News

NEWPORT, R.I. — The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Stu Upson to the new position of Chief Operating Officer. Upson comes to the Hall of Fame with more than 20 years of experience in managing sports and entertainment properties. Most recently, Upson was the Executive Director of the United States Bowling Congress, the national governing body of bowling. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Skip Barber Racing and as Senior Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Marketing at First USA Bank. Upson will begin his new role with the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum on January 19. He will report to Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin.

“We are excited to welcome Stu to the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum,” said Martin. “His broad ranging experience in leading major sports entities will serve the Hall of Fame well and will play an integral role in the organization’s growth.”

In the new role of Chief Operating Officer, Upson will be responsible for internal business management of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a multi-faceted organization that includes an extensive museum, a year-round tennis club, and numerous large scale public events. The Hall of Fame is set on a seven-acre National Historic Landmark property that is in the midst of a major expansion and renovation project. Upson will specifically be focused on property management, museum visitor experience, and revenue generation through development, marketing, retail, and tennis club operations.

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a dynamic organization with an exciting future ahead. I’m inspired by the vision that Todd Martin has developed, and I am looking forward to working with him, the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, and the staff to work toward continued growth and success,” commented Upson.

As the chief executive of the national governing body of bowling, Upson was responsible for promoting and regulating the sport while supporting the organization’s nearly 2 million members, 35,000 volunteers, and 2,800 state and local associations. During his tenure at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), Upson managed the transition of corporate headquarters from Wisconsin to Texas and its integration into the International Bowling Campus. Prior to USBC, Upson was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Skip Barber Racing where he was responsible for retail sales, marketing, public relations, sponsorship, corporate events, special projects and licensing/merchandising for the country’s oldest and largest high performance driving and racing school.

Previously, Upson was Senior Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Marketing at First USA Bank where he was hired to lead the company’s entry into the sports affinity credit card business, which he grew to be a portfolio of more than $1 billion. Upson got his start in sports and entertainment with Major League Baseball Properties, where he served as Vice President, Business Development and was responsible for leading the team that created and managed the highly successful All-Star FanFest.

Upson spent the first 10 years of his career in the advertising industry with positions at Ted Bates, DMB&B, and Partners & Shevack, where he managed consumer brands and sports industry clients.

Upson, a graduate of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, is married with two daughters.