PARIS — The New York Mets are hiring the one who oversees the US Open tennis event, Lew Sherr, as their new president of enterprise operations.
Sherr has been the CEO and govt director of the U.S. Tennis Affiliation since 2022 and has labored there since 2010, together with beforehand as chief income officer. His departure was introduced by the USTA on Friday; he’ll stay there till the tip of June, then begin with the Mets in July.
“For proper now, my focus is the smoothest attainable transition,” Sherr mentioned in an interview with The Related Press on the French Open. “However I am massively enthusiastic about what’s occurring over there. (Mets house owners) Steve and Alex Cohen have made a dedication to that crew that’s unmatched in sports activities. You see it on the sphere, off the sphere. The vitality across the crew. The vitality round what they’re making an attempt to do for the neighborhood with their basis. The plans for the on line casino and the resort and leisure district.”
Steve Cohen is among the many bidders for 3 on line casino licenses to be awarded by the New York State Gaming Fee and has been lobbying to have the state legislature reclassify the parking heaps adjoining to Citi Area — additionally close to the ability that hosts the US Open — from parkland to industrial land for a gaming facility.
The Mets introduced Scott Havens’ departure as their president of enterprise operations on Tuesday; he was in that submit since December 2023. Chief authorized officer Katie Pothier, chief advertising and marketing officer Andy Goldberg, chief communications officer Nancy Elder and senior vp of finance Peter Woll have left since November.
The USTA mentioned Brian Vahaly and Andrea Hirsch can be interim co-CEOs throughout a seek for Sherr’s substitute. Vahaly is chairman of the USTA Board; Hirsch is the USTA’s chief working officer and chief authorized officer.
In Sherr’s time as CEO, the USTA has seen development in tennis participation across the nation, together with will increase in US Open attendance, sponsorships, and income from ticket gross sales and broadcasting rights.
“We have taken some massive swings,” Sherr mentioned Friday, “and fortunately, they’re paying off.”
Simply final week, he spoke at a information convention in New York to unveil an $800 million venture to replace Arthur Ashe Stadium and create a participant efficiency middle on the event grounds. He additionally made important modifications to this yr’s US Open combined doubles occasion in a bid to draw prime singles gamers, making it a two-day, 16-team competitors the week earlier than the singles brackets start.
“It is bittersweet, in that I actually have liked being a part of this group for 15 years and the alternatives I’ve needed to do exactly actually attention-grabbing issues – and never simply on the industrial aspect, however by way of serving to us take into consideration rising the game,” Sherr mentioned. “I am leaving sleeping properly at evening, realizing (the USTA) goes to be properly looked-after.”
