The Devils news is coming fast and furious. As the team gets ready for two split squad preseason games tonight in Brooklyn against the Islanders and in Prince Edward Island against the Ottawa Senators, the team’s owners, Josh Harris and David Blitzer, announced the formation of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE).
In addition to the Devils, the press release on the Devils’ site says that the new company will include their other sports holdings, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Delaware 87ers (the Sixers’ NBA G-League development team), the Binghamton Devils, the Sixers Innovation Lab Crafted by Kimball and esports franchise Team Dignitas. In addition, the portfolio will also include Prudential Center and the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center.
The press release states that “HBSE creates a vehicle for Harris and Blitzer to accelerate growth of their holdings through focused resources across their properties, while intensifying exploration of strategic investment opportunities.” They tout that they will be able to impact “the local communities in which” they operate. Hugh Weber echoed that sentiment when he said “we’re looking forward to solidifying a model of growth in our businesses that produces leaders and innovators in sports and entertainment and leaves a meaningful legacy in the communities we serve.”
Scott O’Neil has been named CEO while Weber will be President. Brad Shron was promoted to General Counsel of HBSE. Also, as far as the Devils are concerned, Adam Davis (Chief Revenue Officer of Prudential Center and the Devils) “will expand his role to run the partnership business for all HBSE properties.”
A lot of the press release is corporate speak which, quite frankly, is over my head. But what I am getting out of this is that the ownership is committed to continue working to make the experience of going to a Devils game at Prudential Center better and better and will be looking to expand their business and put money back into ventures like the Devils and the 76ers to improve the product that we, as fans, watch. Hopefully I am right in that assessment.