Proposed LSU Arena Developer Vying To Operate Raising Cane’s River Center

TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES

Oak View Group, the live-entertainment giant connected to the proposed LSU arena project, is one of two finalists to manage the Raising Cane’s River Center, The Advocate reported on Tuesday.

The other contender is Legends Global, the current operator of the venue, and a Visit Baton Rouge selection committee is evaluating the bids to oversee the downtown convention center. VBR has also taken over interim control of the facility as it searches for the next operator, with Legends Global’s contract set to expire at the end of this year.

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The VBR board of directors is scheduled to vote to select a firm on Nov. 30, and the East Baton Rouge Metro Council is expected to make its final decision on Dec. 9.

Oak View Group is also expected to develop LSU’s proposed new arena, although development has stalled thanks to controversy with the group and a lawsuit challenging whether the LSU Economic Development District and Athletics Subdistrict were legally created and whether taxes tied to the districts can be collected and used without the voter approval normally required for tax increases. In May of 2025, then-LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward said Oak View was the sole finalist for the project.

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Oak View co-founder Timothy Leiweke was indicted in a bid-rigging conspiracy for the University of Texas’s Moody Center project in July of 2025. Leiweke stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of the company, transitioned to vice chairman and was pardoned in December of last year. Oak View entered a non-prosecution agreement and paid a $15 million fine, and LSU officials announced a due diligence review that would help determine the future status of its project. LSU President Wade Rousse said LSU is still searching for funding sources for the estimated $400 million project in May.

Oak View’s bid to manage the River Center may not directly affect its relationship with LSU, but it could deepen its ties in the Baton Rouge Community. The Metro Council approved a non-compete agreement in 2024 that would restrict the River Center from hosting a maximum capacity of roughly 3,500 people once construction of a new LSU arena is complete.