Chris Lencheski

Chris Lencheski is vice chairman of the Board of Managers and CEO of IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE) and a leading promoter of sports and live entertainment experiences. Lencheski is one of the most well-respected professionals in the global sports and entertainment landscape. With more than 20 years of professional experience, he has written industry standards and practice guidelines that are followed by both major entities from network and cable television groups and Fortune 500 companies. His work has included collaborations with the America’s Cup, the Olympics, Formula One, and the World Cup projects, as well as a host of international and national properties from every major league to governing bodies. He is recognized as an authority in identifying and leveraging rights sponsorship, partnership strategies, and alliance opportunities to drive dramatic increases in sales, digital, and television carriage distribution and CPG market visibility.

Prior to IRGSE, Lencheski was president of the Comcast Spectacor subsidiary Front Row Marketing and Analytics (FRMS), a 35-office multi-continent stadia, sports media commercial rights, and entertainment agency. Under his leadership, FRMS grew its new business and portfolio revenue by 40% and was repositioned for future development inside the Comcast umbrella as the integrator of Comcast Spectacor assets in major league teams, stadia, networks, and consumer-facing brands. Front Row was an integral part of the $5 billion revenue base of Comcast Spectacor. Before Comcast, Lencheski was founder, CEO, and president of the
Adweek/Brandweek award-winning sports marketing agency SKI & Company.  It was the first global agency of record for designation by General Motors for the General Motors Racing global operating group. Lencheski was also a multiple team owner in the NASCAR Sprint and Nationwide Series, as well as owner and governor of the International Hockey League franchise the Quad City Mallards, the IHL affiliate of the NHL Philadelphia Flyers. The Mallards were IHL Franchise of the Year 2009–2010.

Lencheski is on the board of directors of BuddhaTix and senior advisor to the management and board of MP & Silva. In addition, he is a three-term member of the board of advisers to the Syracuse University David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, as well as a founding member of the Ivy Sports Symposium Board.