We are GF Sports & Entertainment. Elevating Experiences.
GF Sports & Entertainment is a live events and sports media entertainment company created in July 2015 by New York-based private equity firm GF Capital.
We are defined by our passion for what we do and get deeply immersed in everything we are involved in. We are producers of memorable events and riveting competitions, originators of unique concepts and global content, but above all, we are creators of vital and enduring franchises. Seeing opportunities that others may overlook, we invest our talents, energies and resources in creating lasting memories for guests, unique opportunities for sponsors and superior returns for investors.
To learn more about GF Capital and the company’s current portfolio, visit www.GFCap.com
GF Sports & Entertainment:
Building new and established sports,
media and entertainment brands.
Our Brands:
GF Sports & Entertainment currently owns and operates two 250 level tournaments on the ATP tour: the Dallas Open and the Atlanta Open. In November 2023 it was announced that the the Dallas Open would be upgraded to a 500 level event starting in 2025. With this news came the exciting endeavor to partner with the world reknowned Dallas Cowboys and move the tournament’s location to the Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters.
In addition to these two tournaments we currently own and operate the New York Riptide, a professional lacrosse team from the National Lacrosse League that plays out of the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. Starting in winter 2024 the Riptide will be relocating to Ottawa and being rebranded as the Ottawa Black Bears. GF Sports and Entertainment is proud to partner with Senators Sports and Entertainment to bring this new product to the nation’s capital.
In 2022 we acquired World Long Drive from the GOLF Channel. The World Long Drive tour features the longest and fastest hitters in the game who compete for prize money and ranking points all culminating to crown a World Long Drive Champion.
APPROACH
GF Sports & Entertainment acquires or invests in established sports, media and entertainment properties that are poised to scale. We provide long-term, flexible capital that maximizes our ability to build and grow lasting properties and brands that compound value over time. GF Sports & Entertainment also incubates new and emerging sport concepts utilizing its global expertise and network to help develop niche sports.
Our team has nearly three decades of experience in the media, live events and sports industries. We utilize our established network of operators, partners and key stakeholders in sports, media and live events to find unique and effective ways to elevate and expand businesses.
Target Industries:
- Sports, Leisure & Hospitality
- Media & Entertainment
Investment Criteria:
- Platforms with Scalable Enterprise Value
- Strong Competitive Position
- Significant Opportunity for Growth
- Area of GF Sports & Entertainment Expertise
Experience:
GF Capital formed Repucom in 2010, powered by an initial investment and merger of two leading companies in the space. Over the next six years Repucom became the global leader in sports sponsorship measurement. GF Capital further consolidated the market following the initial investment to expand into new markets and products, recruited a top-tier management team and developed a big data platform to serve clients in all aspects of their businesses, including sports, entertainment, government/tourism and branded content. GF Capital sold Repucom to The Nielsen Company in 2016.
GF Capital partnered with two of the existing three founders of Blue Man Group in 2010 to help grow the entertainment brand. Leveraging GF Capital’s vast operational, marketing and sales expertise, together they launched highly successful North American and World tours, developed two non-Blue Man Group character driven properties, and developed innovative marketing campaigns capitalizing on Blue Man Group IP. GF Capital sold its stake in Blue Man Group to Cirque du Soleil in 2017.
LEADERSHIP
Board of Directors
Gary Fuhrman
Board Member
Erik Baker
Board Member
Hank Ratner
Board Member
Neil Shapiro
Board Member
Shawn Tilger
President and
Board Member
Gary Fuhrman
Erik Baker
Hank Ratner
Neil Shapiro
Shawn Tilger
Mr. Baker is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of GF Capital, and a member of the Private Equity Investment Committee, where he concentrates on private equity investments in the media and branded consumer product sectors. Mr. Baker is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Jonathan Adler, Whalerock Industries and GF Sports & Entertainment, and was formerly a board member of Airborne, Repucom, Trade Service, Blue Man Group and Melodeo.
Prior to co-founding GF Capital, Mr. Baker served as a Senior Vice President of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder (“A&SB”) with Messrs. Fuhrman and Shapiro, where he worked in the Corporate Finance department as well as managing a number of A&SB corporate development activities. Prior to A&SB, Mr. Baker was an Analyst with Gleacher & Co., an M&A advisory boutique. Mr. Baker has been a featured speaker at several private equity conferences.
Mr. Baker graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and is a member of the National Advisory Board of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at Penn.
Mr. Ratner spent nearly 30 years at Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision) and its affiliated companies until the sale of Cablevision to Altice in 2016. During that time, Mr. Ratner served as Vice Chairman of Cablevision, President and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and Chief Operating Officer of AMC Networks (formerly Rainbow Media) where he helped lead each company through unprecedented periods of dynamic and enduring growth. From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Ratner served as President and CEO of Independent Sports & Entertainment, overseeing its transition from Relatively Sports into an integrated sports, media, entertainment and management company representing more than 300 NBA, NFL and MLB athletes. Mr. Ratner began his career as a corporate lawyer with the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.
Mr. Ratner was the founder of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the nonprofit that works closely with all areas of MSG and MSG Networks to positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles. He was Chairman from the Foundation’s inception in 2006 until 2014 and remains a Board Member.
Mr. Shapiro is a board member / manager of Bite Tech, EEM World, Jonathan Adler, Mansur Gavriel, Mark Cross and Oscar de la Renta (observation rights).
Mr. Tilger received an M.A. in Sports Management from Springfield College and a B.A. in Government and Law from Lafayette College. He was named to SportsBusiness Journal’s 2010 “Forty Under 40” list and while with the Flyers was recognized with numerous NHL and national media awards for sales, advertising and marketing achievements.
Gary Furman
Erik Baker
Mr. Baker is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of GF Capital, and a member of the Private Equity Investment Committee, where he concentrates on private equity investments in the media and branded consumer product sectors. Mr. Baker is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Jonathan Adler, Whalerock Industries and GF Sports & Entertainment, and was formerly a board member of Airborne, Repucom, Trade Service, Blue Man Group and Melodeo.
Prior to co-founding GF Capital, Mr. Baker served as a Senior Vice President of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder (“A&SB”) with Messrs. Fuhrman and Shapiro, where he worked in the Corporate Finance department as well as managing a number of A&SB corporate development activities. Prior to A&SB, Mr. Baker was an Analyst with Gleacher & Co., an M&A advisory boutique. Mr. Baker has been a featured speaker at several private equity conferences.
Mr. Baker graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and is a member of the National Advisory Board of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at Penn.
Hank Ratner
Mr. Ratner spent nearly 30 years at Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision) and its affiliated companies until the sale of Cablevision to Altice in 2016. During that time, Mr. Ratner served as Vice Chairman of Cablevision, President and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and Chief Operating Officer of AMC Networks (formerly Rainbow Media) where he helped lead each company through unprecedented periods of dynamic and enduring growth. From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Ratner served as President and CEO of Independent Sports & Entertainment, overseeing its transition from Relatively Sports into an integrated sports, media, entertainment and management company representing more than 300 NBA, NFL and MLB athletes. Mr. Ratner began his career as a corporate lawyer with the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.
Mr. Ratner was the founder of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the nonprofit that works closely with all areas of MSG and MSG Networks to positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles. He was Chairman from the Foundation’s inception in 2006 until 2014 and remains a Board Member.
Neil Shapiro
Mr. Shapiro is a board member / manager of Bite Tech, EEM World, Jonathan Adler, Mansur Gavriel, Mark Cross and Oscar de la Renta (observation rights).
Shawn Tilger
Mr. Tilger received an M.A. in Sports Management from Springfield College and a B.A. in Government and Law from Lafayette College. He was named to SportsBusiness Journal’s 2010 “Forty Under 40” list and while with the Flyers was recognized with numerous NHL and national media awards for sales, advertising and marketing achievements.
Management
Rich Lisk
Executive Vice President
Peter Lebedevs
EVP of Tennis
Dallas Open & Atlanta Open
Justine Pletnick
VP, Marketing & Revenue Strategy
David Livingston
Chief Commercial Officer
Bill Ward
VP, Operations
Zane Smith
VP, Business Operations
World Long Drive
David Wendrychowicz
VP, Finance
Tyler Brenneman
Associate, GF Capital
Board Member,
Wolf Pack Ninjas
NEWS
New York Riptide to relocate to Ottawa and begin play at Canadian Tire Centre for the 2024-25 season; GF Sports and Entertainment to partner commercially with Senators Sports & Entertainment
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) in partnership with GF Sports and Entertainment and Senators Sports & Entertainment, today announced the launch of Ottawa-Gatineau’s newest professional sports franchise, the Ottawa Black Bears. The Black Bears will begin play at the start of the 2024-25 NLL season, with all home games to be played at Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators.
Tommy’s Trophy! Paul defeats Giron to Take 2024 Dallas Open Finals!
A big goal for Team Tommy Paul entering the 2024 season was to win more titles. The American accomplished just that on Sunday.
Paul defeated countryman Marcos Giron 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 to lift the Dallas Open trophy. It is the 26-year-old’s second ATP Tour title and first since 2021 in Stockholm.
A Statement From The New York Riptide
It has been a fun 2023-24 season thus far for the New York Riptide and we are fully committed and excited for a potential playoff run! Before we continue, we…
The post A Statement From The New York Riptide appeared first on New York Riptide.
Jeff Teat: A Role Model On & Off The Floor
Being the #1 overall draft pick has its benefits, but the accolade also comes with responsibilities. This “added pressure” acts as a deterrent for many professional athletes, as it can…
The post Jeff Teat: A Role Model On & Off The Floor appeared first on New York Riptide.
NEW YORK RIPTIDE PARTNER WITH SANDS CORPORATION
Uniondale, NY, Jan. 18, 2024 – The New York Riptide announced today that Sands New York (Las Vegas Sands) will become the team’s presenting partner for the remainder of the…
The post NEW YORK RIPTIDE PARTNER WITH SANDS CORPORATION appeared first on New York Riptide.
Dallas Open To Move To Dallas Cowboys HQ/Training Facility From 2025
The Dallas Open on Wednesday announced that from 2025 the tournament will be held at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco – the Dallas Cowboys World Corporate Headquarters and Training Facility. The Cowboys are a National Football League team.
The move comes in conjunction with the tournament’s upgrade to the ATP 500 level from 2025, which was announced earlier this month. Doha and Munich will also be upgraded to ATP 500 events.
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