David S. Blitzer

Blitzer was born on September 7, 1969, in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In 1987, he graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.[1] He graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. He is married to fellow Penn alumnus Allison Ross.[2] In 1991, he accepted a position with Blackstone, where he currently serves as global head of tactical opportunities and a member of their management committee.[3][4]

In 2011, Blitzer and Josh Harris of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management led an investment group that purchased the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from Comcast Spectacor for US$280 million.[5][6] Other notable members of the investment group were Art Wrubel, Jason Levien, Adam Aron, Martin J. Geller, David B. Heller, James Lassiter, Marc J. Leder, Michael G. Rubin, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Erick Thohir.[7][8] In August 2013, Blitzer and Harris purchased the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), which included the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, for over $320 million.[9] In 2014, Blitzer partnered led a investment group that purchased a 50% stake in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB);[10][11] In 2015, Blitzer bought an 18% stake in Crystal Palace F.C. of the Premier League.[12][13]

In 2017, Blitzer and Harris founded Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment to consolidate their shared ventures. In addition to the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, the company also owns the NBA G League's Delaware Blue Coats, the American Hockey League's Utica Comets, esports team Dignitas of New Meta Entertainment,[14][15] sports tech venture capital firm HBSE Ventures,[16] and marketing, hospitality, and event ticketing company Elevate Sports Ventures.[17] In 2022, Blitzer partnered with the Smith Entertainment Group to purchase Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.[18] He purchased a 25 percent stake of the MLB's Cleveland Guardians later that year, with an option to purchase majority ownership after six years.[19][20]

Blitzer is Jewish.[21][22] He is married to Allison (née Ross) Blitzer;[21] they have five children.[23]

In 2010, his father-in-law, Stuart Ross, who once owned the North American rights to the Smurfs franchise, was convicted of trying to extort $5.5 million from Blitzer in return for having no more contact with Blitzer's family and another $5.5 million from Blitzer for having no more contact with Blitzer and Blackstone. Ross was convicted of extortion and sentenced to five years of probation under the condition that he get psychiatric and alcohol treatment and has no contact with his daughter Allison, Blitzer, their children, and Blackstone.[24][25][26]

Blitzer founded the Blitzer Family Foundation in 2014, which promotes youth development through education, athletics, and health.[1] He serves on the Mount Sinai Hospital and Wharton School.[1] Blitzer is a supporter of Hillel, which focuses on encouraging Jewish undergraduate and graduate students to embrace their Jewish heritage.[27]

• Blackstone profile
• HBSE profile