BayBears Announce Bennett as General Manager
Heath Bennett joins the BayBears and HWS Baseball from the Los Angeles Clippers where he spent the last 4 years as Director of Sales and then Senior Director of Sales and Service. During those 4 seasons the Clippers sold at least 2000 new full season tickets each year, including an NBA leading 6500 new full season tickets last season. In addition to growth in the new season ticket base, renewal rates rose each year and the group sales department grew from a bottom third of the league ranking to 5th in group tickets per game during the 2010-11 season. Heath leaves the Clippers with an active sellout streak dating back to the 2010-11 season that stands at 45 consecutive sellouts at STAPLES Center.
"Heath is an outstanding, experienced executive with a strong sales background and we are excited to welcome him to the BayBears family," said HWS Baseball and BayBears President/COO Bill Shanahan. "A special thanks to HWS Baseball Vice-President, Mike Gorrasi for securing such a quality and exceptional individual to run the day to day operations of this tradition rich franchise." Shanahan continued, "With Heath accepting the GM position, the BayBears organization have taken a huge leap forward in building a strong foundation for 2013 and many years to come!"
Prior to his time with the Clippers, Heath worked for Comcast-Spectacor as Director of Sales for the American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms and Director of Group Sales for the HWS owned Modesto Nuts. Heath has also spent time in the sales department of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Originally from New York, Heath graduated from the Hackley School in 1996 and Ursinus College (PA) in 2000. "I've been very fortunate to learn the business working with some great franchises across all 4 major sports," said Bennett. "Right now I'm looking forward to getting to know the staff and implementing some of the things I've seen across the industry to enhance the game day experience for our fans here at the Hank," Bennett said. "Mobile is a great city and has such a rich baseball tradition, both big reasons why I am so excited to be joining the BayBears staff, and two of my primary goals are to continue to grow the BayBears as a leader in the community and to bring the best family entertainment value on the gulf coast to Hank Aaron Stadium."
Bennett becomes the fourth general manager in the seventeen year history of the BayBears in Mobile and will begin September 20th.
Since its inaugural season in 1997, the BayBears have won three Southern League Championships (1998, 2004, 2011) and have been ranked the Number One Minor League Team in the Nation twice by Baseball America, (1998 and 2011). HWS Baseball owns and operates the Mobile BayBears/Southern League (AA Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Modesto Nuts/California League (Advanced A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies),the Mahoning Valley Scrappers/New York Penn-League (Short Season A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) and the Columbia Blowfish/Coastal Plain League (Summer Collegiate).
Hank Aaron Stadium is the home of the Hank Aaron Childhood Home & Museum. For more information, contact the BayBears at 251-479-BEAR (2327) or online at: www.mobilebaybears.com