SFC Names Sports Industry Veteran Michael Pine as Chief Revenue Officer
Pine joins SFC to accelerate growth, expand partnerships, and redefine how brands engage with the sport.
(DALLAS, TEXAS – NOV. 18, 2025) Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) today announced the appointment of Michael Pine as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Pine will lead the strategic reorganization and expansion of the league’s sales, partnership marketing, media rights, and service departments, driving revenue growth and deepening brand engagement across the sport’s global ecosystem.
A U.S. Air Force veteran and seasoned sports business executive, Pine brings more than 25 years of experience leading revenue and partnership strategy for world-class sports and entertainment organizations including UFC, WWE, FanDuel, and IRONMAN. Pine brokered the first blue-chip partners for UFC inside the Octagon, including Bud Light, Bacardi and Harley-Davidson. At FanDuel, Pine closed the first-ever daily fantasy partnership with Bud Light.
Based at the SFC Studio Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, Pine will oversee the league’s commercial operations as it continues its rapid evolution into one of the most dynamic emerging properties in sports.
“SFC is in an exciting phase of growth, with our past season bringing tremendous momentum across our events, broadcast product and fan engagement,” said Mark Neifeld, Commissioner and CEO of SFC. “Mike Pine’s proven leadership and global network will be instrumental as we expand our partnerships and create new value for our fans, sponsors, and media partners.”
Under Pine’s leadership, SFC will execute a series of transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing how brands and fans experience the league. For the 2026 season, Pine will spearhead a revamp of SFC’s partnership marketing model, with a focus on integrated content creation, media innovation, experiential activations, and premium hospitality programs. His vision is to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that connect world-class brands to SFC’s passionate and rapidly growing audience.
Pine’s emphasis will include attracting blue-chip national brands and sports gaming partnerships, aligning SFC with partners who share its vision for storytelling, technology, and community-driven engagement.
“I’m thrilled to join the Sport Fishing Championship and help shape its next chapter of growth,” said Michael Pine. “The league has established a powerful foundation, uniting competitive sport fishing with world-class broadcast and digital coverage, and we have an incredible opportunity to elevate our fan and partner experiences through creativity, collaboration, and innovation.”
In addition to his leadership roles with UFC, WWE, FanDuel, and IRONMAN, Pine is the President and Founder of Talon Partnerships & Events, a 13-year global sports, entertainment, and lifestyle agency that has brokered multimillion-dollar partnerships for major media and sports properties. His career has been highlighted by features in Forbes and appearances at Sports Business Journal, AdWeek, and other leading industry events.
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, Pine serves on the University of Georgia Sports Industry Council Advisory Board, mentoring the next generation of sports business leaders.
About Sport Fishing Championship
Founded in 2021, Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) is a competitive sportfishing league representing 16 regions competing internationally across North America. With a focus on growing the sport and engaging fans through innovation, SFC+ offers a direct-to-consumer OTT platform that delivers unparalleled access to live events, fishing content, and its celebrity-driven team format.
Media Contact:
Rudy Tomarchio
Director of Content
rudy@sportfishingchampionship.com