Business Leaders Jon Ledecky and Carolyn Tisch Blodgett Discuss Sports in 'Sportico Sports Business'
In the bustling sports landscape of New York City, two teams are making waves by transforming their arenas into dynamic, multipurpose spaces. The New York Islanders, a staple of the National Hockey League (NHL), and Gotham FC, a member of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), are both leveraging their arenas to elevate their leagues and engage with the community.
Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the New York Islanders, is spearheading this transformation at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. Originally designed for basketball, the arena has been adapted for NHL hockey. Despite challenges such as suboptimal sightlines and seating arrangements for hockey due to the arena's basketball-centric design, Ledecky is determined to tap into the New York metropolitan market.
Ledecky and fellow owner Scott Malkin acquired majority ownership in 2016 and have worked tirelessly to stabilize the franchise financially and competitively. Their efforts have paid off, with the team's valuation substantially increasing since the purchase. They encourage broad use of the arena to maximize revenue beyond hockey alone, reflecting a business-savvy approach to sports franchise operations.
Meanwhile, Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, the operating owner and club governor of Gotham FC, is focusing on arena utilization that supports both soccer and broader community engagement. While specific details from the search are limited, Gotham FC's governance under Blodgett reflects a commitment to growing the league's fan base and visibility through multi-use venues and high-level game presentations that attract diverse audiences.
These strategies reflect a broader trend in sports ownership: leveraging venues as dynamic, multipurpose spaces to drive financial growth, community engagement, and league prominence. Ledecky's experience in business and multiple sports investments informs his approach to maximizing arena utility, while Blodgett's role with Gotham FC aims at expanding the influence and commercial viability of women's professional soccer.
The New York Islanders will open their regular season on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9, followed by their first home game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 11. The team's UBS Arena, which opened in 2021 and is designed for both hockey and music events, boasts optimal acoustics for performers, thanks to a $100 million investment by the ownership group.
In the NWSL, Gotham FC, under Blodgett's leadership, has a 5-3-5 record for the 2025 season. Blodgett views competition within the league and outside of it as beneficial for the growth of women's soccer globally. Teams like Chelsea and Arsenal are seen as positive factors by Blodgett, as they raise the bar for women's soccer.
The Islanders' ownership group also funded the construction of the arena, and their efforts were rewarded when the team won the 2025 NHL Draft lottery with a 3.5% chance. They selected 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer as their first pick.
The sports landscape in New York City is witnessing a shift towards multipurpose arenas, with teams like the Islanders and Gotham FC leading the way. This trend is also being mirrored by other teams in the NWSL, such as Angel City FC and Kansas City, which are elevating women's soccer with Angel City being the most valuable team in the league and Kansas City recently building a women-specific soccer stadium. The future of sports in New York City looks promising, with a focus on community engagement, financial growth, and league prominence.
[1] Sportico Sports Business Presented by Genius Sports
[2] NYI Hockey Now
- The New York Islanders, a key player in the National Hockey League (NHL), and Gotham FC, a member of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), are both harnessing their arenas to enhance their leagues and engage with their communities, demonstrating a synergized sports business approach, as seen in Sportico Sports Business Presented by Genius Sports.
- In the National Hockey League (NHL), Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the New York Islanders, is not only focusing on football but also leveraging hockey, such as the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, to drive financial growth and expand the Islanders' influence alongside other progressive teams like Gotham FC in the NWSL, exemplifying the evolving sports landscape in New York City as reported by NYI Hockey Now.
