SALT LAKE CITY – Matt Smith has been promoted to general manager for Utes Sports Properties, as announced by LEARFIELD, the University of Utah’s longtime athletics multimedia rightsholder.
As former director of business development for Utes Sports Properties, Smith worked closely with local, regional and national businesses to develop innovative ways to align with Utah Athletics. As general manager, Smith is LEARFIELD’s primary liaison with Mark Harlan, director of athletics at the University of Utah. LEARFIELD’s locally based Utes Sports Properties team works in complete collaboration with the entire athletics administration.
Smith served five years with LEARFIELD’s Ticket Solutions business (now LEARFIELD Amplify) prior to joining Utes Sports Properties in 2017. He held several leadership roles in the ticketing business, most recent being west regional director. Prior to that, Smith was the vice president sales and service for ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers franchise and former director of ticket and premium sales for the Sacramento Kings / Maloof Sports & Entertainment. He also served six years in key sales positions for Kroenke Sports Enterprises.
“Matt has been an integral member of the Utes Sports Properties team for nearly five years, and we’re excited about his promotion to general manager,” said Harlan. “He and his team are a direct extension of Utah Athletics. They’re excellent about coming to us with new ideas to engage fans and elevate our brand, and I have no doubt that Matt will continue to be an outstanding lead with our sponsors, which we value immensely.”
“We’re excited to have Matt leading Utes Sports Properties,” said Spencer Christiansen, LEARFIELD’s regional senior vice president, multi-media rights. “He is well deserving of this promotion, and we’re confident he will continue to serve Athletics, as well as every member of the Utes’ corporate partner family with utmost respect and class.”
LEARFIELD is a leading media and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics; ticketing, ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.