KORE Software, the leading provider of business management software for the sports and entertainment industries, has appointed Al Guido, President of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and CEO of Elevate Sports Ventures, a best-in-class sports and entertainment consulting firm, to its Board of Directors. 

The 20-year NFL, NHL and NBA veteran’s reputation as an innovator and record-breaking sales expertise has earned him both international and industry recognition; Including numerous awards from industry leading magazines, trade groups, and organizations.

 “Al’s reputation as one of the foremost leaders in sports today makes him a perfect addition to our team,” said Matt Sebal, KORE Software’s Chairman of the Board. . “For KORE, ensuring our leadership understands the challenges and opportunities that impact our growing client base is essential to ensuring we continue to be the global leaders in our field. In Al, we have as seasoned senior leader at the top of his game whose experience and dedication to sports, entertainment and brands mirrors our approach exactly.”

“At the 49ers, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to form dynamic partnerships with forward-thinking organizations in and around the sports and entertainment ecosystem. The innovative initiatives we have successfully pursued through the 49ers relationship with KORE, and the proximity with which my team and I have worked alongside KORE’s progressive executives, solidified my belief that this organization has the ability to see around corners for new opportunities within the industry,” said Al Guido, President of the San Francisco 49ers and CEO of Elevate Sports Ventures. “I am humbled by the opportunity to sit alongside the extraordinary minds on KORE’s Board of Directors that are leading the industry today and shaping the world of tomorrow.”

For the past four seasons, the 49ers have worked with KORE and leveraged their platform and solutions to drive forward three critical areas of the 49ers business: service, sales, and corporate partnerships. With KORE’s approach to Client Relationship Management (CRM), the 49ers business operations now feature efficient workflows that enable new levels of data analysis and business optimization. The culture has become more data driven, and continues to push innovation.

In recognition of Guido’s contribution as a leader in sports and entertainment, he was recently awarded with a place in Leaders in Sport’s renowned, global, “Leaders Under 40” class of 2018, as well as SportsBusiness Journal’s list of “Power Players: Ticketing” in 2018Previously in 2016, Guido was named in the “Forty Under 40” list by both the Sports Business Journal and the San Francisco Business Times for demonstrating industry excellence and innovation.

As President of the San Francisco 49ers, Guido currently oversees all business operations for the five-time Super Bowl-winning franchise. Guido played a critical role in the planning, development and now management of Levi’s Stadium, which holds the distinction of hosting more concerts, sports and special events than any other NFL venue. Under his leadership, Levi’s Stadium has become one of the most decorated venues in professional sports and entertainment today, garnering Sports Business Journal’s “Sports Facility of the Year” award and Stadium Business’ “Venue of the Year” award in 2015; and receiving industry acclaim for its forward-thinking technology and sustainability-based initiatives, earning 2017’s “Environmental Stadium of the Year” and 2016’s “Environmental Innovators of the Year” awards by Stadium Business and the Green Sports Alliance respectively. 

Under Guido’s guidance, and inspired by San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York and the York family’s philanthropic mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, the 49ers STEM Education Program, business-accelerator and youth sports initiatives have earned the franchise notable industry honors, including ESPN’s 2017 “Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year” award.

In addition to his senior leadership role with the 49ers, Guido is concurrently CEO of Elevate Sports Ventures. The sports and entertainment consulting firm provides proven, innovative solutions to organizations across the global sports and entertainment landscape. Formed in partnership between the San Francisco 49ers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Ticketmaster and Live Nation, and Oak View Group, Elevate Sports taps into the extensive resources, relationships, and expertise of its partners to create and execute comprehensive strategies and solutions in Venue Renovations, Stadium Licenses, Premium Ticketing, Corporate Hospitality, University Ticket Sales and more.

Prior to his roles as Chief Operating Officer and most recently, President of the San Francisco 49ers, Guido held senior leadership roles with Legends and the Dallas Cowboys. During his tenure with the Cowboys, he led a taskforce responsible for breaking industry records in Personal Seat License Sales associated with the opening of AT&T Stadium; records which remained unbroken until the 49ers bested the feat under Guido’s guidance following the completion of Levi’s Stadium in 2014.

Guido began his career in the sports and entertainment industry with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes.

About the San Francisco 49ers:
The San Francisco 49ers, owned by Denise and John York, currently play in the NFC West division and have won five Super Bowl trophies including Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX. The franchise also has six conference championships and 19 divisional championships and was the first major league professional sports team to be based in San Francisco more than 70 years ago. Please visit www.49ers.com and follow the 49ers on Facebook and Twitter @49ers.

About Elevate Sports Ventures:
Elevate Sports Ventures is a best-in-class sports and entertainment consulting firm, providing proven, innovative solutions to organizations across the global sports and entertainment landscape. Elevate SV taps into the extensive resources, relationships, and expertise of its partners to innovate and execute comprehensive strategies and solutions in Venue Renovations, Stadium Licenses, Premium Ticketing, Corporate Hospitality and more.

Formed in partnership between the San Francisco 49ers and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) in 2018, Elevate SV welcomed Oak View Group (OVG) and Ticketmaster and Live Nation as partners in June 2018.  Elevate SV serves as OVG’s established representative in premium sales and service for its more than nine current and future OVG development projects, including the $700 million transformative redevelopment of the current Key Arena at the Seattle Center.

In September 2018, Elevate SV launched Elevate On Campus, a joint venture created to support ticket sales, strategy and service for intercollegiate athletics and university venues. For more information, visit: www.ElevateSportsVentures.com and www.ElevateOnCampus.com or follow @ElevateSV and @Elevate_Campus on Twitter.