"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."

John Wooden

Rick Burton

Chief Operating Officer, North America

Prior to his appointment at Syracuse in August 2009, Burton served as the Chief Marketing Officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, where he directed the USOC’s partnerships for International Olympic Committee (IOC) and USOC sponsorship activation at the world’s largest sporting event.

From 2003-2007, Burton was the Commissioner of Australia’s National Basketball League and was responsible for every aspect of the NBL’s development and growth, including securing broadcast rights fees, naming rights, sponsorship, player and referee collective bargaining agreements and league profitability.

During the last 20 years, his scholarly research and commentary has been published in Sport Marketing Quarterly, the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, Journal of Applied Sport Management, Journal of Sport, Nine, SAIS Review, Marketing Management, Journal of Brand Strategy, Journal of Marketing Communications, Industrial Marketing Management, International Marketing Review, Football Studies and Journal of Sponsorship, among others.

Burton Marketing Group working in league management and sponsorship for entities such as IMG, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Japanese Pro Soccer League (J-League), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), Australian NBL, Visa, Oakland Raiders, FedEx, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, professional Bull Riders, Sport Accord, and TSE.

Rick Burton, Chief Operating Officer at Playbk Sports

QUALIFICATIONS

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Master of Business Administration
Marquette University
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Bachelor of Science
Syracuse University

ACHIEVEMENTS

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Co-author for Business the NHL Way: Lessons from the Fastest Game on Ice

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Writes for Sports Business Journal, Sportico, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.

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2 books on marketing as well as Coauthored “20 Secrets to Success For NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won’t Go Pro” 

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Frequent conference/moderator host and inspirational/motivation speaker
Rick Burton

Chief Operating Officer

Located in upstate New York, Rick is the Chief Operating Officer, North America for Playbk Sports.

He’s the glue for Australians into the North American market and he’s the strategic anchor for U.S teams maximise global success on home soil

AUTHORED BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS