Article by:
Shaundell Newsome
Growing up in New York City, I always understood how sports teams impacted the spirit of community within its residents. Over the past few years I have witnessed how sports teams impact small and minority businesses with opportunities to provide goods and services with the organization.
Las Vegas Golden Knights (LVGK), President and COO, Kerry Bubolz, visited the Urban Chamber of Commerce Coffee and Commerce with over 40 small and minority businesses to give insight into the National Hockey League’s (NHL) procurement practices. Kerry did not present this effort as an act of kindness or in the spirit of diversity. He presented his ideas as a way the NHL and Golden Knights must do business. In my conversations with the Golden Knights COO, I learned that his genuine interest in having more minorities participate in professional hockey is better for the game. He learned from the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) enormous growth internationally, in popularity and revenues, that diversity equals economic development. At the time of our discussion, the LVGK had three African-American players, more than any other team in the league. However, Kerry said it’s not just because of their skin color. “These guys are great players.” In addition, the LVGK contracted with an African-American firm, Reggie Burton Communications (RBC), to assist them with growing a diverse culture within the entire organization.
Similar to the Golden Knights, the Raiders President Marc Badain has shown a strong commitment to working with the Urban Chamber and other minority-focused business organizations to procure goods and services. Notice that I did not use the Las Vegas Raiders in the last sentence. They are not officially here until 2020. But the organization has already inquired into the services of minority firms for its employees and executives who are starting to move into the area. This is not new to the Raiders organization. The late, great owner Al Davis was well known for his controversial and sometimes adversarial relationship with the National Football League (NFL) owners and executives. But he has never received much credit for taking risks on minority players and coaches. He drafted players like Art Shell and Willie Brown from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who were later inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame. He hired Shell as the Raiders Head Coach and the first African-American to hold that position in the modern era of the NFL. He hired Tom Flores as the first Hispanic head football coach in the NFL. Davis was also well known for giving minority quarterbacks a chance to perform in a position that predominantly went to white players. The Raiders hold true to the culture that was set by their legendary owner.
MGM Resorts International is known for its diversity, internationally. So, it’s no surprise that the Las Vegas Aces will look to do business with minority firms. Anthony Gladney, MGM Vice President of National Diversity Relations, is a former board member of the Urban Chamber who served for many years. Upon the team coming to Las Vegas, he immediately engaged the Chamber to get involved in the Ace’s transition. Gladney, a former UNLV Rebel football wide receiver, understands the social impact of sports in Las Vegas. Now he’s pushing hard for economic opportunities with small and minority businesses with the growth of professional sports in Vegas.
Ken Evans, Urban Chamber President, sits on the LV Stadium Authority Board for the Raiders and chairs the Community Benefits Plan Oversight Committee. This group is charged with ensuring inclusion and participation in minority business and workforce. The new LV sports team have intentionally built relationships with the minority communities in Southern Nevada. They clearly understand the game of sports and business.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shaundell Newsome, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Urban Chamber of Commerce, is also the Founder & Visionary of Sumnu Marketing. He had a brief sports career with the Las Vegas Gamblers, a semi-pro football team in the 1990’s. While playing for the Gamblers, he met a former MGM Resorts International and Station Casinos executive Felix Rappaport who recruited him to Stations after his U. S. Air Force career. Today, as a small business advocate, he clearly understands the relationship between sports and minority owned firms.