ProServ
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Attorney and former pro tennis player and U.S. Davis Cup captain Donald Dell and Frank Craighill founded ProServ ("Professional Services") in 1970 in Washington, D.C., as one of the first sports management firms. Initially focused on tennis, it would grow to become one of the world's largest sports marketing, athlete management, event production, and television companies.
At its peak, ProServ represented more than 200 professional athletes and coaches, including Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, and Jimmy Connors.
The company also managed and promoted professional sporting events and created ProServ Television to handle sports television production and rights representation.
Craighill, who was a partner and president, left ProServ in 1983 to start Advantage International, which was acquired by Interpublic Group in 1997. ProServ was acquired in 1999 by SFX Sports Group (itself now a subsidiary of Clear Channel Entertainment).
