The inaugural CFP National Championship attracted many big names in the sports business industry. ESPN, which broadcast the game, had quite a few execs in attendance, including President JOHN SKIPPER, Exec VP/Programming JOHN WILDHACK, Exec VP/Sales & Marketing SEAN BRATCHES, President of Global Customer Marketing & Sales ED ERHARDT and Senior VP/Programming Acquisitions BURKE MAGNUS. Disney Chair & CEO BOB IGER flew to the game with Clippers G CHRIS PAUL and Roc Nation Owner JAY Z in the Disney jet. Other media execs who made the trip to AT&T Stadium include Big Ten Network President MARK SILVERMAN, Fox Media Group COO LARRY JONES, WME-IMG co-CEO PATRICK WHITESELL, IMG College Chair & President BEN SUTTON and Bruin Sports Capital's GEORGE PYNE. Nine of the 10 FBS conference commissioners were there -- MIKE ARESCO (AAC), BRITTON BANOWSKY (C-USA), KARL BENSON (Sun Belt), BOB BOWLSBY (Big 12), JIM DELANY (Big 10), LARRY SCOTT (Pac-12), JON STEINBRECHER (MAC), JOHN SWOFFORD (ACC), and CRAIG THOMPSON (Mountain West). SEC Commissioner MIKE SLIVE, who is battling prostate cancer, did not attend. Other industry execs at AT&T Stadium include Nike co-Founder & Chair and Oregon booster PHIL KNIGHT, as well as AT&T Chair & CEO RANDALL STEPHENSON, The Montag Group Founder SANDY MONTAG, former IMG College CEO PAT BATTLE, CAA Sports Corporate Consultant GREG LUCKMAN, Learfield President & CEO GREG BROWN and former MLB Rangers Owner TOM HICKS. Politicians in attendance included Texas Gov. RICK PERRY and former U.S. Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE, who served on the CFP Selection Committee (THE DAILY).
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James, an Ohio native, purchased a suite
for the championship game |
MORE FAMOUS FACES: Republican political consultant
KARL ROVE was in attendance at AT&T Stadium for last night's game, watching from the suite of BP Capital Founder & Chair
T. BOONE PICKENS. Cavaliers F
LEBRON JAMES, an avid Ohio State fan, "purchased a suite for the evening" (
DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/13). James "practiced with the Cavaliers Monday in Phoenix, then took a private jet with friends" to watch his "favorite college team win a national championship" (
CLEVELAND.com, 1/13). Dr Pepper President & CEO
LARRY YOUNG and
LARRY CULPEPPER, "the Dr Pepper Guy" of commercial fame, "mugged for photos with attendees" of a pregame VIP party hosted by sponsors at AT&T Stadium (
DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/13). Yesterday's party "drew celebs" including Paul. Sunday night’s "exclusive, password-protected party" at The Joule Hotel on Main Street drew Knight and
LADY ANTEBELLUM, who performed. But the "real talker" of Sunday's party was what scantily clad women passed out to those entering the male-dominated throng." Party gifts "included cigars, Victoria’s Secret blindfolds, handcuffs and edible body cream" (
DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/13).
