Dave Checketts

{{about|the sports businessman|the British Royal Air Force officer|David Checketts}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Dave Checketts

| image = Dave Checketts, cropped.jpg

| caption = Checketts in 2011

| birth_name = David Wayne Checketts

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|09|16}}

| birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

| nationality = American

| title = Managing partner, Checketts Partners Investment Management{{cite web |title=Managing Partner |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Conferences-Events/2017/TLR/Speakers/Dave-Checketts.aspx |website=Sports Business Journal}}

| boards =

| alma_mater = {{ubl|University of Utah (BS)|Brigham Young University (MBA)}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Deborah Lynn Leishman|1977}}

| children = 6

}}

David Wayne Checketts{{Cite news |date=June 3, 1977 |title=Temple Rites |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/705580469/ |url-status=live |work=Davis County Clipper |location=Bountiful, Utah |page=23 |language=en |issue=19}}{{Cite news |title=Marriage Licenses |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/600784878/ |url-status=live |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |page=C3 |language=en |via=Newspapers.com |volume=215 |issue=50}} (born September 16, 1955){{Cite news |title=Dave Checketts - New-York Historical Society's Bill Shannon Dictionary of New York Sports |url=https://sports.nyhistory.org/dave-checketts/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140422231857/http://sports.nyhistory.org/dave-checketts/ |archive-date=2014-04-22 |access-date=2025-05-10 |work=New-York Historical Society's Bill Shannon Dictionary of New York Sports |language=en-US}} is an American businessman and sports executive. Checketts has served in c-suite roles or been an owner of the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty, Madison Square Garden (MSG), Legends Hospitality, and the St. Louis Blues.{{cite news |last1=Araton |first1=Harvey |title=Dave Checketts Reflects on Tenure With Knicks and Spots Similarities |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/sports/basketball/dave-checketts-reflects-on-tenure-with-knicks-and-spots-similarities.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 14, 2015}} He also advised on Tom Gores' purchase of the Detroit Pistons{{cite news |last1=Feldman |first1=Dan |title=Tom Gores consulting former Knicks president Dave Checketts, Joe Dumars still lead basketball decision-maker |url=https://pistonpowered.com/2011/06/27/tom-gores-consulting-former-knicks-president-dave-checketts-joe-dumars-still-lead-basketball-decision-maker/ |work=PistonPowered |date=June 27, 2011}} and of Joe Tsai's purchase of the Brooklyn Nets.{{cite news |last1=Kosman |first1=Josh |last2=Lewis |first2=Brian |title=Brooklyn Nets owner eyes outrageous price tag in sale |url=https://nypost.com/2017/10/16/brooklyn-nets-owner-eyes-outrageous-price-tag-in-sale/ |work=New York Post |date=October 16, 2017}}

Early life and education

Checketts was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Checketts graduated from Bountiful High School in 1973.{{Cite news |date=May 25, 1973 |title=BHS Grads |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/705634759/ |url-status=live |work=Davis County Clipper |location=Bountiful, Utah |page=26 |language=en |via=Newspapers.com}} Checketts graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah in 1979, and, later, earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Brigham Young University in 1981.{{Cite news |last=Frommolino |first=Ralph |date=January 23, 2003 |title=Dodgers' Suitor Known for Playing Hardball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/189897422/ |url-status=live |work=The Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles, California |pages=C1, C10 |language=en |via=Newspapers.com}}

Career

File:David Checketts at Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.jpg

Checketts started his career with the Boston-based consulting firm Bain & Company.

Then in 1983 at age 28, he became the president and general manager of the Utah Jazz, which made him the youngest chief executive in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. He then spent a year as the general manager of NBA International, where he worked to increase the league's presence around the world, including hosting the first regular season games played outside North America. The games took place in Tokyo in 1990.

In 1991, Checketts became president of the New York Knicks. He then advanced to president and CEO of MSG, which owns the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty, MSG Network, Radio City Music Hall, and other properties. Through MSG, Checketts led the 1997 acquisition and renovation of Radio City Music Hall. Checketts is also responsible for founding the New York Liberty in 1997 as one of the original Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchises. Under Checketts' leadership, the New York Knicks went to the NBA Finals in both 1994 and 1999.{{cite news|work=The New York Times|author=Wise, Mike|title=Dave Checkett's Game|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/12/magazine/dave-checketts-s-game.html?pagewanted=1|date=2000-03-12}} The team made the playoffs ten straight seasons as well as earning a record 460 straight MSG sellouts. During his tenure, Forbes named the Knicks the most valuable franchise in the NBA and MSG was named Arena of the Year for six straight years.

In 2001, Checketts resigned as president and CEO of MSG and founded SCP Worldwide, a sports consulting and investment entity. Under SCP Worldwide, Checketts founded the Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake (RSL) in 2005; Checketts is credited with building Rio Tinto Stadium and establishing it as the home of the club. Under his ownership, RSL won the 2009 MLS Championship. Through SCP Worldwide, in 2005 Checketts acquired the NHL's St. Louis Blues, which he owned until the 2019 season when the team won the Stanley Cup. The group sold the team after that.

File:Real Salt Lake at the White 2010-06-04 2.jpg

Checketts is the managing partner of Checketts Partners Investment Management (CPIM), a private equity firm he founded in 2011.{{cite web |title=Managing Partner |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Conferences-Events/2017/TLR/Speakers/Dave-Checketts.aspx |website=Sports Business Journal}}

From 2011 to 2015, Checketts was chairman and CEO of Legends Hospitality, establishing the hospitality, merchandising and premium ticketing services provider as one of the industry's standard-bearers.{{cite web |last1=Muret |first1=Don |title=Dave Checketts Leaving Legends Hospitality, Could End Up Returning To Pro Team Ranks |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/09/17/People-and-Pop-Culture/Checketts.aspx |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |date=September 17, 2015 |access-date=12 July 2022 |language=en}} CPIM purchased 20% equity in Legends, joining the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees as co-owners.{{cite news |last1=Soshnick |first1=Scott |title=Dave Checketts Resigns as Chief Executive of Legends Hospitality |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-17/dave-checketts-resigns-as-chief-executive-of-legends-hospitality |access-date=12 July 2022 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=17 September 2015 |language=en}} Checketts secured contracts with venues such as Angel Stadium, Levi's Stadium, and Manchester City F.C.'s Etihad Stadium to build onto the core Yankees and ATT stadiums. Under Checketts' guidance, Legends designed, built, and now operates One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center in New York. The Observatory opened in May 2015 and is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike.

Checketts was an original founding board member of JetBlue and held this role until 2018.{{cite news |title=JetBlue Announces David Checketts to Leave Board of Directors |url=http://mediaroom.jetblue.com/investor-relations/press-releases/2018/04-05-2018-004601147 |work=mediaroom.jetblue.com |date=April 4, 2018 |language=en}}

In 2021, Checketts was named director of Burnley Football Club. With Burnley, Checketts doubles as an investor and one of the 4 directors on the board of directors.{{cite web |title=New Board of Directors Confirmed |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/new-board-of-directors-confirmed |work=burnleyfootballclub.com |date=January 18, 2021 |language=en}}

In 2022, Checketts was named to the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=2022 Utah Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.utahsportshalloffame.org/events/hof-induction-banquet-information-registration-new/ |website=utahsportshalloffame.org|date=January 2022 }}

As of 2025, Checketts is on the board of advisors for Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment alongside other notable board members like Mia Hamm, Grant Hill, and John Skipper. In the same year, Checketts was added on the board of trustees for Paley Center for Media in New York City. Other trustees include Rob Manfred, David Brothers, Gary Bettman, and more.

In April 2025, Checketts partnered with The Cynosure Group to launch a $1.2 billion private equity fund, Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital Fund I, aimed at investing in high-potential assets across the global sports industry.{{cite news |last1=Dixon |first1=Ed |title=Dave Checketts and Cynosure Group roll out US$1.2bn private equity sports fund |url=https://www.sportspro.com/news/dave-checketts-cynosure-group-private-equity-sports-fund-investment-april-2025/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |work=SportsPro |date=April 22, 2025}}

Personal life

Checketts is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 2007, Checketts was called as president of the church's Yorktown New York Stake, succeeding Gary Crittenden.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2007-05-26/new-stake-presidents-30429 "New stake presidents"], Church News, 2007-05-26. Checketts was featured in the book The Mormon Way of Doing Business by Jeff Benedict.[http://farmington.patch.com/articles/mormon-leaders-discuss-temple-church-service-with-malloy Farmington Patch April 9, 2012] In July 2018, Checketts began a three-year term of service as president of the LDS Church's England London Mission.{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-announces-new-mission-presidents-for-2018?lang=eng|title= Church Announces New Mission Presidents for 2018 |work= LDS.org Church News |publisher= LDS Church |date= February 1, 2018 }} During Checketts' mission over 700 missionaries from 54 countries worked together to create open-ended friendship centers. The centers helped refugees from other countries to find jobs and homes while learning English and getting settled in England. The mission coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic but continued to operate uninterrupted.{{cite news |last1=Madkour |first1=Abraham |title=Dave Checketts returns to his roots |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2018/07/09/People-and-Pop-Culture/Dave-Checketts.aspx |access-date=11 July 2022 |work=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}

Checketts served as chairman of the Advisory Board of the Clinical Neurosciences Center at the University of Utah Hospital from 2010 to 2018.{{cite news |last1=Wilcox |first1=Lincoln |title=Tom Christofferson and Dave Checketts to Speak at University Convocation on Feb. 23 {{!}} Southern Virginia University News |url=https://news.svu.edu/2018/tom-christofferson-and-dave-checketts-to-speak-at-university-convocation-on-feb-23/ |work=Southern Virginia University |date=February 21, 2018}}

Checketts and his wife, Deborah Lynn Leishman, are the parents of six children.{{cite web |last1=C. Lewis |first1=Michael |date=16 April 2006 |title=Checketts: Destined for greatness |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=3716392&itype=NGPSID |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en |publication-place=Salt Lake City, Utah}}

Their son, Spencer, worked as a Radio Host on "The Big Show" on 1280 KZNS (AM). He was also an anchor of Gameday Coverage of Utah Jazz for 1280/97.5 The Zone, NBA Analyst for KJZZ-TV and Root Sports Utah.

Two other sons, Nate and Ben, along with son-in-law, Carras Holmstead, founded an apparel company called Rhone Apparel in 2014. Checketts later led two investment rounds, the first in 2022 to buy out the private equity firm L Catterton. The Checketts family now controls the business.{{cite magazine | last= Smith | first= Chris | title = Dave Checketts: Wearing A New Role | magazine = Sports Business Journal | date = October 30, 2023 | pages = Cover story | url= https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/10/30/checketts-rhone.aspx}}{{cite news |title=Rhone Announces Two New Board Members |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rhone-announces-two-new-board-members-302097502.html |access-date=April 16, 2025 |work=www.prnewswire.com |date=March 25, 2024 |language=en}}

A daughter, Lily Checketts Shimbashi, is founder of Sports-ish, a sports and media company. She was honored at the Sports Business Journal's 2025 World of Congress where she was a featured speaker.{{cite web |title=Agenda - 2025 World Congress of Sports |url=https://www.worldcongressofsports.com/2025/agenda |website=www.worldcongressofsports.com |access-date=April 15, 2025 |language=en}}

Awards and honors

Checketts was honored as a Sports Business Journal "Champion" in 2025.{{cite news |title=SBJ announces Champions Class of 2025 |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/01/20/champions-2025/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |work=Sports Business Journal |date=January 20, 2025 |language=en}}