Dan MacKenzie

Last updated

Dan MacKenzie
Born
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Education BComm, B.Ed., MBM
Alma mater McMaster University
Brock University
George Brown College
Ohio University
Occupation(s) Sports marketing and sport management
Employer Canadian Hockey League
Known forVice-president and managing director of NBA Canada (2014–2019)

Dan MacKenzie is a Canadian sports administrator and marketing executive. He has served as president of the Canadian Hockey League since September 2019. He served as the vice-president and managing director of National Basketball Association (NBA) Canada from 2014 to 2019, and previously worked for The Sports Network. During his tenure with NBA Canada, he implemented marketing strategies targeted to younger demographics to grow the game in Canada, and he increased the NBA presence using television, advertising, social media and community involvement. He oversaw events which included managing the development NBA Global Games in Europe, 3x3 basketball tournaments in Canada, the NBA Canada Series, and the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.

Contents

Early life and education

MacKenzie was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, and is a former school teacher. [1] [2] [3] He played ice hockey as a youth in Guelph, and attended Guelph Platers games. [4]

He completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in marketing at McMaster University in 1992, a Bachelor of Education degree at Brock University in 1995, the sport and event marketing program at George Brown College in 1997, and a Master of Management in sport at Ohio University in 2019. [1] [3] [5]

Canadian basketball

MacKenzie began working for National Basketball Association (NBA) Canada in 1998, managing events and development of basketball in Canada. [6] From December 2002 to October 2003, he led an NBA project to host exhibition games in Europe as part of NBA Global Games. [5] [6] He worked for The Sports Network as the senior marketing manager from October 2003 to October 2004. He returned to NBA Canada in October 2004 as its director of marketing until September 2006. He was promoted to be NBA Canada's general manager in October 2006, and its managing director in January 2011. He was named vice-president and managing director of NBA Canada in January 2014, and serves in the same capacity as of August 2019. [5]

Example of 3x3 basketball

MacKenzie brought in corporate partners to sponsor NBA events which included 3x3 basketball tournaments in Canada. By 2008, he had working relationships with partners Parmalat Canada, Speed Stick and the Wrigley Company, and aimed to promote basketball in Canada specifically to a young and diverse demographic. [7] In 2013, Financial Post Business noted that NBA revenue in Canada grew 224% since 2008, and MacKenzie attributed the growth to marketing strategy combined with the sport's appeal to the young Asian Canadians demographic. [8] He noted that recent trends of immigration to Canada showed people were coming from countries where basketball was already a popular sport. [9] He also noted there was significant support from Filipino Canadians and Chinese Canadians, and felt it was related to the former Philippine Basketball League and NBA efforts in China including exhibition games, skills programs, and coaching programs. He also targeted first-generation Canadians as a market for basketball. [8]

From 2010 to 2013, the growth rate for Canadians participating in basketball increased 16%. As of 2010, basketball was the most popular team sport in Canada from the ages of 12 and 17. MacKenzie attributed this to basketball being "easy and inexpensive to play, and a safe sport". He also noted that since the Toronto Raptors began play in 1995, "what you are seeing now with the growth of the sport, is the first generation of kids who have grown up with the NBA being a strong element in their lives". [9]

MacKenzie aimed to increase apparel sales, social media presence and broadcasts for basketball in Canada. He stated that in 2013, Adidas basketball apparel sales had increased 103% in one year, and that the NBA was recognized by Mashable as one of the top-engaged brands on Twitter in 2013. [8] He wanted to increase accessibility of NBA basketball games in Canada through cable television packages which included NBA League Pass to see Toronto Raptors and other out-of-town games. He stated that broadcast ratings grew approximately 19% in one year. [8] As of 2013, fans could view up to 300 games per year on television. [9] He used local events to engage new fans, which coincided with the NBA Canada Series beginning in 2012. He also wanted to ensure leaving a legacy in those communities, which including upgrades to local recreational and basketball facilities. [8] In 2013, the NBA added a "Play Ball" section to its web site in English and French, to facilitate increased player registrations in youth clubs across Canada. [10]

NBA statement on MacKenzie...

"Under Dan's leadership, basketball and the NBA's popularity in Canada have grown to all-time highs. Among Dan's many accomplishments, he oversaw the success of NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto, the expansion of our Jr. NBA program, and most recently a record-setting season for the NBA in Canada."

— Mark Tatum , deputy commissioner, July 2019 [3]

In 2013, MacKenzie was part of Toronto's successful bid to host the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, and stated that "the time was right" to bring the event outside of the United States for the first time. He estimated that it would bring $80 million to $100 million into Toronto's economy. [11] He also announced contracts with Air Miles and Bank of Montreal, and said that Canadian-based sponsors were coming onboard due to the growing fan base in Canada, highlighting that the NBA had 650,000 Canadian followers on Twitter by 2016. [11]

In May 2019, MacKenzie stated the NBA had reached a peak in Canadian sponsorship to date, with 32 partners including Bell Canada, Molson Coors Brewing Company and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. He also noted the increasing number of Canadians playing in the NBA in recent years. [12] He said that during the playoff run leading Toronto's victory in the 2019 NBA Finals, the Canadian audience from outside of Ontario grew, [13] viewership increased 163% and sales of NBA merchandise rose 26% from the previous season, [12] and that basketball's popularity in Canada was at an all-time high. [14] In June 2019, he announced a partnership with Canada Basketball to create a Junior NBA Leadership Council to promote programs offered to local youth community groups, [15] and expanded television coverage of the Women's National Basketball Association to be available via Sportsnet, TSN and NBA TV Canada. [14]

MacKenzie resigned effective August 15, 2019, and was succeeded by Leah MacNab. [16]

Canadian Hockey League

On July 30, 2019, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced MacKenzie was hired as its first full-time president. [1] [3] CHL president David Branch said that, "Dan has a unique combination of league operations, sports marketing and business experience along with being a former school teacher. His experience will help the CHL continue to grow and expand our programs and player experience". MacKenzie has stated he looks forward to building on the relationships that CHL teams have with their communities. [1] [2] [3] He took over in September 2019 from Branch, who had served as president since 1996. [2]

The Memorial Cup trophy Memorial Cup at the 2015 championship.jpg
The Memorial Cup trophy

In October 2019, MacKenzie stated it was a priority to grow the CHL's brand and build upon the experience for players and spectators, and to bring national events such as the Memorial Cup to smaller communities. He also stated the need to promote the CHL's scholarship program, which exceeds a $10-million investment each year for the future of players who have careers outside of hockey. [4]

On October 16, 2019, MacKenzie announced Kubota as the title sponsor of the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game beginning with the 2020 event. [17] In November 2019, he announced that Wawanesa Insurance had partnered with the CHL for a Christmas Toy drive. [18]

In March 2020, the CHL and its constituent leagues cancelled the remainder of the 2019–20 regular seasons, playoffs and the 2020 Memorial Cup, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North America. MacKenzie stated a desire to begin the 2020–21 on its normal schedule, but would wait until public health authorities deem it is safe to play. He also stated no decision has been made to restart play without fans in attendance as proposed in some professional leagues. [19]

When the CHL Top Prospects Game was replaced by the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge involving the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2024, MacKenzie felt that the new event would "[serve] as a best-on-best showcase [to] provide our top draft-eligible players from across the CHL with a great opportunity to demonstrate their elite talent and world-class skill set as they work towards hearing their name called at the NHL draft". [20]

Personal life

MacKenzie resides in Guelph, Ontario, and is married with two children as of 2019. [3] [6] He became a volunteer board member for the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada (SMCC) in 2010, and was elected its new chairman in January 2013. [21] He stepped down from the SMCC in 2015. [5] He later volunteered for the board of directors of Licensing Industry Merchandiser's Association Canada, [3] and has been a committee member for the sports celebrity festival hosted by Special Olympics Canada. [6]

Awards

MacKenzie was named one of the George Brown College alumni Five to Watch, and received the college's Alumni Achievement Award. [3] [5] He served as co-chairman of the Five to Watch event in 2013. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ontario Hockey League</span> Ice hockey league in Canada

The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–20. There are currently 20 teams in the OHL: seventeen in Ontario, two in Michigan, and one in Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Hockey League</span> Governing organization for major junior hockey in Canada

The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canada-based major junior ice hockey leagues. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). For the 2023–24 season, its three leagues and 60 teams represent nine Canadian provinces as well as four American states.

Sportsnet is a Canadian English-language discretionary sports specialty channel owned by Rogers Sports & Media. It was established in 1998 as CTV Sportsnet, a joint venture between CTV, Liberty Media, and Rogers Media. CTV parent Bell Globemedia then was required to divest its stake in the network following its 2001 acquisition of competing network TSN. Rogers then became the sole owner of Sportsnet in 2004 after it bought the remaining minority stake that was held by Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Knights</span> Junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario

The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights started out in 1965 as the London Nationals but changed to their current name in 1968. The Knights have won two Memorial Cup championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudbury Wolves</span> Ontario Hockey League team in Sudbury

The Sudbury Wolves are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) ice hockey team based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saginaw Spirit</span> Ontario Hockey League team in Saginaw, Michigan

The Saginaw Spirit are a major junior ice hockey team based in Saginaw, Michigan. They are members of the West Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of the Major Junior leagues of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). In 2024, the team won the Memorial Cup, their first championship since the franchise moved to Saginaw in 2002, and became only the third American team to win the Memorial Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halifax Mooseheads</span> Junior ice hockey team in Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Halifax Mooseheads are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio Division of the QMJHL for the 1994–95 season. They have appeared in the President's Cup Finals five times, winning in 2013. The other four appearances were in 2003, 2005, 2019 and 2023. They hosted the Memorial Cup in 2000 and 2019 and won the tournament in 2013. The team plays their home games at the Scotiabank Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Canada</span>

Sports in Canada consist of a wide variety of games. The roots of organized sports in Canada date back to the 1770s. Canada's official national sports are ice hockey and lacrosse. Other major professional games include curling, basketball, baseball, soccer, and football. Great achievements in Canadian sports are recognized by numerous "Halls of Fame" and museums, such as Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHL/USA Prospects Challenge</span> Annual Canadian Hockey League event

The CHL/USA Prospects Challenge is an annual junior ice hockey series between the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. The two-game series showcases the talents of top prospects for the upcoming entry draft of the National Hockey League (NHL), in a collaborative effort with the NHL Central Scouting Bureau to select the participants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Branch (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey administrator (born 1948)

David Branch is a Canadian ice hockey administrator. His lengthy involvement in junior ice hockey includes serving as commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League from 1979 to 2024, and as president of the Canadian Hockey League from 1996 to 2019. He received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016, and the David Branch Player of the Year Award was renamed in his honour in 2019.

CBC Sports is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for English-language sports broadcasting. The CBC's sports programming primarily airs on CBC Television, CBCSports.ca, and CBC Radio One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Toronto</span> Overview of sports traditions and activities in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has a long history of sport. It is home to a number of clubs, including the Granite Club, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, the Argonaut Rowing Club, Toronto Argonauts football club, the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, and the Badminton and Racquet Club. A number of heritage venues have developed in Toronto such as: Christie Pits, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Varsity Arena, and Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto is also the location of the Canadian Football League's headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cary Kaplan</span>

Cary Kaplan is the president and co-owner of the sports marketing firm Cosmos Sports & Entertainment with his wife Amelia Kaplan, which launched in 2003. The company specializes in consulting for sports teams and leagues in sales, marketing and business operations. High-profile clients have included the NHL CFL, MLS, the Chicago Cubs the Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns.

The 2009–10 OHL season was the 30th season of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2009 and ended on March 14, 2010. On September 9, 2009, all 20 teams in the OHL unveiled their new Reebok Edge jerseys, which have been used in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2007 until 2017. The playoffs began on March 18, 2010, and ended on May 4, 2010, with the Windsor Spitfires winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the second consecutive year, which they followed up by winning the 2010 Memorial Cup, hosted by the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL in Brandon, Manitoba.

The CHL Import Draft is an annual event in which every team in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) may select the rights to eligible import players. An import is classified as a player who does not have residency status in either Canada or the United States. The draft is conducted online, during the last week of June, or first week of July, following the NHL Entry Draft. Teams from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, systematically take turns making selections. Teams can have a maximum of two imports which may only be obtained through the draft. The draft is open to all position players, but a ban on drafting European goalkeepers was in effect from 2014 to 2017. As of the 2022 draft, 2,026 players have been selected, with many later going onto the National Hockey League.

The NBA Canada Series are a series of basketball games featuring National Basketball Association teams that are played in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Suzuki</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)

Nicholas Suzuki is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 13th overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He has been widely considered to be one of the best all around NHL players of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacKenzie Entwistle</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)

MacKenzie Entwistle is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round, 69th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Ratcliffe</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)

Isaac Ratcliffe is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing who is currently playing for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Zayne Parekh is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a prospect to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected ninth overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Beneteau, Josh (July 30, 2019). "CHL hires NBA executive Dan MacKenzie to be first full-time president". Sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Zwolinski, Mark (July 30, 2019). "Dan MacKenzie named CHL's first full-time president". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Harrigan, Scott (July 30, 2019). "CHL Names Dan MacKenzie First Full-Time President". Independent Sports News. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "In Conversation: CHL President Dan MacKenzie". Ontario Hockey League. October 30, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dan MacKenzie – Vice President & Managing Director – National Basketball Association (NBA)". LinkedIn. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dan MacKenzie". Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ Laird, Kristin (May 13, 2008). "NBA Canada inks cheesy deal". Marketing Magazine. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Ovsey, Dan (June 5, 2013). "How the NBA doubled basketball engagement levels in Canada with only one team". Financial Post. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Jessop, Alicia (July 12, 2013). "How Basketball Overtook Hockey As The Most Popular Youth Sport In Canada". Forbes. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  10. ↑ "NBA going all out to grow game in Canada". Edmonton Sun. September 12, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Barrabi, Thomas (February 12, 2016). "NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 Invades Toronto". Fox Business. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Rush, Curtis (May 23, 2019). "Toronto Raptors At The Forefront Of A Golden Age For Basketball In Canada". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  13. ↑ Stinson, Scott (May 31, 2019). "Scott Stinson: Amid sudden outbreaks of basketball fever, Canada embraces a team from … Toronto?". National Post. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Three Canadian Networks To Air Live WNBA Games". WNBA.com. June 27, 2019. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  15. ↑ "NBA, Canada Basketball unite to boost youth outreach". France 24. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  16. ↑ "NBA names Leah MacNab Managing Director of NBA Canada". NBA. July 30, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  17. ↑ "CHL welcomes Kubota as Top Prospects Game title partner". Top Prospects. Canadian Hockey League. October 16, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Wawanesa Insurance launches toy donation drive with Canadian Hockey League". Insurance Business Magazine. November 18, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  19. ↑ Koshan, Terry (May 6, 2020). "CHL president Dan MacKenzie optimistic, keeps avenues open for eventual return". Journal Pioneer . Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  20. ↑ "CHL & USA Hockey announce CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota". Western Hockey League. June 26, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  21. ↑ Maloney, Val (January 4, 2013). "SMCC names new chair". Media in Canada. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.