Mike Alongi

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Mike Alongi

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer called Intuit Dome his “passion project” when accepting the award for Sports Facility of the Year at last night’s Sports Business Awards in N.Y., saying that his vision has always been for the arena to be “a place for basketball fans to be basketball fans.”Ballmer pumped his fists and shouted while rushing up the red carpet, practically leaping on the stage to accept the award from Abe Madkour, followed by his staff and colleagues.

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Mike Alongi

When accepting her award for Sports Executive of the Year at last night’s Sports Business Awards in N.Y., USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland continued looking ahead, telling the crowd at the Marriott Marquis Times Square that while the organization “had a hell of a year last year,” they’re “just getting warmed up.” Hirshland pointed to the next decade as key, with not only the Milan Cortina Games less than a year away but also with two domestic Games set for L.A. (2028) and Salt Lake City (2034).

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Mike Alongi

Univ. of Tennessee AD Danny White in his acceptance speech for Athletic Director of the Year at stressed to those in the audience that college sports needs “help,” calling the current climate “a bit of a sh*t show.”“We have to find a better ground in college sports,” White said to the capacity crowd at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. “It’s uniquely American.

2 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Mike Alongi

When ESPN announced a reorganization of its content team structure in August, Mike McQuade was bumped up to a new position -- EVP/sports production. As an ESPN lifer (he joined the company in 1987), McQuade has seen a lot and done a lot -- most recently as the network’s producer for tennis, the NHL, boxing, golf and “SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt” -- an iteration of the flagship show that he helped ideate.

3 weeks ago | sportsbusinessjournal.com | Mike Alongi

Private aviation firm Airshare is debuting its new partnership with the PGA of America at this week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, as the company continues to work toward its goal of increasing visibility with the everyday consumer and making private aviation more attainable for travelers. “As we started to think about nationwide expansion, we were looking for a property that could establish awareness for Airshare nationwide,” Airshare CMO Andy Tretiak said.