Report: NLL retains CAA for commish search, Hutchings to lead after Berman leaves
Colorado Mammoth, Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado (Photo: Jack Dempsey)
Sportico is reporting that, “The National Lacrosse League has retained CAA to head its search for a new commissioner, according to a person familiar with the matter who was granted anonymity because the deal is private.”
For those unaware, CAA is Creative Artists Agency, an extremely high-profile, powerful and influential talent & sports agency based in Los Angeles. The agency promotes itself as one that. “…delivers world-class opportunities to world-class clients.”
Their search is, of course, to replace already departed NLL Commissioner, Nick Sakiewicz, and the soon to be leaving Deputy & Interim Commissioner, Jessica Berman. Sakiewicz was recently hired by the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, while Berman begins her new role as the National Women’s Soccer League’s commissioner on April 20th.
The Sportico report confirms that COO of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Matt Hutchings, “…will assume leadership of the league through the end of the season. Hutchings will work with the existing senior staff and the board on all operational and business decisions until the commissioner role is filled.”
Hutchings, who has served as KSE’s COO since 2013, supports all of the company’s Denver-based businesses, including the Colorado Mammoth.
CAA, who is included in a lengthy list of prominent Premier Lacrosse League investors which also includes Joe Tsai Sports, signed former NLL player, PLL co-founder and recently retired pro player, Paul Rabil, two years ago. Tsai owns the NLL’s San Diego Seals and is also part of the league’s Las Vegas ownership group that includes Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash and Dustin Johnson. Vegas will begin play during the 2022/23 NLL season.
CAA client, PLL cofounder and former NLL player, Paul Rabil (Photo: TJ Engler)
Forbes describes CAA as, “… far and away the most dominant sports agency in the world, ranking No. 1 in both football and basketball, while also being amongst the best in hockey (No. 2), baseball (No. 4) and soccer (No. 6). CAA represents almost 1,000 pro athletes and is home to 11 of the Top 50 most powerful agents in the world.”
In addition to representing the likes of Sidney Crosby, Shohei Ohtani, Paul George and a never-ending list of other top pro athletes, The New York Times reported last year that entertainers like Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Zendaya, Ava DuVernay, Ryan Murphy and Reese Witherspoon are CAA clients as well.
When CAA purchased rival talent agency, ICM Partners, several months ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that the agency was valued at $1 billion dollars.
The Sportico article also indicates that, “The league expects to hire a new commissioner in the coming months but no timeline has been set. CAA will only lead the search for the commissioner, who will then make front office hires to fill the deputy commissioner role and other open positions including a head of marketing.”
As noted in the article, “Both CAA and the NLL declined to comment.”
Also on TheLaxMag.com: