#41 Building a Pro Sports Brand from the Ground Up w/ Ari Kwitkin-Close

Welcome to The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick. Where we explore the stories behind real people, real businesses, and real communities.In this episode join us for a deep dive into the business of professional sports with Ari Kwitkin-Close, Chief Revenue Officer of Westchester Soccer Club. In this episode, we explore the brick-by-brick process of building a new sports organization’s revenue engine, creating authentic community relationships, and establishing a club identity that can resonate across Westchester County.Ari shares insights on what it takes to launch and grow a professional soccer brand, how the club approaches partnerships and fan engagement, and why successful sports organizations sell experiences and memories—not just wins and losses.In this episode, we cover: • Westchester Soccer Club’s role in USL League One • The USL’s promotion and relegation model • The planned 2028 launch of USL Premier • What NFL-level inside sales training looks like • Why relational selling matters more than transactional selling in sports • How hyper-local partnerships, including Northwell Health, help drive community impact • Ari’s “Who Knows You” philosophy for building a career in sports business Connect with Ari Kwitkin-Close:LinkedIn: Ari Kwitkin-CloseEmail: [email protected] Offer:Reach out to Ari and mention the podcast for your first game on the club.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help us continue bringing you the stories behind Westchester’s most influential leaders.Support the show