Tad Brown, CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, calls Philadelphia’s new arena a “legacy opportunity” for the owners, the fans and the city of Philadelphia.
“We want to create the greatest arena in the world in the city of Philadelphia,” Brown said in an interview for the latest episode of Sportico Sports Business Presented by Endava, airing Wednesday night on YES Network. “It’s a legacy opportunity for the fans because we talk about [how] we want to build the greatest arena in the world for the greatest fans in the world. … It’s about making sure it connects with Philly, making sure it connects with the mindset of the Philly fan.”
Brown says the arena, set to be completed in May 2030, will include features based on different neighborhoods in the city and the history of Philadelphia. The arena will also include places for fans to hang out pre- and postgame, along with a fan plaza.
In addition, Brown discusses the current trend of team owners buying into multiple franchises and creating sports empires. “I do think you’re going to see more of it, just by the very nature of people who are buying these teams, buying limited partnerships into these teams.” He also talks about how sports team owners and fans both want the same thing from franchises: memorable winning experiences. “We want to create those winning experiences and those lifetime memories and connection with the community. And if [a sports franchise is] able do that, that works in building the value of your entire organization.”
Also on this episode of Sportico Sports Business Presented by Endava is New York Road Runners CEO Ted Simmelkjaer. The TCS New York City Marathon, organized by NYRR, is set to run on Sunday, and Simmelkjaer walks through the business of hosting the largest marathon in the United States. The former media exec explains how race entry fees ($300 or more for 60,000-plus runners) are the biggest form of revenue, followed by sponsors, for both NYRR and the marathon, and a tour operator business, which brings in runners from around the world.
Simmelkjaer came from a media background, and when he started working for NYRR, a nonprofit, he saw a gap in philanthropic donations. Now, philanthropic giving is going to pass sponsorship for NYRR as the second-biggest form of revenue.
Sportico Sports Business Presented by Endava airs monthly. Presenting sponsor Endava is a leading provider of next-generation technology services, driving digital transformation for our customers by combining innovative technology and deep industry expertise with an AI-native approach.