Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

6/14/2011 at 9:00am

Razorback Sports Properties GM On Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 List

Arkansas Business has released its 40 Under 40 list for 2011 and folks that follow local sports might notice a familiar name on the list. Razorback Sports Properties GM Ryan Gribble earned recognition along with other “intriguing business and political leaders under 40 years old who bear watching.”

Here’s more from Arkansas Business on Gribble, who oversees an operation expected to bring in $4.75 million to the athletic department in 2011-12:

Ryan Gribble was always a big sports fan and enjoyed participating in sports during his youth. He considered becoming a teaching pro while playing tennis in college but shifted his aim slightly.

"I thought the business of sports would be something that was very interesting,” said Gribble, who grew up in Little Rock and Jonesboro. That career path took him to Japan, Louisiana, back home to Arkansas, Chicago and back to Arkansas again.

Gribble went overseas after graduating in 1994 as a double major in advertising and marketing with an emphasis in Japanese at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.

Through a college connection, he landed a job with the Hiroshima Carp professional baseball team and gained experience in the various departments of the organization.

 During his year in Japan, Gribble led the effort to establish an American-style masco for the team that opened up new marketing opportunities for the team.

After a short stint in Louisiana with minor league baseball, Gribble was named vice president of sales for the Arkansas Riverblades in 1999 and Arkansas Twisters in 2000.

He joined the Chicago White Sox organization in 2001, contributing to some large marketing deals such as the 2003 naming rights deal for U.S. Cellular Field.

In August 2008, Gribble was hired by ISP Sports (now IMG College) to run Razorback Sports Properties, its franchise at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Gribble was named last year to the 40 Under 40 list compiled by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, Ryan Gribble, Arkansas Business, Razorback Sports Properties, 40 Under 40