Welcome to Sportico’s transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships, products and purchases across the sports business industry.
PERSONNEL
Gregory Baecher Joins Arctos as Partner
Gregory Baecher has joined Arctos, a private investment firm, as a partner. Baecher will be responsible for the firm’s capital solutions group and help lead corporate strategic initiatives. Baecher joins Arctos from Warburg Pincus, a private equity investor, where he spent nearly 20 years in various roles, including work alongside the firm’s senior leadership.
Melanie Harris Joins Detroit PIstons as President of Business Operations
The Detroit Pistons have named Melanie Harris as president of business operations. She will lead the organization’s business lines, expand revenue opportunities and drive engagement with partners, sponsors, ticket holders and fans. Harris most recently served as vice president and general manager for Nike’s Jordan Brand North America unit, where she led a cross-functional team in driving sales, merchandising, marketing, operations and strategy across the U.S. and Canada. She also served on Nike’s Black Community Commitment taskforce.
April Brown and Michael Hill Promoted by Major League Baseball
April Brown has been elevated to MLB’s senior vice president of social responsibility & diversity, and Michael Hill has been appointed senior vice president of on-field operations & workforce development. Brown will assume responsibility for overseeing diversity-focused areas of the office of the commissioner while continuing her leadership of all social responsibility and community relations functions. Brown also will be a leading voice within the MLB owners diversity & inclusion committee. Hill will maintain leadership over on-field operations as well as the front office and on-field diversity pipeline program.
New York Mets Name Samantha Engelhardt as Chief Operating Officer
Samantha Engelhardt has been named chief operating officer and a member of the executive leadership team of the New York Mets. Engelhardt will oversee various business functions, including communications, finance, strategy & analytics and technology, and will be responsible for helping to optimize daily operations on the business side of the organization. Most recently, Engelhardt was the senior vice president, head of global strategy and business operations for the NBA. She served nearly a decade with the NBA, with a focus on the strategic operations and organizational effectiveness of the league. Engelhardt also worked in the NBA’s team marketing and business operations department, focusing on team strategy and analytics across ticketing, partnerships, marketing and digital.
Gotham FC Appoints Ali Krieger as First Club Ambassador
NWSL team Gotham FC has appointed Ali Krieger as its first club ambassador, creating a role for the former player and team captain focused on supporting the club in its growth objectives. In the new role, Krieger will work closely with the club’s front office on a range of off-field initiatives, each designed to elevate Gotham FC’s profile in the New York and New Jersey market. Krieger will collaborate with Gotham FC’s leadership team to create new fan experiences.
PARTNERSHIPS
Memphis Grizzlies Establish Robinhood Jersey Patch Partnership
The Memphis Grizzlies announced a multiyear partnership with financial services company Robinhood Markets Inc. as the official brokerage and jersey patch partner of the Grizzlies. The Robinhood logo will be featured on the upper left chest of all Grizzlies uniforms beginning with the 2024-25 season. Klutch Sports Group’s Global Partnerships division was hired to source and help facilitate the deal throughout the process.
Wasserman Partners With Montreal-Based Momentum Hockey
Wasserman has partnered with Momentum Hockey, which will be immediately rebranded to Wasserman Hockey, as announced by president, global talent representation Jason Ranne. As part of the move, Momentum owner Olivier Fortier will become vice president, hockey, and co-owner Charles-Olivier Roussel will become senior director, hockey. Wasserman Hockey originally launched in 2018 with an equity investment in (and eventual acquisition of) Orr Hockey Group.
New York Jets Launch Travel Platform in Partnership With BookSeats
The New York Jets have launched Jets Travel, a BookSeats Experience, designed to help Jets fans build and book custom travel packages to home and away games. Jets Travel will offer custom flight, hotel and ticket packages. When fans bundle two or more services on Jets Travel, they unlock discounted rates. BookSeats allows users to build and book personalized, discounted ticket-inclusive travel packages. Beyond individual fans, BookSeats Experience allows teams, leagues and event planners to create branded travel platforms.
Ripken Baseball Names Rawlings Fielding Glove Partner Across Five Facilities
Ripken Baseball established a partnership with Rawlings, the official glove of MLB, naming the brand the “official fielding glove” of Ripken Baseball, Baseball Factory and Softball Factory. Rawlings will also be involved in the Baseball Factory All-America Game, which showcases high school baseball players.
KPMG Extending Partnership With HBCU Showcase at The Armory
For the third consecutive year, The Armory Foundation in New York City will have KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, as the title sponsor for the 2025 HBCU Showcase track and field invitational. The HBCU Showcase is scheduled to take place at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory on Jan. 18, 2025, and will be live streamed on Peacock at 2:30 p.m. The showcase offers an opportunity for HBCU college admissions representatives to interact with students who are considering their path to higher education.
PRODUCTS
Pro Rivals Open Launches as New Series
The Pro Rivals Open, a new competitive golf tournament series for athletes, has launched. Active and former professional athletes from the worlds of basketball, baseball, football and hockey will compete head-to-head in four sport-specific golf tournaments spanning the next year to crown the best player from each league. The Pro Cup—an annual team competition—uses a Ryder Cup-style match play tournament to determine which league prevails on the course. The inaugural The Pro Cup will be held at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla., on Dec. 9-14. Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, Super Bowl champion Jerome Bettis, NHL legend Mike Modano and basketball’s Vinny Del Negro will captain their league’s respective teams in a three-day match play event.
