iHeart Radio: CEO’s You Should Know - Marc Riccio, CEO of USA Lacrosse

Marc Riccio is the CEO of USA Lacrosse, a nearly 400,000-member organization that serves as the governing body of the sport in the United States. A former collegiate lacrosse player at Hofstra, Riccio’s professional experience has led to specialties in media, fan engagement, sport and entertainment business operations, building new companies, revenue generation, executive leadership, and employee development.

Prior to joining USA Lacrosse, Marc was the Chief Commercial Officer for KlarisIP, a boutique intellectual property and media consultancy. Marc advised major sport and esports properties on strategy, growth, and organizational transformation. He worked on one of the largest esports sponsorship and marketing deals in history and guided sport and media companies on innovative fan engagement strategies like NFT’s, content licensing, and new media platforms.

Prior to KlarisIP Marc operated his own consultant business where he guided global esports and video-game companies on mergers and acquisitions. Marc’s career included stops at Lagardère Sports (now Sportfive), a full-service global sports agency where he was the Executive Vice President of Commercial. Lagardère Sports works with worldwide brands, leagues, confederations, and teams in sports that include but are not limited to soccer, American football, basketball, esports, Olympics, and more. The company focused on commercializing intellectual property rights, brand consulting, business strategy, experiential marketing, live event production, talent representation, content creation, and media distribution. Marc led revenue generation, business development, and executive guidance for these business functions in the U.S. He was a member of the Executive Committee and the U.S. Country Head on the Global Partnership Team - a leadership group that sat across 300+ global sports professionals in 17 countries generating approximately one billion dollars in annual gross sales.

Marc also spent 17 seasons leading business operation and development for the NFL’s New York Jets. As the Sr. Vice President of Business Development for the Jets, his responsibilities included all aspects of team and stadium business affairs and overall strategic planning. Riccio led teams responsible for corporate sales, new business development, partner management, merchandise, revenue strategy and monetization for the construction of MetLife Stadium. He also led special events, gameday experience, and multimedia production. During his tenure the Jets rose from a bottom quartile revenue generation team to one of the highest in the NFL.

After the Jets, Riccio developed and launched a startup with private equity investors, LXL Sports & Entertainment. LXL's mission was to re-define business entertainment as an exclusive membership club. He rolled LXL into an experimental marketing and live event production company called Rooftop2 where he became President. Rooftop2 produced world class events and worked with clients like the NFL, Madison Square Garden, and FanDuel. He then led the sale of Rooftop2 to Lagardère Sports.

Before the Jets, Marc was Director of Marketing and Development for Intercollegiate Athletics at Hofstra University. In his role at Hofstra, Marc achieved significant growth for the Pride Club where he served as the Executive Director leading fundraising efforts for the University’s athletic programs. Marc also taught graduate and undergraduate sports management classes as an Associate Adjunct Professor at Hofstra University.

Marc is on the North American Advisory Board for SIGA - Sports Integrity Global Alliance. SIGA is a non-profit whose mission is to provide global leadership, promote good governance and safeguard the integrity of sport through a set of universal standards operated by an independent, neutral and global body. Marc has also worked with sports technology companies and founders as an advisor and mentor with Stadia Ventures. Stadia is a global Sports Innovation Hub for early-stage investment in sports and esports.

Marc is a member of the New York State Bar, has a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law, an M.B.A. in Marketing and a B.A. in Communications from Hofstra University.

Marc grew up in Canandaigua, N.Y. where he was a three-year letterman in lacrosse and football. He won multiple All-League and All-Greater-Rochester honors for both sports and is in the Canandaigua Academy Sports Hall of Fame. Marc was Canandaigua’s first High School All-American in lacrosse. Among his lacrosse highlights Marc participated in the High School North-South All Star game at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Md. Marc went on to play division I lacrosse at Hofstra University where he played for current USA Lacrosse Men’s National Team Head Coach John Danowski. Marc credits the sport of lacrosse, his teammates, and coaches for being a powerful driving force that shaped his personal path and professional development.