It doesn’t get much more high-profile than the Miami Heat in South Florida. Managing General Partner Micky Arison is the chairman of Carnival Corp. & plc, the world’s largest cruise company. President Pat Riley has won five NBA championships as a coach and two more as Heat president. Coach Erik Spoelstra has won two championships—one more as an assistant. Superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Shaquille O’Neal have been on the roster at various times.
This month’s cover story is not about them, though. It’s about a trio who are playing key roles on the business side of the Heat organization, which is led by business operations president Eric Woolworth. “It’s Eric’s vision for everything we work on. He gives us the resources and defines the vision and gets out of the way,” says Matthew Jafarian, vice president of digital strategy and innovation.
While fans are waiting to see just how good this year’s team is, the business side continues to have a remarkable string of progress.
It’s taken a lead role among NBA teams in adopting ticketless entry. It’s leading the NBA when it comes to creating lifestyle apparel, called Court Culture, that’s as much a love letter to Miami as it celebrates the team. The team also has relaunched its restaurant with cuisine that’s far from typical arena fare.
Even if you aren’t a sports fan, the Heat organization offers valuable insights on technology and marketing.
Meantime, we are introducing a couple of new monthly features this issue.
“Great Spaces and Places” pays homage to the outstanding architecture and interior design in South Florida. The feature is reminiscent of SFBW’s previous Spaces feature, but this version will feature multiple projects and emphasize imagery over text. (The photos and renderings tend to speak for themselves.) We’ll cover everything from cutting-edge workplaces, residential décor, and landscaping design to significant condos, commercial projects, golf course clubhouses and iconic South Florida places.
“The Good Life” recognizes that SFBW readers are high achievers and can afford the finer things in life. We’ll feature luxury cars, yachts, private aviation, watches, beverages, cigars, jewelry, essential accessories, gadgets, vacation getaways and more.
If you have suggestions for inclusion, send information and high-resolution photos (1MB-plus file sizes) to kgale@SFBWmag.com.
