Palm Beach, Fla. — At The Breakers, an opulent coastal resort that played host to this month’s NFL owners meetings, Kevin Demoff carved out a quiet moment amid the whirlwind of North America’s sporting elite. As journalists, coaches, and executives dispersed from press rooms and cocktail briefings, Demoff — President of Team and Media Operations at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) — was already juggling the next big thing. Three leagues, three meetings, three cities: NBA in New York, NFL in Florida, MLS in Chicago.
For Demoff, it’s not just scheduling — it’s strategy. And for Stan Kroenke, the billionaire behind one of the most integrated and influential sports conglomerates in the world, it’s all about alignment. Arsenal, the LA Rams, the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rapids, and a share in esports juggernaut The Guard — they all feed the same machine.
A Transatlantic Game Plan
At the center of KSE’s ambitions is the ability to leverage learnings, audiences, and infrastructure across sports and continents. The crown jewel in Europe is Arsenal FC, one of the Premier League’s marquee clubs. While KSE faced fierce criticism in its early years of Arsenal stewardship, particularly for perceived absentee ownership and a lack of sporting ambition, the tide has turned. Arsenal’s resurgence in recent years — both competitively and commercially — is partly fueled by this interconnected strategy.
Demoff and KSE executives are mining cross-league synergies: applying NFL-style media operations to Arsenal’s content engine, using NBA digital marketing playbooks for fan growth, and testing MLS innovations around venue and supporter experience.
“It’s not about each team in a silo,” said Demoff. “It’s about creating a system where best practices — in analytics, sponsorship, fan engagement — move fluidly across borders.”
MLS and the 2026 World Cup: A Growth Opportunity
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming on U.S., Mexican, and Canadian soil, KSE’s stake in Major League Soccer becomes even more critical. The Colorado Rapids, while not a league powerhouse, serve as a testbed for broader initiatives — from stadium tech upgrades to youth development programs.
But it’s also about presence. Demoff’s attendance at MLS board meetings underscores KSE’s intention to be at the forefront of how American soccer capitalizes on the sport’s upcoming global moment.
Stadiums as Strategy
Then there’s SoFi Stadium, a multi-billion-dollar cathedral to modern sport and live entertainment. Home to the LA Rams and co-owned by Kroenke, it’s not just a football venue — it’s a blueprint for revenue optimization, from luxury suites to AR-powered fan engagement. SoFi will play a starring role in the 2026 World Cup, with matches expected in LA, potentially including a semi-final or final.
KSE is treating SoFi like a case study — with learnings potentially being applied across Emirates Stadium in London, Ball Arena in Denver, and even in esports venues in development.
Cultural Crossover and Content
One of the most potent forces in KSE’s empire? Content. The LA Rams’ Emmy-winning documentary productions, Arsenal’s Amazon “All or Nothing” series, and The Guard’s Twitch streams all stem from the same media DNA. KSE views content not as marketing, but as a product — a revenue-generating, audience-building cornerstone of its sports flywheel.
Despite its reach, KSE still emphasizes local identity. Arsenal’s North London community work, the Avalanche’s deep Colorado fan loyalty, and the Rams’ reestablishment in LA show a dual commitment: global brand building without erasing local authenticity.
A Unified Vision
Kroenke’s empire is less about ownership than orchestration. Sports franchises become parts of a greater ecosystem: one that blends business intelligence, broadcast rights, data science, and brand loyalty across platforms and continents.
The message is clear: KSE isn’t simply preparing for the World Cup — it’s positioning itself as the connective tissue in a new era of global sport, where lines between leagues, countries, and fandoms blur, and where synergy isn’t a buzzword — it’s a business model.
