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Professional
Team of the Year 2002
Memphis
Grizzlies NBA Pursuit Team | |
FedEx Nancy Altenburg
| The
Memphis Pursuit Team pulled off the biggest victory of the year in 2001, landing
the NBA Grizzlies in the bluff city. That victory culminated the city's two generation
quest for a major league sports franchise. And, the Pursuit Team's efforts were
not simply a matter of wooing a team; it was a matter of winning the favor of
an entire league. It was crafting a plan to finance a $250 million arena and then
selling the idea to skeptical politicians. It was all that and much, much more
in what may have been world record time for a major league relocation. |
| Leading
the effort to secure local investors was Pursuit Team Captain J. R. "Pitt"
Hyde. Other NBA Pursuit Team members included: Charles Ewing, Fred Jones, Barbara
Hyde, Gayle Rose, Andy Cates and Staley Cates. Also, Barbara Hyde has figured
prominently in integrating the team into the Memphis community, by linking Grizzlies
players, coaches and officials to local charities and other community groups.
On the corporate
front, FedEx led the charge from day one. Critical to the effort was Alan Graf,
FedEx CFO, Mike Glenn, VP, Marketing and Nancy Altenburg, Sports Marketing Manager.
All involved agree the move would never have taken place without FedEx Corporation
being ready and willing to purchase the naming right for the new arena.
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Pursuit
Team members leading the local investor effort included (left to right): Charles
Ewing, Fred Jones, Barbara Hyde, Pitt Hyde, Gayle Rose, Andy Cates and Staley
Cates. | | |
