People Who Made Sports Business Headlines In 2007
The SBD/SBJ editorial staff compiled a list of twelve sports business execs who made headlines in ‘07. Today we present the first six, in no particular order.
Clay Bennett, Sonics Owner
Headline: Short time for Seattle?
Clay Bennett became the NBA’s newest owner in '06 when he paid $350M to buy the Sonics. He then spent this year making headlines with threats to move the team to Oklahoma City unless Seattle can come up with a new arena deal. In November, Bennett drew the latest line in the sand by filing to relocate the team to Oklahoma while looking to void the last two years of the team’s lease in the outdated KeyArena.
Dan Gilbert, Cavaliers Owner
Headline: The aggressive Dan Gilbert
Call it a good year for Dan Gilbert. He expanded his sports empire this year by buying the AHL Lake Erie Monsters minor league hockey franchise, his Cavaliers made their first appearance in the NBA Finals, and he opened a new $25M training facility for the team. He continues to build Flash Seats, his online ticketing company, and Fathead, a maker of giant wall decals that has been a hit with sports fans. What’s next? A bid to run the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, where Gilbert may add a D-League franchise.
Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Inc. CEO
Headline: The matriarch cast as a villain
For a woman who prefers to stay out of the news, Teresa Earnhardt was thrust into the headlines for much of the '07 NASCAR season. As it became apparent that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would leave the family company to drive for another team, Teresa was cast as the villain. She questioned Junior’s commitment on the track and the eventual split was often attributed to a breakdown in their relationship. DEI President of Global Operations Max Siegel was on the front lines during negotiations to keep Junior, but Teresa’s role in the family drama was what insiders talked about.
Ryan Sheckler, Skateboarder
Headline: This is the life
From teen rebel to teen heartthrob, the 18-year-old skateboarder exploded in popularity at the X Games and Dew Tour stops this year courtesy of his hit MTV reality show “Life of Ryan.” The show, which debuted after “The Hills,” delivered solid ratings and fueled unprecedented interest in the skateboarder. One teenage girl drove four hours just to see him in person in Orlando.
George Gillett, Canadiens Owner
Headline: No country for timid men
If the logic that the best money managers maintain diverse portfolios applies in sports, then George Gillett went to great lengths to secure a position as the pre-eminent sports manager in '07. Gillett began the year by joining Tom Hicks in a $940M acquisition of Liverpool FC, one of the strongest English Premier League brands. He followed that by striking a partnership with Evernham Motorsports in August. His portfolio of sports properties now includes ski resorts, an NHL team, an EPL team and a NASCAR team.
Jim Delany, Big Ten Commissioner
Headline: Taking on cable
Jim Delany recently was asked what he would do differently if he had to launch the Big Ten Network all over again. His immediate answer: “I wouldn’t have made it so personal.” Delany added to the rancor surrounding the channel’s late summer launch when he proclaimed that Comcast and Time Warner Cable were out-of-touch East Coast corporations. The rhetoric has since died down, and negotiations are moving slowly but quietly. Lesson learned.
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