By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
A new sheriff is coming to town on the PGA Tour. Brian Rolapp will succeed Jay Monahan as CEO.
Monahan’s contract expires in 2026, and he plans to step down as commissioner. In January 2017, Monahan replaced Tim Finchem as PGA Tour commissioner.
What do we need to know about Rolapp? He is a former NFL executive who has done a fantastic job in the league for the last 10 years. Rolapp, 52, increased the NFL’s broadcast partnerships and digital strategy.
His most recent success came when the NFL took over in ratings for broadcasting two NFL games during Christmas Day, which usually Christmas belongs to the NBA. Fans tune in to the NBA for Christmas, and for the first time, the NFL decided to be competitive and disruptive in December.
Amazon and Netflix have been taking over sports broadcasting, and Rolapp is a key figure in negotiating, making the right moves, and pushing the right buttons.
Now, we have to be clear on something. Rolapp doesn’t have Golf experience. He has a lot of work to do, especially in handling the PGA and LIV golf situation. Will he make things work for both golf brands?
It’s going to be an exciting challenge for him. There will be some rough patches, but as long as he surrounds himself with smarter and more knowledgeable people, he will do just fine.
If Rolapp can take Golf to another level like he did with football or have more success than football, then the respect and admiration for Rolapp will skyrocket through the roof.
Whether you like Monahan or not, we have to give him credit for what he has done with the PGA Tour. Under Monahan, the tour reached a potential $3 billion deal with Strategic Sports Group.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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