New Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker, who on Saturday had her introductory press conference, "has already formulated a few ideas about revenue growth through initiatives involving ticketing, fan experiences and broadcast partnerships," according to Ben Bolch of the L.A. TIMES. The Clippers' TV contract with Fox Sports ends after this season. Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer said that he "would allow Zucker to examine the possible rebranding of the Clippers but seemed committed to the nickname the team has used" since arriving in San Diego in '78 and moving to L.A. in '84. Zucker said that she "reached out to Ballmer after he purchased the Clippers in August because she thought being a part of his team would be 'an incredible opportunity.'" The two "had an hourlong meeting at the J.W. Marriott across from Staples Center and later a four-hour dinner, at which point it became clear to Ballmer that he wanted to hire Zucker from among the 25 to 30 candidates." Zucker also "received an endorsement from Clippers coach Doc Rivers" (L.A. TIMES, 11/9). In L.A., Melissa Rohlin noted Zucker "assumes the role formerly held by Andy Roeser, who was forced out by the NBA during the Donald Sterling fiasco." Zucker said that she "knows exactly what is going to be her first order of operations." She said, "Listening. There's a lot of information to process, so I'm drinking from the fire hose, really embracing all of the incredible talent and resources that are around me" (L.A. TIMES, 11/9). Rivers said that he had a "limited role in the hiring process, but had complete trust Ballmer would make the right call." The L.A. TIMES' Rohlin noted Rivers is "pleased that he will no longer be a go-to guy for business decisions, which was a role he was thrust into" after the Sterling fiasco. Rivers: "It's just needed. It makes your organization run smoothly and they have someone to go to when they have an issue" (L.A. TIMES, 11/9).
ZUCKER'S VIEW: Zucker, the former President of Auto Club Speedway, said of her outlook, "The way I look at the world is to find something really meaty that seems impossible and make it possible. Those will be the kind of opportunities we’ll be looking for here, and I absolutely believe Steve thinks the same way. That’s what he wants for this franchise." She added of her history with media-rights deals and her thoughts on the Clippers' upcoming deal, "The NASCAR television deal, when I originally came into the sport, each facility negotiated, independently, its own rights. Then, we gave them all back to NASCAR and they consolidated them. I was part of a group of people who did it, but I wouldn’t claim that I did it myself. As that was going on because of the type of position I was in, I had a lot of exposure to how that works and to the team that was actively doing that." Zucker, when asked how she plans to make the Clippers a bigger story in L.A. than nationally, said, "It’s about making this experience here where people want to be a part of it locally" (
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 11/9).
A CAREFUL SELECTION: ESPN L.A.'s Arash Markazi wrote as Ballmer "puts together a staff that will look to re-brand and lead" the Clippers "forward under his ownership, he has been largely quiet and observant." He "knows what he wants but he also knows what he doesn’t know." This is Ballmer’s "first foray into owning a professional sports team and he isn’t shy about admitting he doesn’t know exactly how to run a team yet three months into his ownership of the Clippers." Ballmer: "I’ve had a chance over the last three months to get to know a very large number of people who are involved in running the business of sports. I’ve gotten to know people in basketball and other sports. I’ve talked to people outside the sports industry that want into the sports industry, people who have spent time in L.A. and people who have not spent time in L.A." Ballmer interviewed candidates "from different sports and businesses for the job" of President of Business Operations. The number "was so large not only because there were that many qualified candidates but also because Ballmer wanted to pick the brains of every one of them about improving the Clippers." He said, "You get a unique opportunity to meet people when you’re interviewing. I want to know who do the best people look like? Who do the best people look like at other basketball teams? Hell, we’re competing with them. I had to know what their best people look like and any of these other sports. Let's know, know, know, know" (ESPNLA.com, 11/8).
