Name Jon Spoelstra Role Author | Children Erik Spoelstra | |
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Books Ice to the Eskimos: How to M, Marketing Outrageously: How to In, Success is Just One Wish Awa, Marketing Outrageously Redux: H, Red Chaser: A Noir Thrill | ||
Jon spoelstra keynote at affiliate summit west 2012
Jon Spoelstra is an American author, sports marketer, and a former National Basketball Association executive for the Buffalo Braves, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. He is the co-founder of SRO Partners, and he currently serves as president of Mandalay Sports Entertainment. Spoelstra graduated from Notre Dame in 1966. Spoelstra was a judge at the Miss America 2004 contest. He is married to Elisa Celino and they have two children: Monica and Erik. Spoelstra's son Erik is the current head coach of the Miami Heat. Spoelstra is also the son of sports writer Watson Spoelstra.
Contents
- Jon spoelstra keynote at affiliate summit west 2012
- Jon spoelstra at wizard academy
- NBA and business career
- References
Jon spoelstra at wizard academy
NBA and business career
After graduating from Notre Dame in 1966, Spoelstra founded his first marketing company in 1970, The New School of Youth Marketing and Other Phenomena Inc. In the mid-1970s his company obtained the rights to syndicate Notre Dame basketball games for $2,000 per game. In 1977, Spoelstra's career in the NBA began when the Buffalo Braves hired him as vice president of marketing. One of his biggest tasks he was assigned was to prevent a relocation of the Braves, although the team moved to San Diego ten months later. In 1979, then Portland Trail Blazers owner Larry Weinberg hired Spoelstra as senior vice president and general manager where he would serve for ten years before resigning.
The Denver Nuggets hired Spoelstra in 1989 as president and general manager, however, he was fired after only 90 days due to a dispute with management. Afterwards, Spoelstra returned to Portland where he co-founded SRO Partners, and began teaching sports marketing at the University of Portland. He began consulting for the New Jersey Nets in March 1991, and later became the team's president 1993. During his time with the Nets, Spoelstra implemented clever marketing tactics which contributed to increasing the team's home game attendance from last in the league when he first arrived to best in the NBA. His most famous marketing gimmick that he is known for came in 1994 when Spoelstra sent rubber chickens through direct mail with the tagline "Don't Fowl Out!" to Nets season ticket holders who had not yet renewed their season tickets.