duncan228
06-12-2008, 12:39 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA061208.1E.Spurs.224ceaeb.html
Holt says changes possible for Spurs
By William Pack
Express-News Business Writer
With its veteran business and marketing chief gone, the parent company of the San Antonio Spurs will look at reorganization possibilities under the leadership of its principal owner and two other top executives.
Spurs owner Peter Holt said Wednesday that nothing was certain about any changes in the wake of Tuesday’s resignation of Russ Bookbinder, a fixture in the team’s front office for more than 20 years.
But Holt said he wanted to take the opportunity to examine the entire structure of the Spurs Sports & Entertainment operation to see if improvements are possible. The process is designed to take about 30 days, but could linger through August.
In the interim, Holt said he’d be more active in the day-to-day operations of the four-team sports enterprise, along with R.C. Buford, senior vice president and general manager of the Spurs, and Rick Pych, executive vice president for finance and corporate development.
Holt called it a three-headed leadership team that would be in place as long as it takes for organizational decisions to be made. Buford, who has been the Spurs GM for six years, and Pych, who has handled arena development, ownership relations and various political duties since 2000, will split the responsibilities Bookbinder had, Holt said.
He didn’t say organizational changes were likely, because, he said, the existing organization has been successful. But the timing is right to see if the entertainment company can benefit from the experiences of other successful franchises, Holt said.
The owner said Bookbinder’s decision to resign after a successful tenure as executive vice president of business operations surprised him and nearly everyone in the organization. But he said the timing for the Spurs and Bookbinder made sense.
Bookbinder said Wednesday that he alone made the decision to leave the Spurs so he could have more time with his family, recharge and see what opportunities arise.
“I have no plans to jump into anything,” Bookbinder said Wednesday after spending a leisurely day with his wife, responding to well wishes from friends around the country, and “not worrying about a darn thing.”
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Bookbinder said.
Former Spurs owner B.J. “Red” McCombs, who helped get Bookbinder to San Antonio in 1988, said the executive built a talented and loyal staff, a group that’s become “one of the best management teams in all of sports, not just basketball.”
Bookbinder had a “very rare touch” for creating entertainment and promotions that appealed to fans without detracting from the game, the billionaire businessman said.
“This is a guy who will be hard to replace,” McCombs said.
Holt says changes possible for Spurs
By William Pack
Express-News Business Writer
With its veteran business and marketing chief gone, the parent company of the San Antonio Spurs will look at reorganization possibilities under the leadership of its principal owner and two other top executives.
Spurs owner Peter Holt said Wednesday that nothing was certain about any changes in the wake of Tuesday’s resignation of Russ Bookbinder, a fixture in the team’s front office for more than 20 years.
But Holt said he wanted to take the opportunity to examine the entire structure of the Spurs Sports & Entertainment operation to see if improvements are possible. The process is designed to take about 30 days, but could linger through August.
In the interim, Holt said he’d be more active in the day-to-day operations of the four-team sports enterprise, along with R.C. Buford, senior vice president and general manager of the Spurs, and Rick Pych, executive vice president for finance and corporate development.
Holt called it a three-headed leadership team that would be in place as long as it takes for organizational decisions to be made. Buford, who has been the Spurs GM for six years, and Pych, who has handled arena development, ownership relations and various political duties since 2000, will split the responsibilities Bookbinder had, Holt said.
He didn’t say organizational changes were likely, because, he said, the existing organization has been successful. But the timing is right to see if the entertainment company can benefit from the experiences of other successful franchises, Holt said.
The owner said Bookbinder’s decision to resign after a successful tenure as executive vice president of business operations surprised him and nearly everyone in the organization. But he said the timing for the Spurs and Bookbinder made sense.
Bookbinder said Wednesday that he alone made the decision to leave the Spurs so he could have more time with his family, recharge and see what opportunities arise.
“I have no plans to jump into anything,” Bookbinder said Wednesday after spending a leisurely day with his wife, responding to well wishes from friends around the country, and “not worrying about a darn thing.”
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Bookbinder said.
Former Spurs owner B.J. “Red” McCombs, who helped get Bookbinder to San Antonio in 1988, said the executive built a talented and loyal staff, a group that’s become “one of the best management teams in all of sports, not just basketball.”
Bookbinder had a “very rare touch” for creating entertainment and promotions that appealed to fans without detracting from the game, the billionaire businessman said.
“This is a guy who will be hard to replace,” McCombs said.