Sabres add to business staff, hiring Jake Vernon to oversee ticketing, sponsorships
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Sabres have made a postseason addition to their front office, though not the hockey operations staff shakeup that some anticipated.
Buffalo hired Jake Vernon as their chief commercial officer on Tuesday. Vernon will oversee ticketing and sponsorship operations, and report to CEO Pete Guelli, the team announced. He spent the past 12 seasons with basketball's Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, working in sales and ticketing.
“I’ve been looking to add to our leadership structure on the business side of the organization and after a lengthy search, we have found the right fit for our organization in Jake,” Guelli stated in a news release. “Jake has extensive experience in the sports industry and has been thriving in an arena model for the last two decades. I’m excited to see what he can add to our organization as we continue to strive to provide an incredible experience for our great fans.”
Vernon joins a franchise that is lagging in NHL attendance, and last week extended its NHL-record playoff drought to a 14th straight season.
The Sabres ranked 30th in the NHL in average attendance at 15,998 this past season.
Guelli has placed an emphasis on generating more revenue at a time the team is spending its own money on upgrading its home arena, KeyBank Center.
Last year, the Sabres replaced the arena’s roof while also installing a new video scoreboard above center ice.
During his tenure in Minnesota, Vernon played roles in two renovation projects at the downtown Minneapolis Target Center.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.