Scott O’Neil: All about sports mogul who left HBSE after 8 years

Scott O’Neil, CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), company that owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, on Wednesday resigned from his post after eight years.

O’Neil announced that he was leaving the sports and entertainment giant after he helped lead scores of projects. He previously led Madison Square Garden Sports. 

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He graduated from Villanova University in Philadelphia and has worked as vice-president of sales with the Philadelphia Eagles. He started his career as a marketing assistant for the New Jersey Nets. He earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Lisa, and daughters Alexa, Kira, and Eliza, who oversee the family’s charitable organization, Give and Be Happy.

The former CEO has more than 20 years of experience in the NBA, NHL and NFL. O’Neil also worked with most iconic brands in all of sports, including the New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Rangers (NHL). He spent seven years as the senior vice-president of the NBA’s renowned Team Marketing and Business Operations group, where he advised NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League teams on all business operations. 

He has also written a motivational book ‘Be Where Your Feet Are’.

In 90s, Scott O’Neil and his friend launched an online basketball network called HoopsTV at the age of 28, which became a hit in the sports industry in no time. He shut the website in 2000 after he failed to raise funds. He once told The Wall Street Journal that he neglected basic responsibilities like raising funds, driving revenue and adjusting the product to meet the market.