Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Scott O’Neil is stepping down to “pursue new opportunities,” the organization said.
Of his more than two decades within the sports and entertainment industry, the last eight have been at HBSE, the parent company to National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers and National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils.
In a statement on his departure, O’Neil thanked owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer “for inspiring, engaging and empowering me to bring together the most talented executive team in sports and entertainment.”
He continued, “To be trusted with the opportunity to steward epic brands – as well as buy, build, integrate, acquire, and grow complementary businesses to create HBSE as it is today – has been the ride of a lifetime, one for which I am humbled and grateful.”
The Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden. The Sixers Innovation Lab is on the first floor. – NJBIZ
Running the organization has made him “even more excited to build, grow, and drive my next platform,” he said, without sharing what that next platform is.
Under O’Neil, HBSE was built from just the Sixers to a sports and entertainment franchise that spans two professional teams, an e-sports business, a leading arena and entertainment business, and several growth and venture investments across sports technology. Under his leadership, the Sixers were the first to sign a jersey patch sponsorship in “Big Four” sports history; oversaw construction on what the organization said is the largest and most technically advanced training complex in professional sports, the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex; established an industry-leading Innovation Lab; and became the first U.S. professional sports franchise to acquire a world-renowned e-sports team.
He also became acting co-managing partner for Elevate Sports Ventures, an agency he helped to create in a partnership between HBSE, Live Nation Entertainment | Ticketmaster, the San Francisco 49ers and Oak View Group.
“Scott has accomplished so much on behalf of the organization in a relatively short amount of time, driving our growth, culture, and commitment to strengthening the communities in which we live, work, play, and win,” said HBSE Co-Founder Josh Harris in a statement. “I cannot overstate how much we value Scott’s enormous contributions to the company and how grateful I am for his leadership and partnership in creating a best-in-class culture at HBSE. We know he will find great success in whatever he chooses to accomplish in the future, and we will always be among his biggest advocates.”
