Evansville, IN – July 29, 2025 – Vanderburgh County is thrilled to announce a new chapter for the Old National Events Plaza (ONEP). In collaboration with current operator ASM Global, the County has reached a mutual agreement to conclude ASM’s management contract early—clearing the way for a dynamic, locally rooted transition.
VenuWorks, the experienced team behind the Ford Center and Victory Theatre, will now expand its leadership to include ONEP, creating a powerful and unified management approach across all three of Evansville’s premier public venues. County Commissioners are proud to champion this positive step forward, ensuring a seamless transition for employees, clients, and guests, while paving the way for stronger collaboration, smarter investments, and an even greater economic impact for our community. “We are proud to welcome ONEP into our family of venues,” said Scott Schoenike, Executive Director of VenuWorks-Evansville. “With deep local roots and broad national experience, our team is excited to elevate the performance, service, and guest experience across all three facilities.” Steve Peters, founder and CEO of VenuWorks, shared his enthusiasm for this new chapter: “At VenuWorks, we are passionate about creating exceptional experiences for the communities we serve. With our decades of expertise and commitment to employee ownership, we are thrilled to bring a unified vision to
Evansville’s premier venues. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance the economic and cultural vitality of the region.” Since 2001, ASM (formerly SMG) has managed ONEP. Recent reviews identified opportunities for improvement in financial reporting and subsidy alignment. In response, a task force of local hoteliers, Explore Evansville, and elected officials was formed following changes to the County’s Innkeeper’s Tax legislation.After months of collaborative work, the recommendation was clear: aligning all three facilities under one trusted operator would provide economic synergy and community benefit.
This transition is about more than operations—it’s about unlocking the full potential of ONEP as a driver of tourism, quality of life, and economic growth. As a convention facility, ONEP fuels activity across hotels, restaurants, retail shops, gas stations, airports, and car rentals—generating vital tax revenue that lessens the burden on local taxpayers.
Currently, ONEP receives over 25% of Explore Evansville’s Innkeeper’s Tax investment. With VenuWorks at the helm, the County expects to maximize every dollar—mirroring the strong returns already seen at Deaconess Sports Park and Goebel Soccer Complex.
In short: this is a win for Evansville. A win for our venues. And a win for everyone who lives, works, and visits Vanderburgh County.
