What It Takes to Lead a Major Sports Franchise: A Conversation with Mel Raines

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February 15, 2025 • 46 mins

Mel Raines, President and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, returns for part two of our conversation, diving into her role in transforming Indianapolis into a hub for major sports and entertainment. She shares how she made the leap from political consulting to part of the team orchestrating the 2012 Super Bowl and how that experience led her to oversee Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the business side of the Pacers and Fever. Raines discusses the explosive growth of women’s sports, Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA, and the upcoming 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indy. She also opens up about leadership, the lessons she’s learned from working with some of the most powerful figures in politics and sports, and why she hopes being a woman in an executive role soon becomes just a footnote. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, major event management, and the evolution of professional sports.

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}What It Takes to Lead a Major Sports Franchise: A Conversation with Mel Raines