Ilitch Sports + Entertainment
Ryan Gustafson’s steep ascent within Ilitch Sports + Entertainment has unfolded quickly. He joined the organization in 2022 before being promoted to COO a year later and then president and CEO in March. In the process, the 38-year-old became the youngest to hold his title among all 32 NHL clubs and all 30 MLB teams.
“It’s something I’m very proud of,” said Gustafson, whose previous career stops include the San Diego Padres, Seattle Sounders and Seattle Dragons. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunities I’ve had and to have people believing in me throughout my entire career. It’s the only reason I’m here.”
Ryan Gustafson
President and Chief Executive Officer, Ilitch Sports & Entertainment (Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, 313 Presents)
Age: 38
Born: Bellevue, Wash.
Education: University of Puget Sound, B.S., economics; Harvard Business School, MBA, business/leadership
Family: Spouse, Lydia Cruz
Advice to my 20-year-old self: Enjoy every part of the journey. It’s easy to enjoy the successes, but be grateful for the failures and difficult times because those times are what pushes you to grow and be better as a person and a leader.
What my friends/family think I do all day: My 3-year-old nephew thinks I actually play for the Tigers.
Cause supported: Boys and Girls Clubs.
App I use most: MLB.TV and Baseball Savant.First social media platform I signed up for: Facebook. It came out when I was a freshman in college.
Social media platform I use/follow most today: LinkedIn.
The most pressing issue facing my generation is … : The growing divide in our country and level of animosity that exists between “sides” on any issue.
Gustafson oversees all business operations and more than 450 full-time staffers across Ilitch, including the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Red Wings, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena and 313 Presents.
Among the many successes Ilitch has seen under Gustafson’s leadership are big gains in ticketing. The Tigers’ ticket sales revenue has risen by nearly two-thirds since his arrival, including more than a 50% increase in the club’s season-ticket member base and nearly tripling group ticket sales. The Red Wings’ ticket sales revenue, meanwhile, has risen by nearly 40% under Gustafson, including a nearly 30% increase in season-ticket memberships heading into the 2023-24 season.
But as for what he is most proud of, Gustafson points to something less tangible.
“We’ve worked really hard to be an inclusive environment that people really enjoy, which is something that has come a long way,” he said. “The way we’ve built culture and our investment in it the last couple years is something that I’m probably most proud of.” — Erik Bacharach
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