Thief River Falls Cuts Ties with Oak View Group, Signs New Arena Management and Hockey Lease
The Thief River Falls City Council voted 7–1 to terminate its long-term venue management contract with Oak View Group (OVG) following months of municipal concerns over operations, concessions, staffing, and financial transparency.
To complete the buyout of OVG’s contract, which was originally set to run through 2030, the city will pay $550,000 from a municipal money market investment account. Officials confirmed the payment will not impact the city’s property tax levy or disrupt scheduled events.
Under a conditional agreement running from Sept. 17 through Dec. 31, 2026, MAV Group LLC will step in as interim manager for $172,914.50, reallocating the remaining fourth-quarter funds previously slated for OVG. The period will serve as a performance evaluation to determine whether the city enters a multi-year deal with MAV Group.
In a separate 7–0 vote, the council secured a five-season license with the Northwest Minnesota Hockey Club (Minnesota Northern Lights). Key highlights of the deal include:
- Game Fees: The team will pay per-game fees starting at $1,200 and scaling to $1,350 by the 2030–31 season, plus $1,800 per playoff game.
- Revenue Structure: The city retains concession revenue while paying the team $3 per scanned ticket; the team keeps ticket and ad sales.
- Local Impact: City leaders estimate the team could generate roughly $1.2 million in economic activity across local businesses per season.