Gary Stevenson, former president of Pac-12 Enterprises, has been named president and managing director of Major League Soccer's new business unit, MLS Business Ventures.
Gary Stevenson
It is a critical hiring for the league as it rapidly approaches the negotiation of new television deals to replace those with ESPN and NBC Sports that expire after the 2014 season.
In addition, MLS President Mark Abbott, the architect of MLS's business plan and its first employee in 1993, will assume expanded responsibilities as deputy commissioner of Major League Soccer.
Stevenson, who brings more than 30 years of industry experience to MLS including executive positions at the Pac-12 Conference, NBA, the PGA TOUR, and the Golf Channel, will oversee all commercial and revenue areas for MLS and Soccer United Marketing, including media/broadcasting, marketing, content and digital.
Prior to joining MLS, Stevenson was president of Pac-12 Enterprises, where he managed a diversified and integrated media company, including the Pac-12 Networks, the Pac-12 Digital Network and Pac-12 Properties. During his tenure with the Pac-12, he was instrumental in successfully launching the Pac-12's national, regional and digital networks. Before joining the Pac-12, Stevenson was chairman and CEO of OnSport, a highly successful sports and entertainment consulting company he founded in 1997 and sold 10 years later to Wasserman Media Group.
Gary's vast experience in the sports and entertainment world, along with his deep understanding of the media landscape, will play a pivotal role in growing key areas of our business and forming new partnerships, said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. I've known Gary for more than two decades and am thrilled to have him join us during an exciting time of growth for our League. He brings a fresh perspective and entrepreneurial spirit that will drive value for Major League Soccer and our key partners at Soccer United Marketing, including U.S. Soccer, the Mexican Football Federation and CONCACAF.
Soccer United Marketing President Kathy Carter, a key architect in creating one of the leading commercial soccer companies in the world, will continue in her role and report in to Stevenson and the newly created MLS Business Ventures. MLS Chief Marketing Officer Howard Handler also will report to Stevenson, and continue to lead the League's efforts to build the MLS brand and fan base.
It is an exciting time for Major League Soccer and I believe the League and Soccer United Marketing are poised for tremendous growth, said Stevenson. I'm a big soccer fan and I am honored to work closely with so many talented people who have been so committed to building MLS into the top professional soccer league in North America. I look forward to doing my part to help MLS grow its fan base and media value, as well as expanding the commercial value of soccer in the region.
Mark Abbott, who has served as MLS president from 2006-2013, has been instrumental in many of the League's accomplishments since he became the organization's first employee in 1993, three years before MLS' first season. For nearly two decades, during which the League saw transformational growth, Abbott has been primarily focused on the business, legal and financial side of MLS. In his new role as president and deputy commissioner, he will lead and manage all areas of League operations and competition, including product strategy, player relations, strategic planning and communications. Abbott also will lead a new business development group to address new areas of opportunity for the League and Soccer United Marketing.
Mark has been one of the key people responsible for the growth and success of Major League Soccer and has earned the respect of our owners and partners, Commissioner Garber said. In his new role, he will help us address key company-wide priorities, ensuring that our entire organization is more efficient and effective and to help grow the quality of our competition. His leadership will continue to help us move toward our goal of becoming one of the top professional soccer leagues in the world by 2022.
Todd Durbin, executive vice president, player relations and competition, and Nelson Rodriguez, executive vice president of competition, technical and game operations, will continue to work closely with Commissioner Garber and report directly to President and Deputy Commissioner Abbott.
The past 20 years have seen amazing growth for the sport of soccer and our League, said Abbott. I expect the coming years to bring even greater opportunity as we continue to transform the sport in North America. I look forward to working with Gary and our other colleagues, many of whom have been here since the early days of MLS, as we collectively focus on our next phase of development.
Abbott assumes his new role immediately and Stevenson will join the MLS executive team in mid-July.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
Gary Stevenson, former president of Pac-12 Enterprises, has been named president and managing director of Major League Soccer's new business unit, MLS Business Ventures.
