Los Angeles Rams president Kevin Demoff has been promoted to president of team and media operations at Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), the company announced Thursday. Demoff will now oversee the operations of the Rams (NFL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rapids (MLS) and Colorado Mammoth (NLL).
Demoff, 47, served as president and chief operating officer of the Rams for 15 years, a tenure that included a move to Los Angeles, the construction of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., and a Super Bowl victory in the 2021-22 season (he held at SoFi Stadium).
He will report to Josh Kroenke (son of Stan Kroenke). Demoff will also oversee the operations of all KSE Media properties, including Altitude Sports and Entertainment, KSE Radio and Outdoor Sportsman Group.
“I am honored and humbled to take on this role with KSE, and I am grateful to Stan and Josh for this opportunity,” Demoff said in a statement released Thursday. “I am thrilled to work with so many talented teammates who have helped make KSE the most influential sports and entertainment company in the world. With the goal of fostering winning cultures and organizations that transcend the field, the court or the ice, together we will build a best-in-class experience for our fans in Denver, Los Angeles and around the world.”
KSE also hired longtime executive Mike Neary as executive vice president of business operations and development.
Demoff, Josh Kroenke and Neary addressed the media virtually Thursday afternoon, outlining these priorities and points of clarity:
Top priority for Demoff at KSE: Broader broadcasting
Demoff was prepared for the first question: How do you plan to help more Nuggets and Avalanche fans see their teams play?
Altitude TV, the regional sports network that is owned by KSE and broadcasts games for its teams, has been in a carriage dispute with Comcast, the largest cable provider in the Rocky Mountain area, for the better part of the past five years. This prevented a large portion of fans from being able to consistently watch local broadcasts of two of the top teams in their respective leagues.
The Nuggets have worked to find other avenues to distribute the broadcasts, striking deals with streaming services like Fubo TV, but many fans are still left on the sidelines.
“When you think about Altitude, it’s important for our teams to be on TV,” Demoff said. “It’s important for our fans to be able to see this generation of players that we have. It’s a complicated place when you look at the landscape, for all of us from an RSN perspective. But I’m excited to come in with a fresh perspective. I know it’s important for our fans to have these games on air. I think that’s the No. 1 priority.”
Demoff said it’s possible KSE could find a streaming-only solution for its broadcasts. Finding a way to deliver the games in a more traditional over-the-air format could also be a way to create wider distribution. He said a new deal with cable providers could also be a possibility.
Josh Kroenke, who heads the organizational chart for KSE’s teams, said, “There is no more painful problem in our network of companies than the altitude problem.” Demoff is expected to play a key role in helping the company solve the problem.
“Are we trying to figure out what other people have done to resolve this situation?” Demoff said. “For some, the situation may be analogous to ours. For some it may be very different from us. Again, there is no higher priority for our organization and our fans than getting these games on the air.”
Arsenal are not part of the role reshuffle…for now
KSE also owns Arsenal Football Club, with Stan and Josh Kroenke as co-chairmen. Arsenal are not currently involved in this expansion of Demoff’s operational role, but Josh Kroenke has indicated a desire for more connectivity between the Los Angeles, Denver and London markets where the respective professional teams are based.
“When Kevin and I started talking about this role … first we (discussed) the altitude situation, and then (it was), ‘how do we bring our operations together to really be best practice across the board?’ Kroenke said. “That includes London.”
Kroenke continued: “I think KSE is the best sports and entertainment company in the world in a number of different areas and with these appointments and our streamlining of our operations at the top, I’m really excited to see what we can do to include Arsenal someday in an even more commercial way than we thought possible.”
Few changes are coming to the Rams’ corporate structure
Although Demoff, who previously played a significant role in the Rams’ operations on both the business and football sides, is adding multiple teams to his responsibilities, he said he doesn’t expect the corporate structure to change in Los Angeles in the near future.
“Everyone on our leadership team is ready to take on more work,” Demoff said. “It’s our job to grow them too. I’m excited to see them step up and really understand how we can make this happen. From my point of view, as a good leader, this is a great opportunity for our bench to come alive.
“…If we get this right, our whole organization becomes stronger. Nothing gets weaker. All teams will benefit.”
(Photo: Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
