As COO, Lesane will work closely with executive leadership to strengthen MSG Sports’ portfolio and support its long-term direction and growth, which includes supporting the company’s strategic vision while driving innovation and optimizing corporate performance across its professional sports franchises. In this role, he also oversees business operations for the company’s teams, including the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. He directly manages core functions (strategic planning, marketing, ticketing, the in-game experience, community and fan development).

“I am pleased that Jamaal has stepped into this expanded leadership role with MSG Sports,” said Jim Dolan, executive chairman and chief executive officer of MSG Sports. “In his more than 15 years with MSG, Jamaal has proven to be a strategic and effective leader, and his multifaceted experience across numerous aspects of our operations will be an asset as we continue to grow and innovate in our business.”

“The opportunity to take on this new role at MSG Sports is a tremendous honor,” said Lesane. “Throughout my career at MSG, I have had experience working across different areas of the business, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across the company to continue building the legacies of MSG Sports, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers.”

MSG Sports hired Lesane in 2008. He has worked in roles of increasing responsibility for over 15 years. Before becoming executive vice president and general counsel in March 2022, Lesane was senior vice president and associate general counsel. Before that, MSG Sports became a standalone company in April 2020 when The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) separated its entertainment and sports businesses, Lesane was MSG’s senior vice president, Legal and Business Affairs. In this role, he served as team counsel for the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and Westchester Knicks while also providing legal support for all other MSG sports properties, including college basketball, boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts, occurring at MSG’s venues, which includes Madison Square Garden.

Before joining MSG, Lesane worked as an associate counsel at Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO), providing legal support and counsel to HBO Sports and HBO Licensing and Retail. Before HBO, he was a corporate lawyer at Covington and Burling LLP.

Lesane graduated with a B.A. from Yale University and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSG Sports) is a leading professional sports company with a collection of assets that includes the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL), as well as two development league teams, the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also operates a professional sports team performance center—the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh, NY.

Image courtesy Madison Square Gardens

Under the terms of the partnership, Fanatics will become the exclusive worldwide operator for New Zealand Rugby’s e-commerce store, allblackshop.com, and deliver in-stadium retail experience at home tests in New Zealand and worldwide, including this July in San Diego, CA when the All Blacks return to the U.S. to play Fiji.

Fanatics will also become the master licensee for New Zealand Rugby consumer products, leveraging its in-house manufacturing capabilities to create, distribute and All Blacks and Black Ferns merchandise.

Craig Fenton, chief executive at New Zealand Rugby Commercial, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Fanatics, a leader in their field. With a large fan base across the world. We are proud to be able to provide all fans, no matter where they’re based, with the opportunity to support our teams through supporters’ gear and an expanded retail range, along with a great shopping experience.”

This partnership adds the teams in Black to Fanatics’ partner roster across Rugby with the business also partnering with the English RFU, Rugby Australia, Six Nations Rugby, and the British & Irish Lions. Fanatics has a global partner network of over 900 sports clubs, leagues and properties, including, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Juventus, The International Olympic Committee, UEFA, WWE, and Formula 1.

Stephen Dowling, president of International at Fanatics, said, “The All Blacks and Black Ferns are among the best in the world when it comes to on-pitch performance, elite mentality and delivering for their fans. We are honored to have the opportunity to match this level of excellence off the field, and we’re excited to deliver for fans of the Teams in Black across the globe.

“Partnering with elite sporting organizations such as New Zealand Rugby and coming together to push the envelope and delight sport fans is what drives us, and we will do everything in our power to enhance all New Zealand fans’ experience when they shop,” Dowling concluded.

Image courtesy New Zealand Rugby

With 45 percent YTD 2024 sales increases and future long-range growth and investment plans, the newly created position will oversee all North American operations and growth planning. King has over a decade of experience overseeing operational efficiencies, improving processes and managing resources, most recently at RSR Group, Inc., a distributor in the sporting goods industry.

“While much of the golf industry has been flat, we have been fortunate to start 2024 with phenomenal revenue increases, and it is always exciting to be in a position to add new roles due to growth and continued future investment plans,” said Pete Kinney, PGA, president of Volvik USA. “Matt King brings a wealth of operational excellence experience and will be a key leader on our executive team as we continue to drive our long-term growth goals.”

Image courtesy Volvik

The stars, striped and sporty collection for soccer, karate and basketball, also features tracksuits, hats and gold medal toys for pets to show “team pride in style.”

“PetSmart is thrilled and honored to be the pet retailer to offer Team USA items for pets,” said James Elasky, SVP of merchandising and chief merchant at PetSmart. “We know people are looking for ways to share the joy of their favorite activities with their pets. We’ll do anything for pets, so we created this new Team USA collection to allow pets and pet parents to celebrate, create memories and cheer on our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, together.”

The exclusive Team USA Olympic PetSmart collection includes a tracksuit, tee, hat, ring toys, torch toy, medals toy, Soccer, Karate and interactive Basketball toys.

PetSmart Doggie Day Camps will host a one-day-only Team USA-themed Doggie Day Camp experience on August 8, 2024, to celebrate and support Team USA. This ultimate play date will feature fun activities for the body and mind with exercise and enrichment games, as well as special treats for the pups and a photo keepsake of their experience.

PetSmart Grooming Salons are also offering a Team USA-inspired summer special through July 28, 2024. The $27 upgrade includes

• a patriotic bandana,
• luxury shampoo and conditioner,
• beachside bellini cologne spritz,
• a dog cookie, and
• a coupon book with over $400 in product and service savings.

To shop the limited-edition Team USA collection, visit PetSmart.com or a nearby store. Pet parents are encouraged to share their dog’s Team USA spirit on social media by tagging @PetSmart and #TeamUSA in photos of their pups decked out in team gear.

Image courtesy Petsmart

For the first time, the latest Athlete Think Tank group also includes coaches from across the highest levels of sport, reflecting a key insight from prior Athlete Think Tank cohorts—”to champion athletes, you must also champion coaches, listen to their ideas and meet their unique needs.”

The third Athlete Think Tank includes athletes Alex Morgan, Alice Dearing, Kiki Rice, Laurie Hernandez, Nelly Korda, Oksana Masters, Romane Dicko, Sky Brown, Tunde Oyeneyin and Yulimar Rojas, as well as coaches Emma Hayes, Jenny Lang Ping, Dawn Staley, and Diljeet Taylor.

“Alongside incredible athletes, the third Athlete Think Tank cohort includes some of the greatest coaches of our time,” said Tanya Hvizdak, vice president of Nike Global Women’s Sports Marketing. “Creating positive change through sport is done through listening to the voice of the athlete and listening to coaches. I’m excited about the ideas and perspectives they bring and how we can partner to turn those into action.” 

Over the past three years, Athlete Think Tank’s athletes and coaches have gathered to share their insights, thoughts and vision for a more “equitable future for sports,” and the relationship has helped “Nike redefine the model of athlete partnership as a two-way commitment that champions candor, deep listening and collaborative problem-solving.” It’s also resulted in new Nike product offerings, services for athletes and support for community organizations that reflect athletes’ passions.

To help break barriers to access and achievement, Nike continues investing in the community organizations that matter to Athlete Think Tank. This year, the brand will donate $1.7 million to nonprofits chosen by collective members. Since Athlete Think Tank’s inception, Nike reported it has invested  $4.4 million to community organizations on the program’s behalf.

“Nike’s investment in community and commitment to listening to women athletes signals the depth of the brand’s support for members of the collective as well as women and girls across all levels of sport,” said Emma Hayes, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team coach and a member of the third Athlete Think Tank cohort. “We have an environment where we can change things that are going to make a difference for future generations of athletes and coaches. It’s extremely inspiring and empowering.”

Athlete Think Tank will continue its momentum by forming a fourth cohort of athletes and coaches later in 2024.

Image courtesy Nike

Life Time did not disclose the terms of the transaction.

Life Time will reportedly use the proceeds from the sale-leaseback to support growth and strengthen its balance sheet. The company also noted that it would continue to evaluate the sale-leaseback market for additional opportunities.

“As we have communicated previously, we look at sale-leaseback transactions opportunistically in support of our future growth opportunities and commitment to further strengthen our balance sheet,” said Life Time Founder, Chairman and CEO Bahram Akradi. “We have tremendous relationships with our partners and are grateful for their ongoing interest in our real estate portfolio. We are very pleased to complete this sale-leaseback on terms and conditions that are very similar to recent transactions.”

Image courtesy Life Time

Giorgio joins Wellness Pet after 18 years at Puma NA, most recently as VP of marketing, leading a team of over 60 employees across all marketing and communication departments and spearheaded the development of integrated marketing strategies and experiences for the brand’s portfolio of businesses. Before that, Giorgio held marketing roles for various brands, including Boston Ski & Sports Club, Sudbury Health and Fitness Connection, and Annie’s Homegrown.

“As we continue to provide premium nutrition options for cats and dogs, it’s vital that we build our brand and engage with the next generation of pet parents in new and innovative ways,” said Wellness Pet CEO Reed Howlett. “Allison brings deep integrated marketing capabilities and expertise to strengthen our current connections and relevancy with pet parents. We are eager to welcome her onto our senior leadership team to lead brand storytelling and consumer experiences that showcase our purpose-led operations: making the healthiest natural and nutritious food and treats for the pets that depend on us.”

“Wellness Pet recognizes the critical roles marketing and communications play in creating memorable moments and messages that drive its business objectives and results,” Giorgio said. “The scientifically proven products, commitment to wellbeing for pets and pet parents and people-first culture make the company incredibly exciting to join. I look forward to being part of this dynamic industry and working with the senior leadership and marketing teams to further foster meaningful connections between Wellness Pet and the pets and pet parents we serve.”

Giorgio has a master’s degree in business from Boston University and a bachelor’s in international business and marketing from Northeastern University.

Images courtesy Wellness Pet Company

Following the departure of long-term Supervisory Board member Thore Ohlsson and the appointment of the two new members, Puma’s Supervisory Board increased from six to seven members. 

“Welcoming Harsh and Roland to the Supervisory Board will help Puma to develop further by expanding the overall expertise of our Supervisory Board and further professionalizing its work, “said Héloïse Temple-Boyer, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Puma SE. “Both Harsh and Roland are excellent professionals who will enrich the work of our board.” 

“I am glad that we have been able to appoint such experienced leaders as Harsh and Roland to our Supervisory Board,” said Puma CEO Arne Freundt. “Their vast knowledge will be an asset to our company, and I look forward to hearing their valuable perspectives on our business and working with them.” 

Saini, a British citizen, is a sustainability expert. She has worked for the Body Shop, Nike, and the Fung Group, where she reportedly ” implemented global sustainability strategies and shaped their commitment to ethical practices, sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility.”

Krüger, a German citizen, is reportedly an expert in retail management, marketing and digitalization. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Dyson Holdings, having previously been Global CEO of Dyson, the tech company that designs and manufactures household appliances. He also has held various leadership positions in the automotive industry.

Images courtesy Puma

The temporary retail space at 536 Madison Avenue is consistent with the company’s locations in Scottsdale, AZ and Palm Beach, FL. Reflecting the surrounding architecture, the charcoal-hued store, offset with vibrant gecko accents, brings the brand’s trademark whimsy to the Big Apple.

The store offers men’s and women’s styles, including apparel, footwear, and accessories. Limited edition items exclusive to the location are also available, including the G/Fore X MrPorter.com collaboration and snapback hats with a custom-designed logo of the New York City store.

Images courtesy G/Fore

In an annual celebration of excellence and partnership, Krieghoff International, the family-owned German manufacturer of high-end hunting and sporting firearms based in Ulm, Germany, with an office in Bucks County, PA, announced its top three retail dealers worldwide based on the 2023 sales year.

DuPont/Krieghoff, a destination for fine firearms enthusiasts, leads the pack with the 2023 Gold Award. Under the leadership of Kemble du Pont, the retailer brings the English Gunroom experience to Vero Beach, FL. The DuPont/Krieghoff team provides “unparalleled service and an exquisite selection of Krieghoff products through their cutting-edge mobile showroom and service center.” With over 65 years in the business, DuPont/Krieghoff “stands as a pillar of excellence within the industry, as well as the shooting sports community,” reported Krieghoff.

Pacific Sporting Arms earned the 2023 Silver Award with one of the largest collections of fine firearms in the U.S. Founded by All-American competitive clay target shooter John Herkowitz in 1996, the company’s deep-rooted passion for the sport is evident. Staffed by experts with hands-on experience, Pacific Sporting Arms “delivers unmatched service to clients at their Michigan and California locations,” said Krieghoff.

Paxton Arms earned the 2023 Bronze Award, based in Richardson, TX, and led by Robert Paxton and Mary DiGiovanni—both members of the Texas Skeet Shooters Association Hall of Fame. Paxton Arms is known for its “commitment and excellence in shooting sports since 1978. Paxton Arms profound dedication to enhancing their customers’ shooting sports experience and active community engagement have significantly contributed to their esteemed recognition,” said Krieghoff.

Christina Byrd, Krieghoff’s sales manager, celebrating the achievements of the 2023 award winners, said, “It’s the depth of knowledge and dedication these dealers share, spanning more than a hundred years combined, that truly drives the success of Krieghoff. Their commitment to distributing our firearms and providing exceptional customer experience speaks volumes of their trust and belief in the quality and legacy of our brand. We’re excited to see them thrive and continue to set benchmarks in the industry for many more years to come.”

Image courtesy Krieghoff International

“The Los Angeles area is one of the top golf markets in the country. This, combined with fantastic year-round weather, makes it a great spot for a PXG store,” said PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “While we’ve been serving the region through our mobile fitting program for years, we’re thrilled to finally provide our local PXG Troops with easy access to all of our offerings—equipment, apparel, accessories, and world-class service.”

PXG’s new 3,852-square-foot retail storefront is positioned in the second-largest golf market in the U.S. based on the number of golfers. More than 80 golf courses are within a 20-mile radius of the new store. 

PXG Orange County offers two golf club fitting bays powered by TrackMan technology, a dedicated putter fitting studio and a 112-square-foot practice putting green for testing PXG’s Battle Ready II Putter line. The storefront also features a retail showroom displaying PXG’s apparel, accessories, golf bags, golf balls, and hats. 

The recently released PXG S/S 2024 apparel collection is featured in-store and includes “52 golf and lifestyle pieces for men and women.” 

“Like all of our PXG storefronts, PXG Orange County allows customers to fully embrace the brand and see, touch and try our latest apparel and equipment,” said Renee Parsons, president and executive creative director of PXG Apparel. “It’s an experience unlike anything else, and I’m thrilled we get to open our doors to the Orange County community.” 

PXG Orange County is in the Ocean Plaza shopping center at 17041 Beach Blvd Ste 103, accessibility from Hwy 405 and Beach Blvd. 

Image courtesy PXG

IHRSA president and CEO Liz Clark announced a new name for the organization, the Health & Fitness Association, which Clark described as a “global community of industry leaders supporting an Association committed to advocacy, education and research.” 

Clark announced the name change during her address before the keynote at the Association’s convention and trade show on March 6 in Los Angeles, CA.

“Every industry evolves, and the next step of evolution for our association is to have a name that exactly reflects the breadth, diversity and consumer-oriented focus of the businesses in our sector,” Clark said. “The Health & Fitness Association is clear, compelling and can also be easily translated into any language, which is vital given the international reach of the Association and the global operations of our members.

“This decision is especially important when we focus on the Association’s primary mission—advocacy to government, media, NGOs, and other key stakeholders around the world. From today on, there will be no question about the mission, vision and clarity of purpose of the Health & Fitness Association.”  

The Association launched in 1981 as the International Racquet & Sports Association (IRSA), and, in 1994, it became the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). 

Clark’s announcement regarding the Association’s name change is “the culmination of a year-long project that involved board members, industry advisors and veterans, association staff, and brand strategy and marketing consultants.”

In addition to the name, the rebrand “involves clarifying and refining the member service and onboarding process to maximize efficiency and effectiveness and implement new operational plans that support ongoing strategic planning.”

The Association also showcased a new logo, brand usage guidelines, colors, and fonts as part of the process. 

In the coming months, the Association will roll out its full transition of the brand, iconography, images, website, social media platforms, email addresses, and collateral materials and use the hashtag #HealthFit.  

Image courtesy Tropeaka

“Our company purpose is to balance the intersection of people, products and the planet,” said Joyce. “Anne embodies these beliefs and brings extensive leadership experience from renowned active lifestyle brands. This is an ideal opportunity to bring in a proven leader to help bring PrimaLoft forward to the next level, and, for me, she was the only choice.”

Cavassa joins PrimaLoft with a track record of driving growth through “strategic direction and fostering a collaborative environment.” Most recently she was president of Saucony and held leadership roles at Brooks, Nike and Timberland. Cavassa is said to bring a strong background in footwear and apparel (product design, merchandising, customer experience, retail, and brand marketing), “enhancing PrimaLoft’s market position.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the exceptional team at PrimaLoft,” said Cavassa. “What drew me to this position is the brand’s rich history of innovation, delivering outstanding performance and sustainable products. I look forward to the opportunity to work with some of the world’s best brands, and I’m particularly excited about our next phase in building brand equity and forging a strong connection with consumers.”

Primaloft noted in a release that Joyce will continue as CEO, focused on long-term strategic activities and direction. Cavassa will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations, and the two will collaborate closely to advance company growth.

Photos courtesy Primaloft

The collection includes Nocs’ Standard Issue Binoculars, Nocs x OV Explore Graphic Shortsleeve and Nocs x OV Explore Tote with graphics designed by Spencer Pidgeon. 

“We are so excited to be working with Outdoor Voices,” said Nocs Provisions Founder and CEO Chris McKleroy. “We are both driven by the same thing—equipping people with tools and apparel to get out, explore the outdoors and express themselves.”

“Through this collaboration, we aim to unite our communities and encourage embracing the great outdoors while prioritizing our overall well-being,” CEO Gabrielle Conforti of Outdoor Voices shared. “Our collective vision is to inspire and ignite a sense of adventure within our communities, fostering a deeper connection with nature.”

The collection includes Nocs’ Standard Issue waterproof binoculars in a pastel blue with green eye cups and a focus wheel that compliments the earthy look. The fully multi-coated lenses and BaK4 roof prisms produce a crisp image. The binoculars are waterproof (IPX7 certified) and fogproof.

The Outdoor Voices tote and tee feature Pidgeon’s graphic of a frog on a lilypad peeping through the limited-edition pair of Nocs, with pops of pink flowers, light blue binoculars, different shades of green, and “explore your world” written at the top.

Nocs products ship in plastic-free, post-consumer recycled boxes printed with soy ink. 

In alignment with Fanatics and the company’s College division, Mitchell & Ness is entering the college merchandise market with a larger presence this fall, marrying its legacy vintage brand with college marks.

Since joining Fanatics last year, Mitchell & Ness has added 60 new university partners, counting nearly 100 schools to its roster. These licenses include a mix of current and vintage marks/licenses. 

Partners include Alabama, Oregon, Kentucky, Penn State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Clemson, Florida State, and Georgia.

The brand previously held a handful of college licenses and released limited-edition throwback and fashion collections, including its 1983-84 Michael Jordan UNC jersey. 

In addition to expanded lifestyle collections, Mitchell & Ness will launch several authentic jersey programs this fall, including a 125th anniversary season program for Michigan State University at the start of basketball season. The brand will also continue to pursue more fashion-driven collaborations.

Fanatics acquired Mitchell & Ness in 2022 alongside a strategic ownership group of prominent names in sports, entertainment and business. In addition to expanded college rights, Mitchell & Ness has also leveraged Fanatics’ partner roster and added new rights across several leagues and player’s associations, including a new league-wide licensing deal with the NHL and an expanded headwear and throwback jersey catalog with MLB.

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