Nationality United States Ethnicity Jewish | Spouse(s) Allison Ross Name David Blitzer | |
Education B.S. University of Pennsylvania Occupation private equity investor Known for minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils Similar People Joshua Harris, Adam Aron, Jeffrey Vanderbeek, Jason Levien, Marc J Leder | ||
David S. Blitzer (born 1970) is a partial owner of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League, Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, Crystal Palace FC of the English Premier League and a senior executive at the private equity firm Blackstone Group.
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Biography
Blitzer grew up in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He is married to fellow Penn alumnus Allison Ross. In 1991, he accepted a position with the Blackstone Group where he serves as Senior Managing Director & Head of Tactical Opportunities in New York City.
Blitzer is a member of the investment group that won a $280 million bid for the purchase of the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers. The other members of the investment group are: Joshua Harris of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, portfolio manager Art Wrubel, and former NBA agent and Sacramento Kings executive Jason Levien, all fellow Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania graduates, as well as former Vail Resorts CEO Adam Aron, Martin J. Geller, David B. Heller, Travis Hennings, James Lassiter, Marc Leder, Michael Rubin, Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith, and Indonesian businessmen Handy Soetedjo & Erick Thohir. Comcast-Spectacor and Harris began talks in the summer of 2011. The deal was announced on July 13, 2011. The NBA formally approved the deal on October 13.
In 2010, his father-in-law, Stuart Ross, who once owned the North American rights to the Smurfs franchise, was convicted of trying to extort $5.5 million from Blitzer in return for having no more contact with Blitzer's family and another $5.5 million from Blitzer for having no more contact with Blitzer and Blackstone. He was convicted of extortion and sentenced to five years of probation under the condition that he get psychiatric and alcohol treatment and has no contact with his daughter Allison, Blitzer, their children, and the Blackstone Group.
On August 15, 2013, it was announced that a group led by Joshua Harris and partner David Blitzer have purchased a majority stake in the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, which includes the rights to operate Prudential Center arena in Newark, New Jersey. The transaction was reportedly for over $320 million.
Blitzer is a supporter of Hillel, which focuses on encouraging Jewish undergraduate and graduate students to embrace their Jewish heritage.
Personal life
Blitzer is married to Allison (née Ross) Blitzer, who is also Jewish and they have five children between the ages of 8-14.