CRA advised AEG (owner/operator of The O2 Arena and other live entertainment venues in the UK, Europe, and across the world) throughout the Competition Commission’s investigation of its acquisition of the lease to operate Wembley Arena. The deal was initially viewed by the OFT as a two-to-one merger in a segment defined as “large indoor entertainment venues” in London. CRA was retained by AEG following the referral to the CC. Based on the extent of competition between Wembley and The O2 Arena and AEG’s business model, the CC reached the conclusion that the merger was unlikely to result in a price rise.
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