Dave Checketts

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David Wayne Checketts (born September 16, 1955) is an American businessman and sports executive who has led major sports teams, founded new ventures, and invested in big-name venues.

Early life and education
He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in Utah. He graduated from Bountiful High School in 1973, earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah in 1979, and received an MBA from Brigham Young University in 1981.

Career highlights
- He began his career at Bain & Company. In 1983, at age 28, he became president and general manager of the Utah Jazz, making him the youngest NBA chief executive at the time.
- He later became president of NBA International, helping the league grow worldwide, including hosting regular-season games outside North America, such as in Tokyo in 1990.
- In 1991, Checketts became president of the New York Knicks, and he eventually became president and CEO of Madison Square Garden (MSG), which owns the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty and other properties. He led the renovation of Radio City Music Hall and helped found the New York Liberty in 1997.
- Under his leadership, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999, and MSG earned multiple sellout streaks and industry recognition.
- He left MSG in 2001 and founded SCP Worldwide, a sports consulting and investment firm. Through SCP, he launched Real Salt Lake (MLS) in 2005, helping build Rio Tinto Stadium and guiding the club to the 2009 MLS Cup.
- In 2005 he acquired the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, which he owned until 2019, a year the team won the Stanley Cup.
- Checketts then started Checketts Partners Investment Management (CPIM) in 2011. He was the chairman and CEO of Legends Hospitality from 2011 to 2015, and CPIM bought a 20% stake in Legends, aligning with the Yankees and Cowboys. Legends also designed and operates One World Observatory atop One World Trade Center, opened in 2015.

Other roles and honors
- He was a founding board member of JetBlue, serving in that role until 2018.
- In 2021, he became a director of Burnley Football Club in England.
- He was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
- As of 2025, he serves on the board of advisors for Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment, and on the board of trustees for the Paley Center for Media in New York.
- In 2025, he helped launch Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital Fund I, a $1.2 billion private equity fund focusing on sports investments.

Personal life
Checketts is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife, Deborah Lynn Leishman, have six children. Their family has been involved in various businesses, including Rhone Apparel and a venture started by their daughter Lily Checketts Shimbashi.

Awards
He was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 and was named a Sports Business Journal "Champion" in 2025.