Fox Sports Enterprises (FSE) and the Dodgers "are
dissolving their marketing and sales relationship" with
Philip Anschutz and his Envision firm after two years,
according to John Rofe of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, who
writes that the relationship "by all accounts was a
successful marriage." Envision will still represent the NHL
Kings, MLS Galaxy and AFL Avengers -- all of which are owned
by Anschutz -- as well as Staples Center, which is co-owned
by Anschutz and Fox. Fox said that it "was taking its
marquee asset in-house to better leverage it with the other
property it controls and ones it acquires in the future."
Anschutz Sports Holdings President Tim Leiweke, who oversees
Envision, calls the decision to part ways "the right thing
to do," as the Dodgers' departure "would allow Envision to
focus on a global strategy." Rofe adds that the new sales
arm will be called Fox Sports Enterprises Sales & Marketing
and will be headed by Mitch Huberman, who "handled" the
Dodgers for Envision (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/18 issue).
