Golf league LIV appoints Chris Heck as President of Business Operations Management
Hiring Chris Heck: LIV Golf's New Strategy
LIV Golf, the controversial Saudi-backed golf league, just brought aboard Chris Heck as their new President of Business Operations. This move comes following Scott O'Neil's appointment as the new CEO, who replaced golf legend Greg Norman five months ago.
Heck has quite the track record, known for creating and reviving revenue streams for sports teams. He comes from Aston Villa, the 24th most valuable soccer club globally, with a valuation of approximately $850 million. During his two-year stint, the club's revenue skyrocketed from £219 million ($273 million) to £370 million ($462 million), making it the largest two-year revenue jump in league history.
Heck's magic touch didn't just stop at Aston Villa. Previously, he worked wonders with the New York Red Bulls, another soccer team where he significantly boosted the commercial revenue.
As for his working relationship with O'Neil, they go way back, having collaborated during their time at the NBA league office. O'Neil served as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, a company that owns the Philadelphia 76ers, while Heck was the team's president. Heck was instrumental in securing the first jersey patch sponsorship for an NBA team when StubHub signed a three-year, $15 million deal in 2016.
Despite the potential upcoming merger with the PGA Tour, LIV Golf continues to lure big-name sponsors. Notably, they've secured a partnership with Salesforce, with the software company having only one other league-wide sports sponsorship through its agreement with Formula 1.
LIV Golf has also built relationships with TikTok, Porsche, and Caliente. They've managed to widen their audience through new media rights deals with Fox, ITV, and DAZN, which have increased the viewership for events in Riyadh, Hong Kong, and Adelaide.
LIV Golf is striving to improve its U.S. television presence, which has been overshadowed by the PGA Tour's dominance. As of May, LIV is averaging 175,000 viewers on Fox, FS1, and FS2, while the PGA draws in nearly 18 times that audience with 3.1 million between CBS and NBC.
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Shaq's FTX Fraud Settlement: How It May Alter Athlete Deals
Remember, LIV golf is sponsored by Salesforce, the same company backing the controversial crypto exchange, FTX, which was involved in a fraud settlement with Shaquille O'Neal. Dive into the details of how this settlement might influence future athlete deals.
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- With the appointment of Chris Heck as President of Business Operations, LIV Golf aims to bolster its media rights, attracting more sports sponsors like Salesforce and strengthening its global sports presence.
- The analysis of Shaq's FTX fraud settlement indicates potential implications for future athlete deals, as LIV Golf's sponsor, Salesforce, was involved in the controversy, which could impact the way athletes choose their partners in the media rights and sports industry.
