New York Rangers News: Dave Howard Joins Madison Square Garden Company

According to the New York Rangers, distinguished sports executive Dave Howard has joined the ranks of the Madison Square Garden Company. Howard will be responsible for overseeing all business operations that pertain to the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty, and Connecticut Whale.

Howard comes over from the New York Mets, where he served as the executive vice president of business operations, which included ticket sales, corporate sales, partnerships, and marketing. Below you can find the full press release from Madison Square Garden.

DAVE HOWARD JOINS THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN COMPANY

New York, NY (March 25, 2013) -- Hank Ratner, president and chief executive officer of The Madison Square Garden Company, today announced that distinguished sports executive, Dave Howard, has joined the company as president, MSG Sports, effective April 9. In this role, Mr. Howard will be responsible for running the business operations of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty and Hartford Whale, as well as the management of the company’s Sports Properties unit.

As president of MSG Sports, Mr. Howard will have a wide range of responsibilities tied to the successful operations of the sports division, including optimizing the core businesses, while creating and driving new revenue streams, and enhancing the value of the MSG Sports brand. In addition to managing the strategic plan, budgets and forecasting for the businesses, he will oversee the marketing and game presentations of the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty, as well as the sale of their season and individual game tickets, suites and Madison Club memberships. He will help direct integrated sales, including establishing strategic sponsorships through the development of new inventory packages that drive increased marketing partnerships. Mr. Howard will manage the Sports Properties division, including the presentation of sporting events such college and high school basketball, boxing and tennis, along with the development of new growth opportunities.

Mr. Howard joins MSG Sports following more than two decades at the New York Mets organization and Major League Baseball. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of business operations for the Mets, where he oversaw all business departments, including ticket sales & services, corporate sales & partnerships, marketing &communications, broadcasting, media relations, venue services, ballpark operations, guest experience and security. In addition, he was responsible for the team’s Florida training facility and the St. Lucie Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones minor league business operations. During his 20 years with the Mets organization, Mr. Howard held a number of significant roles, including as the team’s general counsel, corporate secretary, vice president of business affairs and senior vice president of business and legal affairs. He played a key role in moving the Mets from Shea Stadium to Citi Field, where he was also instrumental in attracting other premier events, including top concerts and college lacrosse, as well as the first-ever major soccer matches. Prior to joining the Mets, Mr. Howard was an associate counsel in the office of the commissioner’s office at Major League Baseball, and an associate at the firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. He began his career as a law clerk for the Honorable George C. Pratt at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Howard graduated cum laude from Fordham University of Law and received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dartmouth College, where he graduated magna cum laude. He has served on a number of community and charitable boards, including: The Bridge Church of the Nazarene, Rockville Centre Little League; Baseball Chapel, Inc; Molly College Board of Trustees; CCFA-Long Island Chapter Advisory Board; Tufts University Athletics Board of Advisors. Mr. Howard, his wife, Nancy, and their children make their home on Long Island.