Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy will serve as the keynote speaker for the fifth annual North Carolina Central University First Pitch Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham North Carolina.
“Our First Pitch Dinner and Silent Auction is a tremendous opportunity for our NCCU baseball family to show their support and enthusiasm for our program,” said NCCU baseball head coach Jim Koerner. “With the addition of Red Sox President Mr. Sam Kennedy, this year’s event will again prove to be a great night of baseball.”
The fundraising event to benefit the NCCU baseball program will begin with a cocktail and social hour from 6:30-7:30 p.m., followed by a sit-down dinner. There will also be a silent auction with authentic autographed memorabilia, including many items from Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, as well as a live auction and raffle. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet members of the 2016 NCCU baseball team.
For the fifth straight year, local radio legend, avid baseball fan, and Durham Bulls public address announcer Tony Riggsbee will be the emcee for the evening.
Individual tickets for the sit-down dinner and silent auction are $50, and only $25 for fans 12 years old and under, while a table of 10 can be purchased for $450. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 16 at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
A VIP Table Sponsor package is also available, including 10 tickets for the sit-down dinner and exclusive access to a VIP reception with Kennedy, as well as program recognition, official NCCU baseball apparel, 10 complimentary raffle and drink tickets, public address announcements at NCCU home baseball games, and 10 general admission tickets to an NCCU basketball game – all for $1,500.
A Title Sponsorship package includes everything in the VIP Table Sponsor package plus corporate branding on event marketing materials, seating at Kennedy’s table during dinner and the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a NCCU baseball game. To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Kevin Wilson at (919) 428-0506 / kwilso58@nccu.edu.
For more information on the fifth annual NCCU First Pitch Dinner and Silent Auction, contact Kia Robinson in the NCCU Athletics Development office at 919-530-7313 / krobin36@nccu.edu or Jim Koerner at the NCCU Baseball office at 919-530-6723 / jkoerner@nccu.edu.
SAM KENNEDY – PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON RED SOX
Sam Kennedy, President of the Boston Red Sox, enters his 15th year in the organization. On Oct. 16, 2015, he succeeded his mentor, Larry Lucchino, as club President.
A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy was among the first executives that Lucchino – who currently serves the organization as Red Sox President/CEO Emeritus – brought with him from the San Diego Padres to join his partners John Henry and Tom Werner in Boston shortly after acquiring the club from the Yawkey Trust in 2002. Since joining the club that year, Kennedy has been an instrumental part of the revitalization of the Red Sox brand, the financial stability of the franchise, and the preservation and protection of Fenway Park. Kennedy and his staff have dramatically increased all club revenue streams over the past decade. Under his leadership, the club sold out 794 consecutive games at Fenway Park, dating back to May 2003, establishing a Major League Baseball record. Kennedy and his team have set the industry standard in the area of corporate sponsorship, premium seating, and merchandising, and they have established Fenway Park as one of the premier destinations in New England for non-baseball events such as concerts, outdoor hockey games, soccer matches, and corporate functions.
Kennedy oversees the club’s general business matters, including Ticketing (sales, operations and service), Corporate Sponsorship, Broadcasting, Marketing, Social Media, Advertising, Fenway Enterprises (non-baseball activities at Fenway Park), and all Client Service. In 2003, he helped conceive and execute the successful sales and marketing plan for the new “Legends Suite” at Fenway Park, the Dugout Seats innovation, and new tasteful advertising positions above the Green Monster. In 2004, Kennedy secured a long-term partnership with Anheuser-Busch that was instrumental in the creation of the new Right Field Roof Seats at Fenway. In 2005, he was charged with developing the sales and marketing plan for the new club seats at Fenway Park that debuted in 2006. Kennedy also secured long-term naming rights deals for the EMC Club and the State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park. In 2009, he oversaw the successful negotiations with the National Hockey League and Hockey East to stage the 2010 “Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic” and “Sun Life Frozen Fenway” NCAA Division I outdoor ice hockey games at Fenway Park. In addition to ice hockey, 2010 also saw the return of professional soccer to Fenway Park when Kennedy and his team arranged for an international friendly between Celtic FC & Sporting Lisbon. In 2011, Kennedy was a member of the team that developed the business plan for the Red Sox new Spring Training home in Fort Myers, Florida, and he led the successful negotiations with JetBlue Airways to name the new facility “JetBlue Park at Fenway South.” Kennedy brought Frozen Fenway back to the ballpark twice more in the winters of 2012 and 2014, as nearly 100,000 people came through the gates to watch ice hockey and skate at Fenway. In 2012 and 2014, Kennedy facilitated two more friendly matchups between the storied Liverpool Football Club and AS Roma in front of sell-out crowds at Fenway Park, a celebrated part of Liverpool’s North American summer tour. Since 2003, Kennedy has been instrumental in facilitating Fenway Park as a premier concert venue for top-tier performers such as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, Sir Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Foo Fighters, and more. Kennedy took the lead on the successful negotiations that will brought American football back to Fenway Park for the first time in over 40 years. On Nov. 22 2015, the annual “Shamrock Series” came to Fenway Park as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the Boston College Eagles. Kennedy also serves as a member the Red Sox Budget Committee, Major League Baseball’s Ticketing Committee, and as the club’s business liaison to Major League Baseball Properties and Major League Baseball Advanced Media.
In 2004, Kennedy helped create Fenway Sports Management (FSM), formerly Fenway Sports Group, which has emerged as one of the most well-respected international sports sales representation agencies in its 11-year history. FSM is one of the portfolios of companies owned by Fenway Sports Group, which includes the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, New England Sports Network and Roush Fenway Racing. As FSM’s President, Kennedy has P & L responsibility and oversees Finance, HR, Legal, Sales, Corporate Consulting and Marketing. FSM’s client roster includes the Boston Red Sox, NESN, RFR, Liverpool FC, Boston College, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the Deutsche Bank Championship, NBA superstar LeBron James, and Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Johnny Manziel.
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