095 Shawn Tilger on Sports Private Equity, Enterprise Value & Scaling Live Sports Assets

Shawn Tilger is the President of GF Sports & Entertainment and one of the most accomplished operators in the sports and live entertainment industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Shawn has helped shape organizations at the highest levels of sports, from his early days promoting the Harlem Globetrotters to serving as Executive Vice President and COO of the Philadelphia Flyers and Comcast Spectacor. During his time in Philadelphia, he led major revenue growth initiatives, helped drive consecutive home sellout streaks, played a key role in bringing professional box lacrosse back to the city with the Philadelphia Wings, and spearheaded the launch of Gritty, one of the most recognizable mascots in global sports.Now leading the private equity-backed GF Sports & Entertainment, Shawn oversees a growing portfolio that includes the Dallas Open, Atlanta Open, Ottawa Black Bears, and World Long Drive. In this conversation, Shawn shares lessons on building enterprise value in sports, evaluating scalable opportunities, managing capital with discipline, and thinking beyond single events to create long-term sports and entertainment ecosystems. He also offers practical advice for entrepreneurs, operators, and investors looking to grow sustainable businesses in the sports industry.