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The Arena Group Names Chris Pirrone as Senior Vice President/General Manager of Sports

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The Arena Group has appointed Chris Pirrone as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports. With over 20 years of digital media experience, Pirrone will oversee the Sports Illustrated Media Group, which has become the fifth-largest sports media property as of April 2022, doubling its traffic year-over-year. Under Pirrone's previous management at USA Today Sports Media Group, he expanded audiences from 10M to 60M unique viewers, boosting revenue to over $100M annually. His leadership is expected to enhance growth at The Arena Group.

Positive
  • Appointment of Chris Pirrone as General Manager of Sports could drive growth in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.
  • Sports Illustrated Media Group ranks as the fifth-largest sports media property as of April 2022.
  • Traffic to the sports vertical has more than doubled compared to the previous year.
  • The Arena Group's sports vertical saw a 253% increase in page views and a 265% increase in social page views in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021.
Negative
  • None.

Former USA TODAY Sports Media Group GM to Lead Sports Illustrated Media Group

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Arena Group (NYSE American: AREN) (the “Company” or “The Arena Group”) announced today the appointment of Chris Pirrone as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports. Pirrone brings over two decades of digital media experience to the newly-created role at the Company.

As GM of Sports, Pirrone will oversee the growth of The Arena Group’s Sports Illustrated Media Group, anchored by Sports Illustrated. (Photo: Business Wire)

As GM of Sports, Pirrone will oversee the growth of The Arena Group’s Sports Illustrated Media Group, anchored by Sports Illustrated. (Photo: Business Wire)

As General Manager of Sports, Pirrone will oversee the growth of The Arena Group’s portfolio of sports sites, known as Sports Illustrated Media Group, anchored by Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated Media Group has become the fifth-largest sports media property per April 2022 Comscore rankings, with traffic more than doubling over the prior year. The Arena Group sports vertical, spanning sports brands including FanNation, Morning Read, and Athlon Sports, delivered 253% more page views and 265% more social page views in Q1 2022 vs. 2021, according to Google Analytics.

At USA TODAY Sports Media Group, Pirrone launched over 75 sports vertical sites and led a significant expansion of the publisher’s digital advertising business across digital, social and mobile as General Manager. He also grew audiences from 10M to 60M monthly Comscore unique viewers and increased revenue to over $100M annually.

“Chris Pirrone is a welcome addition with a phenomenal track record at USA Today Sports Media including sixfold audience growth, constant revenue innovations, and the growth of dozens of successful sports properties such as For The Win and Golfweek,” said Rob Barrett, President of Media for The Arena Group. “We are thrilled to have Chris lead the next wave of innovation at Sports Illustrated and The Arena Group’s sports vertical.”

Pirrone will start in June and report to Barrett. He previously held positions as General Manager of ad network Traffic Marketplace and General Counsel at Traffic Marketplace and ValueClick Inc. Pirrone has a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Lawrence University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron School of Law.

About The Arena Group

The Arena Group creates robust digital destinations that delight consumers with powerful journalism and news about the things they love – their favorite sports teams, advice on investing, the inside scoop on personal finance, and the latest on lifestyle essentials. With powerful technology, editorial expertise, data management, and marketing savvy, the transformative company enables brands like Sports Illustrated, TheStreet and Parade to deliver highly relevant content and experiences that consumers love. To learn more, visit www.thearenagroup.net.

Media:

Rachael Fink

Manager, Public Relations

The Arena Group

Rachael.Fink@thearenagroup.net

Andrew Rhodes

DKC

arena@dkcnews.com

Source: The Arena Group

FAQ

What are the key responsibilities of Chris Pirrone at Arena Group?

Chris Pirrone is responsible for overseeing the growth of the Sports Illustrated Media Group.

What position was Chris Pirrone appointed to at Arena Group?

Chris Pirrone was appointed as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports.

What achievements did Chris Pirrone have at USA Today Sports Media Group?

Pirrone expanded audiences from 10M to 60M unique viewers and increased revenue to over $100M annually.

What is the significance of the Sports Illustrated Media Group's ranking?

As of April 2022, the Sports Illustrated Media Group is ranked as the fifth-largest sports media property.

How much has traffic increased for the Arena Group's sports vertical?

The Arena Group's sports vertical saw a traffic increase of over 100% year-over-year.

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