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Justice Department Indicts Oak View Group CEO Over UT Arena Bid Rigging

He is accused of steering the University of Texas’s Moody Center bid to his company by arranging for a rival to withdraw in exchange for subcontracts.

The Moody Center, home of the Texas Longhorns, in Austin, Texas, on December 1, 2022.
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Overview

  • A federal grand jury indicted Tim Leiweke on July 9, 2025, charging him under Section 1 of the Sherman Act with orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the public procurement process for the Moody Center.
  • DOJ alleges that from early 2018 through June 2024, Leiweke conspired with a competitor’s CEO to induce the rival to drop out in return for promised subcontracts.
  • Oak View Group and Legends Hospitality resolved corporate liability through non-prosecution agreements requiring $15 million and $1.5 million in penalties, respectively.
  • The scheme resulted in Oak View Group submitting the sole qualified bid and winning the Moody Center contract, which opened in April 2022 and continues to generate revenue.
  • If convicted, Leiweke faces up to 10 years in prison and a criminal fine of at least $1 million, potentially increased to twice the gain derived or loss suffered.