Partnership Perspective ft. Chris Sloan 

5 Min. Read

This month I was fortunate enough to sit down with a dear friend and revered sports industry executive, Chris Sloan. Once a star on the basketball court proudly representing the Saint Louis Billikens, Chris has since built a tremendous career off the court representing some of the most prestigious and respected organizations in sports. These organizations include Madison Square Garden, NASCAR, Chicago Cubs, Legends, and most recently leading commercial divisions within the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment portfolio.  

Chris has built a reputation as one of the leading commercial minds in our industry. I had a front row seat to watch him structure and negotiate blockbuster Naming Rights deals, including SoFi Stadium and YouTube Theater (Inglewood, CA). In addition, Chris has a long track record of securing multi-million-dollar investments from best-in-class brands.  

Earlier this year we saw the launch of Kroenke Signature Properties (KSP), and with that Chris was appointed GM of Global Strategic Partnerships for the new Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) division. Please enjoy this read as Chris shares more about KSP, his personal role, and the future he sees for the growth of the division.  

What was the impetus behind the creation of Kroenke Signature Properties? 

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) already has one of the largest and most visible sports and entertainment portfolios in the world thanks to the vision, leadership and commitment of Stan and Josh Kroenke.  As we look ahead, we have several major developments underway around our venues and teams that will allow us to bring a level of scale and efficiency that’s unmatched in the industry. KSP was created to better integrate these assets, offering brands unique and impactful opportunities that combine the best of our sports, entertainment, and real estate assets on a global level as well as a regional and local level. 

What role do you play within KSP as GM of Global Strategic Partnerships? 

As Co-GM with Olly Dale, we have a broad view across KSE’s global portfolio, helping identify key synergies across our properties and upcoming developments. Our role is to find the most effective ways to align our various assets to create tailored opportunities for partners, ensuring we’re always driving value while supporting KSE’s long-term vision and supporting the priorities at the team level in conjunction with those property leaders. 

How has your experience with SoFi Stadium, Arsenal FC, and the Denver properties prepared you to lead KSP? 

My experience with SoFi Stadium, especially being part of its original development, provided me with invaluable insights into how KSE operates internally. SoFi Stadium has been one of the most ambitious stadium projects in the world, and that fast-paced, high-stakes environment taught me how to navigate complex decisions as part of a very important and visible project.  Working with the Arsenal and Denver properties has also given me a deeper understanding of how to best integrate KSE’s global assets strategically. This broad exposure the SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park project provided has allowed us to develop KSP to have a cohesive and forward-looking approach. 

How do you balance your role with SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park while leading KSP? 

SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park is one example of the tremendous sports and entertainment destinations being developed by the Kroenke Organization.  Being able to be a part of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park even before we put shovels in the ground has given me an invaluable perspective as I look at the tremendous potential across all of our dynamic sports real estate projects.  The Kroenke Organization just announced Rams Village at Warner Center in Woodland Hills, and a few months ago announced plans for the Ball Arena Redevelopment in Denver, CO.  In addition, they are developing Midway Rising in San Diego, CA.  With KSP, we are focused on leveraging the unique value proposition we have as leaders in this sports and entertainment mixed-use real estate space and so starting out with SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park sets me up perfectly to help deliver on that. 

What challenges have you faced in articulating KSE’s value proposition to brands? 

The diversity of KSE’s assets and global portfolio spanning different cities, countries, and continents, presents an exciting challenge in terms of crafting a clear and cohesive value proposition. We’re still refining our approach, but the early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re learning what resonates most with brands and partners, and that’s an ongoing process. Ultimately, our goal is to convey the unmatched opportunities KSE offers by integrating our various sports, entertainment, and real estate properties. 

Are there specific assets ideal for cross-property sales? 

Our goal is to maximize the collective value of KSE’s entire portfolio. Our approach is to leverage every asset across the KSE group, aligning the right offerings with the right partners. We focus on creating custom opportunities that provide real value, while also supporting the efforts of our individual properties to meet their partnership goals. 

What feedback have you received from the marketplace? 

The feedback has been extremely positive, both internally and externally. Partners appreciate our ability to offer a unique, integrated solution that spans KSE’s global portfolio, while also providing flexibility at the property level. This approach allows us to meet the diverse needs of brands, whether they’re looking for large-scale visibility or targeted local activations. 

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for KSP? 

The greatest opportunity for us lies in enhancing the success of each individual KSE entity and then amplifying that success across our entire portfolio. By optimizing efficiencies and working together as a unified group, we can deliver even greater value to our partners. It’s about leveraging the investments we’ve made, maximizing the impact of our properties, and ensuring that our partners continue to succeed in this evolving landscape. 

How do you envision KSP evolving in the next five years? 

The next five years will be pivotal for KSE, as sports, entertainment, and real estate continue to evolve. We’ll continue refining our strategies, staying ahead of market trends, and adapting to the needs of our partners. Ultimately, our goal is to make KSE the best and most innovative sports and entertainment company in the world. We’re excited about KSP’s role in this and the impact we’ll have in shaping the future of KSE as it continues to set the standard across sports and entertainment.