David A. Wright Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Oversee all commercial revenue and outward facing business units including marketing, corporate partnerships, media / content, consumer products, events, and analytics & digital products.Charged with driving overall sport / property relevancy, fan engagement and revenue for the National Governing Body. Since joining USSF in 2020, the Federation has made several strategic moves including retaining their commercial rights beginning in 2023 (which had been previously managed by Soccer United Marketing), securing a long-term extension with Nike (the largest partnership in Federation history and among one of Nike’s largest global investments), and finalizing long-term partnerships with Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal Telemundo.

New York, Ny, Us

Led all Marketing and Commercial business units including Marketing & Business Strategy, Business Development, Partnership Marketing, Brand Development, Media, and Communications focused on maximizing enterprise-wide value and driving MiLB's vision to be a dynamic leader in sport and entertainment.• Oversaw MiLB Enterprises LLC, the commercial arm of MiLB, comprised of 160 club shareholders. • Managed a seven-member Enterprise Board comprised of six owners and the MiLB Chief Financial Officer. • Delivered exponential commercial partner growth, representing a 290% increase in revenue since 2016 and more than $82M in contracted revenue. Additionally, increased net shareholder returns from <40% to over 64% of gross revenue, despite material investments and staff expansion.• Led thoughtful campaigns, emphasized fan-focused technologies, and positioned MiLB as the only major sports property to increase attendance in 2019, with +2.6% YoY growth and over 41.5 million attendees. • Developed and maintained partnerships with leading brands that include Allegiant Air, Applegate, ECHO, FIS Global, Guardian Protection, Nationwide, Peerless-AV, Stouffer’s, Stryker, Uncle Ray’s, Satisfi Labs, and Tickets.com. • Established strategic partnership with Tickets.com that has supported MiLB’s attendance growth and achieved a 24% increase in digital ticket sales.• Created the Allegiant Airlines Digital Network, the largest in-venue, digitally connected network in sport and entertainment, to drive fan engagement and commercial revenue across 50 MiLB ballparks ($11M investment). • Launched Copa de la Diversión, an industry-leading Hispanic and Latinx fan engagement platform, resulting in a 20% attendance increase for participating games and over $12M in related merchandise sales.• Created the first-ever MiLB Brand Standards Book that detailed the re-launch of the MiLB primary and secondary marks and outlined brand attributes, personality, tonality, fan profiles, and typography.

New York City, Us

• Responsible for leading Global Sponsorship strategy, managing day-to-day operations, and serving as a member of the senior executive team, to maximize enterprise commercial revenue for MLS / SUM properties and media platforms. Served as the company voice for trade publications, industry events, and conferences.• Managed staff of 20, tasked with commercial sales, business development, and strategic partnership growth and retention. Conducted ongoing staff development, evolved roles and reporting structures, and proactively positioned the team to stay ahead of growth. Oversaw sales and relationship management for 40+ partners, encompassing revenue of $120M and an annual budget responsibility of $15M. • Achieved consistent YoY commercial revenue growth, averaging 18% annually since 2011, with total 2015 revenue topping $120M between property rights and media. Maintained strategic partner renewal rates that exceeded 90% throughout the four-year cycle (2011 – 2014). • Maximized commercial revenue across five SUM properties including MLS, U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), and the Mexican National Team (FMF). Secured and managed over $30M in annual strategic media spends across NBC, ESPN, FOX, Univision, and MLS Digital Properties, along with corresponding media guarantees. • Negotiated and closed hundreds of partnerships with brands and representing agencies, delivering successful partner upsells to multi-year agreements with global brands, many exceeding eight figures annually. Secured long-term commitments with adidas, Allstate, AB InBev, AT&T, Audi, Brown-Forman, Castrol, Chevy, Coke, Continental Tire, Heineken, The Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Panasonic, and Wells Fargo.• Served on the executive management team responsible for MLS 2.0. The evolved commercial model led to an 89% increase in enterprise-wide revenue, and delivered significant marketing value for Clubs via strategic relationships with prominent brands.

New York City, Us

• Responsible for oversight of partnership marketing and business development. Developed the overall business strategy, completed a reorganization of the department, and hired key senior personnel. Served in the role for just over seven months before being promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Sponsorship.• Managed three direct reports, 15 staff members, and an expense budget of $8M, to lead 2011 global sponsorship revenue of approximately $60M.

New York City, Us

• Responsible for driving growth and retention across existing commercial partnerships and collaborating with senior marketing executives to drive commercial value for partners. Leveraged partner communication channels, captured B2B opportunities, and guided mutually beneficial long-term investments with strategic partners.• Oversaw day-to-day partnership management across 40 commercial partners, three broadcast partners, and eight SUM properties, encompassing $50M of existing business and an annual budget responsibility of $7M. Led the Partnership Marketing group through a period of rapid growth and expanded staff by 50% during tenure.• Facing one of the worst economic downturns in a generation and 40% of business up for renewal in 2010, achieved 100% partner retention with a 22% increase in existing partner revenue. Led the implementation of MLS 2.0 in 2010 and 2011, which evolved the commercial model to increase Club revenue opportunities.• Secured over $24M of incremental SUM partner business via MLS stadium B2B projects with Panasonic, Glidden Paints, and Makita Tools. Increased overall SUM partner activation by 140% in this role, which included regional and national retail promotions in Wal-Mart, Best Buy, 7-Eleven, Jewell-Osco, and Kroger.• Created a nine step “Growth & Retention Model” to successfully lead the partner renewal process to achieve measurable partner-specific value, solid top-to-bottom relationships, and YoY retention rates exceeding 90%. • Developed and managed a commercial program for the World Football Challenge featuring Manchester United, Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, and others. Oversaw pro-forma creation, commercial strategy development, and business plan execution for this annual event.

New York City, Us

• Responsible for leading partnership growth and retention across the commercial business and managing the Fan Development group for MLS marketing programs. Led an eight-person department with full responsibility for commercial partnerships across three SUM properties that included MLS, USSF, and SuperLiga. Oversaw day-to-day partnership management for 20 partners, encompassing $30M of existing business and an annual budget responsibility of $4M.• Managed a team dedicated to connecting MLS to a growing and diverse soccer community through a portfolio of grassroots initiatives and partnerships. Engaged with the burgeoning Hispanic community to drive League and Club value and to provide local touch points for commercial partners.• Identified and maximized cross-promotional opportunities among existing partners and leveraged partner communication channels to drive targeted MLS / SUM messaging. Managed a full range of media relationships with top brands that included Disney, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon.• Secured leading mass retailers and targeted media outlets for the FIFA World Cup and Major League Soccer tune-in promotion, which achieved over 190 million collective monthly viewers. • Created Sueño MLS (sponsored by The Home Depot) which was a nationally televised tryout on Univision’s República Deportiva that generated over $4.2M in media. • Launched SuperLiga 2007 with eight global partners, this MLS vs. Mexican competition achieved record attendance and TV viewership on Univision, across a multi-national market.• Created and launched the inaugural MLS Latin American Advisory Board to connect with influential Hispanic leaders nationwide. This effort increased credibility and visibility for MLS within this important consumer segment, while providing critical marketing insights to drive continued growth.

New York City, Us

New York City, Us

Master Of Science, Sports Management

Bachelor Of Science, Kinesiology