ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – A couple of well-known sports business leaders are joining the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft as they invest in Titletown Tech.
Those individuals are Jerry Jacobs Jr., Delaware North Co-CEO and alternate governor of the Boston Bruins, and Jeff Wilpon, Chief Operating Officer of the New York Mets.
Both Jacobs Jr. and Wilpon were in town Tuesday to announce their investment in TitletownTech’s Venture Fund.
In addition to his position with the Mets, Wilpon is a partner of Sterling Project Development, which is a real estate advisory firm.
He says his background has taught him to always value location and that there’s a lot to like about the Green Bay area.
“When we got asked to actually invest in it, I think that was a real testament to they want us in here,” he explains. “And we like the idea of having the midwest hub.”
He adds that the fact that Microsoft was in early-on was important, as they will add value coming from Silicon Valley.
Combining the resources of the Packers, Microsoft, real estate, and a hospitality company, should make the group plenty diverse and more valuable.
Yet, Wilpon notes that the Packers have been the true leaders throughout this entire process and TitletownTech has continued to grow under their guidance.
“Everything you see here has been their decisions and their good knowledge of what Green Bay and the Packers mean to this community and what Titletown has turned out to mean for the community,” explains Wilpon.
It was brought up during the press conference at TitletownTech that it’s a little unusual to see three sports leaders all from different leagues come together on a joint venture.
For Jacobs Jr., it’s great to get that unique perspective considering the direction that sports are taking in the Internet age.
“It’s encouraging to see that high-tech innovation plays an increasingly prominent role in sports,” he says. “That’s something very much where we see sports going.”
An added bonus for him is that his companies values and the values of the Green Bay area seem to align pretty well.
“Hard work, humility, and a deep passion for sports,” says Jacobs Jr. “[We’re] very much in align with the feelings of Green Bay and the Green Bay community, so we feel at home here.”
His company, Delaware North, manages the food and beverage services of the Packers.
They also will be in charge of managing a new entertainment venue at TitletownTech powered by Topgolf suites.
Neither individual would commit to revealing how much they have invested in the venture fund, but did say that it is a “good amount.”
Both are excited to be a part of this powerful partnership and the Packers plan on releasing more information regarding how this investment will help grow businesses in the area.
Jacobs Jr. says this is a long time coming for him and his company.
“Green Bay is a pretty nice place to be,” he explains. “Only took us a hundred years to get here, but we finally got that account.”
