New York Riptide's Rich Lisk Named National Lacrosse League Executive of the Year Finalist
June 22, 2022 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
New York Riptide News Release
Uniondale, NY - The National Lacrosse League announced today that the GF Sports and Entertainment Executive Vice President Rich Lisk has been named a finalist for the League's Executive of the Year award for his work with the New York Riptide. Lisk joins Gregg Bibb of Panther City Lacrosse Club and Jamie Dawick of the Toronto Rock as the three finalists. The League will be announcing the winner of their awards the week of June 27.
"Rich has been a great leader for the Riptide organization on both the operations and the competitive sides of our business," NLL Governor and GF Sports and Entertainment Board Member Erik Baker said. "In addition, his work on behalf of the league has been outstanding, so being named as a finalist for this honor is very well deserved."
If Lisk is selected as the winner of the award, it will mark the first time that a Riptide executive has been awarded Executive of the Year. On the field, Lisk inherited a 1-13 team, and overhauled the lacrosse operations department, hiring NLL Hall of Famer Jim Veltman as general manager and five-time NLL champion Dan Ladouceur as head coach. The team also signed four-time NLL All-Pro Callum Crawford and selected two-time Tewaaraton Trophy nominee Jeff Teat with the first overall pick in the 2020 NLL Entry Draft. The team scored the second most goals per game in the League, as well as a second-place finish in shooting percentage, improving on their last place finish from the 2019-20 season in both categories.
Over the last year, Lisk has led the Riptide to exponential growth in each department within the front office. From the organization's first to second season, he led the effort to grow the season ticket holder base by nearly 300%. Lisk was crucial in securing a partnership renewal for one of the largest sponsorship deals in the NLL with Long Island's leading orthopedic and sports medicine group, Orlin & Cohen. He also oversaw a group sales team that ranks in the Top-3 in the NLL. Internally, Lisk has grown the team's marketing, public relations and social media productivity over the last two years. In the most competitive media market in the country, he helped deliver earned media placements in major outlets including the New York Post, Newsday, WFAN Radio, ESPN Radio, FOX-5 NY TV, News12 Long Island TV and CBS Sports Network. From a social media standpoint, Lisk steered the strategy that has led to a 46% growth on all social media platforms, including a 78% growth on TikTok.
In his role with GF Sports, Lisk oversees all lacrosse and business operations for the Riptide, and provides sales, marketing and operations leadership across GF Sports' portfolio of live sports and entertainment properties. Lisk has more than 25 years of experience in the sports industry. Prior to joining GF Sports and Entertainment, he was General Manager for the New England Black Wolves (NLL). During his tenure, the team went to the playoffs four consecutive seasons and Inside Lacrosse recognized Lisk as its 2016 General Manager of the Year for his work. In addition to his time in the NLL, Lisk was a General Manager of the Philadelphia Soul (AFL) and President and General Manager of the East Coast Hockey League's Trenton Titans, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL). Lisk is a graduate of Rutgers University.
The Riptide will return to Nassau Coliseum in December for the 2022-23 season. Season Ticket Memberships are on sale now and are the best way to enjoy the Riptide at an unbeatable price. Benefits include an exclusive post game meet and greet with team, player clinics on the Nassau Coliseum turf, an exclusive season ticket member gift, a season ticket member merchandise sale, a flexible ticket exchange program so no tickets go unused and can be added to another game, and much more. Fans can head to NewYorkRiptide.com for all of the details.
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