Month: August 2020

Legends’ Denise Taylor Selected as SBJ’s 2020 Game Changers: Women in Sports Business

Posted on by Chris.Pereira

Congratulations to Denise Taylor, Legends’ President of Global Technology Solutions, on being selected for @SBJSBD‘s 2020 class of “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business.”

 

Via Sports Business Journal

 

Leader. Innovator. Trailblazer. Change agent. Rock star.

These are just a few ways the 50 women selected for Sports Business Journal’s 2020 class of “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business” have been described. They represent every sector across sports business from teams and leagues, to agencies and sponsors, to technology companies and media outlets. 

Together, they make up the 10th class of Game Changers. SBJ will profile each of these women and offer a glimpse into their lives away from work in a special section on Oct. 19.   

In 2011, SBJ created Game Changers to “tell the stories of women in the sports business — women with broad, deep, and varied responsibilities and oversight who contribute to the success of the industry in multiple ways.” The 392 women honored in all 10 classes of Game Changers follow in the progressive heritage of their colleagues who have been part of SBJ’s Lifetime Achievement, Champions and Forty Under 40 programs — women such as Billie Jean King, Val Ackerman and Bea Perez. 

In 2013, SBJ launched an annual one-day conference in New York City to recognize the Game Changers honorees and examine the key issues facing women in sports. Over the years, the conference became one of the most successful and dynamic events on our calendar. This year, while we will not be able to gather in person, we are conducting the conference virtually on Oct. 27, with plans to honor the 2020 class and for a full day of content and networking. 

For more information or to register for the virtual conference, visit www.game-changers-conference.com.

Our goal today remains the same as in the inaugural year of Game Changers: to honor women — some you might know, others you might be reading about for the first time — who offer new solutions, ideas and perspectives that will change the sports business in the years to come.

 

Introducing the 2020 class of
Game Changers: Women in Sports Business

 

DENISE TAYLOR

President, Global Technology Solutions

Legends

 

AMY AZZI

Senior Director of Sponsorships

T-Mobile

 

HEIDI BROWNING

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

National Hockey League

 

VICTORIA BRUMFIELD

Chief of Staff

USA Triathlon

 

DIANA BUSINO

Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer

Turnkey Search

 

MICHELLE BYRON

Vice President, Partnership Marketing

NASCAR

 

GRACE CALHOUN

Director of Athletics and Recreation

University of Pennsylvania

 

JENNIFER CARROLL

Senior Vice President, Talent and Culture

Major League Soccer

 

KAREEDA CHONES-AGUAM

Vice President of Business Strategy and Management

Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum

 

KARI COHEN

General Counsel

New York Red Bulls

 

JONI COMSTOCK

Senior Vice President of Championships

NCAA

 

ALEXANDRA DELL

Senior Vice President, Media

SportFive

 

LAUREN DIENES-MIDDLEN

Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel – IP

WWE

 

CHRISTINE DORFLER

Chief Financial Officer, NBC Sports Group

NBCUniversal

 

DANIELLE DU TOIT

President, SeatGeek Enterprise

SeatGeek

 

MELISSA DUHAIME

Director, Sports Marketing

PepsiCo Beverages North America

 

LAURI EBERHART

Founding Member and Attorney

Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group

 

JENÉ ELZIE

Chief Growth Officer

Athletes First Partners

 

JILL FREDERICKSON

Senior Vice President, Production and Content Strategy

ESPN

 

COLLEEN GARRITY

Senior Vice President and Head of Basketball Marketing

Excel Sports Management

 

JORDAN HARNSBERGER

Chief of Staff

CAA Sports

 

KAT HARWOOD

Sports Consulting Lead

Deloitte Consulting

 

MOLLY HIGGINS

Vice President of Community Affairs and Engagement

Los Angeles Rams

 

CHINA JUDE

Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration and Senior Woman Administrator

University of Wyoming

 

DONNA JULIAN

Executive Vice President and Spectrum Center General Manager

Hornets Sports & Entertainment

 

ERIN KANE

Vice President, Player Agent

Octagon

 

DANI RYLAN KEARNEY

Founder and Commissioner

National Women’s Hockey League

 

ANGELINA LAWTON

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Sportsdigita

 

RAQUEL LIBMAN

Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Miami Heat and AmericanAirlines Arena

 

BLAIR LISTINO

Chief Financial Officer, Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center

Comcast Spectacor

 

NICOLE LYNN

Sports Agent and Attorney

Young Money APAA Sports

 

LILIAHN MAJEED

Senior Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion

National Basketball Association

 

BERNADETTE MCDONALD

Senior Vice President, Broadcasting

Major League Baseball

 

JEN MILLET

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Golden State Warriors and Chase Center

 

JILL MONAGHAN

Senior Project Designer

Generator Studio

 

BELICIA MONTGOMERY

Director, Diversity and Inclusion

Minor League Baseball

 

JESSICA MUIR

Director, Brand Partnerships and Amplification

Comcast

 

PATTI PHILLIPS

Chief Executive Officer

Women Leaders in College Sports

 

SHELLEY PISARRA

Executive Vice President, Global Insights

Wasserman

 

STEFANIE RAPP

Chief Revenue Officer

Bleacher Report

 

NAOMI RODRIGUEZ

Vice President, External Affairs and Community Relations

Los Angeles Dodgers 

 

SHOSHANA SALMON

Director, Traffic, Broadcast Operations

CBS Sports

 

KRISTINE SCHROEDER

Chief People and Culture Officer

Learfield IMG College

 

KIM SHELTON

President, UK Sports and Campus Marketing

JMI Sports

 

DASHA SMITH

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

National Football League

 

JILL SPIEGEL

Senior Vice President, Merchandising and Planning

PGA Tour Superstore

 

GINA SPRENGER

Chief Strategic Retail Officer

Fanatics

 

SHIZUKA SUZUKI

Assistant Vice President, Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing

AT&T

 

VANESSA TAVERAS

Vice President, Properties

CSM Sport & Entertainment

 

DIONNA WIDDER

Chief Revenue Officer

Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash and BBVA Stadium

Legends to Lead the Redesign of Army’s Classic Stadium

Posted on by Chris.Pereira

Via SportsBusiness Journal

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has signed Legends to handle sales and marketing of what’s expected to be a $100 million modernization of historic Michie Stadium.

The 96-year-old stadium has long represented what’s good about college football. The cadets, the setting along the waterfront, the awe-inspiring flyovers and the history combine to make an Army home game one of the sport’s bucket-list events.

If there was one shortcoming, however, it’s that Michie Stadium lacked most of the revenue-generating features, namely premium seating, that have become common in college athletics. The stadium renovation will largely rebuild the East stands along the Lusk Reservoir and create premium spaces for more than 2,000 fans with majestic views of the lake and the Hudson River in the distance.

Legends will take the lead on creating new premium experiences for Army fans while also tapping into the corporate hospitality opportunities that exist in the immediate area as well as in nearby New York City.

Mike Buddie, who is entering his second year as Army’s athletic director, projects that the new premium spaces could generate $3 million to $4 million annually in new revenue.

Mike Behan, Legends’ vice president for collegiate partnerships, has been talking to Army about the project since last year, and Legends recently completed a market analysis to identify the revenue potential.

“The opportunity to go to a game at West Point is really unique, but once you get in there, the hospitality options are very limited,” Behan said. “So this is a chance to become more relevant in that space. They’ll now have a hospitality platform to build stronger relationships with local businesses in addition to West Point fans.”

Army is in the fundraising stage of what it’s calling the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, which will totally renovate the East side. Philadelphia-based firm EwingCole is leading the design.

Within the updates, with a goal of completion for the  2024 season, will come a full complement of new premium spaces, including suites, club seats, loge boxes and ledge seating. Legends’ comprehensive deal with Army goes beyond the sales strategy and planning. The 12-year-old agency also will create a year-round hospitality and event program that will provide corporate opportunities to be on campus and experience different elements of the U.S. Military Academy that would fit into leadership retreats or team building.

“We’ve been compared to Wrigley Field, in terms of offering this timeless experience,” Buddie said.

Legends in the college space has selectively worked on blue-chip projects like event planning and sales strategy for stadium renovations at the Rose Bowl and Notre Dame.

Army represents another historically relevant challenge.

“We’re a national treasure, but we’re also a college campus,” Buddie said. “We’re balancing the need to provide an upgraded experience with what’s sacred. We think this design plan will do that.”

Army and Legends Announce Comprehensive New Partnership

Posted on by Chris.Pereira

— Planning and Strategy of the Cadet Seating and Premium Experience, as Part of the Comprehensive Michie Stadium Preservation Project at West Point —

 

— Partnership with Legends will Also Include a New Year-Round Event Hospitality Program —

 

Army West Point Athletic Association and Legends today announced a comprehensive new partnership focused on creating an elevated experience for both fans and cadets, as part of the Michie Stadium Preservation Project at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, home of the Army Black Knights football program. The modernization of Michie Stadium will include a complete transformation of the East Stands space, where cadets have watched games since 1962. The project will fully integrate the cadets into the reimagination process, to elevate the viewing experience in a way that is authentic to the “Duty, Honor, Country” ideals.

 

The project will introduce all-new premium areas for Michie Stadium guests with the addition of suite, loge, and club level seating. Army West Point football is an unparalleled experience and these upgrades will further enhance the uniqueness of being able to experience a game at Michie Stadium. 

 

Legends previously assisted Army by conducting a comprehensive market study, soliciting feedback from West Point alumni, A Club donors, ticket holders, and Black Knight fans, to help determine the new seating experience and amenities within the East Stands. Additionally, Legends will manage sales and marketing, business intelligence, and data analytics services across the integrated partnership. Legends’ proprietary technology, data, and analytics platform will be a critical driver in delivering customized solutions and unique innovations for Army.

 

“Army West Point is a historic and noble brand that we protect fiercely,” said Mike Buddie, Director of Athletics, Army West Point. “Partnering with Legends makes all the sense in the world as they are an iconic brand in the hospitality business world and have a great reputation. We are excited to work with them to create the best game day experience in the nation and provide new and innovative opportunities for the alumni and public to experience the grandeur of the West Point Experience.”

 

Army and Legends will also partner on an event hospitality program, that will allow guests from the greater tri-state area the opportunity to experience the storied history and traditions of the U.S. Military Academy. The program will be fully customizable and specially curated for the group and the length of the visit and will highlight West Point’s heritage, values, and commitment to excellence, all set to the backdrop of West Point’s beautiful and historic campus on the western bank of the Hudson River.

 

“The experience at West Point is one unlike any other in collegiate athletics, and the opportunity to work alongside Army and completely reimagine the experience for Black Knight fans as part of the overall transformation of Michie Stadium, allows us to leverage our holistic acumen and develop a best-in-class hospitality program that celebrates the history and tradition of Army athletics,” said Mike Behan, Legends Vice President, Collegiate Partnerships. “As an extension of this approach, we saw an enormous opportunity to create a year-round event hospitality program that will allow guests to participate in the distinct aspects of the West Point experience.”

 

Legends has best-in-class experience in both sports and attractions, including working with some of the most visible teams and brands in the world, including ownership ties to the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys, along with attractions experience all over the world.

 

The New York Yankees and Army have their own storied background, with Army playing exhibition games against the New York Yankees 22 times since 1927, including the most recent exhibition game in 2013 at West Point. The first meeting of these storied programs featured Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Additionally, playing football games at the original Yankee Stadium was a staple of the Army football program throughout much of the last century. The Black Knights returned to their New York City heritage as Army agreed to play two of its home games at the new Yankee Stadium in 2011 and 2014.