The Daily News compiled its second annual list of the 50 most powerful people in Southern California sports, and the Los Angeles Kings were again well represented by executive figures in ownership and hockey operations as well as in social media and content. After figures 11-50 were released earlier this week, the top 10 were revealed on Thursday. There’s no shocking reach here; the Kings organization claimed the Sports Business Journal’s Sports Team of the Year award in 2015, and four of the five figures who represented the Kings on last year’s list were also recognized this spring. Delivered by Clay Fowler, the 2016 list was selected “by staff based on years of experience, and months of interviews and conversations.”
1. Stan Kroenke, Rams Owner
2. Casey Wasserman, Wasserman Founder and CEO
3. PHILIP ANSCHUTZ, ANSCHUTZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP CHAIRMAN (Last year: 2)
“The sixth-richest sports owner in the world lives in Denver, but he owns L.A. Anschutz, who is worth $10.9 billion, according to Forbes, owns the L.A. Kings, a third of the Lakers and the L.A. Galaxy. Staples Center and StubHub Center are two of 125 sports and music venues worldwide controlled by AEG, which Anschutz nearly sold in 2013 for a reported $7 billion.”
4. Kobe Bryant, Lakers Shooting Guard
5. Vin Scully, Dodgers Announcer
6. Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles
7. Jeanie Buss, Lakers President and Governor
8. Mark Walter, Dodgers Chairman and Controlling Owner
9. Steve Ballmer, Clippers Owner
10. Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, WME|IMG Co-CEOs
11. DAN BECKERMAN, ANSCHUTZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP PRESIDENT AND CEO (Last year: 15)
“While owner Philip Anschutz prefers to remain in the background, the president and CEO of AEG is the face of the company that owns the Galaxy, the Kings, Staples Center and StubHub Center, to name a few of AEG’s hundreds of properties around the world. The UCLA graduate recently helped Staples Center land the 2017 NHL All-Star game and 2018 NBA All-Star game, a record sixth such event in L.A.”
12. Arte Moreno, Angels Owner
13. Stan Kasten, Dodgers President, CEO and Co-owner
14. Doc Rivers, Clippers Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations
15. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers Pitcher
16. Evan Rosenblum, TMZ Sports Executive Producer
17. Jeff Fisher, Rams Head Coach
18. Mike Trout, Angels Center Fielder
19. Magic Johnson, Dodgers, Sparks and LAFC Co-Owner
20. Chris Paul, Clippers Point Guard
21. Scott Boras, Founder, Owner and President of the Boras Corporation
22. Andrew Friedman, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations
23. David Simon, Los Angeles Sports Council President
24. Dan Guerrero, UCLA Athletic Director
25. Mike Scioscia, Angels Manager
26. Bob Baffert, Horse Trainer
27. Rob Dyrdek, Skateboarding Entrepreneur
28. Dean Spanos, San Diego Chargers Owner
29. Dr. Robert Watkins III, Marina Del Rey Hospital Spine Clinic Co-Medical Director
30. Henry Samueli, Ducks Owner
31. Jim L. Mora, UCLA Head Football Coach
32. Jamie Horowitz, Fox Sports National President
33. Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions Owner
34. Dr. Max Nikias, USC President
35. Blake Griffin, Clippers Forward
36. Ronda Rousey, Mixed Martial Arts Fighter
37. Les Snead, Rams General Manager
38. Brandon Beck, Riot Games CEO and Co-Founder
39. Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, Beach Volleyball Players
40. DEAN LOMBARDI, KINGS PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER AND ALTERNATE GOVERNOR (Last year: 31)
“Building the first two championships teams in franchise history in 2012 and 2014 isn’t an easy act to follow. Lombardi’s team missed the playoffs in 2015 and exited the postseason in the first round this season, but the Kings’ nucleus remains strong.”
41. Time Warner/DirecTV
42. Anita L. DeFrantz, LA84 Foundation President
43. Colin Cowherd, Fox Sports TV/Radio host
44. Clay Helton, USC Head Football Coach
45. Todd Gurley, Rams running back
46. The Ball Brothers, Chino Hills High Basketball
47. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Dodgers Team Physician
48. Steve Clarkson, Dreammaker Quarterback Academy Founder
49. PAT DONAHUE, JR., KINGS DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA (Last year: 50)
“One of the best examples of why sports and social media are a perfect combination, the voice behind the L.A. Kings innovative twitter account continues to stay on the cutting edge of digital media. Donahue’s wit and creativity have stolen a few headlines from those on the ice.”
50. Josh Rosen, UCLA Quarterback
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