I’ve spent over 20 years helping teams, brands, and professionals succeed in the sports and entertainment industry.
My career has taken me from ticket sales and gameday operations to leading partnerships for the NFL, NBA, NHL, and some of the world’s most recognizable organizations. Along the way, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t when it comes to building lasting connections between sports and business.
Decades of experience, powerful connections, and a creative approach that consistently delivers results.
Sports is a small world, and I know the players. Over more than two decades, I’ve built relationships with sellers, activation teams, and decision-makers across the industry and around the world; connections that open doors and accelerate opportunities.
I’ve turned overlooked categories and discarded ideas into multimillion-dollar partnerships. Where others see low potential, I see untapped value.
In every chapter of my career, I’ve been among the top revenue generators, consistently building strategies that deliver measurable growth and bringing in deals that surprise and delight fans.
Founder & CRO, Kaufmann Ventures – Advising ambitious professionals, brands and sports teams, blending over two decades of sports industry expertise with first-hand brand experience to deliver a complete, well-rounded perspective.
Chief Revenue Officer, Ordr – Leading growth strategy for a brand-side technology and entertainment company, giving me a unique perspective from the sponsor’s point of view and complementing my experience on the sports side.
New Orleans Saints & Pelicans – Directed strategy and sponsorship sales, launching innovative revenue models, including the Pelicans’ jersey patch program, international partnerships, and long-term renewal strategies.
New York Jets – Managed entitlement rights at MetLife Stadium, negotiated partnerships across key industries, and was promoted to Director of Corporate Partnerships after helping grow the sponsorship book of business by 600%.
Collegiate Athletics (Wisconsin & Toledo) – Forged creative partnerships in categories like agriculture, consumer goods, and retail, building platforms that delivered lasting value for both universities and sponsors.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Pensacola Ice Pilots – Early career roles in ticketing, premium sales, and gameday operations, generating millions in revenue and building the foundation for a career in sports business.
The sports industry is full of opportunities. The challenge is knowing which ones are worth pursuing.
I’ve been on the sports side, leading partnerships and revenue generation for major teams, and I’ve been on the brand side, understanding what sponsors need to succeed.
Great outcomes usually come down to better decisions, stronger relationships, and understanding how the business of sports really works.
Whether you're building a career, evaluating a sponsorship opportunity, or leading a multimillion-dollar partnership strategy, I provide practical guidance, honest perspective, and lessons learned from more than 20 years in the business of sports to help you see what others miss and make better decisions because of it.
Inside the deals that drive sports
When you think of sports, you think of players, games, and moments. But behind every highlight reel, there’s a business deal making it possible.
That’s what GAMEPLAN breaks down. Every week I share the deals, activations, and strategies shaping the sports industry. Whether you’re a young professional trying to understand how sports really make money, or a brand looking for inspiration for your next big partnership, this is your inside track.
Here’s what you’ll get:
Smart breakdowns of unique sponsorship deals and why they work
Creative activations you might have missed (and what makes them effective)
Big-picture lessons from the business of sports you can actually apply
Read GAMEPLAN by Dr. Dan on Substack or visit my LinkedIn for additional insights.
Over the past two decades, I've written articles, developed case studies, appeared on podcasts, and created practical resources around sponsorship, commercial strategy, fan experience, and the business of sports. My goal is simple: help people see opportunities differently, ask better questions, and make stronger commercial decisions.
Check out these resources below.
Over more than 20 years, I've worked with hundreds of brands across the NFL, NCAA Division I athletics, minor league sports, and professional sports organizations. Those partnerships have ranged from Fortune 500 companies and national brands to regional businesses looking to reach passionate fan bases.
These logos aren't simply a list of companies. They represent years of building sponsorship strategies, negotiating partnerships, creating activation ideas, managing client relationships, and helping organizations generate meaningful commercial revenue.
Every organization is different, but the fundamentals remain the same: understanding a company's business, identifying where sports could help solve a commercial challenge, and building relationships that last. Some relationships lasted a season. Others lasted for years.
The organizations below are grouped by the teams and properties where I worked with them throughout my career.
New York Jets | Brand Partners
University of Wisconsin Athletics / Badger Sports Properties | Brand Partners
University of Toledo Athletics / Rocket Sports Properties | Brand Partners
New Orleans Saints & Pelicans | Brand Partners
Media | Brand Partners
Valuation, Statistical Analysis, and Inventory Management | Brand Partners