to find new challenging opportunities to create the ultimate culinary experience. He is always focused on his passion for food while making fresh food home for his family with the locally sourced game and ingredients.

“With Brian, Joe and Chef Nick as the vanguard of our new top-shelf team at American Bank Center, we are ready to hit the ground running on July 1,” Greg O’Dell, OVG360’s President of Venue Management, said. “Our team will not only focus on optimizing the overall guest experience – from excellent customer service to delicious food and hospitality – at the facility, but we also look forward to driving positive economic impact and helping bring the community together.”

OVG360 is the third-party, service-oriented division of Oak View Group (OVG), the leading global venue development, advisory, and investment company for both the sports and live entertainment industries. OVG Hospitality will be managing food and beverage operations at the complex.

OVG360 oversees a combination of services at the recently opened Moody Center at University of Texas in Austin; Fair Park and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas; Ford Park Entertainment Complex in Beaumont; Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairground in Robstown; Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center in Corpus Christi; Hill Country Youth Event Center and Outdoor Arena in Kerrville; Fertitta Center at the University of Houston; Valley Ranch Town Center Event Grounds in New Carney; McAllen Convention Center; and United Supermarkets Arena and Jones AT&T Stadium at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Through OVG360’s expertise in sustainability, public safety and health, concessions and catering, marketing and sales, parking and mobility, event booking and content development, sponsorships and premium seating, data & analytics, procurement and many more key areas, the team will support American Bank Center in optimizing operations and enhancing the total guest experience.