Sr. Director, Business Development & Premium Partnerships
With nearly 20 years of experience in the sports industry, Matt Fahr is a seasoned leader in sports sales and fundraising. He brings a strong track record of developing high-performing teams, driving revenue, and leading innovative sales campaigns. Now in his fifth season with the Detroit Lions, Matt serves as the Senior Director of Business Development & Premium Partnerships, overseeing premium suite sales, strategic partnerships, and long-term business growth at Ford Field.
Matt began his career in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders in 2006, where he progressed from Ticket Sales Representative to Premium Seating Sales Manager over four seasons. In 2010, he transitioned to the NBA, joining the Cleveland Cavaliers as a Business Development Specialist and later advancing to Manager of Inside Sales and Recruiting. He continued his NBA journey with the Charlotte Bobcats (later Hornets), where he served as Inside Sales Manager and was promoted to Senior Manager of Membership Sales.
In 2016, Matt joined Legends Global Sales as General Manager at the University of Louisville, where he led the sales campaign for the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium expansion and drove ticket sales growth for football and men’s basketball. He later joined the Alliance of American Football as Head of Sales and Operations for the Birmingham Iron, and following the league’s closure in 2019, returned to Legends to lead multiple fundraising teams in partnership with The Ohio State University Alumni Association, focusing on alumni engagement and philanthropic giving.
A native of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Matt is a graduate of Northwood University with a degree in Entertainment, Sports, and Promotional Management. He was also a member of the Timberwolves collegiate baseball team. Matt currently resides in Novi, Michigan with his wife, Jessica, daughter, Mackenzie, and son, Connor.
