 Cal Ripken Jr. |
Sard Verbinnen & Co. is representing investment banker LionTree as it acquires a minority stake in Cal Ripken Jr.’s youth sports education & entertainment company.
Founded by the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer and his brother and former MLB player, Billy Ripken, Ripken Baseball runs tournaments, camps, spring training events and player development programs, at its facilities in Aberdeen (MD), Myrtle Beach (SC) and Pigeon Forge (TN).
LionTree’s investment will support expansion in the US and launch of digital products aimed at young players, parents and coaches.
LionTree founder/CEO Aryeh Bourkoff will join the board of Ripken Holdings. “We look forward to partnering with Cal and his team and leveraging our expertise to add multi-platform digital offerings such as analytics tools and mobile apps to educate young athletes for generations to come.”
He called Ripken a “multi-generational sports icon” whose “message of hard work equals success is timeless and can be applied to all facets of sports and life.”
Ripkin broke Lou Gehrig’s record of most consecutive games played by a 2,632 to 2,130 margin.
SV&B’s Cassandra Bujarski and Devin Broda represent LionTree, while Maroon PR works for Ripken Baseball.
Katie Martin Kelley has joined Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group as executive VP-communications.
Doug Mishkin, who was in charge of the National Football League’s gambling-related commercial activities, has joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s global sports and entertainment group.
Kristina Schake has joined Walt Disney Co. as executive VP-global communications as she wrapped up a 10-month stint as the Biden administration’s COVID-19 public education campaign director.
Sean Smith is leaving the EVP of corporate counsel spot at Porter Novelli to join the Recording Academy, which runs the GRAMMY Awards, as EVP of communications, effective Oct. 25.
Dana Steiner, publicist for the late Larry King, is joining Clarity as VP, media and entertainment.
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