Photo Release -- The Madison Square Garden Company Names Andrew Lustgarten Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy


NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG) today announced that Andrew Lustgarten, a highly-regarded executive with expertise in driving corporate strategy and new business opportunities, has been named executive vice president, corporate development and strategy, effective November 18, 2014. Mr. Lustgarten joins the Company after seven years at the NBA, where he most recently served as senior vice president, global strategy, and before that, special assistant to the Commissioner.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=28975

In this role, Mr. Lustgarten will work closely with the executive management team to identify and develop strategic business opportunities and partnerships that continue to drive the overall advancement of the company. He will be responsible for developing both internal and external opportunities that further enhance the Company's key growth initiatives, maintaining key industry and strategic alliances, and overseeing the Company's involvement in new strategic transactions. In addition, Mr. Lustgarten will be responsible for identifying emerging technologies and market trends that benefit the Company and its shareholders.

"Andrew brings considerable experience in developing strategic relationships and new opportunities that help create shareholder value," said Tad Smith, president and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company. "We look forward to having him as a part of our leadership team and are confident that his ability to foster both internal and external growth will prove valuable as we continue to evolve and explore opportunities to strengthen our sports, media and entertainment businesses."

"I'm thrilled to be joining The Madison Square Garden Company. My experience working with David Stern and Adam Silver will be invaluable to me as we look for ways to enhance MSG's position as a leader in media, sports and entertainment," said Mr. Lustgarten. "I'm looking forward to working with the management team and staff to continue to grow this iconic company." 

At the NBA, Mr. Lustgarten played a key role in the negotiation of the league's landmark media rights deals earlier this year and its current collective bargaining agreement.  In his most recent position as senior vice president of global strategy, he oversaw the NBA's global strategy group, which focuses on the league's global initiatives, media opportunities, and new ventures, including equity investment structuring.  While at the league, Mr. Lustgarten was also involved in numerous strategic initiatives, including the league's current Revenue Sharing Plan and the formation of the $253 million external investment in NBA China.

Prior to joining the NBA, Lustgarten held various positions, including vice president, finance at Cablevision Systems Corporation, and as a financial analyst in the Media and Entertainment Investment Banking Group of Bear Stearns & Co.

In March, Mr. Lustgarten was named to Sports Business Journal's Forty Under 40 list of the most influential executives in sports under 40 years old. Mr. Lustgarten is on the board of directors of the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the nation's largest private supporter of pancreatic cancer research.

Mr. Lustgarten earned an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, with concentrations in finance and management, and received a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

About The Madison Square Garden Company

The Madison Square Garden Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment and is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, bull riding and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks.  MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the New York Spring Spectacular, both featuring the Rockettes.  MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.



            
Andrew Lustgarten

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