Leonard Armato

Sports and Entertainment Marketer and Entrepreneur

Leonard Armato is founder and CEO of Management Plus Enterprises (MPE) and a leader in developing, positioning, and building some of the biggest brands of the past generation.

He revolutionized athlete marketing by creating and building Shaquille O’Neal’s “Shaq” brand and the “Golden Boy” promotions brand for boxer Oscar De La Hoya. Armato was founder and commissioner of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, and created the FIVB World Championships of Beach Volleyball and the World Series of Beach Volleyball, the biggest sports/music/beach lifestyle event of its kind. Skechers became the world’s number two athletic footwear company the year after Armato joined the company as chief marketing officer, and both were featured in Advertising Ageas marketers of the year.

Armato’s love for technology inspired him to launch Digital Media Campus (DMC), the first incubator designed to grow digital sports and entertainment companies. Quincy Jones, Pamela Anderson, Shaq, and other entrepreneurs launched businesses there. In addition, Armato created the NBA Technology Summit with Adam Silver, now the league’s commissioner.

Armato regularly advises C-suite executives and is featured in ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary This Magic Moment and the HBO Shaq documentary. He lives in Manhattan Beach, California, with his wife, Holly McPeak, and has three children: Anthony, Elio, and Leonardo.

ISBN:979-8-90026-114-0

Price:$30.00

Publication Date:November 10, 2026

Maximize

7 Keys to Unlock Greatness in You

If you are serious about building your personal culture for success, it’s time to go big. You need to maximize.

In this accessible guide, entrepreneur and high-growth brand-builder Leonard Armato gives you the “7 Keys” to unlock your true potential. Armato brings these differentiators to life through actionable insights from working with entertainment industry titans such as Shaquille O’Neal, Oscar De La Hoya, Quincy Jones, and David Stern, as well as pivotal roles such as founding the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and elevating the Skechers brand.

Expand your career by learning how to forge meaningful relationships that open doors, craft a compelling value proposition that sets you apart, and develop resilience to persevere through adversity. Maximize also offers a proven daily regimen—simple, practical steps you can incorporate into your routine to prepare for the challenges that are waiting for you.

Playing a bigger game means transforming your mindset for actions that are rooted in excellence, focused on creating a legacy that lasts—not just for yourself but inspiring it in others. Whether you’re aiming for personal growth, stronger leadership, or entrepreneurial results, Armato provides the tools and mindset shifts necessary to exceed even your Shaq-sized expectations.

David Nugent

Sports Industry CEO, Technology Entrepreneur

David Nugent is cofounder and CEO of Next League, a technology advisory and solutions provider that exclusively services the sports industry. Next League is the fifth tech startup that Nugent has founded or cofounded over three decades of successfully launching, growing, and running new businesses.

Nugent’s previous book, Zero Sales: Generating Services Revenue Without Selling, is based on his experience working in and managing commercial organizations. Throughout his career, he’s helped generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue working with sports organizations.

Nugent is a regular on the thought leadership circuit, having spoken at many Sports Business Journal conferences and Leaders Sport Business summits, among others. He has conducted one-on-one conference interviews with some of the world’s top executives, including Meredith Kopit Levien (CEO, New York Times), Anthony Noto (CEO, SoFi), Dan Beckerman (CEO, AEG), and many others.

Nugent has a bachelor of arts degree in English from Ithaca (NY) College; is an avid writer, illustrator, woodworker, and fisherman; and trades time between New York City and the east end of Long Island with his wife and three children.

ISBN:979-8-89138-359-3

Price:$30

Publication Date:April 14, 2026

The Business of Sports Technology

How to Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward

Technology is no longer a siloed expense that sports organizations need to consider in the operation of their businesses. Mature sports organizations leverage technology as a central driving force behind the way they grow their businesses and create efficiencies and new revenue streams. By strategically integrating technology decisions into capital and operational investment planning, executive leadership can accelerate growth, reduce risk, and extract labor/cost.

David Nugent has been advising the biggest brands in sports for three decades. As a leading sports business technologist, Nugent helps clients make thoughtful choices about implementing and expanding the technology needed to keep fans engaged, partners happy, and expose previously unavailable revenue streams. In The Business of Sports Technology, he will teach you how to navigate the complex, ever-evolving business technology ecosystem.

Rather than approaching technology from an engineering perspective, Nugent approaches it practically. He deeply cares about the quality of technology development and deployment, but focuses primarily on how technology helps sports organizations make money. That’s why this book is called The “Business” of Sports Technology.

In a battle between business goals and flashy technology, he suggests you choose the business goals every time.

Don Costante

Sports Event Presentation Expert

Don Costante is a distinguished sports and event presentation expert with more than thirty years of experience transforming live events into immersive, fan-centered experiences. Throughout his career, he has directed, produced, and managed more than 2,500 live events, including three NBA Finals, two World Series, and thirteen NBA All-Star Jam Session Center Courts. His work spans major organizations across the NBA, MLB, WNBA, AHL, NCAA, NAIA, EPL, and NASCAR, where he has consistently elevated the quality and impact of event presentations.

As president of Costante Group Sports & Event Management, Don has collaborated with globally recognized brands like Manchester City Football Club, Derby County Football Club, Milwaukee Brewers, University of Kansas athletics, Connecticut Sun, Major League Baseball Special Events, University of Texas athletics, and NASCAR Event Experience, creating unforgettable experiences for fans, sponsors, and teams alike. Known for his creative direction, strategic insight, and meticulous attention to detail, Don is dedicated to setting new standards in game operations. This book brings his expertise to life, offering readers the essential tools and strategies for creating powerful, engaging, and memorable event presentations.

ISBN:979-8-89138-597-9

Price:$34.95

Publication Date:September 9, 2025

Beyond the Scoreboard

The Ultimate Guide to Sports Event Presentation

“If you’re looking to work in or understand the business of sports entertainment, this book should be required reading.”

—Jim Steeg, former senior vice president for special events, NFL; inaugural member of the Special Events Hall of Fame

From a longtime NBA and MLB professional sports event director—the ultimate insider guide to creating an event presentation that delivers excitement, engagement, and memorable moments for fans, sponsors, and participants.

In today’s entertainment-driven world, fans, sponsors, and participants expect more than just a game—they want an immersive experience that begins the moment they arrive at the venue and lingers long after the final buzzer.

While enhancements like cutting-edge graphics and other digital assets, control room equipment, or facility upgrades like Wi-Fi, expanded concourses, or new food and beverage options can undoubtedly improve the fan experience, it’s the strategic execution and seamless integration of all elements that truly elevate an event.

Drawing on more than thirty years of experience directing iconic events from the NBA Finals to the World Series and global sports brands, event presentation expert Don Costante takes readers beyond the scoreboard to provide an in-depth look at each key element of gameday operations—including proper communication, entertainment resources, music, digital production, promotions, and staffing.

Beyond the Scoreboard is the ultimate guide for anyone involved in event presentation, offering a comprehensive approach to building fan excitement, driving engagement, and creating lasting memories that include:

Detailed strategies and tactics for engaging fans, energizing players, and satisfying sponsors through creative and coordinated event elements.
Real-world insights from the professional sports industry to help you elevate your event presentations, delivering a polished and professional experience at any level.
Tools and templates to customize for your organization, covering everything from building fan engagement to maximizing sponsorship value.

Whether you’re running a high school, collegiate, or professional event, Beyond the Scoreboard equips you with the essential tools and strategies for elevating your events into unforgettable experiences that build fan excitement, drive engagement, and create lasting memories for everyone involved.