Theodore N. Black Email & Phone Number

Pittsburgh, Pa, Us

Pittsburgh, Pa, Us

Harrisburg, Pa, Us

Whitaker Center is a $50m+, 130,000 SF multi-purpose performing arts, science & entertainment facility located in the heart of Pennsylvania's state capital. In 2022, Whitaker opened the PNC Innovation Zone, making it the first science center in the country with a purpose built/designed studio that uses video games to introduce kids to STEM and STEAM educational opportunities. My team helped to conceive and launch the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association, which sanctions the PA high school state esports championships, and the collegiate esports program for the Harrisburg University Storm, which won the 2019 ESPN Collegiate Esports National Championship (Overwatch) and the 2020 TESPA Collegiate National Championship (Overwatch).

Buffalo, Ny, Us

Oversaw business operations of this iconic NHL franchise, with specific focus on growing revenues, expanding the season ticket base and transforming the Sabres and Buffalo into a premier North American hockey destination. I provided successful strategic and visionary leadership in areas of corporate partnerships, media rights, fan relations, ticket sales & marketing and USA Hockey, AHL and NHL relations. I represented the Sabres and the Rochester Americans (AHL affiliate) at owners' meetings and served on various marketing, media and NHL/USA Hockey committees. My team sold the arena naming rights thereby generating millions per year in new cash flow; we disrupted, reinvented and relocated the NHL Combine from Toronto to Buffalo, where it has become a premiere event; and we set the franchise record for most season tickets sold (2014 and again in 2015). We conceived and executed the first ever Rochester Americans outdoor game, which established the all-time single game attendance record for the franchise. My management team also prepared and submitted the successful bids for Buffalo to host a number of high profile international hockey events, including the 2012, 2014 and 2015 USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, the 2014 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship, the aforementioned NHL Combine, the 2015 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, the 2016 NHL Draft and the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. One of my final projects as team president was to conceive of and initiate plans for the “Prospects Challenge" a round robin tournament involving prospects of the Sabres, Boston Bruins and NJ Devils.

Rochester, Ny, Us

Oversaw all business operations of the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Served as Governor and represented franchise at AHL Board of Governors' meetings. Among other achievements, our team conceived, planned, managed and hosted the first-ever professional outdoor hockey game in Rochester. The event set the all-time attendance record for the franchise.

Executive with P/L responsibility of regional sports network. Oversaw a staff of 45+ and an annual budget in excess of $85m. FSN Pittsburgh was and has continued to be the television rights holder for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Penguins and a telecast partner with the Pittsburgh Steelers. FSN Pittsburgh produced and telecast more than 220 live pro games to 2.4 million subscribers across five states. During my tenure, FSNP achieved record telecast ratings and earnings. My experience also included forging sponsorship and advertising agreements with regional and national advertisers such as PNC, Rivers Casino, Allegheny Health Network and StarKist; negotiating distribution agreements with Comcast, Armstrong Cable and DirecTV for the network; and extending our telecast rights agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Us

Member of the core senior management team hired by Mario Lemieux in 1999, a leadership group that transformed a bankrupt hockey club into one of the most successful franchises in pro sports. As chief legal officer, participated in all senior executive-level decisions and strategic planning concerning the overall business operations and management of the Pittsburgh Penguins and its affiliates. Served as the Alternate Governor of the WBS Penguins and represented the AHL franchise at Board of Governor meetings. During the design phase of the Consol Energy Center, responsible for the day-to-day pre-construction matters, including working with the design architects, consultants and the public sector for $350m construction project.

Handled a variety of legal cases and represented clients in business transactions and commercial litigation for this 25-attorney law firm.

Worked weekends and summers for my father’s small town beer distributor for $1 an hour. I learned how to drive a flat bed stick shift and a fork lift with no brakes, deliver beer to local bars, move heavy pallets of beer with a hand jack and stack 16 gallon kegs three high by hand. Phantom compensation plan included having the key to a beer distributor during my high school years….

Doctor Of Law (J.D.)

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science And Government