As Team USA sponsorship revenue has grown to new heights, the USOC BOD granted four marketing officials six-figure bonuses in '15, according to a federal tax filing published today. Once the books on '16 are closed, the USOC believes its total four-year sponsor revenue will be 34% higher than the previous quadrennial ending with the '12 London Games. A spokesperson said revenue goals for '17-20 are also on target.
The board gave CMO Lisa Baird $113,000 in bonuses on top of her $400,000 base salary, which follows a nearly $300,000 bonus she received a year earlier. Managing Dir Mitch Poll earned a $224,000 bonus on top of his $210,000 base salary; Managing Dir Peter Zeytoonjian made $207,000 on top of his $196,000 base; and Managing Dir Michael O’Conor made $148,000 in addition to his $145,000 base. CEO Scott Blackmun’s salary was largely unchanged even though the BOD extended his contract through '21 with an option through '24. He earned $976,500 in '15, down 6.6% from '14, as his base salary grew but he received a smaller bonus.
The USOC reported total expenses of $199M on $142M in revenue, a deficit typical in non-Olympic years. In the last odd-numbered year prior to a Summer Games, the USOC ran a deficit of $44M on revenues of $141M. The lower revenues in odd-numbered years is driven primarily by broadcast rights revenue fluctuations.
