Sports Business Awards: NHL, NBC Sports Win In Multiple Categories
In its seventh year, the Sports Business Awards featured several notable repeat winners – such as Pepsi earning its second Sponsor of the Year honor and the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic again winning Event of the Year – as well as first-time honorees like Team Epic. The NHL emerged as a big winner across several categories, including League of the Year, with Commissioner Gary Bettman earning Executive of the Year. NBC Sports Group also had an impressive haul, sweeping all three media categories (Media, Television, Digital Media).
The lone predetermined winner was Steelers Owner Dan Rooney, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Rooney said thank you in Irish to begin his acceptance speech, a nod to his heritage and to his time as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland in President Obama’s first term. The audience gave him a rousing standing ovation, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell introduced him by saying, “He is one of the greatest men I know.”
| CATEGORY | WINNER |
| Best in Sports Technology | Experience |
| Best in Sports Event and Experiential Marketing | GMR Marketing |
| Best in Sports Television | NBC Sports Group |
| Sports Facility of the Year | Madison Square Garden |
| Best in Talent Representation and Management | Excel Sports Management |
| Best in Digital Sports Media | NBC Sports Group |
| Athletic Director of the Year | Duke's Kevin White |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Dan Rooney |
| Sports Event of the Year | '14 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic |
| Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services | CAA Sports |
| Sports Team of the Year | Golden State Warriors |
| Best in Corporate Consulting, Marketing and Client Services | Team Epic |
| Best in Sports Media | NBC Sports Group |
| Sports Sponsor of the Year | Pepsi Beverages Co. |
| Sports League of the Year | NHL |
| Sports Executive of the Year | NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman |
MLS Commissioner Don Garber tweeted, “Congratulations to longtime MLS corporate partner @pepsi for winning the @sbjsbd Sports Sponsor of the Year award.” Arizona AD Greg Byrne: “Congrats to @Duke_ATHLETICS AD Kevin White on winning @sbjsbd AD of the Year! Always have admired him.” Warriors co-Owner Peter Guber: “SO proud of our @warriors …sports team of the year!! quite an accolade.”
See today’s issue of THE DAILY and our On The Ground blog for more on the awards and the ceremony.