Tag: Tad Brown

Sixers owner Josh Harris, co-owner …

The donation was inspired by the …

The donation was inspired by the treatment Sixers assistant coach Dave Joerger received at the center after he was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in October. Joerger went through seven weeks of radiation and chemotherapy and returned to the Sixers in early February.

Former Rockets CEO Tad Brown joins Daryl Morey with 76ers

As a condition of former owner Les Alexander’s sale to Tilman Fertitta, Brown and Morey will reportedly still be paid by the Rockets.

Former Rockets CEO Tad Brown will take over as CEO of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, effective Aug. 3. Brown chose to leave Houston at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Brown spent nearly 20 years with the Rockets and was in the CEO role since October 2006, making him one of the franchise’s longest-tenured executives. With the 76ers, he will join an executive leadership team that also includes former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey — who is now the president of basketball operations in Philadelphia.

In 13 years together in Houston, Brown and Morey oversaw a 640-400 (.615) record, which was second-best in the NBA during that time.

Morey and Brown had each cited family reasons as among factors potentially pushing them towards an East Coast job. Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, there was a bonus financial incentive, too:

The Rockets’ agreement with Morey, Brown and others that were part of sale when the team was sold to Tilman Fertitta in 2017 gave five-year guaranteed contract extensions in which they will get paid by the Rockets, even after taking positions with other organizations, a person with knowledge of the agreements said. That could have worked to provide incentives to leave the team during that five-year period.

Gretchen Sheirr is effectively replacing Brown in Houston, though her formal title is president of basketball operations, rather than CEO. Sheirr had most recently worked alongside Brown as chief operating officer.

Rafael Stone, who was Morey’s No. 2 executive in basketball operations during recent years, took over the general manager role last fall.

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Sixers to name Tad Brown as the new CEO of Harris & Blitzer Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers will hire Tad Brown as their new CEO to replace Scott O’Neil.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in the process of working through an offseason where they will be looking to improve upon their Round 2 exit in the 2021 postseason. There are some upgrades that the team will have to make in order to get the job done.

On the business side of things, they had to make a move to hire a new CEO after Scott O’Neil stepped down after eight years at Harris & Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.

Philadelphia will hire Thaddeus “Tad” Brown as the new CEO. He will overlook not only the Sixers but the NHL’s New Jersey Devils as well. He spent the previous two decades with the Houston Rockets so he has experience with president Daryl Morey from their days in Houston.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tad to the HBSE family,” said HBSE Co-Founder Josh Harris per a team press release. “Tad is an exceptional leader in our industry, and one with a deep passion for innovation and community engagement. With nearly twenty years’ experience leading the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center, we are confident that he will bring a fresh energy and new ideas to our teams, organization and local communities.”

During Brown and Morey’s time in Houston, from 2007-2020, the Rockets compiled a 640-400 (.615) record, the second-best of any NBA team, while becoming one of the NBA’s most successful franchises. 

“I want to thank Josh Harris and David Blitzer for this incredible opportunity to lead HBSE in its next chapter,” Brown added per the same press release. “This role not only allows me to work for innovators like Josh and David; it also allows me to work alongside some of the industry’s best talent that has been assembled across the HBSE organization. This is a world-class sports and entertainment organization that cares about the cities and fans it serves. My family and I are thrilled to begin our new journey and I’m eager to help guide HBSE to even greater heights.”

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Rockets promote Gretchen Sheirr to lead business operations, replace Tad Brown

“Her work ethic, attention to detail, and passion for the Rockets gives me great confidence in her ability to perform at the highest level.”

The Houston Rockets are promoting Gretchen Sheirr from chief operating officer (COO) to president of business operations, the team announced on Wednesday. According to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, she is replacing Tad Brown, who recently stepped down as CEO.

Sheirr, who has worked with the club for 20 years, is the fourth woman leading the business operations of an NBA team. She joins a franchise that is becoming known for its diversity at the highest ranks. General manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas are one of a select few Black GM-coach combinations in the NBA.

Wednesday’s press release from the Rockets, which includes details on Sheirr’s background with the team, reads:

Houston Rockets owner Tilman J. Fertitta today announced Gretchen Sheirr (pronounced Sheer) has been promoted from Chief Operating Officer (COO) to President of Business Operations.

Fertitta said:

As soon as I began working with Gretchen, I was immediately impressed by her knowledge, her innovation and her leadership. With Gretchen having been part of the Houston Rockets success for two decades, I couldn’t be more excited to see her get this opportunity.  Her work ethic, attention to detail and passion for the Rockets gives me great confidence in her ability to perform at the highest level.

Sheirr said:

First, I’d like to thank Tilman, Patrick and the entire Fertitta family for their guidance and support, and of course, their trust to help steward the Rockets brand for the city of the Houston. To have this opportunity, in your hometown, for your childhood team, is a dream come true.

Sheirr, who recently finished her 20th season with the Rockets, began as an account executive and worked her way up the ranks, becoming the team’s Senior Director of Ticket Sales, Vice President of Sales & Services, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and eventually COO.

As CRO, Sheirr oversaw all ticketing and suites sales, services and operations for the Rockets and Toyota Center as well as corporate development and business strategy. In her expanded role as COO, all business departments reported directly to Sheirr.

Early in her career, Sheirr spearheaded the implementation of a private-label ticketing venture, now known as AXS Ticketing, which garnered success for both the Rockets and Toyota Center. Her comprehensive understanding of ticketing strategy and ability to forecast industry opportunities along with a commitment to digital innovation and fostering strong relationships within the Houston business community have been vital to the organization’s success.

A native of Spring, Texas, Sheirr graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in marketing. She was a four-year letter winner as a diver for LSU. In 2017, she was named one of Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40, which annually recognizes the top young professionals in sports business.

Sheirr is a founding board member of WISE Houston and is a member of the Executive Women’s Partnership. She and her husband, Ken, have twins, Zachary and Jordan, and live in The Woodlands.

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Report: Tilman Fertitta vows to stay out of Rockets’ rebuilding plan

“I hate losing so much I’m totally staying out of it, because I’m scared that I can make the wrong decisions,” Fertitta said.

The Houston Rockets (15-46) currently have the NBA’s worst record in the 2020-21 season, and there’s no immediate hope on the horizon for a better 2021-22 campaign. But as owner Tilman Fertitta sees it, these two seasons could be part of the price to pay for a better long-term future.

In an interview with Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, Fertitta endorsed the longer-term rebuild seemingly put in place by general manager Rafael Stone. Among his comments:

It’s really, really hard because I am competitive and I hate to lose. But my people, including Tad (Brown) and (Rafael Stone) and even my son Patrick, just (say) the biggest mistake you can make right now is use all these picks to be a .500 club, because you’re never able to be a championship caliber club. But I hate losing so much I’m totally staying out of it, because I’m scared that I can make the wrong decisions. I want to win today. I just have to (stay out of it) because they’re right and they just gave me examples and examples.

Stone has identified Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood, Jae’Sean Tate, and KJ Martin as Houston’s “young core” for developmental purposes. In Fertitta’s interview, he indicated that he understands that perspective.

You’ve got to remember on Kevin Porter, he’s 20 years old. None of your superstars are great at 20. Go back and look at James Harden at 20. …

Are we going to be a championship team next year? No, we are not, OK? And I don’t even know that we’ll challenge for the playoffs next year. This is what they’re telling me. We can’t be stupid. Sometimes you’ve got to bide your time. You have to be patient, and you have to make good decisions.

The Rockets have the second-most picks of any NBA team in the first round of the next seven drafts, trailing only Oklahoma City. Unless many of those picks are traded for more established players, that would seemingly signal a commitment to a rebuilding process, since any prospects would need to be given time to develop and improve.

The complete interview can be read in the Houston Chronicle.

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Rockets CEO Tad Brown stepping down, replacement to be named soon

“It’s time to move on. It’s been the greatest honor of my professional life to lead this organization. It’s been the ride of a lifetime.”

Tad Brown will step down as CEO of the Houston Rockets at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, he announced Friday. Brown has spent nearly 20 years with the team and has been in the CEO role since October 2006, making him one of the franchise’s most long-standing executives.

Brown indicated at Friday’s news conference that the rest of the organization’s current leadership team, including owner Tilman Fertitta, general manager Rafael Stone, and head coach Stephen Silas would remain in place. Brown noted that there was a succession plan in place for his CEO position, adding that it would be announced “very soon.”

“It’s time to move on,” Brown told reporters in his introductory comments on Friday. “It’s been the greatest honor of my professional life to lead this organization. It’s been the ride of a lifetime.”

“I think I’ve always had a pretty good ability to feel the room, and kind of understand what will be in the organization’s best interest,” he added.

Here’s a sampling of what else was said and learned at Friday’s shocking news conference from Toyota Center.

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Rockets celebrate first Pride Night game at Toyota Center

Houston had planned to debut the annual Pride Night celebration in April 2020, but that game was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Houston Rockets held their first Pride Night at Wednesday’s home game versus Indiana, presented by Adidas and held in alliance with the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

The Rockets had originally planned to debut the annual event on April 2, 2020, but that game was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Embracing inclusivity is something our team believes in strongly,” Rockets CEO Tad Brown told OutSmart Magazine in February 2020.

“It is our responsibility to celebrate all members of our community, including LGBTQ fans,” added Brown, who cited “overwhelming support” from owner Tilman Fertitta. “Pride Night will provide an experience that shows how much we support and appreciate them.”

According to Houston-based OutSmart, Golden State became the first NBA franchise to host a Pride Night during the 2017-18 season.

Other NBA teams to have hosted a pride night since then include the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Miami Heat.

A sampling of Houston’s Pride Night activities at Toyota Center is available below. The organization also hosted virtual panel event earlier in the day focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports and the workplace.

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James Harden appreciates ‘standup guys’ in Houston front office

“They could’ve traded me anywhere, but those are some standup guys over there,” Harden said of the Rockets. “It ended up the right way.”

In addition to the significant draft capital acquired by the Rockets as part of the blockbuster trade sending James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, there’s also a potential intangible benefit to the franchise in the years ahead. By working with Harden to trade him to his preferred destination, Houston may have showcased its credentials as a player-friendly organization to other superstars and players around the league.

During his introductory press conference in Brooklyn, Harden referred to the Rockets as an “unbelievable organization” and said he appreciated them working with him throughout the process. “Credit to the Houston Rockets, who are an unbelievable organization,” he said. “They worked with me, as bad it looked from the outside. I’m very appreciative.”

Approximately one month later, in a new interview published Friday by ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, that sentiment remains unchanged. Here’s what Harden said regarding the drama of his final weeks in Houston, and whether he would make any changes in hindsight.

No. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. I wasn’t trying to be selfish. I feel like the front office knew where I stood, and what I wanted. I apologize how for it went down, but I guess I had to do what I had to do, in order to get to where I wanted to go.

Credit to Houston. They didn’t necessarily have to trade me to Brooklyn. They could have traded me anywhere, but those are some standup guys over there. It ended up the right way, I just didn’t like how that month or two played out.

After Harden’s initial trade demand in November went unfulfilled, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta worked to defuse the situation by reportedly assuring Harden of an eventual deal — which new GM Rafael Stone executed on Jan. 13. Fertitta then publicly thanked Harden for his years of success with the team. Harden also had a close relationship over his eight-plus years in Houston with veteran CEO Tad Brown.

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Despite the turbulent 2020 offseason, which included trade requests by Harden and co-star Russell Westbrook, Houston’s front office was able to secure a deal in free agency with rising star Christian Wood. Now, with the future draft capital acquired from the Harden trade, Stone’s front office should be well positioned to eventually strike on the trade market, if and when the next disgruntled star becomes available.

The question, of course, is whether the franchise will be viewed as desirable enough for those stars to use Harden’s template and position themselves for a move to the Rockets. The answer likely depends on a number of variables, including Wood’s development, but the strong reputation of Houston’s front office appears to be a good starting point.

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