Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark to lead RedBird's Milan Sports & Entertainment
Brett Yormark, who announced his departure from the Big 12 Conference roughly two weeks ago, is joining RedBird Capital Partners as chief executive of a new Milan-based holding company called Milan Sports & Entertainment. The entity encompasses AC Milan, a proposed stadium and surrounding mixed-use development, a potential NBA Europe franchise, a tennis venue, and other related businesses. According to the report, Yormark holds a multiyear deal and is believed to have received equity in the business; his responsibilities will include leading the executive team, recruiting corporate talent, and overseeing the commercial portfolio. AC Milan will separately hire a dedicated soccer operations executive, with reports pointing to Eintracht Frankfurt's Markus Krösche as a candidate for that role.
I think this opportunity presents a very similar dynamic, but being able to do it on a global stage, which truly excites me.
Why it matters
For brands: Milan Sports & Entertainment's commercial ambitions — including naming rights, kit sponsorship, venue management, and a possible NBA Europe franchise — signal major sponsorship and partnership opportunities at a global scale.
For coaches: Big 12 schools will need to navigate a leadership transition as Yormark remains only through January, leaving the conference to identify its next commissioner.
For media: The formation of a multi-sport holding company anchored by AC Milan, with possible NBA Europe expansion and a potential public offering in five to ten years, represents a significant story in the evolving global sports business landscape.
Read the full story at Sportico
Sources
- Sportico · Justin Birnbaum: Brett Yormark Tapped to Lead Gerry Cardinale’s Milan Sports Empire