Legends sets up Global Partnerships division led by Hibbs
US-based sport and entertainment agency Legends has created a global partnerships division led by industry veteran Chris Hibbs, president of the new unit.
Legends Global Partnerships will offer consulting services in areas such as naming rights and venue entitlement positions, jersey sponsorships, premier events, emerging entertainment platforms, universities, and mixed-use real estate developments.
Hibbs, who joined Legends in 2016, most recently served as chief commercial officer for Legends’ representation of SoFi Stadium – the future home of the National Football League’s Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams – and Hollywood Park. Legends and Hibbs will continue to work on the project into early 2021. SoFi Stadium will open July 2020.
Hibbs said: “Legends’ experience with recent partnership executions at SoFi Stadium, Banc of California Stadium/LAFC, and Allegiant Stadium are a good preview of where we see this division headed.”
The new division includes existing Legends personnel such as senior vice-president Matt Pope, who will help lead the global partnership portfolio, with an emphasis on US Olympic & Paralympic Properties (USOPP) – the commercial joint venture between the LA 2028 Organising Committee and the US Olympic Committee.
Senior vice-presidents Doug Smoyer and Jamie Guin, formerly of the Legends Global Sales team, will lead the east and central partnerships teams, respectively. Kristen Condo has been promoted from the global sales unit into the new role of director. Ben Martin, Legends vice-president, EMEA, will lead partnership efforts from London.
Last month, Legends and LA28 announced the appointment of Katy Chambers Mollica as the head of partnership sales USOPP. Mollica will lead sales efforts for the LA 2028 and Team USA properties for the Legends Global Partnerships team, as part of Legends’ sponsorship representation of LA 2028.
Legends’ services now span six divisions operating worldwide: Global Partnerships, Global Planning, Global Sales, Hospitality, Global Merchandise, and Global Technology Solutions.