The Garden released a statement today acknowledging that MSG sports president Scott O’Neil is leaving. O’Neil oversaw the Knicks and Rangers marketing and season-ticket operations. The move comes just 1 ½ months after the Knicks prized marketing cash cow Jeremy Lin was allowed by James Dolan to sign with the Rockets.
It could be a impactful loss as the Knicks brace for the onslaught of the Nets in Brooklyn. O’Neil had made a trip to China in late spring to explore Lin marketing opportunities.
“We are grateful for Scott’s years of service and his many contributions to the company, and wish him the very best of luck as he moves forward,’’ a Garden statement said. “We are fortunate to have a talented team in place at MSG Sports who will continue to build on the company’s successes while we undertake a search for a new President of MSG Sports.”
O’Neil said in a statement, “My time at The World’s Most Famous Arena has been nothing short of incredible and I am proud of our results. I am thankful and extremely proud of what we accomplished at MSG Sports. There is nothing more rewarding than the opportunity to help build a world-class staff and seeing them perform beyond our loftiest expectations – people I consider not only the most talented in the business, but also true friends. To help lead and steward iconic brands like the Knicks and Rangers and sell the transformed Garden in a city like New York has been a true privilege. I could not be more excited about the process of discovering what lies ahead.”