MILWAUKEE: Former Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment chief communications officer Barry Baum has joined the Milwaukee Bucks as SVP of communications, the team said on Monday.
Baum will lead all communications for the NBA organization, including the team, its business ventures, and its new arena, which is set to open in the fall of 2018, as well as marketing, crisis communications, digital, events, and community outreach. Baum’s first day with the Bucks is set for June 5.
He will report to Bucks president Peter Feigin and COO Mike McCarthy and manage a communications team of four. Baum's main goals are to raise the profile of the Bucks and their new arena.
"My goals with the new arena are to build anticipation and create a lot of buzz for it, to really glamorize the new arena," he explained. "We really want to make it a must-stop for world class artists. From the basketball side, we want to create player stories and build personalities, and help build the brand for the team. The goal is to position the Bucks as an innovative leader in sports and entertainment."
Baum worked in communications roles for the Brooklyn Nets and predecessor the New Jersey Nets for more than a decade, including handling comms for the team’s relocation to Brooklyn. He eventually oversaw communications for the Nets, the New York Islanders hockey team, and Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Baum left his position at Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment in January. He was succeeded by Mandy Gutmann in the top comms role at the organization. Earlier in his career, Baum worked at agency DKC and was a sportswriter for the New York Post.
This story was updated on May 23 with comment from Baum.
